Ba Muoi Seven

So, this is the thirty-seventh anniversary of "Black April," the fall (or liberation) of Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City), and like everything else, much depends on your point of view. 

For some of us, that point of view is carved in pretty deep. Like the man says, "all gave some, and some gave all."

Many, many prayers today.

Shower of Blessings in America

According to the Western calendar, today, April 27, 2012, marks the 43rd anniversary of the first-ever performance of the Shower of Blessings in the United States, under the direction of the immaculate Lord of Refuge, Kyabje Tarthang Rinpoche. The puja has been performed twice monthly ever since, without interruption. So, this equates to the 10th day of the 3rd Tibetan month, which this year falls on Tuesday, May 1st -- this coming Tuesday. So, wherever you are, please join me at 6:00 P.M. local time for a special celebration.

May it be auspicious!

Karmapa Charges Dropped

Indian news sources this morning are reporting that all charges against His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa have been dropped by Himachal Pradesh prosecutors, and he has been completely exonerated of any misconduct.

Dalai Lama Bestows Yamantaka Initiation in California

An unprecedented and historic event took place over two days -- Friday, April 20th, and Saturday, April 21, 2012 -- when His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama bestowed the complete Highest Yoga Tantra Initiation of the Solitary Hero, Yamantaka, at Long Beach, California.

The well-organized event was sponsored by Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling, of Long Beach, at a total cost in excess of USD $300,000. Additionally, the organizers presented all initiates with a splendidly-produced practice book of some 230 pages, together with a cabinet photograph of His Holiness and practice supports.

This two-day initiation, which included a lengthy commentary on the work of the Seventh Dalai Lama, was followed by an open talk, attended by a sold-out crowd of over 10,000 people (yes -- including everybody's favorite vajra brother, Richard Gere).

The initiation was originally scheduled for April 2011, but because of logistics issues, had to be rescheduled. Congratulations to GSTDL for following through, regardless of the illusion of obstacles.

His Holiness gave Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric Vows to all initiates, took all the time necessary to present the practice in full detail, and required very serious, life-long tantric commitments.

What glorious, great fortune!

Shenphen Rinpoche Assaulted: Hospitalized

Shenphen Rinpoche has been attacked by two assailants in Slovenia, and is hospitalized at this hour with multiple knife wounds, and a concussion.

This marks the second time the French-born lama has been assaulted. The first occasion, a year ago, ended with two assailants promising, "We will see you again." The current incident saw Rinpoche being stabbed, knocked out with a piece of wood, and then, as he lay unconscious, a knife used to make a symbolic cut across his throat.

His sangha requests prayers, and earnestly wishes a thorough police investigation.

Old Love

Just the other day, I received a letter from an old friend. I had not heard from her in almost fifty years, but that does not mean she was forgotten. I had a photograph of her, and another picture in my mind. I remember once, up in the hills, we held each other so tenderly. We sat upon a stone beneath a flowering branch, and she kissed me. It was the spring I was seventeen. When I read her letter, I looked in the mirror, but the old man who looked back at me did not match the pictures I had of her. 

So, then -- impermanence. 

The generation of Westerners fortunate enough to rejoin Vajrayana when it crossed the Tibetan border is now beginning to die off.  For me, as I am sure for you, it is like watching the aging of an old love. Ordinarily, we would say a thing like that is "bittersweet," except I do not know there is any bitterness or sweetness to be found. 

Dust, more likely. 

A dusty thing, neither bitter nor sweet.

If you venture a touch, it will crumble beneath your fingers.

Dust to dust.

Of the now-dying generation, what can we say? Can we cling to our memory of them, as they were when we both embodied youth, and then just let them drift away? Or do we owe them a greater tribute -- a debt, even -- for the years of their lives devoted to establishing Vajrayana in the West?

I am particularly interested in the answer to that question as it applies to the people who built the largest Nyingma temple complex in the world, outside of Tibet: the authentic Seat of the Nyingma Lineage in the United States of America -- Odiyan Retreat Center: the Copper Mountain Mandala in Northern California.

Here is no dust-to-dust love. I will not say that it is permanent, but I will rejoice in its suchness. Here, a small group of people have dedicated their entire lives to an inspired vision of beauty, constancy, space, and purpose.

