Prayers for Tibetan Earthquake: Barchey Lamsel

Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung
Chöku nangwa taye la solwa deb
Longku tukje chenpo la solwa deb
Trülku pema jungney la solwa deb
Daggi lama ngotsar trülpey ku
Gyagar yüldu kutrung tösam dzey
Böyül üsu zheljön drekpa dül
Orgyen yüldu kuzhuk drodön dzey
Tukje dagla jingyi lob
Tsewey dagsok lamna drong
Gongpey dagla ngödrub tsol
Nüpey dagsok barchey sol
Chiyi barchey chiru sol
Nanggi barchey nangdu sol
Sangwey barchey yingsu sol
Güpey chaktsal kyabsu chi
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung
Dharmakaya Amitabha, I supplicate you.
Sambhogakaya Great Compassionate One, I supplicate you,
Nirmanakaya Padmakara, I supplicate you.
My guru, wonderful nirmanakaya,
In the land of India, you were born, you studied and contemplated.
Journeying in person to Tibet, you tamed the demonic forces.
Residing in the land of Uddiyana, you acted for the welfare of beings.
Through your kindness, bestow your blessings upon me.
Through your affection, guide myself and others on the path.
Through your realization, grant me the siddhis.
Through your powers, dispel the obstacles of myself and others.
Clear the outer obstacles externally.
Clear the inner obstacles internally.
Clear the secret obstacles spontaneously.
Respectfully I bow and take refuge in you.
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Kuyi ngotsar tongwey tse
Yepey raldri chagya dzey
Yönpey gukpey chagya dzey
Zheldrey chetsik gyenla zig
Gyalwey dungdzin drowey gön
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When seeing the wonder of bodily forms,
You make the sword mudra with your right hand.
With your left, you make the summoning mudra.
With gaping mouth, bare fangs, and upward gaze,
Gyalwey Dungdzin, Lord of Beings,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Damchö rinchen senpey tse
Kusel özer dangdang den
Chakye denö lekbam nam
Yönpey phurpey puti nam
Zabmöi chönam tuksu chü
Yangle shökyi pandi ta
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When receiving the precious and sacred teachings
Your radiant body is endowed with a luminous complexion.
Your right hand holds the scriptures of the tripitaka.
Your left holds a volume of Kilaya.
You comprehend all the profound teachings.
Pandita of Yanglesho,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Damchen damla takpey tse
Drimey neychok nyamre gah
Gyagar böyül satsam su
Jingyi labney jönpey tse
Drisung pö-ngey denpey ri
Metog pema günyang kye
Chumig jangchub dütsi chu
Deden deyi neychog tu
Kyechog tsülzang chögö sol
Chakye dorje tsegu nam
Yönpey rinchen zama tog
Rakta dütsi nangdu tam
Khandro damchen damla tak
Yidam zhelzik ngödrub nye
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When binding the vow holders under oath,
At the beautiful and immaculate supreme place,
At the borderline between India and Tibet,
You bestowed your blessings, on the moment of arrival,
At the mountain endowed with enveloping fragrance.
Even in winter time lotus flowers bloom
At this supreme and blissful place,
The Spring of Enlightenment with nectar-like water.
Kyechok Tsulsang, dressed in the robes of the Dharma,
Your right hand holds the nine pronged vajra
Your left holds a jewel casket
Filled with rakta nectar.
You bound under oath the dakinis and vow holders.
Seeing the yidam face to face, you accomplished the siddhis.
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Gyalwey tenpa tsukpey tse
Yari nakla drubpa dzey
Nyenphur namkhai yingsu phang
Dorjei chagye langshing dril
Drilzhing tsenden nagsu phang
Mebar trukshing tsoyang kem
Sibkyi mutek sagang sek
Yaksha nagpo düldu lag
Drengyi domey dükyi shey
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When establishing the doctrine of the Victorious One,
You performed sadhana in the forest of the Slate Mountain.
Throwing your recitation dagger into the sky’s expanse,
You caught it and rolled with your vajra mudra.
Rolling, you threw it into to the sandalwood forest,
The fire blazed and the lake dried up.
Instantly you burned away all the places of the tirthikas
And reduced the black yakshas to dust.
Matchless Slayer of Demons,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Srinpö khanön dzepey tse
Khyeuchung trülküi chaluk chen
Yamtsen zukzang khadog lek
Tsemdrik utra serla dzey
Gunglo chudrug lönpey tsül
Rinchen gyencha natsok sol
Chakye kharwey phurpa nam
Düdang sinpö khanön dzey
Yönpey sengdeng phurpa nam
Möpey bula sungkyob dzey
Gülna chakyi phurpa nam
Yidam lhadang nyisu mey
Nyimey trülku dzamling gyen
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When you subjugate the rakshas,
Young boy in nirmanakaya attire,
Wondrous form of goodness with magnificent color,
With even teeth and beautiful golden hair,
In the manner of a sixteen year old youth,
You wear various kinds of jewel ornaments.
With your right hand you hold the bell-metal dagger,
Subjugating the maras and rakshas.
With your left you hold the teak dagger,
Protecting your devoted disciples.
Around the neck your wear the iron dagger,
Indivisible from the yidam deity.
Nondual nirmanakaya, Ornament of Jambudvipa,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Dreyi yüldu gongpey tse
Mepung shökyi sazhi la
Da-gyang ganggi tsonang du
Pemey tengdu silsil dra
Pemey nangdu gongpa dzey
Tsenyang pema jungney zhey
Dzogpey sangye ngösu jön
Dendrey trülku yamtsen chen
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When intending to go to the land of ghosts,
In the area of Mass of Fire,
Within a lake the expanse of an arrow shot,
Upon a lotus you were cooled and refreshed.
Meditating within a lotus flower,
Known as Padmasambhava,
You appeared as the perfect buddha in person.
Such a wondrous nirmanakaya,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Bökyi nyima dzepey tse
Deden drowa drenpey pal
Gangla gangdül kuryen ney
Tsangkha layi latog tu
Dralhai genyen damla tak
Yülni tsawey tsashö du
Lhayi genyen drekpa chen
Nyishu tsachig damla tak
Mang-yül deyi jamtrin du
Gelong zhila ngödrub nang
Kyepar phakpey rigdzin chok
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When becoming the sun of Tibet,
Glorious guide of devoted beings,
You manifested in different forms to tame beings according to their needs.
At the Khala pass in Tsang,
You bound Dralha Genyen under oath.
At the district of Tsawey Tsasho,
The twenty-one Haughty Deva Genyens
You bound under oath.
At Jamtrin of Mangyul,
You bestowed siddhis on the Four Monks.
Supreme Eminent Vidyadhara,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Palmo tanggi paltang du
Tenma chunyi damla tak
Böyül khalai latog tu
Gangkar shamey damla tak
Damshö lhabü nyingdrung du
Tanglha yarzhur damla tak
Hepo riyi yanggong du
Lhasin tamchey damla tak
Chewey lhadrey tamchey kyi
Laley sokgi nyingpo phül
Laley tenpa sungwar jay
Laley drendu kelang jay
Tudang dzutrül tobpo chey
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

