To Dispel the Misery of the World

Wisdom Publications has now come out with To Dispel the Misery of the World: Whispered Teachings of the Bodhisattvas, by Ga Rabjampa Kunga Yeshe, with a foreword by the late Khenpo Appey, who passed away while the book was in production.

As soon as I heard the name of the translator, I bought a copy. This work was accomplished by Adam Pearcy, working through Sogyal Rinpoche's Rigpa Translations, but better known to many of us as the brains of the outfit over at Lotsawa House, where Dharma is always "on the house."

Not only was I keen to have the book, which is of great comfort and guidance in virtually any situation, but I wanted to show support for Adam, and appreciation for Lotsawa House. These folks scramble along on nothing, the fuel gauge perpetually on "Empty," with the wolf constantly howling at the door. I felt that if Wisdom saw respectable sales on this title, it would encourage them to commission further work by Mr. Pearcy, as well as some other young lotsawas like Erick Tsiknopoulos of Sugatagarbha Translations, where Dharma is likewise "on the house."

If you feel the same way, why not spend around USD $13.00 or so and get a copy. Then, the next time somebody asks, "Well, how do you 'practice' Buddhism anyway?" you can hand them this book and gracefully exit the field of possible error.

Gyatrul Rinpoche Explains "Protecting Nyingma"

On May fifteenth this year, during the course of a spontaneous teaching at Half Moon Bay, California, Gyatrul Rinpoche made the following observation:

"We are trying to help sentient beings. At the same time we need to protect ourselves, protect the center. What does that mean? It means that we need to guard our merit. That is how we protect ourselves. And we need to protect the center from waste and carelessness. You shouldn't think, 'This belongs to the center, let's use it now, use it up.' Instead, you should think, 'I need to protect the center. I need to guard my merit. We need to keep, protect, save, use everything carefully.' Everybody needs to take care of the center. Young or old, smart or dumb, scholar or non-scholar, rich or poor, pretty or handsome or ugly like me, it doesn't matter... ."

It is an interesting statement, and when I read it, I was immediately put in mind of a recent teaching by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, echoing a theme that was frequently explored by Trungpa Rinpoche's observations on the perversion of sangha:

"Despite the clarity of the teachings, we often lose sight of this essential aim of eradicating mental poisons and self-clinging. In fact, instead of eliminating those poisons, we often end up increasing them. For example, people that practice the Dharma have a tendency to gather together and organize themselves. They create institutions, Dharma centers, and monasteries that can quickly become banners proclaiming their self-importance. 'We are this. We are that. We are Nyingma! Kagyu! Sakya! Geluk!' People in these institutions nominate someone to be president, secretary and treasurer. These officials can easily become proud of these titles. Gradually, their activities come to be at odds with their original purpose."

So what does this mean? Gyatrul Rinpoche says, "it means that we need to guard our merit." So what is this merit? Is it the same as luck? Consider Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's definition:

"In this age, people don't like to talk about merit--they talk about luck. From the Buddhist perspective, merit and ...luck are very different. Luck is accidental-- you can't really make luck happen. There are no books on how to create luck. Luck just happens. Merit is very different from luck.

What do we mean by merit in Buddhadharma? The Buddhist interpretation of merit is always in reference to what is closer to the truth or farther away from the truth. Anything that brings us closer to the truth is merit. Anything that takes us farther from the truth is lack of merit. It's because of our collective merit that we still have the teachings of the Buddha today."

When we speak of protecting the Nyingmapa, it is clear that we are not referring to sectarian rivalry, cops and robbers, or indeed, any external threat whatsoever. Instead, it very clearly refers to bringing ourselves closer to the truth one finds when one eradicates one's own mental poisons. This has nothing to do with exposing one's own mental poisons in the context of personal battles, couples fighting in the kitchen, vengeful notions, or ideological upsmanship. This does not refer to policing others; rather, this quite definitely refers to policing one's own self.

You know, Nyingma has been protecting itself quite nicely for many centuries, without needing any help from self-appointed stooges!

The Entity of Immaculate Emptiness

We take great pleasure in here presenting the Jeffrey Hopkins translation of the Seventh Dalai Lama, Kaysang Gyatso's (1708 - 1757) The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses, as taken from the Fourteenth Dalai Lama's Instructions for Meditation of the View of Emptiness, The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses, Causing the Rain of Achievements to Fall. 

We were fortunate enough to receive the transmission of this from the Fourteenth Dalai Lama personally, during which he conveyed his wish that people would memorize the following five stanzas, and bring them to mind during idle time, such as waiting for transportation, waiting for a friend, and so forth.