Here is no love-of-a-lover love. But, my... what an absolutely stunning expression of devotion! People look at these photographs and remark in wonder, "This is in America?" Yes, it is. Here, with a richness - inside, outside, and secretly - that indelibly expresses the unselfish love of them that did the building.

Here is a gift from the people of our time to those who come after -- done in respectful acknowledgment of tragic events in Tibet during the last half of the twentieth century. Not since the days of the Twenty-five Disciples has the world seen such a profound gift -- product of a lineage of love that is not invested singly, but in all sentient beings.

Unique, perhaps, among all the Western sanghas, one only rarely hears the names of particular individuals associated with this sanctuary. There is no clamor to take credit, no personal authorship, no "signing," no ego, and no flourish. All the merit, without exception, is dedicated to the welfare of beings.

It is important to understand that this work was accomplished by the now-living representatives of a lineage that begins with Samantabhadra, and remains unbroken to the present day. This is unique in all the world. That these individuals should be Westerners is a testimony to what we might term "larger design;" something we might well recognize as the limitless potential of our status as human beings.

The Nyingma Trust

The Nyingma Trust's mission statement is brief and to the point:

"To sustain our community of Dharma practitioners, protecting their health and safety, and to support and honor their commitment to focus on the vision of Tarthang Rinpoche and the Nyingma lineage."

These people live very simply, with no personal luxuries. They receive no salaries or other financial support whatsoever. Since 1969, members of a core group have contributed their entire lives, fortunes, and energies to the security of the Vajra Guru's lineage. 

Don't you think we at least owe them a little peace of mind concerning such matters as health care, old age assistance, standard of living, nourishment, and relaxation?

I am told by people who assess such things that over the past six years, Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar has developed the largest regular readership of any nominally "Buddhist" blog in the world -- even with imitators, we still have a readership in the hundreds of thousands with page views in the millions.

From the bottom of my heart, I am now asking each and every one of our readers to contact Nyingma Trust and find out how you can help. Whether your personal resources are large or small -- whether, indeed, you cleave to the Nyingma lineage or not -- please pay tribute to the absolutely incredible achievement of this dedicated group of individuals.

If only for this...

So that, ten thousand years from now, those who come upon our bones -- metaphorically speaking -- will say, "Oh! Those people loved each other!"

And still others will say, "The better love never dies."

 

Corralling Coral

We begin, innocently enough, with the idea to lay hold of some beads, in order to make garlands for someone special. 

She likes red. 

It says so, right there, in the Aryatarakurukullakalpa. 

It says a good many other things, besides,  so while we are planning the garlands, we think to string a mala or two, just to be comprehensive.

As it turns out, we are thinking way too small.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Tibetans and coral.

We cannot pretend to know just how and when the custom of wearing coral was introduced to Tibet. Informed speculation would credit Muslim traders, along the old Silk Route. In that regard, it is interesting to note that the principal coral dealers in Tibet for the past couple of centuries at least have always been Chinese Muslims. 

Regardless who is responsible, coral caught on with a vengeance.

Ahmad ibn Yusuf Al Tifaschi's Azhar al Afkarfi Djawahir al Ahdjar "Best Thoughts on the Best of Stones," written in about 1243 C.E., informs us --

"Coral is found in a place called Marsa al Kharaz in the sea of Africa [Tunisia]. It is also found in the sea of Europe [Mediterranean], but most of it comes from Marsa al Karaz, from where it is brought to the East, Yemen, India, and all countries. In no other place are larger, bigger, or better quantities found."

Upon further study, we learn that coral from Africa was taken to Alexandria, which was then a center of the gem trade. There, after polishing, coral acquired a value "three times" its wholesale cost at source.

This is important, because it helps us identify the probable first sources of coral introduced to Tibet -- at least according to thirteenth century observation -- which, in turn, tells us how the Tibetan traffic developed.

If it were usual to refer, with pride, to our gems as they seem to be, we might say, "Wow! Nice carbon he gave you," or, "I just love that aluminum oxide!" People would know we were talking about diamonds, and rubies, respectively. In the case of coral, we would be proud of our calcium carbonate, as expressed by the skeletal remains of marine animals called coral polyps; having a trigonal crystal structure, a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, a specific gravity of 2.68, and a refractive index of 1.49 to 1.66.

