Tibetan Prophecy: Hopi Prophecy

"When the iron bird flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered over the earth and the dharma will go to the land of the red man."
--Tibetan Prophecy

"When the iron bird flies, the red-robed people of the East who have lost their land will appear, and the two brothers from across the great ocean will be reunited."
--Hopi Prophecy

In today's blogs, there is some question being raised about the legitimacy of the above two prophecies. I can vouch for the first, but as to the second I do not know. Here is a link to a site where the Hopi prophecies are discussed.

Maybe this is one of those "Jesus learned it in Tibet" deals: if you consider when Jesus died, and then you consider when the Dharma came to Tibet, the whole notion evaporates like breath on a mirror. Thus, "red-robed people of the East" seems rather transparent when you consider that "East" as applied to Tibet is a Eurocentric notion that post-dates the alleged date of the Hopi prophecy. Nevertheless, to consider such matters beats watching television.

The photograph, above, is of Hopi sand painting in the late 19th century.

UPDATED: Some people live for this sort of thing. Try visiting this blog, by the mother of a young English boy recognized as a tulku by HH the Sixteenth Karmapa, wherein the Hopi Tibetan nexus is considered at some length (takes some wading, but worth it).

Uncle Lama's Advice for the Lovelorn

Using the analytical tools that Google so generously supplies everyone, we have learned that "Kurukulle" is the number one search string which brings new visitors to these pages. Further, we have learned that said interest in Kurukulle more often than not stems from the belief she will help bewitch the object(s) of one's obsession(s). Doing a bit more digging, we even find the particular places in the world where women, and presumably men, are fanatically repeating Kurukulle's mantra in the hopes that a recalcitrant member of the opposite sex will become enslaved by love---or whatever passes for love these days.

"Love" seems to be a subject that Western Vajrayana Buddhist practitioners struggle with. We have so many instances of "center romance," and we have so many instances of "dharma divorce," that I scarcely know where to begin. In any event, to serve what appears to be the clamoring legion of lovelorn practitioners who regularly bounce into this site looking for a little red witchcraft, I will take this opportunity to say a few words on a topic about which I know absolutely nothing.

I do, however, have a few opinions.

In some respects, the anxiety of love between humans boils down to what we might call an immediate fear. We meet someone to whom we are powerfully attracted, and almost immediately, the experience is flooded with fear. The fear we will say or do something to repel them; the fear we won't be able to attract them; the fear we won't be able to possess them; the fear we will lose them; the fear somebody else will attract them; the fear somebody else will possess them.

Really, we think about our loves the way a cove thinks about swag.

Our fears inevitably lead us into a series of operettas, and these operettas lead into Grand Opera. In the beginning, there is the operetta of "I won't call him because I want to see if he calls me," followed by, "He won't really love me if he finds out who I really am," which segues into, "I am going to make her jealous," and the companion libretto, "I am going to cut him to see if he bleeds." This is all so counterproductive and dishonest, but this is what we do. Eventually, it all concludes in the Grand Opera, "I love you so much that if I do not have you I will die," and the companion theme, "I love you so much we both should die."

After we have dressed up in all our finery and attended a few opening nights, we tend to react in one of two ways. Either we say, "Screw it! I am going to forget him (or her) and love all sentient beings instead!" or we say, "Hey! Let's Google for Kurukulle and get a love spell! Yeah! That'll work!"

Do I need to tell you that both approaches are equally mistaken?

If you find yourself attracted to somebody, first examine all the reasons why you are attracted. Try to weed out the superficial reasons and concentrate on the wholesome ones. If you wind up marrying this person, then a bond is definitely going to exist between you. Better this bond is in terms of something which liberates rather than something which imprisons.

The next thing to do is have a little confidence in yourself... have confidence in your basic status as a good human being. Don't bring deceit to the table: bring honesty, and above all, bring courtesy. Don't sidle up the poor little victim and say, "Hi! I'm Canyon Rainbow-Wind and I can rock your chakras... so, what about it? Up for bliss and emptiness?"

Maybe that would be a little too confident.

All of the above being said, I can't prevent you from coming here looking for the Big Red One that Really, Really Works. If, despite what I've told you, you still want to play games then here is the secret teaching: OM KURUKULLE HRI SOHA.

Say this mantra exactly one million times in one long sitting. For the first 500,000, visualize the object of your affection seated in front of you, powerless to resist your charms. Watch as he (or she) grows older in front of you, suffers all the vicissitudes of life in Samsara, becomes ill, and dies. For the second 500,000, ask yourself what it would be like if you devoted all this energy to enlightenment for the welfare of all sentient beings, of whom your beloved is naturally emblematic.

When you have finished performing the above, get up from your seat and go see who you love.