At the glorious plain of Palmotang,
You bound the twelve Tenma goddesses under oath.
At the Khala pass of Central Tibet,
You bound Fleshless White Glacier under oath.
At Damsho Lhabu Nyingdrung,
You bound Thangla Yarshu under oath.
At the very summit of Hepori,
You bound all the devas and rakshas under oath.
Of all these great devas and demons,
Some offered the core of their life-force,
Some undertook guarding the teachings
And some pledged to be servants.
Mighty one with powers and miracles,
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Dampa chökyi tenpa ni
Gyaltsen tabur tsukpey tse
Samye mazheng lhüngyi drub
Gyalpöi gongpa tarchin dzey
Kyechok sumgyi tsenyang sol
Chigni pema jungney zhey
Chigni pema sambha va
Chigni tsokye dorje zhey
Sangtsen dorje drakpo tsal
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

When establishing the doctrine of the sacred Dharma,
Like a banner of victory,
Samye, without being erected, was spontaneously accomplished
And you fulfilled the wishes of the king.
You were endowed with the names of three great beings.
One was Padmakara,
One was Padmasambhava,
And one was Lake-born Vajra.
Your secret name was Dorje Drakpo Tsal.
Through your kindness /
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Samye chimphur drubpa dzey
Kyenngen dogching ngödrub nang
Jelön tarpey lamla kö
Dönzuk böngyi tenpa nub
Chöku drimey rinchen ten
Kalden sangye sala kö
Tukje dagla jingyi lob
Tsewey dagsok lamna drong
Gongpey dagla ngödrub tsol
Nüpey dagsok barchey sol
Chiyi barchey chiru sol
Nanggi barchey nangdu sol
Sangwey barchey yingsu sol
Güpey chaktsal kyabsu chi
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

At Samye Chimphu, when practicing sadhana
You repelled negative conditions and bestowed the siddhis.
You established the king and ministers on the path of liberation
And caused the Bön doctrine, negativity in manifest form, to wane.
You showed the precious and immaculate dharmakaya
And placed the destined ones in buddhahood.
With your kindness, bestow your blessings upon me.
With your affection, guide myself and others on the path.
With your realization, grant me the siddhis.
With your powers, dispel the obstacles of myself and others.
Clear the outer obstacles externally.
Clear the inner obstacles internally.
Clear the secret obstacles spontaneously.
Respectfully I bow and take refuge in you.
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Deney orgyen yüldu jön
Danta sinpöi khanön dzey
Miley lhaggyur yamtsen chey
Chöpa mejung ngotsar chey
Tudang dzutrül tobpo chey
Tukje dagla /
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung

Having left for the land of Urgyen,
You now subdue the rakshas.
Your great qualities surpass any human being.
Your actions are wonderful and amazing.
Mighty one with powers and miracles,
Through your kindness /
om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung

Kusung tukden drowa drenpey pal
Dribpa künpang khamsum saley khyen
Ngödrub chognye dechen choggi ku
Jangchub drubpey barchey ngepar sel
Tukje dagla jingyi lob
Tsewey dagsok lamna drong
Gongpey dagla ngödrub tsol
Nüpey dagsok barchey sol
Chiyi barchey chiru sol
Nanggi barchey nangdu sol
Sangwey barchey yingsu sol
Güpey chaktsal kyabsu chi
Om ah hung benza guru pema siddhi hung
Om ah hung benza guru pema tötreng tsal benza samaya dzah siddhi phala hung ah

Possessing the Body, Speech and Mind, you are the glorious guide of beings.
Having discarded all obscurations, you perceive the three realms vividly.
Having achieved the supreme siddhi, sublime body of great bliss,
You surely dispel the obstacles to attaining enlightenment.
With your kindness, bestow your blessings upon me.
With your affection, guide myself and others on the path.
With your realization, grant me the siddhis.
With your powers, dispel the obstacles of myself and others.
Clear the outer obstacles externally.
Clear the inner obstacles internally.
Clear the secret obstacles spontaneously.
Respectfully I bow and take refuge in you.
Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung
Om ah hung vajra guru padma totreng tsal vajra samaya jah siddhi phala hung ah




Taken from the Sheldam Nyingjang of Lamey Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel, a terma of Orgyen Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. You can find a PDF for download at this link.

Karmapa XVII Sends USD $200,000 to Quake Victims: Issues Appeal

 An Appeal from the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa on Behalf of Victims of the Xinghai Earthquake

The large earthquake in Yushu County, Xinghai Province, has caused great loss of life and injured many people. To date the death toll has risen above 1000 and the number of those severely injured has also risen above 1000. In total, more than 10,000 people have been injured.

When I heard this tragic news, I was very saddened at the loss, and began immediately to offer prayers for those who have been affected by this incident, both those who have lost their lives and the survivors. May those who have died be freed from the bardo state of terror and suffering of such an unexpected death, and be reborn in the pure lands or a higher realm. May the survivors who have undergone the suffering of loss of relatives and friends and the trauma of losing their homes be comforted and find relief. May they receive the emergency help they need as soon as possible, and be able to rebuild their lives. I will pray ceaselessly for this.

I request the monasteries of the different schools and devotees, near and far, to offer the following prayers: the Guru Rinpoche Prayers Barchey Lamsel, Sampa Lhundrub and Sampa Nyurdrub; the Wangdu Soldeb composed by Mipham Rinpoche; recitation of the mantras of Chenresig and Heyagriva; recitation of the saddhanas of the Medicine Buddha, Amitabha Buddha and Akshobhya Buddha; night-long recitation of The Twenty-One Praises of Tara.

In addition, I would ask everyone to contribute, directly or indirectly, to the relief work. I have instructed the Karmapa Foundation in America to donate $200,000 for immediate aid for the victims of this disaster and to help with the task of rebuilding. I have called on all Buddhists and compassionate people to pray sincerely for the victims of this earthquake, and to do their best, according to each one’s capacity, to become involved or sponsor different kinds of relief activity so that it will be effective.

Death and impermanence is an integral part of life. When this kind of disaster strikes, may the power of the natural goodness within all of us provide physical and mental comfort and the courage to start anew.

When you are happy, dedicate that happiness to all beings,

so that happiness may pervade the sky.

When you suffer, you are bearing the suffering of all beings.

May the ocean of suffering become dry completely.

17th Gyalwang Karmapa,
Ogyen Trinley Dorje,

17th April, 2010

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Video Report of Mass Cremations by Monks in Tibet

 

Melissa Chan, AlJazeera's English-language correspondent, on the scene in Jyekundo. Unbelievably heartbreaking to witness this.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Satellite Photos Show Devastation in Tibet Earthquake

Satellite photos of a portion of Jyekundo, provided by DigitalGlobe, show the extent of destruction. Only a small fraction of structures remain standing, and all of these are damaged. Friends of ours in the region report that not a single stupa remains undamaged, and many have been completely destroyed.

"Seeing each other, they will stretch out to each other in sympathy. Marveling to themselves, they will say: 'I see a living person and not a dead one.' "

--96th Canto, Padma bKa'i Thang

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Political Quake After the Earthquake: Why We Should Stay Out of It

Child rescued by Chinese workers, given over to Tibetan monks for care.

The region impacted by the recent earthquake has been a thorn in Beijing's side for many years now. As recently as 2008, there was rioting, which caused a permanent deployment of paramilitary police to keep close watch on restive monks. Let us be very gentle and say that the religious institutions in the region are not fond of Han China, and Han China is not fond of them. 

The Dalai Lama is asking China's permission to travel to the region, to offer comfort to the victims. Nobody expects permission to be granted. There have already been clashes between Tibetan monks and Chinese relief workers. Why compound what is already an extremely tense public order situation?