Our thirteenth century Arab friend wrote, "Coral resembles a mineral in its body and resembles a plant in its soul." He did not seem to know that coral involved a living being, although he did suspect this about sponges for example, saying, "Likewise, some animals are formed in the water that belong midway between the animal and the mineral worlds... ."

The "living being" aspect of coral -- among other, political and sociological motivations -- now has some young Tibetan ecologists up in arms. They are struggling to start a "Quit Coral" movement. Right off the bat, they are encountering resistance from Western ecologists, who point out that coral reefs are dying not because of harvesting, but because of pollution. Indeed, all the past, present, and future coral in Tibet does not equal one day's worth of the poison pouring into the world's waters -- maybe not even one minute's worth.

Further, coral achieves its color by means of intracellular endosymbionts. It is ocean warming that is responsible for what are known as "mass coral bleaching events," where red coral suddenly turns white. So, the worldwide shortage of red coral is not due to any Tibetan cultural preferences, but to global warming, and a variety of other environmental factors. "Bleaching" is seen in the foreground, below, with normal coral in the background.

Generally, when we speak about the cultural, or socio-economic aspects of coral, it is red coral of which we speak. For example: Although coral is called out by name in the Aryatarakurukullakalpa, it is arguably the coral's red color that is involved, as distinct from coral's component status as calcium carbonate.

As red coral becomes rare, then of course, people begin to find ways of counterfeiting. Using calcium and other materials, the Gilson firm, in France, has come up with a laboratory-made simulation that seems quite close to the real thing. The hardness is about 3.5, and the refractive index is 1.55: right in the middle of natural coral's range. Both Gilson coral and real coral react the same way to acids, but Gilson gives a brownish streak on the testing plate, whereas genuine coral leaves white.

There are also numbers of other ways to simulate the real thing. Red coral improves with exposure to certain oils, so soaking white coral with dyed oils is a common method. Barium sulfate with plastic has been used, giving a refractive index of 1.58, a specific gravity of 2.33, and a hardness of about 3. Dyed marble is also seen, as is dyed howlite, glass, and all sorts of other things. Most of what we see coming out of China these days is dyed -- with greater or lesser scientific control -- white coral. With the cheap grades, sometimes the color literally peels off. The better grades are color enhanced pink coral from Japan. It would take a national forensic laboratory to identify all of the many dyes being used.

So, what does the "real thing" cost? The above mala went off at auction in Australia for USD $1,850, despite being what most would consider a "got up" item of recent provenance.

Here is a splendid example, sold on the London market by Garuda Trading. Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall this went for around USD $4,700. They have a few others in the USD $2,000 range, but not for long. In the United States, Potalagate also has a few, at USD $3,200 to $4,400.

Finally -- and as a favor to loyal readers of DTBA -- here is an absolute bargain at USD $1,500, currently available on eBay (again, really not for long). If I had any money left, I would buy this one myself. Since a hospital bill came in the mail today, I will let the dream evaporate naturally.

Which brings us back to the issue of color versus constituent. According to text, our particular friend will also accept lotus seed beads (make that red lotus seeds), and even rock crystal beads. It isn't spelled out explicitly, but I also suspect rubies might be acceptable.

You could argue -- and many have -- that mantra is mantra and plastic beads are fine. I have been in situations when all I had were knotted strings, or my fingers. Nobody kicked me off the wavelength.

But, part of the energy surrounding such matters is, quite simply, taking the time, trouble, and care to search out specifics. If you are able to do this, your world becomes immediately larger: more things become possible. This is something that seems difficult to explain, yet is easily experienced in practice. I suppose we are once more talking about the relationship we try to cultivate with what we regard as the sacred aspect of our lives. Perhaps that could be more properly stated in terms of "steps" we take in the process of cultivation -- until we come to realize that "sacred" is without definite aspect.

Which is not to say that it is without the possibility of multiple aspect. Take medicinal coral for example.

Once we open up to such possibility, we come to gain a certain confidence -- a certain stability. We do not decorate "idols" in Buddhism. Instead, we sharpen an environment. This acts both as cause and condition. There are no "gods" demanding this or that substance. Instead, there are landmarks, along well worn paths.

So, something about coral today.

Trungpa

So, it happened that Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche passed away, twenty-five years ago today, and we all have our memories. 

Some younger lamas, and other people, have encouraged me to spend time with those memories, because they feel tremendously inspired by Rinpoche's example. You know, we always tend to speak in terms of what he accomplished for the West, but his influence on Tibetans was equal if not greater.