For the benefit of search engines: kurukulla kurukulle love spell charm ritual practice bewitch bother bewilder

Situation Here

The upper photo shows conditions last evening. The lower photo shows atmospheric conditions some fifty miles from the fire, earlier today. Mandatory evacuation orders are still in effect, and the range of voluntary evacuation has been expanded. This fire is burning in all directions now. One of the aircraft fighting the fire crashed this afternoon, in strong winds.

AH
Freed from the idea that compassion is a deity;
Freed from the idea of a deity as an external being;
Freed from the idea of separate compassion;
We hear, and rapidly take careful notice of the cries of frightened beings throughout the six realms.
We think that we cannot bear to
have them remain in fear for even
one millisecond longer.
Like the wind moving across the
grass, we express a perfectly natural
reaction to their state, and offer them
a self-created expanse of tranquility
in which to approach.
With complete gentleness, we extend refuge, simultaneously releasing
them into the freedom from all fear,
assured that they will be reborn as
humans, will hear the Dharma, and
will reach enlightenment for the
benefit of others.
Wasting no moment, with no
thought of wisdom, and no time for
method, we are confident of the
spontaneously correct activity in
which we engage together with the
Buddhas of all times and directions.
Our minds melt into the minds of
the suffering beings, bringing them
solace, instantaneously setting them
to rest.
We do not pause to consider that
we have done anything at all.
HUM

Kyabje Tarthang Rinpoche's New Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbxlZmfA3s0

This is the link to a video documenting the largest gift of books in human history, and the largest Dharma project in the world. I encourage you to watch this video from beginning to end, and then to give generously to Kyabje Tarthang Rinpoche's project.

Tarthang Rinpoche is a direct manifestation of Padmasambhava, and the founder of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

Please, I beg of you...take this opportunity while it is still available to you.

Here We Go Again

This is the view which greeted me this morning. The mountains are on fire again. It went from 20 acres to 200 acres yesterday afternoon, from 200 acres to 2,000 acres overnight, and from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres this morning.

UPDATE: It went from 4,000 to 18,000 acres in less than one day, it is now the largest wildland fire in the United States, and we have been subjected to mandatory evacuation. Two Buddhist installations are threatened: a Thai Buddhist wat and a Vietnamese Buddhist retreat center. Nevertheless, the Tibetan Buddhist tent and rabbits are just fine.

Somebody sent this to me and it is one of my favorite photographs. You can't see clearly, but underneath the house at lower left there are a pair of ruby slippers peeking out.

"When our illusory bodies are threatened with danger and destruction because of obstacles of the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind;
"Without any doubt or question, I supplicate you, Orgyen, together with the four goddesses of the elements;
"Thus, there is no doubt that the elements will be self-pacified.
"I supplicate Orgyen Padmasambhava. Grant blessings for the spontaneous accomplishment of our wishes!
"OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM."

Namdroling Crisis

Namdroling, in India's Karnataka State, is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastic institutions in the world, and they are in desperate need of funds. Closely examine the photograph above in order to see the scale on which this institution operates.

Let's impress them, shall we? Visit here, click the link to donate, and keep it working.

Buddhist Archaeology

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?archaeology

This is the link to an endlessly instructive collection of reports on the topic of Buddhist archaeology. With the recent attacks on Buddhist images and installations around the world, we need to begin thinking about greater emphasis on protection of archaeological sites.

Excellent Translation Site

http://www.unfetteredmind.org/translations/mountain.php

Ken McLeod is one of the early translators of Tibetan texts to achieve the confidence of his teachers. He is particularly noted for his work with Kalu Rinpoche. The above link reaches an excellent collection of his work and I commend this to everyone's attention.

Here is a sample:

Six Words of Advice from Tilopa

Don't recall.
Don't imagine.
Don't think.
Don't examine.
Don't control.
Rest.

In Loving Memory of Annapurna Broffman

I have just learned that my friend Georganne Coffee (Annapurna Broffman) passed away in June of this year. She extended kindness and courtesy to me and members of my family numerous times. She is the ex-wife of the celebrated practitioner of Chinese traditional medicine, Dr. Michael Broffman. I spent many hours in Corte Madera as the recipient of this woman's generous hospitality, for which I remain most grateful. I want to say that it is my sense she has received the benefit of her practice, and that she was and is an example to all Western students of the Vajrayana.

Please know that the dakini is your own mind.

The Matter of Shambala

In today's news we see items about the destruction of Buddhist statues in Uddiyana (Swat), and the joyous revival of Buddhism in Mongolia. In common with all things, there is the appearance and then there is the reality.

When I look far into the future, I seem to understand that by fostering the regeneration of Buddhism in Mongolia (and patiently wet-nursing Buddhism in the West), we are laying the groundwork that will eventually overcome the forces now afflicting Uddiyana.