The Chinese are well aware they have a powder-keg on their hands, and are taking pains not to exacerbate the situation. "Solidarity" is the watchword of the day.

The British Guardian ran with a story including these pull quotes: "The Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, chose the ruined monastery at Taklung for his second surprise visit to the quake zone – clambering up the rubble, before addressing the crowd gathering in its courtyard. 'In these rescue efforts, monks have shown a great performance; on many occasions I have seen them saving people,' He said: 'Please be assured we will not only save people and restore houses, but will do a good job of restoring your monastery.' " 

Oh, really?

Already, Beijing is signaling through diplomatic channels that they are preparing to resettle 100,000 people in the wake of the earthquake. Jyekundo is destroyed. The 1,300 year old Thrangu Monastery is destroyed. If you weigh what it costs to rebuild against what it costs to resettle, and you add in the political factors, you are left with one question: what possible incentive does Beijing have to allow this area to rebuild?

If we, in the West, start up with our usual refrain, it is only going to add fuel to the fire. I hate to say this, but if we start clamoring to throw foreign money and manpower at this situation, all we are going to do is cause the Chinese to dig in their heels. They are already refusing aid from Taiwan,  a big-hearted Buddhist nation which has considerable expertise in disaster management. What makes anyone think they want, need, or will welcome help from the West?

However, if we back off just a notch, and find ways to encourage Beijing in the direction of a hearts and minds operation in the area -- one that will allow the people to rebuild, one that will allow the monasteries to rebuild -- it is most definitely going to be better in the long run.

Just an idea.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

China Mobilizes Grassroots Aid for Tibetan Earthquake Victims: UPDATE

Chinese people are mobilizing their own grassroots aid for Tibetan earthquake victims. This photo, taken just a few hours ago in Chengdu's "Tibet Town," shows a street corner collection point for blankets and emergency supplies.

In a strange turn of events, the Kham earthquake has had considerable effect on the way average Chinese perceive Tibetans. Heretofore, that perception was largely negative -- a reflection of the way Tibetans are portrayed in the media. However, now that broadcast images from the disaster zone have flooded state-controlled Chinese television, people are for the first time getting a glimpse of reality. Indeed, Newsweek is running with a story on this phenomenon, as are other media.

In consequence, Chinese people are opening their hearts. In addition to state-managed aid, which is proceeding at an almost unprecedented level, virtually every town and city in China is organizing fundraising campaigns, and opening collection points for material aid. People are sending blankets, warm clothing, tents, and all manner of necessities.

Chinese Buddhists, who of course number in the millions, are said to be particularly active.

Meanwhile, our sources in the region have informed us that 500 monks have been dispatched to Jyekundo from Sertha, and also others from Dranggu. There is, so tragically, now a necessity for many monks to help with the dead.

 Monk stands amid bodies in this Reuters pool photo taken yesterday

UPDATED: Xinhua is reporting the death toll at 1,300 and rising, as rescue efforts pass the 72 hour window. On the ground estimates from the region tell us to expect that number to quickly reach 4,000.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

The Rabbit Whisperer

 

One of our readers -- who shall forever be remembered for graciousness -- sent me a link to a story about Britain's Rabbit Whisperer. I read the story, and then uncovered the above video. I want to tell you that I tried this technique with one of my rabbits. The strange thing is, I woke up about ten minutes later, flat on my back with my hands in the air.

Video of Destroyed Monastery: Tibetan Earthquake

 

AlJazeera is running with this video of the Tibetan earthquake's impact on monks in the region. This is just heartbreaking.

UPDATED: Direct link to Thrangu Monastery Emergency Appeal 

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Kham / Qinghai / Tibet / China Earthquake Update

Above, is the view from here, about an hour ago. 

The news from Tibet is all bad, and rather than sit around chewing my nails, 

I decided to go outside and visit with the garudas for a while.

"You see, in order to experience open space one also must experience the solidity of the earth, of form. They are interdependent. Often, we romanticize open space and then we fall into traps. As long as we do not romanticize open space as a wondrous place but rather relate that space to earth, then we will avoid these traps. Space cannot be experienced without the outline of the earth to define it." 

-- Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

UPDATED: The fate of Buddhist treasures after the quake
UPDATED: Google offers crisis response for Tibet quake
UPDATED: Incredible visual record of the Tibetan quake
UPDATED: China declares April 21, 2010 as national day of mourning
UPDATED: Fastest way to send money directly to Tibetan disaster area
UPDATED: Chinese expert says earthquake predictions ignored in Tibet
UPDATED: Regional NGOs band together to help
UPDATED: Taiwan rescue team admitted into region
UPDATED: Emergency appeal by Thrangu Rinpoche
UPDATED: Karmapa issues international appeal for help: sends USD $200,000 to victims

UPDATED: Video of mass cremations by monks after Tibet quake

UPDATED: Satellite photos show destruction at Jyekundo

UPDATED: Political fallout will be fast in coming after Tibet quake

UPDATED: China mobilizes grassroots aid for Tibetan victims

UPDATED: Video report from destroyed monastery.

UPDATED: Thrangu Monastery destroyed by earthquake: emergency appeal launched

UPDATED: Trungpa XII safe following killer quake in Tibet

UPDATED: Kham in ruins following 7.1 earthquake

Through friends in the region, we are learning that hospitals as far away as Chengdu are overflowing with casualties. Apparently, some of the worst cases are being airlifted all the way to Chengdu because of the level of trauma care available, and there is a sudden clamor for translators.

Through some of the Kagyu websites, blogs, and mailing lists, we are getting a very sad picture of Jyekundo. People are writing to us, asking us to clarify the Tibetan name, instead of using Yushu, which is the Chinese name. They are telling us this is a Tibetan tragedy, not a Chinese tragedy.

Sorry, but this is a human tragedy, and we need to set politics aside for the time being. It takes an awfully hard heart to ignore the literally thousands of Han relief workers who are flooding into the region to help. Arguing with them, or about them, isn't going to help anything. Tensions were running high to begin with, and the sorrow everyone feels can suddenly turn to anger.

Cell phone service is intermittent, and power is out. There are significant problems with water, and the small airport cannot be used. The road to Xining is slightly damaged, but open, and in one report, a thousand cars were noted, trying to take injured people to Xining for hospitalization. Unfortunately, Xining has no more beds or medical supplies left.

Khenpo Tsering, a reliable Kagyu source in the region, phoned out a report that Jyekundo is "completely destroyed." The pool footage we are seeing certainly bears out this assessment. He also said that around 800 bodies had been counted, but "there are thousands more bodies still buried in the collapsed buildings." He stated that the Sakya Monastery at Jyekundo is badly damaged but still standing, and said he had been told Thrangu Monastery is "95% destroyed."

We are closely following this story and will publish updates as they become available. We will consolidate and link here.

KEYWORDS: earthquake, Qinghai, Kham, Yushu, Jyekundo, Tibetan monastery destroyed by earthquake, China, Tibet

Directly From the Center of My Heart

As I read the myriad reports, and see the video in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Yushu, I am remembering an early evening during the height of the Cultural Revolution.

I walked into the backyard of the house on Webster Street, in Berkeley, California, and encountered Tarthang Rinpoche standing motionless. He was looking West, up into the sky, and as I approached, I saw tears glistening on his face. 