To serve such interest there are his sangha's Chronicle Project, amid numerous other venues, and you can find these simply by entering the name "Trungpa" in Google.

I do not think any stories I might tell are all that important. Rather, I prefer to honor him by trying to follow the instructions he gave me, which of course, are not mine alone.

Everything Rinpoche said and did was an instruction. 

Everything.

So, today, twenty-five years after... here is one of his instructions, given to us all:

"You should appreciate yourself, respect yourself, and let go of doubt and embarrassment so that you can proclaim goodness and basic sanity for the benefit of others. The self-existing energy that comes from letting go is called windhorse in the Shambhala teachings. Wind is the energy of basic goodness, strong, exuberant, and brilliant. At the same time, basic goodness can be ridden, or employed in your life, which is the principle of the horse. When you contact the energy of windhorse, you can naturally let go of worrying about your own state of mind and you begin to think of others. If you are unable to let go of your selfishness, you might freeze windhorse into ice."

So, that is really very good, isn't it?

You have to thaw what you thought.

U.S. Senate Supports Tibet

A resolution introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) expressing concern about the situation in Tibet and support for the Tibetan people unanimously passed the Senate.

“The Senate has sent a clear message to the Tibetan people: we stand in solidarity with you as you strive to preserve your culture and practice your faith freely,” said Senator Feinstein. “The time has come for China to heed this message and end its repressive policies in Tibet. His Holiness has consistently made it clear that he does not support independence for Tibet, but rather a meaningful cultural and religious autonomy within the People’s Republic of China.”

“Last year, Tibetans around the world participated in a free, fair, competitive election for the political leadership of their government in exile,” said Senator Lieberman. “This resolution recognizes the importance of this historic vote, which resulted in the election of an exceptionally talented and impressive new Prime Minister or Kalon Tripa, Dr. Lobsang Sangay. Unfortunately, at the same time that Tibetans outside China have been making inspiring progress towards democracy, Tibetans inside China are suffering from increased repression and persecution—causing at least 19 Tibetans to immolate themselves in protest. This is a critical moment for the Senate to reaffirm that the treatment of Tibetans in China and denial of fundamental human rights there is a source of deep concern for the United States.”

The resolution:

• Mourns the death of Tibetans who have self-immolated and deplores the repressive policies targeting Tibetans;
• Calls on the People’s Republic of China to suspend implementation of religious control regulations, reassess religious and security policies implemented in Tibet, and resume a dialogue with Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including the Dalai Lama;
• Calls on the People’s Republic of China to release all persons that have been arbitrarily detained; to cease the intimidation, harassment and detention of peaceful protestors; and to allow unrestricted access to journalists, foreign diplomats, and international organizations to Tibet;
• Commends His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his decision to devolve his political power in favor of a democratic system;
• Congratulates Tibetans living in exile for holding, on March 20, 2011, a competitive, multi-candidate election that was free, fair, and met international electoral standards; and
• Reaffirms the unwavering friendship between the people of the United States and the people of Tibet.

In 1978, Feinstein (then mayor of San Francisco) hosted the Dalai Lama to San Francisco, and in the 1990s carried three letters to President Jiang Zemin from the Dalai Lama requesting a face-to-face meeting.

“It is my fervent hope that passage of this resolution will convince China to engage the Dalai Lama through dialogue and negotiation on addressing the legitimate grievances of all Tibetans,” Senator Feinstein added.

In addition to Senators Feinstein and Lieberman, the resolution was cosponsored by Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

 

 

"Expression of Freedom"

The Inexhaustible Source of Refuge, the Great Tenga Rinpoche, remains in thugdam at this hour, his posture unchanged. His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, who has watched the situation very closely, remarked yesterday, "Usually when someone dies, we are sad, but what Rinpoche is doing, it is simply expression of freedom."

His Holiness has advised that, during this time, people should perform the Eighth Karmapa's Four Session Guru Yoga, and the prayer, "Calling the Lama From Afar," by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye.

Tenga Tulku, 1932 - 2012

Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche has entered thugdam, this photographic evidence of which is intended to bring benefit to all sentient beings. Official time of death is given as 3:24 a.m. Nepali time, 30 March 2012. So great is Rinpoche's realization that practices performed in the presence of even this image will bring supreme benefit during this special period.