The Seventh Dalai Lama seems somehow special to me because of his great affection for rabbits, and his omniscient belief that he was previously born as a rabbit. In the upper right corner of the above painting, from the Rubin, right at the level of Buddha, we see this rabbit clearly depicted. By noting this, you might feel we are trivially focusing on the least of the matter; actually, this is the best of the matter in disguise.

On the seat of the immutable union of method and wisdom

Sits the kind of guru who is the entity of all the refuges:

A Buddha who has perfect abandonment and wisdom is there.

Forsaking thoughts of defects, make a petition with pure perception,

Not letting your mind stray, place it within admiration and respect,

Making your attention unforgetful, maintain it within admiration and respect.

In the prison of suffering of limitless cyclic existence

Wander the six types of sentient beings bereft of happiness.

Fathers and mothers who protected you with kindness are there.

Forsaking desire and hatred, cultivate endearment and compassion,

Not letting your mind stray, place it within compassion,

Making your attention unforgetful, maintain it within compassion.

In the divine mansion of great bliss, pleasant to feel,

Abides the divine body which is your own body of pure aggregates and constituents.

A deity with the Three Bodies inseparable is there.

Not conceiving yourself to be ordinary, practice divine pride and vivid appearance,

Not letting your mind stray, place it within the profound and the manifest,

Making your attention unforgetful, maintain it within the profound and the manifest.

Throughout the circle of appearing and occurring objects of knowledge,

Pervades the space of clear light, the nature of phenomena, the ultimate.

An inexpressible mode of being of objects is there.

Forsaking mental fabrications, look to the entity of immaculate emptiness,

Not letting your mind stray, place it within the nature of phenomena,

Making your attention unforgetful, maintain it within the nature of phenomena.

At the cross-roads of the varieties of appearances and the six consciousnesses,

Is seen the confusion of the baseless phenomena of duality.

The illusory spectacles of a deceiving magician are there.

Not thinking they are true, look to the entity of emptiness,

Not letting your mind stray, place it within appearance and emptiness,

Making your attention unforgetful, maintain it with appearance and emptiness.

So beautiful!

This is such a simple practice, but it is a powerful practice. We need only memorize a few lines. Then, when we are waiting for a bus, or a plane, a court proceeding, a doctor's appointment, or simply sitting idly about, we can bring these stanzas to mind as an instant meditation on emptiness.

This seems such an appropriate practice for our readers, several of whom made it possible for me to receive this transmission, and it is for our readers, among all sentient beings, that I sought this transmission in the first place. I am therefore particularly directing this post to readers who are unable to get around, who are confined, or are of sorely limited circumstances. Let us be your eyes and (long) ears.

I do not think the publication of these stanzas breaches the prohibition against teaching voidness to those whose minds are untrained, nor do I believe it represents the downfall of revealing confidential teachings to those who are unripe. Rather, I think it demonstrates an appropriate manner to relate to a spiritual guide, and helps and treats respectfully all of our many Dharma friends, throughout the world.

May it be auspicious!

Rabbit Rescue Revisited

Those of you who are new to this blog may wonder, "What do rabbits have to do with Buddhism?" Quite a lot, actually, but that is not why we feature "Rabbit Appreciation" so prominently on our masthead.

You see, the thing is, I am rather fond of rabbits. I enjoy keeping up with rabbit news on a worldwide basis. If anything is thumping, I start jumping!

Accordingly, I was so pleased to learn that Big Ears Animal Sanctuary, in Tasmania, was recently able to assist with the rescue of some 300 farm bunnies. You can (and should) read all about the effort on their site. They also have a number of photographs of their charming guests.

Whilst considering rabbits in Oz, you might also visit the Radical Rabbit Organization. They helped Big Ears with the rescue, and seem like now they might need our help. Oh, yes... if you want to see why rescue was necessary, visit the Freedom for Farmed Rabbits site. Warning: not for sensitive eyes.

Turning our attention to England, we find the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. They have helpful information about hutch size you may wish to consult.

Of course, for those of us who take rabbit service -- you know, bunny butlering -- serious enough to make it a lifelong commitment, there is the ever-durable House Rabbit Society. The HRS site has answers to every rabbit question under the sun and moon, including detailed information on diet: what to eat, and more importantly, what not to eat. You have to watch the little critters very carefully in that regard.

The five links we have given, above, should be enough to quickly immerse you in state-of-the-art rabbit rescue.

In my own case, I have domestic house rabbits, and then I also have a sizable wild rabbit and hare population to think about. I have set aside grounds as a rabbit sanctuary, and maintain the environment so that it affords the lucky lagomorphs optimal sustenance, health, welfare, recreation, and job training opportunities. I keep journals of feeding data, watering data, population, and so forth. I also build brush piles at strategic intervals, so they can lounge in the shade, hide from predators, and digest their meals in peace.