My immediate thought was to comfort him in some way, but I did not know what to say, so I just stood there mute beside him, looking into the sky.

After an interval, and without turning his gaze, he asked me, very softly, "Do you see that sunset?"

I replied that I did.

"Is it beautiful?"

I replied that it was.

"Many good lamas died today," said Rinpoche.

We are all prisoners under that same sunset. We deceive ourselves of freedom, but we are prisoners just the same. 

There is nowhere to go.

We stay here for each other: some by chance, some by vow, some by desire, some with ambition, some do not need a reason. Maybe it is so wrong of me to feel a particular sorrow when I see destroyed temples and bloodied burgandy, but forced equanimity is no longer equanimity, and I cannot escape my own humanity.

Many good lamas died today.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Nowhere Else to Go

Busy as a bat in a barn fire, during this most unusual of all retreats. The original scenario began at the Lunar New Year. I knew going in that we would be having various visitors, and breaks for scheduled empowerments, hence the "flexible boundaries." I also knew there would be work projects that might interrupt, and indeed there were. So, the upshot of this retreat is that I seem to be staying busy -- busier than I usually stay -- and there is a persistent illusion of something being accomplished. I cannot say there is a persistent illusion of accomplishment, because that might give you the wrong idea.

As mentioned elsewhere, my friend, who is my de facto adviser, was very generous when he suggested breaking up the retreat into intervals. Very generous, and very wise. When you ease into it like that, you reach the point where all the "intervals" converge. A month becomes like a day. A week becomes like an hour. Then, when you can stop saying this is "like" that, maybe you have a very auspicious state of affairs in any context.

Anyway, that is all sophistry, and not what I wanted to write about. I wanted to write about erupting volcano, shaking earth, low-down lawsuit Samsara. 

Being a Buddhist doesn't give you somewhere else to go when impermanence does the shimmy and the monastery falls down. If something like that is going to unnerve you, just imagine the fun you will have when you drop dead.

Being a Buddhist doesn't mean running around with a broom and a bucket, trying to tidy up Samsara for the benefit of all sentient beings. Thinking like that will just wear you out.

"The point (of compassion) is not to benefit anyone or make them happy. It is a matter of an open gift, complete generosity without the relative notions of giving & receiving. Simply be what you are. If you will just 'be' then life flows around & through you. If you can afford to be what you are, then you do not need the 'insurance policy' of trying to be a good person, a pious person, a compassionate person."

Trungpa Rinpoche said that, and it helps to remember his words while we are watching the kaleidoscope of fictitious display that comes along with every breath. Being a Buddhist means there is nowhere else to go: you are where you are and you are what you are, without breaking down the display in terms of preferences and aversions, or trying to escape psychic consequences of blind decision.

You would be so surprised to learn how many Buddhists don't grasp that simple concept. Instead, it seems that many of us have wholeheartedly embraced the "relative notions of giving & receiving." We busy ourselves to the point of distraction, trying to fix things that quite simply do not require fixing, with a temporal toolkit that quite simply does not fit. I am not saying that we should stop trying to save the whales. Rather, I am saying that we should occasionally step back, take a deep breath, and ask ourselves if  solutions are what whales actually demand of us; or, to the contrary, is this what we demand of them.

I'm going to save you, goddamnit, if it kills both of us! We become fanatical that way. We think of ourselves as kamikaze lovers: as Buddhist activists.

"I am aware, therefore, of the fault in distinguishing samsara and nirvana as separate on the basis of the magical miracle of awareness -- or ignorance. And yet my mind is saddened that here we are still beguiled by the cunning magician, our instantaneously arisen residual propensities. I understand that everything is a great lying projection, except for the ground field with its six special qualities."

Jigme Lingpa wrote that, and for me, as for so many others, it states the case without unnecessary embellishment. There is elegance in simplicity. Yet, as he says, here we are still beguiled. We throw ourselves into skirmishes and causes like an ocean of life was tributary to the ocean of suffering.

Life is fleeting. The favorable causes and conditions we now experience may not come again for an exceedingly long time. They may never come again. If you make enough mischief with yourself, you might become stuck in a door, a rope, or even a broomstick.

So, the little puzzle becomes this: do we run from alarum to excursion like a mad game of musical chairs, or do we sit down and stop playing?

Right now, it is easy enough to occupy ourselves with our reactions to current events. We can take sides, jump in, start organizing, and feel we are Buddhists! We are side-taking, in-jumping, organizers then, but no way are we Buddhists. All that side-taking, jumping, and organizing is viciously endless, and here we are still beguiled.

Here... we are still beguiled.

Here, in this moment that is a wide-open possibility, here in this life that is a perfect opportunity, and here, possessed of fortunate circumstance. There is nothing to hold you back. There is nobody to hold you back. The situations that seem so indelible are impermanent. The people who seem so real are ephemeral. All that you have collected will, in time, disperse. All that you have cherished will, in time, crumble.

The only thing that holds you back is you.

You already know this. You are only taking sides, jumping in, and organizing because you lack confidence in impermanence. You are recycling your tin cans. You are recycling your bottles. You can argue the benefits of recycling your garbage with great passion, but you still have no confidence that you, too, will be recycled.

You have no confidence in the fundamentals.

The cause and cessation of the cause of all phenomena has already been explained. You don't have to waste any time reinventing the wheel. You don't have to struggle around, searching for solutions.  Instead, you can just relax. All the hard work has already been done for you.

Embrace the fundamentals, stop conceptual assumption based on the fallacy of separation, keep the promises you make to yourself, and just allow your heart to open, based on naturally arising understanding.

All of the above notwithstanding, it is not untoward to pray for surcease of suffering for those perceived as victims of natural disasters, human contentions, and the fictitious affair of multitudes:  thus, may self-liberated perception evaporate delusion, may compassionate equanimity bring confidence in that which is effortlessly luminous, and may spontaneous presence exhaust the experience of dichotomy.

Or, as Trungpa Tulku said, be what you already are:

“There’s no need to philosophize your work in order to make it spiritual. It has spiritual bearing anyway. If you regard yourself as a person on the spiritual path, then whatever you do is part of the path, an expression of the path. Decentralization, the absence of ego, the lack of searching for happiness, and not avoiding pain — all of that brings us into the reality of dealing with things directly and thoroughly. Dealing with things in this decentralized, egoless manner is known in the Buddhist tradition as upaya, or skillful means. Without that, there is no means of discovering the inner guru, or inner teacher, as one might call it, which is the constant instruction that you begin to receive on the path. The daily living situation becomes the teaching; it becomes a constant learning process. There’s no way of developing that sense of inner teacher if you fail to relate with daily living situations directly, because without that, there’s no interchange with your world.”

Surmang Monastery and Trungpa XII Following Quake: UPDATED

This in from the Ocean of Dharma list:

"A huge earthquake struck Jyekundo yesterday, the closest city to the Surmang Dutsi Til monastery, where Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was the supreme abbot before leaving Tibet. The initial quake of 7.1 magnitude was followed by several aftershocks of magnitude 5 or more. Most communications with Jyekundo are now down but first reports indicate heavy damage and large numbers of people killed or injured. Reports say that possibly as many as 90% of the homes in the city have been destroyed. Trungpa Rinpoche's brother, Damcho Tenphel Rinpoche, often resides in Jyekundo. It is not known if he was in Jyekundo at the time of the quake. He was not living in the city a month ago. At this time, it is unknown how the monastery itself has been affected. There are confirmed reports that buildings at nearby Thrangu Monastery have collapsed, and several people have died there.