A full account of Rinpoche's passing is given at the Benchen Monastery site.

A Brief Supplication for the Swift Rebirth

of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche

CHOGTRUL TENGA RINPOCHE
THUG GONG CHÖYING CHIGSE KYANG
LARYANG TENDRO CHICHE LE
TRULPE DASHAL NYUR CHAR SOL

Surpreme emanation Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche,
even though you have merged your intention into one with dharmadathu,
for the sake of the doctrine and beings, in general and in particular,
may the moon-like face of your emanation rise again soon!


Composed by Sangye Nyenpa

This supplication was composed by H.E. Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche in the early hours of 30th March 2012, in the presence of the precious remains of Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche. Immediatedly translated by Sherab Drime (Thomas Roth).

 Sky over Rinpoche, a few hours ago.

 

Kunzang Dechen Lingpa's Anniversary

In the formless basic space of phenomena, the wisdom mind of the Ever Excellent;
In the infinite form kayas and pure lands of Great Bliss,
And in the arrayed Dakini continent of Oddiyana;
You who play in everlasting delight, Lord, please nurture us.
You, incomparable Kunzang Dechen Lingpa,
In order to tame sentient beings who cling to phenomena as permanent,
Displayed the dissolution of the composition of your form body.
We children disciples are tormented by this suffering.
Therefore, to dispel our devoted lamentations,
We request, from the vast space of wisdom compassion,
Please transform swiftly the display of your emanation,
And fulfill completely the wishes of sentient beings, we pray!

As requested from Assam by the students of the Holy Lama which was conveyed by Lama Sonam Tobgyal through a letter with a silk scarf, on the auspicious fifteenth day of the Second Lunar Month, I, Thrinley Norbu, immediately offered this prayer. May the purpose of this prayer be fulfilled exactly as it is wished!

Come, Not Gone

Generally speaking, the "ides" of March refers to the middle of the month. The notion that one should beware the middle of March comes to us from Julius Caesar's assassination, in 44 B.C. -- the subject of a prophecy that Caesar should stay home.

Doubting prophecy, Caesar made haste to the theatre. On his way, he encountered his oracle and taunted, "The ides of March has come." The oracle replied that although it had come, it had not gone. Nevertheless, Caesar continued to the theatre, where he was stabbed twenty-three times.

Tibetan oracles, astrologers, and seers all over the world are noting a forthcoming natural disaster of considerable proportion. Many believe the event will take place in March -- from an astrological perspective, the period 27 through 30 March being likely -- with geological upset being the agent. 

So, this means a major earthquake, or volcanic eruption. 

Whether this could result in another tsunami or not is in some question. Links to old Tibetan prophecy indicate a fire-water-earth nexus. Heretofore, this has been reckoned as uncertain, but numerous other  interpretations are certainly possible.

Just a few days ago, the State Oracle of Tibet predicted a substantial, natural calamity to take place this coming summer, in northwestern India.

Lama Dawa has also predicted calamity -- a major earthquake, or possible landslide -- and has gone to the extent of circulating a special "earthquake practice" to his students, based on the seventh section of the Sampa Lhundrub. We take the liberty of reprinting this herewith:

from the southwest visualize Nyima Odser surrounded by dakinis of the four elements

This visualization is specific for earthquakes. Visualize that I am yellow Guru Rinpoche with both hands making the ‘earth touching’ mudra. I am sitting cross-legged. My legs cover the whole area which is in danger. From my body a yellow light spreads and travels to the King earth spirit, Topochey (lord of gravity) and the twelve tenma goddesses. The light also travels to the earth lords Sadzin Lhakpa and Wangchen (he-who-holds-the-earth) and his ministers Sri Badra. Once the yellow light reaches them, they are compelled into action and work to stabilize the elements, particularly the element of earth and water. Your visualization should extend to cover the entire area that is being affected and should be infused with the non-partial view that you are protecting all areas and all beings.

Maintain this visualization while reciting the prayer and mantra at least twenty-one times.