If, indeed, there may be said to be "forces," and anything at all may be said to afflict Uddiyana.

It would appear that there are some fairly horrible characters running around Uddiyana, blowing up things and murdering people.

My late friend, the Ngakpa Gonpo Tsetan, was fond of telling me (many years ago) that the fundamental tenet of Islam is destruction, and that this has always been Islam's role. He liked to say that there was nothing anybody could do about this except sit back and accept the truth. So, maybe we can say this is one of those situations where appearance and reality resemble each other.

What we need to do is transform this into something rather more useful.

Raising public consciousness about the need to protect and preserve Buddhist monuments is one thing, but the deeper thing comes from recognizing that every act of destruction can be the first moment of creation.

We, as Tibetan Buddhists, need to take our place with Buddhists of every other persuasion in a united effort to seize the creative moment. The sangha of today is the you-know-what of tomorrow.

Breaking: Militants Damage Buddhist Image in Swat

BBC is reporting that Muslims have used explosives in an attempt to blow up an important Buddhist statue in Swat.

Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project

I wholeheartedly endorse and encourage any legitimate efforts to revive Buddhism in Mongolia. Having personally examined the finances of the "Mongolian Buddhist Revival Project" sponsored by Alyce Zeoli ("Jetsunma"), and administered in Mongolia by Thomas Fry ("Konchog Norbu"), during the period of time when I was the interim Chief Operating Officer of Kunzang Palyul Choling, I cannot in good conscience endorse their effort as appropriately managed.

As an alternative, I would direct persons wishing to offer financial assistance to contact Glenn Mullin, who has an international reputation for honesty and effectiveness, and is well connected in the region.

UPDATE: As of June 2009, the "Mongolian Buddhist Revival Project" has closed down all operations. In matters like this, if you really want to help, perhaps the safest course of action is to contact the Mongolian Buddhist temples in the U.S., and let them tell you what they really need.

Rinchen Terdzod on Camels!

Go here:
http://danzanravjaa.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/special-deliver.html
You will see sights that have not been seen for centuries and will not be seen again for centuries. My heart sings with delight, and yours will too. The merit from these activities resembles a celestial ocean.

This is America: Give Me the Nyingma T-Shirt

The below post notwithstanding, friends do engage in limited enterprise with which to finance the habit of printing images of the deities. Therefore, if you find yourself in the grip of an unendurable urge to purchase products branded with the Great Seal of the Nyingma School, look no further than this online store.

Each and every penny made in profit goes to print images, cast statues, feed monks, rebuild temples, and put shoes on the nuns. Not one penny goes into the black pocket.

Clarification about money and students

With the growing popularity of this web log comes a number of misconceptions. May I address some of them here?

Contributions.

(1) I do not encourage people to send me money. If I can do something myself, I just do it. If I cannot do something myself, I just wait. So, thank you but no thank you. If you have extra money, send it to somebody useful. I regularly post suggestions herein.

Students.

(2) I do not take students. I do not know anything special, I do not have any realization, and I do not understand very much at all. I live in the desert with two pet rabbits, and I do not have much time to chat about things.

Is It Safe?

(3) If you don't get in the water, you'll never learn to swim.

Yes, But Is It Safe?

(4) If you don't stop swimming, you'll never learn to sail.

Is It Safe?

(5) If you don't stop sailing, you'll never get out of the water.

White Umbrella

Somewhere, somebody you love needs a little helping hand. Send me their name(s) and I will include them (by name) in a special practice I am doing every night for the next three nights. Of course, I will include them anyway, but if you want me to say their names I will be happy to do so.

Send to rinpoche(at)nyingmapa.us

Vegetarianism and Buddhism

Here is an excellent collection of studies on the topic of vegetarianism in the context of Buddhism:

http://www.shabkar.org/vegetarianism/index.htm

I can neither encourage nor discourage people from eating meat. However, I can say that if you have already stopped eating meat, there is no reason to regret your decision. If you have not stopped eating meat there is ample reason to consider doing so.

Remember the Muktinath Nuns

In the late 1960s, trekkers used to make frequent visits to support the Muktinath nuns at this, one of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism. I wonder if that is still the case. There are all sorts of ways to spend money. Why don't you consider spending just a bit at Muktinath? See the shoes on them, on the way up to 12,000 feet, to care for the temple?

Now look at your own shoes.

Do the right thing.

Cotton Clad Bewitches Box Office

Could not resist the old, Variety-style headline. Seems the new Milarepa movie is getting good reviews from the trade.

One motion picture I can wholeheartedly suggest is Samsara.

No, this is not one of those namjog/rejog deals.....

well, actually it is.....