"The Konchok Foundation -- started by Chogyam Trungpa's eldest son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, his widow, Lady Diana Mukpo, and others to rebuild the monastic college at Surmang and provide support there -- is gathering information on the disaster. Also working to gather information is the Surmang Foundation, of which Lee Weingrad, a senior student of Chogyam Trungpa, is the director, which provides medical care in the region. Both organizations are setting up funds for disaster relief and will work closely with people in the region. For information or to give:

Konchok Foundation http://www.konchok.org /
Surmang Foundation http://www.surmang.org /

UPDATED: Report in that Trungpa XII is safe at Derge and Surmang escaped significant damage. However, Jyekundo is reported "95% destroyed" with at least 1,000 dead.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture In Ruin After 7.1 Quake

Chinese media are reporting widespread devastation in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, following a 7.1 earthquake (reported as 6.9 in the West).

Many people are still buried under the debris of collapsed houses in the Gyegu Town near the epicenter in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai, according to Huang Limin, deputy secretary-general of the prefecture government.

The strong quake and a string of aftershocks, with the biggest one being 6.3 magnitude, have toppled houses, temples, gas stations and electric poles, triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut power supplies and disrupted telecommunications. A reservoir was also cracked, where workers are trying to prevent the outflow of water.

The death toll of over 600 is expected to rise as over 5,000 personnel respond to remove bodies from crumbled structures. 

This is quite simply a terrible, terrible circumstance for this Tibetan Buddhist stronghold, and may spell the end of several historic temples and monasteries with their priceless artifacts.  That, in itself, is unhappy but should not overshadow the human toll, which is much worse. It is likely that most of the region's surviving residents will be relocated. Yushu was the scene of rioting in 2008, and the central government now has an opportunity to put decisive end to unrest in the region. At best, many unfortunate beings there now face an uncertain future, and we send them our rain of prayers.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Thrangu Monastery Destroyed by Qinghai Quake: UPDATED

Early reports state that the 1,300 year old Thrangu Monastery in Qinghai has been destroyed and the Khenpo killed, in the recent earthquake.

No word yet on the Princess Wen Cheng temple, which is about 10 kilometers away.

UPDATED: 25 dead, 5 missing, many injured at Thrangu Monastery. Main new temple, one shedra building, and part of library completely destroyed.

UPDATED: "Thrangu Monastery has been completely destroyed." That is the word from the Thrangu Emergency website at this hour.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Terton Chungdrag Dorje Accused of Sexual Assault: Updated

The sublime incarnation of the Terton Chungdrag Dorje Rinpoche, formally recognized by the late Kyabje Penor Rinpoche, has been sued for sexual assault by 23 year old Vietnamese-American model and production assistant Kayden Nguyen.

The suit additionally claims that Rinpoche engages in human trafficking, principally involving Russian prostitutes.

The allegations, which echo several complaints of sexual harassment dating back to 1996, were denied by Rinpoche's legal counsel as the work of a "disgruntled ex-employee."

UPDATED: Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand speaks at a news conference at the Sheriff Department headquarters in Harvey, La., Wednesday, April 14, 2010. The filming of the reality series, "Steven Seagal Lawman," featuring reserve deputy, reincarnated lama, and martial arts movie star Terton Chungdrag Dorje Rinpoche, will be suspended for the time being, Normand said, because the continued filming would be a distraction for the department in light of allegations made against Rinpoche by a woman in a California civil lawsuit.

Following, is the complete text of the statement issued by Kyabje Penor Rinpoche in 1999, concerning his recognition of the Terton:

Statement by H.H. Penor Rinpoche Regarding the Recognition of Steven Seagal as a Reincarnation of the Treasure Revealer Chungdrag Dorje of Palyul Monastery

"In February of 1997 I recognized my student, Steven Seagal, as a reincarnation (tulku) of the treasure revealer Chungdrag Dorje. Since there has been some confusion and uncertainty as to what this means, I am writing to clarify this situation.

Traditionally a tulku is considered to be a reincarnation of a Buddhist master who, out of his or her compassion for the suffering of sentient beings, has vowed to take rebirth to help all beings attain enlightenment. To fulfill this aspiration, a tulku will generally need to go through the complete process of recognition, enthronement and training.

Formal recognition generally occurs soon after a tulku has been identified, but only after other important lineage masters have been consulted. The newly identified tulku does not take on any formal responsibilities at the time of recognition.

The next step of enthronement may or may not occur for a tulku, depending on the circumstances. Enthronement formally invests the tulku with the responsibility of furthering the activities associated with their particular tulku lineage. Thus, if there are specific teachings and practice traditions associated with their lineage, and if there are perhaps monks, nuns, monasteries, retreat centers, lay communities and so forth for which the tulku traditionally takes responsibility, then the tulku is formally vested with those responsibilities at the time of enthronement. In the event that an enthronement ceremony is conducted, it may take place soon after recognition or some years later. If the tulku is too young to assume their responsibilities upon enthronement, others may be entrusted to take on those responsibilities until the tulku is ready.

Finally, a tulku needs to complete a formal course of training which includes years of study and meditation. This training reawakens the tulku's powers of insight and compassion and develops their skillful means for helping others. It is only after such training that a tulku is ready to take on the role of a teacher.

In the case of Steven Seagal, he has been formally recognized as a tulku, but has not been officially enthroned. He has also not undergone the lengthy process of study and practice necessary to fully realize what I view as his potential for helping others. When I first met him, I felt he had the special qualities of a tulku within him. According to the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) of the Buddhist tradition, all beings have within them the potential for becoming Buddhas. With Steven Seagal I perceived this potential to be particularly strong as accords with being a tulku. In the past, whenever I have met someone that I feel is a tulku, I have always consulted with other masters of the Nyingma lineage such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and other senior lineage holders. Similarly, after my experience of meeting Steven Seagal, I consulted with another important Nyingma master and with his concurrence, recognized Steven Seagal as a tulku.

With regard to the particular circumstances of Steven Seagal's recognition, while it is generally the case that tulkus are recognized young in life, this is not always so. For example, the great master Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö remained unrecognized for many years while he was an ordained monk at Kathok Monastery. He was over 30 years old, perhaps 35, and had completed his monastic education when he was recognized and enthroned as the first reincarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Wangpo. In his case, he had devoted his life to study and practice and was thus prepared for taking on the full responsibilities of being a tulku at the time of his recognition.

Prior to my recognition of Steven Seagal I myself recognized another tulku late in his life. Kalsang Yeshe Rinpoche, a monk originally from the Palyul branch monastery of Shibo in Tibet and later at Namdroling Monastery in India, was recognized and enthroned in 1983 at the age of 51. He too had spent his life studying Buddhism and meditating before he was recognized as a tulku. Because he had cultivated his potential through many years of diligent study and meditation, he was able to become a teacher and is currently the head of our Palyul Center in Singapore. So, in short, in the Tibetan tradition there is nothing unusual about recognizing a tulku late in their life. In fact, the recognition of a tulku who has been born in the West is especially likely to occur later in their lifetime because it will generally take much longer for all the conditions that are necessary for such a recognition to come together.