SA-CHU ME-LUNG JUNG-WA’I BAR-CHED KYI / 

GYU-LU YAR-PO JIG-LA T’HUG-PA’I TSE /
When our borrowed illusory bodies are endangered by fearful obstacles posed by the elements of earth, water, fire and wind,

YID-NYI T’HE-TSOM MED-PAR SOL-WA DEB /       

OR-GYEN JUNG-WA ZHI-YI LHA-MOR CHEY /
if you are supplicated with a mind free of doubt, you, Orgyen, will appear with the goddesses of the four elements.

JUNG-WA RANG-SAR ZHI-BAR T’HE-TSOM MED /       

OR-GYEN PAD-MA JUNG-NEY LA SOL-WA DEB /
There is no doubt that the elements will be pacified in their own place. I supplicate Padamasambhava of Odiyana.

SAM-PA LHUN-GYI DRUB-PAR JIN-GYI LOB /
Grant your blessings that my wishes be spontaneously accomplished.

OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG
OM AH HUNG VAJRA GURU SURYA RASNI TSAL SIDDHI PALA EH YAM RAM BAM LAM PAM SHANTIM KURU YE SVAHA


Dissolution:
At the end, dissolve the visualization into the surrounding environment.

Shine

"Eating, sleeping and moving about
Are common to all animals,
But the honoring of whores,
Delight in the life, wealth and feasts of others,
The distractions caused by the clamor of war and plunder,
And risking one's life by ocean travel --
These are merely what distinguish
The higher forms of existence.
Please know this!"
                                                                                --Jigme Lingpa,
              lHo-phyogs rgya-gar-gyi gtam brtag-pa brgyad-kyi me-long,
                                                                                                1789.

People say we are followed here by karma. Other people say it isn't so; we are merely adorning this-way, that-way propensity. There being no universal agreement, maybe it isn't  completely inaccurate to think we all have a chance at unencumbered chancefulness. 

Yet again, maybe it just is what it is, without a whole lot of art and angst.

You cannot solve, by self-conscious means, a problem that requires no solution. To employ such means merely exacerbates the illusion of a problem. 

Nevertheless, we try. 

I know we try.  

We think about spiritual stuff. We think about religion. We take up reading commentaries on commentaries. We frequent the company of magicians. We begin dressing differently, behaving strangely, and cleaving to diverse, odd propositions. We believe in an ocean, so we get in a boat.

Whatever we think is happening, is not happening. The notice of "happening" is, in fact, the crux of the problem that requires no solution. The very idea that you can sit around and discover or record something or anything is a thoroughly mistaken approach. Similarly, intellectual recourse to labeling or dismissing everything as emptiness is also a mistake.

The greatest single obstacle to meditation, is meditation. Meditation clutters up clarity. It is like cops and robbers. There are "good" thoughts; there are "bad" thoughts. There is the mind that wanders away from Meditation Jail, the mind that is dragged back to Meditation Jail. There are even lawyers who can plead the case, and come up with an excuse for anything.

Try as you might, you cannot wish yourself out of that prison.  The thing is, you are already out of  prison, but unwilling or unable to let the imaginary walls dissolve naturally of themselves. Your imagination may be quite rich. Your fortitude may be remarkable. But, no matter what you do, you are analyzing. You are engineering. 

You are trying to escape.

Better you should sit and shine. This is not shine like "shine your shoes." This is shine like luminosity. Who or what can imprison luminosity? 

Really, in such circumstance, escape is unnecessary. You could even say escape is impossible. How do you escape from space?

Shine, and stop wasting your time.

A Footprint You Can Hear

Question. How do you get a very large, very heavy, very special bronze bell to this remote, sacred mountain?

Answer. If the mountain is Sri Pada, in Sri Lanka -- sacred for the footprint of Buddha -- and if you are Kyabje Tarthang Tulku's daughter, you call out the Air Force!

 

It took a special mission of some twenty officers, and the military helicopter you see in the photo, to airlift the bell, together with some three tons of contruction materials.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the officers, all of whom clamored to volunteer for the mission.

With extensive pre-planning, and through her own determined leadership, Rinpoche's daughter, Wangmo, was able to see the project through for her father, and all sentient beings. 

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International is but one of the several vehicles Kyabje Tarthang Tulku -- the living manifestation of Guru Rinpoche himself -- employs to perform inconceivable acts of generosity throughout the world. This is done without regard to sectarian bias or prejudice of any kind. 

Like all of Rinpoche's projects, the scope is vast and the impact is immediate. You are strongly encouraged to click the link, above, and find out how you can participate in historic events like this one.