Perfume for Offering

If you are looking for a source of extremely high quality fragrances for altar offerings, here is a site: http://www.profumo.it/perfume/prodotti.asp?cat=5

Knowledge of fragrances is gained through study of Tibetan pharmacology, and certain substances are among the first medicines administered transdermally. This site has things I have not seen for over 40 years. Usually, when we prepare perfumed water, it is not considered sufficient to give it a shot of "Obsession" and then call it quits. Usually, we want to get a pure, natural essence.

Radio Free Tibet

Here is the quick link to Radio Free Asia's Tibetan news. Their web page is here. Naturally, the news is hardly ever what we might call pleasant. However, they do have useful information on how to overcome broadcast jamming and internet blocking, with particular reference to China.

So, if you are living in China, where the government does not trust its own people:
visit http://www.rfa.org/english/support/web_access/
and learn how to freely access information that is available to everyone else in the world.

You can also visit the Fire Phoenix site:
http://firephoenix.edoors.com/index.html

Blue-Eyed Buddhists in the 9th Century

The Buddhist archaeological investigations along the Silk Road are a source of endless fascination. Here is the link to more on the subject.

Bimaran Casket

The so-called Bimaran Casket is reputed to be the earliest known representation of the Buddha. It was found inside a stupa in eastern Afghanistan, in the 1830s. The piece itself dates to around 30 BC. You can read the rather fascinating story here, or visit the British Museum, where it now resides. The great pity, of course, is that priceless Buddhist relics were destroyed when the museums in Afghanistan were looted.

Dreaming of Borobudur

Here is a site which is difficult to describe yet most engrossing. The author pursues what he calls sacred science by studying Buddhism's energetic offerings. Maybe we can say this is a architectural investigation of sacred sites. In any event, it is worth a look.

I often think we should build something like this right in the middle of the United States.

Beautiful Mirror of Awareness

In a future unconditioned by a past
resides the present:
a Beautiful Mirror of Awareness.

In pure light;
in the clear radiance of emptiness,
the activity of loving-kindness without and within,
I thank you for your presence
in the world, and pray you please remain.

You sing from afar with a mighty voice,
and waken us from the sorrows of dreams,
so that we hear with no subject
and see with no object.

May your activity never end;
May your light increase;
May I always gaze into this
light and find all sentient beings reflected there.

Yours is the perfection of self-liberation,
and upon you I wish
only to forever see.

Copyright (c) 2006 by Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche. Rights reserved.

"Even Better" Ngondro in Chinese and Tibetan

Here is the link to a 400+ page (5.7 MB) Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro PDF in Chinese and Tibetan; extraordinarily well done by http://www.larong-chuling.com.

Shame, Shame, Steven Spielberg

In July 1959, the International Commission of Jurists determined that Communist China committed genocide in Tibet:
"There is prima facie evidence that the Chinese Communists have by acts of genocide attempted to destroy the Tibetan nation and the Buddhist religion in Tibet, the International Commission of Jurists announced in a preliminary report The Question of Tibet and The Rule of Law published here today. There is evidence, the report states, that the Chinese have by killing Tibetans and by the forcible removal of Tibetan children committed acts contrary to the Genocide Convention of 1948. There is also evidence that these acts were intentionally directed towards the destruction of the Tibetan religion and the Tibetan nation. The 208-page report, which also considers the evidence on other violations of human rights and examines the international status of Tibet, has been sent to the United Nations and to all U. N. delegations."

Now, a celebrated motion picture producer, who proclaims his deep understanding of the Jewish Holocaust, permits himself to be employed as a propaganda tool by the authors of the Tibetan Holocaust.

Mr. Spielberg, you should be deeply ashamed of yourself. Show your opposition to genocide in all its manifestations by ceasing your work for the 2008 Olympics.

Where is the memory of the over 600,000 Tibetan Buddhist monks, nuns, and rinpoches murdered during the decade 1950-1960? Mr. Spielberg, where is your conscience?

Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro in Chinese

Many will argue that it isn't a proper language, but nevertheless, here is a link to the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro in Tibetan and simplified Chinese: 大圆满隆钦心髓前行念诵仪规--遍智妙道.

Unfortunate Incident

Thanks to everybody who wrote while I was in the hospital. I am so grateful for your kind thoughts and prayers.

To those of you who gently inquired as to the problem, I was a bit shy to tell you, but the truth is the big rascal threw me while I was riding. Here is a photo taken while they were trying to get him back into the corral.

Dalai Lama's Gold Medal and Political Maturity

How pleasing it is to see that His Holiness will receive his Congressional Gold Medal, first authorised in September 2006, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol next month.

Get the message, China?

This award--America's highest civilian honor--signifies many things to many people. To me, it represents the culmination of efforts that began in the San Francisco Bay area 40 years ago. To me, it represents a measure of political maturity on the part of the Tibetan community. To me, it represents the coming-of-age of Tibet in the West.