Steven Seagal has been recognized as a reincarnation of the 17th century hidden treasure revealer (tertön) Chungdrag Dorje (khyung brag rdo rje) of Palyul Monastery. Chungdrag Dorje founded a small monastery called Gegön Gompa near his native village of Phene in the Kutse area of Derge in Eastern Tibet. Though there are no monks there now, the small monastery building still exists and is well known in the area for its beautiful religious wall paintings.

As a tertön, Chungdrag Dorje rediscovered teachings and sacred objects hidden by Padmasambhava in the eighth century. Such treasures (terma) were concealed with the intention that they would be discovered and revealed at a later date when the circumstances were such that they would be of particular benefit to sentient beings. Texts of the teachings discovered by Chungdrag Dorje have apparently not survived the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Sacred objects discovered by Chungdrag Dorje include an unusually shaped bell, a phurba (ritual dagger), the syllable 'A' carved in stone and pigments used to create the sacred wall paintings in his monastery mentioned above. Several of these objects have been preserved and are still kept at Palyul Monastery today.

In the Nyingma tradition it is said that there are a hundred main treasure revealers and an even greater number of secondary treasure revealers. Among the latter it is not uncommon for the line of their teachings to eventually lapse. Though they were beneficial during the time they flourished, for various reasons some tertön teaching lineages have ceased. This would seem to be the case with Chungdrag Dorje.

Now with regard to Steven Seagal, he was born centuries after the death of Chungdrag Dorje. It is not uncommon for there to be a lengthy span of time between the death of a master and the appearance of his or her subsequent reincarnation. My own tulku lineage is an example of this. There was a 130 years hiatus between the death of the First Pema Norbu in 1757 and the birth of the Second Pema Norbu in 1887. This is common in all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. As for how these gaps come about, while tulkus are understood to have vowed to be continually reborn to help beings, it is not necessary for them to take rebirth in a continuous sequence of lives in this world. It is believed that they can be reborn in other world systems where they continue their compassionate activities, returning only later to this world system. This is how such lapses in tulku lineages are understood in Tibet.

As for Steven Seagal's movie career, my concern is with the qualities I experienced within him which relate to his potential for benefiting others and not with the conventional details of his life which are wholly secondary. Some people think that because Steven Seagal is always acting in violent movies, how can he be a true Buddhist? Such movies are for temporary entertainment and do not relate to what is real and important. It is the view of the Great Vehicle of Buddhism that compassionate beings take rebirth in all walks of life to help others. Any life condition can be used to serve beings and thus, from this point of view, it is possible to be both a popular movie star and a tulku. There is no inherent contradiction in this possibility.

As the head of the Palyul lineage of the Nyingma School and more recently as the Head of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, I have had the responsibility of recognizing numerous tulkus. The first time I recognized a tulku, I was ten years old. This tulku was the incarnation of the great Khenpo Ngaga. He is still living in Eastern Tibet and continues to strive, to this day, to promote the welfare of others. Since that time until now I have recognized over one hundred tulkus. In addition I have overseen the training and enthronement of over thirty khenpos (learned scholars) and I am responsible for the welfare of the many thousands of monks belonging to the Palyul tradition. My concern in seeking to nurture these tulkus, khenpos, monks, as well as sincere lay people, has been to benefit all sentient beings. It is out of this intention that I have recognized tulkus in the past and will continue to recognize them in the future as appropriate.

In the case of my student Steven Seagal, I initiated the decision to recognize him as a tulku based on my own feelings about him. Neither I nor any of my monasteries have received or sought any sort of substantial donation from him. What is important to me are the qualities I have seen in my student. For this reason I feel confident that recognizing him as a tulku will be of benefit to others as well as to the Buddha dharma.

Whenever there is a new incarnation born or recognized, I personally feel very happy because it is like you have one more brother or sister. I take delight in such occasions as they seek to further compassionate activity for others. Being recognized as a tulku is an acknowledgment of one's potential to help others. Such recognition does not mean that one is already a realized teacher. The degree to which tulkus have been able to actualize and utilize their potential depends upon how they have been able to use their past circumstances and how they currently use their present circumstances to develop their potential. Each tulku must work to develop themselves to the best of their ability. The essential point is that a tulku should strive to help others in whatever life situation they find themselves. It is out of such an aspiration to help all sentient beings that I have recognized many tulkus in my life and it is with this motivation that I recognized Steven Seagal as a tulku. If all beings seek to have this motivation, what need will there be for controversies and confusion over the motivations of others?"

 

Rae Armantrout: Pulitzer for Poetry

California poet Rae Armantrout (Cal Berkeley, Class of '70) won the 2010 Pulitzer for her work Versed.

With waves
shine slides over
shine like skin's
what sections
same from same.

I guess that now she knows what sections same from same could be time and the poet. Very warm congratulations for a life well sectioned.

6.9 Earthquake Strikes Qinghai: Updated

Regional broadcast media are reporting 67 dead in the Tibetan region of Yushu County, in China's Qinghai Province (Tibet's Jyekundo, in Kham -- this is a Tibetan earthquake). The quake struck around 4:49 p.m. PST yesterday.

UPDATED: Western print and electronic media reporting 400 dead, 10,000 injured.

UPDATED: CBS reporting "over 600" dead, many thousands injured. Thousands of troops are being airlifted into region to help. The footage is almost unbearable to watch.

UPDATED: Over 1,000 deaths reported by on-the-ground observers. Hospitals as far away as Chengdu are filled to capacity. Casualties line the roads by the thousands, being transported in cars, but there is nowhere to take them.

Note: We are continuously updating links to earthquake coverage at our consolidation page, here.

Good Connections

"As all individuals have their own perception it is not right to harbor wrong views and speak maligning words. One should maintain pure vision, rejoice, and give praise – thus making a good connection. To slander other people or their deities is the basis for misfortune."

--Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche,

The Melodious Tambura of Joy

Weekly Tibetan Astrology: April 12 - April 18, 2010

April 12, 2010 - Chinese 29th, M-T-K 28th. Mouse, Dwa, Yellow 5. The Kagyu calendars have this as Trungpa Tulku's anniversary -- it is, according to lunar date. This is a day of worry and significant obstacles. Quite candidly, this entire week is troublesome.

April 13, 2010 - Chinese 30th, M-T-K 29th. Ox, Khen, White 6. Conflicting energies today: a so-so or 50/50 day. Sojong and of course Dharmapala Day.

April 14, 2010 - Chinese 1st of 3rd month, M-T-K 30th. Tiger, Kham, Red 7. Exactly like yesterday. Perform long life rituals or practices.

April 15, 2010 - Chinese 2nd, M-T-K 1st of 3rd month. Rabbit, Gin, White 8. Finally, a lucky day all the way around -- the only one this week, so make the most of it. Note that some Kagyu calendars, notably Nitartha, are holding this as Kalachakra New Year. How is this? The Kalachakra New Year, Vikrita, began on March 16, 2010. What's up? The epoch in which we find ourselves began on the first day of the third Tibetan month, April 1, 1927 -- the beginning of the reign of the Shambhala king Aniruddha. So, Nitartha is holding the first of the third as the New Year. Now, the Rigpa calendar is holding this as the anniversary of the day Buddha taught the Kalachakra, whereas March 29, 2010 is the "Kalachakra" anniversary of the revelation of the Kalachakra Tantra. Anyway --- Happy New Year! This epoch ends in 2027, so only seventeen years left to go before the new administration.