This Is Kalu Rinpoche: Work With It

One suspects it is a bit like having a famous father who has now passed away. People keep coming up, saying, "I knew your Dad. What a swell guy he was! Make him proud, O.K?"

You can agree in principle, and you can agree in sentiment, but Dad was Dad, and you are you. Dad is dead, and you are living.

It is something Kalu Rinpoche lives with every day, as people keep trying to stuff him into the mold created by their perception of his predecessor. I have even heard lamas of mutual acquaintance say things like, "Yes, well, I was a little disappointed when I met him. I was expecting an old man."

Too bad. 

Kalu Rinpoche is not a kindly, wise, old man, the icon of a past generation:

Kalu Rinpoche is a kindly, honest, and courageous young man, on his way to becoming the icon of his own generation:

Not long ago, Kalu Rinpoche took the unprecedented step of publishing a statement on YouTube, where he tearfully confessed issues in his life that were seemingly presenting themselves as obstacles. The issues ranged from drug and alcohol experimentation -- at a level that would bore most American high school students -- to the confusion of adolescent sexual exploitation, and a highly charged allegation that one of his tutors tried to murder him.

Speaking plainly, it took nerve, it took guts, and it took a mighty heart to clean out the blackmail pipeline before polecats could reach the tap. I don't have anything to say about what he did or didn't do, but I might have plenty to say about older individuals -- some charged with his welfare -- who put a sheltered, innocent, kind-natured boy in compromising situations, just so they could have a weapon to use against him later.

[Full Disclosure: I've never met the younger Kalu Rinpoche. Field Note: I dislike to commit the same sin I have just decried, but I was quite friendly with his predecessor. At times, I was directly responsible for his physical security, and well-being. We traveled together, and did events together. We spent time in one another's company, and came to enjoy that time. When I see his young successor -- the son of a man and woman I also knew and liked -- treated so downright wrongly, it causes me to think of politics.]

Kalu Rinpoche is also thinking about politics. Since his widely publicized statement on YouTube, he has been occupied with trying to sort out issues relating to transition at Sonada. He has a heavily entrenched mob to face, well dug in; grown fat by virtue of positions engineered between the death of the former Kalu Rinpoche and the maturity of the present Kalu Rinpoche.

On his Facebook pages --- here and here -- he often muses about the situation, sometimes bewails the situation, and occasionally throws his hands up at the situation. You can see the same statements on his blog, as well. I do not see anything out of character in these statements. His predecessor was also disillusioned with samsara at an early age, cultivated renunciation mind, and wound up spending a considerable number of years in retreat.

Recently, his statements have become overt requests for assistance. This past Monday, he remarked:

"I need your help and your love because I am working on Sonada things... ."

From 1962 on, Sonada was built with generous overseas assistance from (primarily) the United States, France, and Taiwan. As an institutional matter, those who built the place are the biggest stakeholders. That Kalu Rinpoche's seat at Sonada belongs to Kalu Rinpoche -- not to some ad hoc committee,  expedient custom, or popular acclaim -- is, I think, without question. Failure to vouchsafe that circumstance, and follow the rules he chooses to make, insults not only Kalu Rinpoche, but insults the legion of stakeholders all over the world.

Here is what has people chafing. You can click these images for the larger versions:

This seems a commonsense approach to command and control of a multinational organization. Since Kalu Rinpoche has proposed these rules, and since he is having some apparent difficulty enforcing these rules, it behooves those of us with some connection to the affair to answer his call for "help and love."

Even if you have no connection, Kalu Rinpoche is still a gifted teacher for this age. I urge you to follow this situation and receive the benefit of his sublime character.

Only Ourselves to Blame

A year has passed since the terrible events in Japan. Does that seem like a long time? Consider the above. Consider the impact. This was not caused by natural catastrophe. This was caused by human ignorance.

Pray to Guru Rinpoche for relief of this insult to life. Or, even better, realize that this, too, is a Lama, and learn from it without prejudice.

Guided Meditation (Above) Bhutan

Ancient Fires

"[W]hen Buddha nature is covered by the nest of the passions, It is called sentient beings. When Buddha nature is separated from the passions, It is called Buddha."                                                                             --Nagarjuna

Men, women, and children are burning themselves alive in Tibet. They are protesting Chinese suzerainty. Their tormented acts of martyrdom are the strangled symptom of a dying culture. These Tibetans feel -- rightfully or wrongfully we dare not judge -- that the only voice left to them is the scream of flame.