Let all the world see.

It is also nice to know that eventually, we will be able to purchase bronze replicas of the Dalai Lama's medal. These are usually struck by the U.S. Mint in the months following the actual award, and sold in two sizes: a small one for around $3.50, and a 3" one for around $38.00

Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro MP3

Here is a MP3 of Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche performing the Longchen Nyingthig Ngondro (8.5MB, compressed). I candidly think the gentleman will not mind if we post this here, as long as we remember to direct you to his site treating the restoration of Ju Mohor Monastery.

Why should we care about Ju Mohor, you ask? Do the names Mipham Rinpoche and Patrul Rinpoche ring a bell? Besides, this project is nearing completion and just needs one last big push. So, save that $20 you would spend on dinner and a movie with a date ($120 in the US, date optional), and send it to Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche instead.

NOTE: AS OF 16 JULY 2009 THIS RESOURCE IS NOW HERE.

New Padmasambhava E-Card

Here is a new high-resolution e-card of Guru Rinpoche with the Vajra Guru Mantra in Tibetan, English, Cyrillic, and Chinese. You can download this card, print it out, or click the little email link below to send it to your friends. Will those of you who read Chinese please proofread this card and let me know if it is O.K.? rinpoche2006(at)gmail.com

Csoma de Koros

Whenever possible, I like to use these pages to acknowledge the contributions of Westerners who gave their lives to the preservation and transplantation of Tibetan Buddhism in this and the previous centuries. In this regard, one figure towers over all the rest: the Hungarian wanderer Csoma de Koros (his tomb in Darjeeling pictured above). Don Croner has a site which offers a good introduction:
http://www.shambhala.mn/Files/csoma.html

al-Qaida, China, and "Buddhist Targets"

There are now confirmed reports that Chinese military intelligence is supplying the Taliban with sophisticated weapons of recent manufacture: the same Taliban who use their weapons to destroy priceless Buddhist monuments; the same Chinese military who used their weapons to destroy Tibet.

Further, there are also confirmed reports that China has paid al-Qaida leader Osama bin-Laden---who is currently hiding from U.S. forces in Chinese territory---"tens of millions of dollars" for unexploded U.S. Tomahawk Cruise Missles.

Why does China invest so much time, money, and political will in the support of forces that attack Buddhist targets? Why does China furnish aid and comfort to the enemies of Buddhism's safe-havens?

There is terrible trouble in Uddiyana: the barbarians flourish their arms.

Clearly, the War for Shambhala has begun. Since the final battle will take place in 2327, it would appear this will be a long, long conflict. Yet, what if we could stop the seeds which are now being sown from sprouting? What if the outcome in 2327 is actually being established right now, in 2007?

Prayer for All the World's Deserts

Please, consider this!
The grand expanse of empty earth lies
beneath a cloudless sky.
Everywhere, to the north, east, south, and
west, and in all directions in between, there
await the majestic, wish granting jewels:
strewn upon the spotless ground by the
playful hand of original wisdom.
Here and there, masterpieces of the elements, granting immortality, their symbols
endowed with supreme qualities, and miraculous attributes: here and there the songs
of enchantment rise on compliant breezes
that spontaneously grow into a fortunate
wind of prayer for all the deserts of the
world.
In order to quell the anxiety of deluded
beings of the six realms, I, Tenpa, call upon
the blessings of all buddhas and bodhi-
sattvas to simultaneously awaken in beings
this auspicious thought.
Through the interdependence of all
things seen and unseen, arising from their
diversity, abilities, capacities, innermost
wishes, and charitable dreams, this elixir that
rides on wind reaches each being according
to their precise necessity, at the individually
exact, propitious moment.
The primordial wind that travels across
all the open expanses of this and every other
world system is strong, fragrant, clean, and
clear.
It completely dispels the clouds of ignorance and confusion that delude beings.
It clears away all contaminations.
It causes all turmoil arising from mistaken
views to immediately cease.
Errors, disputes, quarrels, hatred, jealousies, miscalculations, trepidation, evil omens,
negativities, vague feelings of disease, discord, and impatient temper are blown to the
smallest part of atoms and disappear.
When, through deluded habits, we
make errors that affect others, and ourselves, this wind instructs us.
When, through our actions, we offend
deities, protectors, and spirits, this wind
purifies us.
When, through selfish tendencies, we
fall to depression, this wind relieves us.
This: the wind that makes everything
right.
To those who guard sacred places, I
call you: arise, and come to these expanses!
To those who guard the precious
teachings, I call you: arise, and come to
these expanses!
To those who guard the irreplaceable
teachers, I call you: arise, and come to
these expanses!
To those who watch over us day and
night, I call you: arise, and come to these
expanses!
Come to the birthplace of the wind of
bright fortune and accept all the offerings
the human mind can conceive, arrayed
here higher than the highest mountain,
deeper than the deepest sea!
Take all offerings with you, into this
wind, and deliver them to all sentient beings.
Rise to the top of all hills and mountains, visit all lakes, rivers, streams, and
oceans: go to the homes, the temples, the
crowded places, the lonely places, the
places of birth, and death.
Rise into the center of the sky!
To every place, and all places in between bring this very wind of immaculate
charity and benevolence that resides
within my heart and is reflected in these
desert expanses.
Upon the earth, and its atoms, spreading outward, into the billion-fold spaces
that lie within and without, let the continuous vow resound in this eternal deed:
the promise of Tenpa in this and all other
lifetimes—a cool wind of deliverance
from a far place of perfection, to the
sweltering emptiness of this place, where
time is no longer important.
Every stain and obscuration is purified.
All opposition, obstacles, vengeful
harms, malevolent sorceries, and envious
plots are repelled.
All injuries heal, all illness dissipates.
Great fortune and fine destiny returns,
every wish is granted, and all things are
perceived as they truly are.
To you, and all of you, perceived as inhabiting the illusion of the deserts of the
world, if you have need of blessings, approach and take this rain of blessings that
comes to you now so directly.