April 16, 2010 - Chinese 3rd, M-T-K 2nd. Dragon, Zin, Red 9.  A dangerous day. Exercise extreme caution.

April 17, 2010 -  Chinese 4th, M-T-K 3rd. Snake, Zon, White 1. This day argues with itself, but great luck is still possible.

April 18, 2010 - Chinese 5th, M-T-K 4th. Horse, Li, Black 2. Baden. Negative aspects associated with today. Take your baobei to lunch, but don't be cross later.

Naga observations for the third month: Four good days and several bad days this month. The four very good (lunar) days are 5, 22, 23, and 25. The particularly bad (lunar) days are 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 16, 18, 28.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every Monday at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2010, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here.  Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Weekly Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2010. All rights reserved.

Coprolite Happens

We just came up with what appears to be a fossil (glam shot above) but, what sort of fossil? Betting is heavy on coprolite, or fossilized feces -- popularly known as "dino poo," but we have other contenders as well. Somebody said it is is a fossilized tail brain; other suggest it is a fossilized seed pod. How about a garuda egg?

Maybe it is evidence of the alien invasion? That would explain a lot of things. Anyway, if you know what this is, please drop me a note and share your knowledge.

I seem to remember there was a gag item similar to this a few years back -- an "alien egg" thing they used to sell up around Area 51 -- but I don't remember what it looked like.

Requesting A Fair Witness (Zu-pang Sol-wa)

"When you meditate on Vajrakilaya, if you think you have to cut down or smash something else or something external, that is misguided and a wrong practice of the Vajrayana teachings. If you think you have to do that to others, perhaps you will soon become a demon, like Rudra, yourself."

--Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche,

The Dark Red Amulet: Oral Instruction

On the Practice of Vajrakilaya

HUNG. From the mandala of the ten directions of space,


O lamas, rigdzins, yidams,


And Dorje Zhonnu and retinue,


Heed me with your compassion.


If I, the rigdzin practitioner who maintains samaya,


Should encounter a foe,


I have done nothing wrong and owe nothing.


Guardians, believe this! The Three Jewels remain my witnesses fair and true.


Gods and demons of the phenomenal world, you decide or make judgment!


Those nonvirtuous forces of broken samaya


First destroy the integrity of the doctrine,


Then they demean the Three Jewels,


And finally they tear out the hearts of tantric practitioners.


Now they threaten me, the yogin.


They contradict the ten virtues


And pursue the ten nonvirtues.


Since the fruits of their inexpiable deeds have ripened,


They are candidates for liberation.


O hosts of deities of Dorje Zhonnu,


Through you do not waver from the peace of dharmadhatu,


The time has come to show your manifestations of rapacious, majestic, compassionate wrath


And to liberate the dualistic forces of harm.


Do not forget! Do not forget, you with sacred bond!


Perform the enlightened activity of liberating dualistic obstructors!

[from The Miraculous Activity Sadhana of Vajrakilaya, The Razor Which Destroys At A Touch, a terma of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje]

One of the Most Important Issues of Our Time

Both Scientific American and the Times of India are reporting that ninety-three percent (93%) of the medicinal plants required for the practice of Ayurvedic, and hence, Tibetan medicine are threatened with extinction. 

This is the conclusion of a Botanical Survey of India study that assessed a total of 359 prioritized wild medicinal plant species. In result, 335 of these were "Red Listed" as endangered or threatened.

Actually, if one wished to narrowly examine Tibetan traditional medicine as practiced in Tibet, the 93% figure would be higher -- possibly as much as 98% -- owing to over-harvesting for the Chinese domestic market. You must understand that only the smallest fraction of Tibetan medicine manufactured in Tibet actually stays in Tibet. I have seen estimates ranging from 5% to 12%, and certainly none higher. The great bulk goes to the Tibetan medical shops in China's largest cities.

I confess to being a bit simple-minded on this issue. It is my belief that knowledge of healing plants is a direct gift from the Medicine Buddha. If we fail to preserve the involved herbs, then even if the knowledge remains, it will be useless to us.

I do recognize that some medicinal plants cannot be relocated, or re-established outside their native habitat. Some (most, in strict practice) owe their unique medicinal properties to a combination of environmental factors. Still, relocating endangered plants is a necessary step.

It is a paradox that you can go down to (shudder) Harbor Freight, and buy a really splendid greenhouse for around USD $600 or $700 -- just one more product the Chinese factories are dumping below manufacturing cost -- and you can put that greenhouse in your backyard and use it to grow medicinal herbs.

Short of that, we need to set up herbal seed banks and suchlike, to insure that these precious treasures will always be available to us. 

If I were young, this is something I would probably do. Since I am no longer young, all that is left is to encourage those of you who are able to do something fundamentally worthwhile. Truly, the preservation of these plants is one of the most important tasks of our time.

Buddhist Literary Heritage Project Website

There are six projects that are near and dear to my heart -- projects that I try to continually support, insofar as I am able -- and the Buddhist Literary Heritage Project is one of them. I am always willing to support any project that acts to foster Tibetan language studies, and I can think of no more important task than translating the Buddhist literature of Tibet into English. That this entire project is managed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is a bonus: I can think of no better man for the job.

The Buddhist Literary Heritage Project has gone live with their new website, and I would encourage you to follow the link and see what they have to offer. I would also encourage you to make this project near and dear to your heart, and to offer much-needed financial support.

With Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche at the helm, you are assured of honesty, financial transparency, and lean administration. This we all know, this we all appreciate.

Less than 5% of the Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur have been translated into modern languages. Only the smallest fraction of all Tibetan texts are available in English. The translators, who have spent their lives to acquire fluency, are laboring in poverty -- and nobody is encouraging youngsters to enter the field. 

We need to fix this. 

We need to fix this fast.

Indian Government Halts Karmapa Visit to Europe

As incredible as it may seem, the Government of India has refused an exit visa to the 17th Karmapa, thus preventing his travel to Europe next month, for a long-planned and much-anticipated tour. Here is the official statement by Ringu Tulku, the tour coordinator:

Dear Dharma Friends,

I am sad to announce that the proposed visit of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje was not approved by the Government of India. The visit was scheduled to take place from 27th May to 2nd July in nine countries of Europe.

The Kagyu Office, the Administration of Gyalwang Karmapa was informed of the decision by the Tibetan Government in Exile on 3rd April 2010. The process has begun to find out why this visit was not possible and what positive conditions are needed to make the visit possible in near future.

I know a huge number of followers and friends in Europe were eagerly waiting for the visit of Gyalwang Karmapa and I know that all of you are sad and disappointed.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the organizers, volunteers and donors for working so hard to prepare for the visit in last many months. Your cooperation and support were beyond any expectations.

I hope and pray together with you that the visit will happen in very near future and that all of us would be able to receive his teachings in Europe.

We can speculate about the reasons for this, but speculation in the absence of facts is useless. It will take some clever investigation to find out the true story, and until then, one simply does not know what political countermeasures might be useful. While it could be convenient to take immediate aim at the Indian government, chances are good this was not a unilateral Indian government decision.

Weekly Tibetan Astrology: April 5 - April 11, 2010

April 5, 2010 - Chinese 22nd, M-T-K 22nd. Snake, Khen, Red 7. Look to yourself today and avoid conflicts. An excellent day to improve your health and well-being, but make it a personal day. Activities with others are not necessarily favored.