The sound has carried. Over many mountains and rivers, it has reached us.

Smoke, ash, and anguished cries are common among all battlefields, old and new. These are among the tocsin's peals of warfare. These are the heralds of hegemony. In a world of equality, all hegemony is unjust; leaving misery as its sign, and deep, deep karmic consequence as its cost.

I speak with sympathy today of the ancient fire that burns in the hearts of the oppressed. I do not know if my words will ever reach those in Tibet who even now contemplate self-immolation. Yet, although I am uncertain of my words, I am very certain of my prayers.

I pray that you preserve Tibetan culture by preserving your own life. From the point of view of your oppressors, one less Tibetan is one less problem. Why help brutish beings by hastening your own extinction? Don't you realize that your death is a joy to your enemies and a horror to your friends?

Your life -- your vibrant, lofty embrace of being Tibetan at this very place and time, with whatever joy and misery that entails -- is the greatest single obstacle to China's genocidal plan. Can you understand this? Can you let your life be your offering in a way that does not diminish the dwindling number of Tibetan people remaining in this world?

Demons abound in the time of demons. Men endure as men can. The swirl of human smoke now rising from Tibet may please demons, but it will not appease demons. Please, do not become the servant of this fire. Your death can never satiate fire's appetite for ruin. Your death only spreads the suffering -- enlarges the suffering -- until it cannot be contained by this world.

Your life may speak in whispers, but whispered truth meets with agreement everywhere. After all, truth is truth. By bearing witness to truth, you can bring unjust men to their knees. Truth, like an arrow, flies straight to the center, and demands no elaboration.

An arrow's whisper extinguishes the ancient flame.

I pray you come to know the manner of this arrow's effortless release.

"Beyond the beliefs of any religion, there is the truth of the human spirit. Beyond the power of nations, there is the power of the human heart." -- Kyabje Tarthang Tulku

Let's Talk About Rabbits

This is March, isn't it? Rabbits are galloping and frolicking about, happy as you please --- ever hear of the March hare? --- but, come April, many of them fall to forlorn circumstances.

Easter comes in April, and numerous idiots think it would be cute to buy an "Easter Bunny" from an unscrupulous pet store, or vile, underground trafficker in rabbit flesh. Either way the rabbits are exploited and made miserable by the residual, sub-conscious effect of absurd, anthropomorphic stereotyping.

Take the confusion over Jessica Rabbit as an example. Let me make it plain that Jessica is not a rabbit -- and I should know. She married Roger Rabbit, so she is cross-species-friendly to lagomorphs, but that is as far as it goes. Girl has an open mind, and an enlightened attitude. While we're on the subject, there is absolutely no truth to the ugly rumors some people spread. So I knew her, but that was way before she met Roger. I still like her as a friend, but when it was over, it was over. I have absolutely no reason to wish Roger any legal problems, or anything like that.

Sigh.

What were we talking about? Oh, yes... anthropomorphic...

Rabbits don't just sit around in some little jail, waiting for you to pick them up and fondle them for a second. Rabbits are highly intelligent, social beings, who require contact and room to roam. To properly pet a solitary rabbit (a rabbit who lives alone with humans) takes an hour or more, once or even twice daily. They need at minimum two hours of exploration time every day, to interact with the "places from where noises come," i.e. all the places they can't see when they are locked up. This requires "rabbit proofing" the entire house, because they will go right to electric wires and other dangers. Although they can be potty trained, you have to be patient with them. You have to watch their food and water very carefully, and attend to their considerable dental requirements.

Yes, caring for rabbits is a long term commitment -- a big responsibility -- and this definitely precludes some momentary desire for the novelty of an "Easter Bunny," that quickly wears off when you wake up to actual rabbit logistics.

Fortunately, there is a reputable organization available to answer any questions you may have about rabbit care, and this is precisely the time of year when they need your support. They operate internationally, and have earned the respect of anyone who has ever dealt with them. I am talking about the House Rabbit Society : the most relentlessly dedicated group of rabbit rights activists you are likely to find anywhere.

Please... I am really asking you... make a difference in some bunny's life, and support the work of the House Rabbit Society in this critical rabbit season.