Excerpted from High Desert by Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche. 
Copyright (c) 2007 by Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche. All rights reserved. 

The Seven Line Prayer (Dorje Tsig Dunpa)

Here is a link to the finest exposition of the Seven Line Prayer I have seen on the Internet, from Lennart Warnemyr, in Sweden: http://www.warnemyr.com/tibetan/dorjetsigdun/index.html

Lennart Warnemyr took this seriously, and did it right. Should be required viewing for every Nyingmapa.

By the way, you can get the rather intriguing story on the Padmasambhava rupa, above, from http://www.shambhalashop.com/archives/surmang/padmasambhava.html

Sacred Conch

Here is a link to the most exhaustive study of the sacred conch that I have ever seen in this or any other language: http://gems-astrology.com/blog/?p=14

Swastika Circle

May the clouds of ignorance that prevent me
from seeing you be spontaneously lifted:

A heart-stream of adorned motive
is tributary to a river of mercy,
where beings as numberless as stars
find, and take comfort from,
the energetic display of
your thousand faces of wisdom.

For you, inhabiting one and then the other,
with a realization beyond the three times,
I pray that a connection be established forever.

Oh, precious one, even as I have no understanding,
let faith guide me to the self-liberation
that comes through your presence;
even as I have no faith,
let intention guide me to the aspiration
that comes through your voice;
even as I have no intention
let the hero of awareness
waken me from conceptual thinking.

Oh, precious one, I beg you to look quickly to me;
Oh, precious one, I beg you please remain.







Copyright (c) 2002 Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche. Rights reserved.

High Desert now available

Tenpa Rinpoche's latest book, High Desert, is available for purchase, here.

This is only for a short time, and we do ask you to write and tell us how you like it: rinpoche(at)nyingmapa.us

Refuge prayer for a day of great suffering in Tibet

Yesterday, September 1st 2007, China's new "tulku regulations" went into effect, and we can understand that this was likely a day of confusion in Tibet. I am reliably informed that tulkus were routinely asked to sign declarations criticizing H.H. Dalai Lama as predicate to a determination of their own legal status. Naturally, this will have precipitated ethical dilemmas.

I have been thinking about this too much: it has been a theme running through my days. Really, in a circumstance of this magnitude, the only useful thing to do is seek refuge. With this thought in mind, I composed a shoddy little prayer for all those who find themselves oppressed by thoughts of "is" or "is not."

Namo!
I take refuge in primordially perfected basic space.
Since sentient beings of the six realms are actually Buddhas,
I must awaken this true nature through the union of compassion and emptiness.

I vow to eternally shepherd sentient beings to enlightenment through the perfection of spontaneously correct action.
I vow to continually appear where I am of the greatest benefit to all sentient beings, no matter what illusion of difficulty appears to arise.
I shall not enter Nirvana unless all sentient beings first enter Nirvana.
I dedicate all merit of the three times to the welfare of all sentient beings.

In a manner that is neither necessary nor unnecessary, there is this expedient necessity.

What does this mean? It means that if it makes some jackanapes local official happy to go through the utterly meaningless fiction of signing and stamping documents that have absolutely no basis in reality, then go ahead and make him or her happy. The Dalai Lama does not want to be the cause of your suffering, and he doesn't care if you denounce him or not.

Old Dream of River Sky

Expressions of adoration to the one who never fails who relieve the suffering of all sentient beings, each according to their individual need: the primordially perfect mother, awareness and emptiness.