April 6, 2010 - Chinese 23rd, M-T-K 23rd. Horse, Kham, White 8. While activities with others are favored today, we have extremely negative indications otherwise -- even to the extent of life-threatening. Be careful in all that you do. 

April 7, 2010 - Chinese 24th, M-T-K 24th. Sheep, Gin, Red 9. Weather or other environmental factors may play a role today. Joyful activities favored.

April 8, 2010 - Chinese 25th, M-T-K 25th. Monkey, Zin, White 1. Today is Dakini Day, but see note for tomorrow. Today is zin phung. Extremely negative energies today. On no account begin anything today. We could witness a disaster.

April 9, 2010 - Chinese 26th, M-T-K 25th. Bird, Zon, Black 2.  Note that today is doubled in Tibetan practice. This is an extremely auspicious day for women, so the Kagyu calendars are suggesting to celebrate Dakini Day today.

April 10, 2010 -  Chinese 27th, M-T-K 26th. Dog, Li, Blue 3. A day of extremely positive energies.

April 11, 2010 - Chinese 28th, M-T-K 27st. Pig, Khon, Green 4. Very negative aspects associated with today.

Naga observations for the second month: Six good days and four bad days this month. The six very good (lunar) days are 7, 10, 15, 20, 21, and 25. The particularly bad (lunar) days are 2, 26, 27, 28.

Consult our extended discussion of 2010 astrology by clicking here.

Published every Monday at 00:01 香港時間 but written in advance and auto-posted. See our Introduction to Daily Tibetan Astrology for background information. If you know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can get information about your positive and negative days by clicking here. If you don't know the symbolic animal of your birth year, you can obtain that information by clicking here. For specific information about the astrology of 2010, inclusive of elements, earth spirits, and so forth, please consult our extended discussion by clicking here.  Click here for Hong Kong Observatory conversion tables. Weekly Tibetan Astrology copyright (c) 2010. All rights reserved.

Never Forget Trungpa Rinpoche

Licking honey from a razor blade,
Eyes of the learned gouged out by books,
The beauty of maidens worn by display,
The warrior dead from not knowing fear―
It is ironical to see the dharma of samsara:
Celebrities deafened by fame,
The hand of the artist crippled by rheumatism.

The moth flew into the oil lamp,
The blind man walks with a torch,
The cripple runs in his wheelchair,
A fool's rhetoric is deep and learned,
The laughing poet has run out of breath and died.
The religious spin circles, in accordance with religion;
If they had not practiced their religion, they could not spin.
The sinner cannot spin according to religion;
He spins according to not knowing how to spin.
The yogis spin by practicing yoga;
If they don't have chakras to spin, they are not yogis.
Chögyam is spinning, watching the spinning/samsara;
If there is no samsara/spinning, there is no Chögyam.

---Cynical Letter, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, 22 May 1972

If you want to read something incredibly moving and beautiful, please immediately click to Gesar Mukpo's A Poem on the Anniversary of the Death of My Father: just published today.

You Snooze, You Lose

"Girl Holding A Rabbit," attributed to William Powell Frith (British, 1819-1909) went on the block at Christie's New York, February 10, 2010. The hammer fell at USD $3,000, which I suppose is good for a Frith. Had I but known of this auction, the bidding would have been so much more spirited.

Did I ever mention that I am fond of rabbits?

Insects In Amber

In my guru’s namthar (life story), Amrita of Eloquence: A Biography of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, it’s considered praiseworthy that Rinpoche refuses to name his master (that’s tight lipped, totally old school).

                                ---Bill Schwartz, "In Blood," via elephantjournal.com

I read today that there is a doctor going around finding insects in amber, in order to extract their DNA. He uses this to design vaccines that are able to overcome today's mutated, vaccine-resistant diseases. This is possible because he is encountering the diseases in what may be thought of as their original form.

Suggestive, isn't it?

I have lately, and only gradually, become aware of a developing genre in neo-Buddhist literature,  driven by a surprising readership. For lack of better description, let us call it the first-wave Western practitioner's memoir. The eager audience is comprised of young lamas of recent vintage -- many of whom, in their thirties, are just beginning to emerge from the cocoon. 

Since our friends are among the kings of physicians, and dispense the medicine that transcends nectar, it stands to reason they would wish to examine laboratory notes.

This life passes, and ends, in the blink of an eye. We have only the briefest possible opportunity to become immortal. From that perspective, I suppose all arising forms of information are in some way potentially useful to somebody, at one time or another. All of this is highly contextual. I might remember a thing one way today, and quite another way tomorrow. If I am the only source of data, the picture is going to be skewed. 

For this genre to work, it has to grow: it has to be large. If you look at Trungpa Tulku's students, and their Chronicle Project, you see a model of useful work. They are taking input from everyone who ever knew him, in any capacity. If I had to make a criticism, I would only say (1) do more of it, and (2) fire all the editors. Just throw out the concept of editing anything.

Because there is this distinction between what was said and what was heard, do you know? What was said might be important to some, and a record of what was heard might be important to others. So, this has to be large. Really quite large. Then one can take what one will, according to one's needs at the time. After all, that is how it was originally presented.

A while back, we took notice of Elephant Journal, in what I hoped was an encouraging article. Using the "if you build it, they will come" model, I was encouraging them to cultivate writers, as distinct from anything or anybody else, and it seems like somebody there took this to heart. They have begun publishing a diamond in the rough they found in Chicago. His name in Bill Schwartz. He is a first-wave Kagyu student now in his fifties, dealing with congestive heart failure. He writes about whatever is happening right in front of him, leavened with memories of what his teachers told him.

Elephant Journal has a hit on its hands. In a remarkably brief period, Mr. Schwartz has developed a considerable and devoted readership that includes Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and a number of other lamas. If you want an example of what has captivated everyone's interest, try the "In Blood" article we quoted from, above. You will also find links to his other articles, and I encourage you to read them all.

Back home at Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar -- truly the happiest place on earth -- I have offered up memories here and there, but only when it felt natural and appropriate. I have lived what most people regard as an unconventional life. I have created unconventional circumstances that were meaningful to me, but not necessarily meaningful to you. Operating under the theory that hammered gold is best, this might have some small value, if only as a cautionary tale. However, even in the best of circumstances this would be a loan, and the "vig" would be punishing.

By making great show of my teachers, it might seem as if I was trying to use our relationship to legitimize the decisions I have made. Nothing could be farther from my wishes. The decisions I have made -- and here I definitely include the more controversial ones, although why they should be controversial I do not know -- legitimized themselves at the time, and then dissolved in perfect naturalness. 

The decisions I made have all been self-liberating metaphors. They do not need anyone's help. You either understand them or you do not. If we want to freeze them like insects in amber, or a newspaper clipping, or a transcript, or an archival entry, we rob them of their beauty. Yes... beauty. A silver hammer on a hard head is beautiful, particularly if it is administered before one's funeral pyre catches blaze. Otherwise, one's head swells and explodes.

The decisions you make -- the decisions you are making right this very minute -- are also self-liberating metaphors. Of course, each has the open-ended potential to result in instruction. How you choose to codify the instructions, whether in memory or in grace, is up to you. If you start hammering, freezing, or transcribing, maybe it is because you want to add or remove something from what is otherwise quite singular and genuine. 

Maybe it is best if you ignore instructions altogether, and leave things in their singular, genuine state, or their "single authentic condition" if you like that phrase better.

Oh well... time for me to bug out.