Consider this!

Across the blue sea of emptiness
through the storm of suffering,
into this world of tears he came,
yet again, to benefit all beings.

And in my dream of ignorance
I thought that I was his mirror
when truly, he was mine.

Because the separation from him was long
the recognition of him was gradual.

His inexhaustible wisdom,
shining like a gentle moon,
only to appear here and there
behind the veil of moving clouds.

The clouds were my limitations,
their movement my wrong views,
the light was his light of pure awareness.

One who teaches the eradication of suffering
in a single lifetime is precious,
no matter what disguise he assumes
no matter how difficult the lesson.

One who awakens the dreamer
and begs her to face the collection,
is precious, no matter what method he uses
no matter how sudden the means.

One who with fierce wisdom
grasps the deceiver by the throat,
and throws out the deception,
is precious, no matter how the battle ends,
no matter how the story is written.

And now, that I come to suffer,
soon to be free of the prison of this body
yet faced with the prison of mankind on one side
and the prison of memory on the other,
I marvel at the great blessing
and the fine fortune of you, and
the escape from prison you have offered.

Who has greater need for your instruction
than this broken dancer, your Ancient Love?

Now that I have seen your true face
do not turn away from me;
I beg you, remain in this world
and teach me a little longer.

I wish only to sing this song
over and over to you;
I wish only to hear your song sung to me:

From the myriad possibilities of sentience
into the rare and difficult dream of human birth you came;
because of past actions, your present tendency caused you to believe in love.

From the busy wellspring of awareness and ignorance
that sustains appearances,
you chose to believe in me.

But, now the view that tested you is itself tested,
as your mind watches your mind,
and what one seeks causes the other suffering.

I pray that you reconcile, and become one in your divinity.

I offer the cloud of merit that my prayers have
accumulated since beginningless time,
in exchange for your happiness and contentment;
I pray that you never again experience any discord,
and bind yourself to me without any
obstacles or obscurations.

To you, who are incomparable among others,
I give this admonition:
Do not cling to the false friend
when the true friend calls.

If you find fault with the one
who has loved you in perfect purity,
Please tell me, what wrong I did when
I drank your poisons and danced with your passions,
and entered your prisons to answer your prayers.

To you, who are incomparable among others,
I give this admonition:
Do not struggle against the true friend,
while the false friend deceives you.

If you find fault with the one
who has loved you with fearless heart,
Please tell me, what wrong I did when
I showed you that gold is sand and dreams are dust,
and realities are uncreated rainbows across a lake.

You think only of the things
you wished for and did not see
but ordinary eyes do not see the diamonds I gave you.

They are not of the hand, not even of the mind,
Yet, every inch of the stainless sky cries out to you now,
To hold them, see them, and know them:
Permanently pure, gone beyond poisons, passions, prisons, prayers.

Gem medicines and jewel voices that cure all diseases as they whisper:
“Do not be afraid. I am here with you.
I will not leave without you.”

In the ocean of suffering caused by
the conditioned existence of impermanence,
what is more precious than this?

Gifts to the hand disappear;
gifts to the mind are a mirror,
but gifts to the heart are eternal.

I, who have crossed seas of time to be with you,
am the love that believes in you,
forever skillfully sailing to a farther shore.

To you, who are incomparable among others,
I give this admonition:
Many gifts are possible in this life,
but the greatest of these is loving kindness.

Copyright (c) 2002 Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche. Rights reserved.

Not all the Gers are in Mongolia.

This is a photograph of my ger (when it was new). Unfortunately, when I became ill, my attendants took it down and stored it away while it was still damp. We therefore have a little warping of the larch (easy enough to fix), UV damage to the paintwork (who cares), and shrinking and mildewing of the cover (big problem). I am investigating all sorts of solutions to the cover problem, none of them within my budget.

The gTerma of Danzan Ravjaa

This morning's post brings a note from somebody named Thomas Fry, or Konchog Norbu, in Mongolia, together with a photograph of Danzan Ravjaa's image of Padmasambhava. He explains:

"It seems one day Danzan Ravjaa was in the southern Gobi Desert and suddenly told his companions to get on their horses with him and ride. He pulled up abruptly at some rocks, dismounted, strode up to one sizable stone and struck it with his riding crop. The stone split in two and inside was the Guru Rinpoche image you see in the photo. It's the only example of physical terma I've discovered in my two years in Mongolia. Danzan Ravjaa had 'pure vision' encounters with Guru Rinpoche many times, and slowly the resulting texts will find their way into the Western world."

We also notice Thomas Fry a/k/a Konchog Norbu--a young Western monk in Mongolia--simultaneously posting queries on some horrid bulletin board somewhere, asking who the heck is Tenpa Rinpoche(!) The internet is my desert, this blog is my rocks, the cursor is my riding crop, understanding the nature of one's own face is image enough.

This image of the eclectic terton and mahasiddha Danzan Ravjaa (Tib. Bstan ‘dzin rab gyas 1803-1857), the 5th incarnation in the lineage of the Gobi Noyons, is in the so-called Library Cave where over 1,000 of his manuscripts were preserved.

Sky Burial

I found this really excellent photograph of Tibetan sky burial on a Spanish site. Note that the vultures appear to favor the drumsticks, which the gentleman has thoughtfully slit open for them. These are fit images for morning meditation.

It's not about the Dalai Lama

I see headlines proclaiming that China's new reincarnation law is aimed at the Dalai Lama.

It isn't.

China's new regulations--and China's entire policy--is aimed squarely at Buddhism.

You cannot view each one of China's moves in isolation: you have to examine them as a whole.

Tibet is not the whole of the issue. Take out a map, and note the predominantly Buddhist countries. Next, examine the nature of China's relations with those countries.

It is not a pretty picture.

Buddhism feels threatened by Communist China, but why does Communist China feel itself so threatened by Buddhism?

Buddhist "Baseball Cards"

Here is a fun way to spend money: we found a place where they print "baseball" or trading cards, and we are now printing cards for each of the deities. Our first effort is pictured above.

BREAKING: Move to Create "Buddhist Vatican"

I have thought long and hard about this, and I think the only solution to China's new reincarnation regulations is to create something like a Buddhist "Vatican," and give all the tulkus diplomatic passports. This could be accomplished in Bhutan, or Kalmykia, or some other predominantly Buddhist nation with the political will to actually do something. Now, to be fair, the new Article 27 of China's National Regulations on Religious Affairs doesn't just impact Buddhists, it also impacts Christians, in that China reserves the right to name Roman Catholic bishops. This naturally upsets the Vatican, but while they cannot prevent China from implementing the regulation they can at least highlight its lack of legitimacy. So, I put it to the King of Bhutan, or the President of Kalmykia, or the King of Thailand, for that matter: are you willing to create an independent city-state that will serve to protect Buddhist priests from political repression? If not, then why not? Is there any nation on this planet that has so absorbed the Dharma that they can practice the perfection of generosity and actually give up a fragment of their lands in order to save the Dharma?

Where are you from?

We are always intrigued to see where our visitors come from, and we're also researching what language support we should add to this site. Based on the latest study (above) the second language we're most likely to add is Australian. In all seriousness, it looks like we should add Chinese---but then again, the question is always which Chinese.

New Vajrapani E-Card

Here is a high resolution e-card of Vajrapani you can download and print out, or click the email link below to send this to a friend.

Lama of the Gobi

If you visit http://www.shopmongolia.com, you will be able to purchase books about Danzan Rabjaa, and thereby learn more about the man and his times. In some respects, he was to Mongolia as Trungpa Rinpoche was to the United States.

New White Tara E-Card

Here is a new, high-resolution White Tara e-card you can download and print out as you wish. You can also click the little email icon below and send this to somebody who needs help.

Financing the Dharma?

Every center, every monastery, every student has the same question: how to generate sufficient funds? Some of the entities are seeming "black holes:" all sorts of claims are made about feeding the monks, or rebuilding the temples, but nobody ever publishes any numbers and the situation never seems to get any better. There is always another crisis right around the corner.

I don't blame the times and I don't blame the students.

I blame the lamas.

Since when did fundraising take overarching precedence over teaching and practice? Since when did grandiose projects take precedence over the "bone on the stone?" Since when were empowerments for sale, or tailor-made to the whim of this or that wealthy sponsor? Since when did teachers do "fundraising tours?" I read through the pages of the Snow Lion newspaper and I see the full page ads for "His Holiness" this and "His Eminence" that, and then I remember the grace and dignity of the lamas of the past and it makes me feel so ashamed. What must people think of us?

"Dharma projects" are like writing new prayers: there are thousands of volumes of prayers already around that nobody takes time for, so why should we write any new ones? To gain merit? Please be serious. Thinking of your teacher for even one second is merit enough. If I build 100,000 stupas it will not equal even one fleeting moment of understanding and applying my teacher's pith instructions.

Maybe we better kick out Shakyamuni, Padmasambhava, and all else and just build great temples to Dzambhala and the local wealth deities. There is such a sickness on this account in Taiwan, Singapore, and Southern California that I pray constantly for the fools who enslave themselves to continual thoughts of worldly gain.

The practices of White Mahakala, Orgyen Dzambhala, and so forth are exercises in altruism; in the perfection of giving. They are not witchcraft with which to get money to go buy a new car.