Of all the critters that really need human help to protect them from other humans, rabbits are high on the list. Owing to rapid birthrate they are not in danger of extinction, but what threatens them the most is physical suffering at the hands of farmers, scientists, and little kids who think they are toys.

Rabbits are kind, gentle, loving, often humorous, and clean little creatures who do no harm. The more time you spend with them, the better you will come to understand why rabbits are perfect animal friends for Buddhists. Oh... and here's another little clue:

If you click this link, you'll be taken to a painting of the Seventh Dalai Lama, showing all of his previous incarnations.  You'll find our friend here -- the future Dalai Lama -- in the upper right corner.

How do you feel about rescuing rabbits now?

H.H. Gyalwang Drukpa Explains "Jetsunma"

His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa's now-famous speech about the role of women in the Vajrayana -- as eloquent, guileless, almost impassioned, courageous, and deeply felt a statement of feminist principles as has ever been heard in a Tibetan Buddhist context. 

This video also clarifies, once and for all, the confusion some people apparently have about a certain title, and the sort of person for whom such entitlement might be genuine.

In this context, it is important for all of us to understand that authentic teachers arise naturally, in a field of truth. They are neither born from intrigues nor instantly fabricated, and cannot deceive their way into a position. They are not produced by wishful thinking. They are not verified by popular acclaim.

This is a time of renegade cults and dubious prophets. Within the past few months alone, a co-dependent child molester enabled by one such cult has been sentenced to twenty years in prison. In another case, a young man died in the high desert -- a timely call away from help -- when traumatized by another such cult's "retreat."

We are beset by spiritual materialism of the worst order, and for those of us with some connection to Vajrayana, there is no quarter asked and no quarter given. Our path has been called dangerous; compared to obtaining a jewel from the head of a cobra, or walking a razor's edge. We are, it is said, like snakes in bamboo: we have only two ways to go, up or down.

We simply cannot afford to entrust ourselves, our children, or our grandchildren to questionable circumstances. What we must do, with special dedication of ceaseless effort, is stick to established guardians and safe outposts. 

The day of pay-for-platitude is over. 

His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa understands this better than most, it seems, and he has given us all a lesson in what is required.

When I think of such things, I am reminded of Jigme Lingpa, and I laugh. He could "channel" Longchenpa well enough -- as we might say in today's spiritual mish-mosh -- but he still spent decades alone with his tailbone on stone. Today, there are some lounging around, making claims to his lineage, who cannot even bring themselves to finish the ngondro he wrote.

They sit upon sofas and think them thrones.

"It used to be that dharma study tied your mindstream in knots instead of liberating it. You would hear some teachings and maybe get a little bit of a name and then instantly you would pop up thinking, "I am something special!" Then you would need a throne, a high chair, a high position, totally misunderstanding and turning your whole dharma upside down. What is the throne that you actually need? You need the throne of hearing, contemplating, and meditating on the dharma... ."

--Gyatrul Rinpoche, 15 May 2012

Writing here, today, I hope you do not think I am somehow praising myself whilst belittling others. I hope you do not find these words antagonistic, or that I am finding fault with vajra brothers or sisters. Before I write these things I always very carefully search my heart, often for a very long time, to ask myself "Why" do I feel the need to write them. Many times I have written something, and then just let it collect digital dust, because I feel my motivation wasn't as I might have wished.

In the main, I write things such as these to myself. Every criticism you have ever seen me make is a criticism I have leveled at myself.

I am so very, very sorrowful at the tragedies befalling people who, one fine day, decided to involve themselves with Dharma. As I have mentioned elsewhere, I see these things and I have an irrational thought, "Hey! Why didn't they learn from my mistakes?" Then, of course, I realize that if I don't discuss my mistakes, nobody can possibly learn anything from them!

So, if you are a very high person with a great name and title, I feel these words will give no offense. Owing to the perfection of your view, and the ocean of your compassion, it will be only natural to disregard what is unnecessary to regard.

Just a few minutes into the above video, when a person with "not so good reputation" is being discussed, there is a moment... just a moment there... when one hears tittering, knowing laughter from the audience.

I freely admit I have known such laughter, as perhaps have you.

Breaking Promises to Nagas

Nagas are temperamental beings typically associated with water, and to a lesser extent, earth, where in the latter case they bear some relationship with trees. Nagas are normally depicted with reptilian characteristics, most commonly those of snakes. 

Some people believe nagas are, in fact, snakes that live in springs, ponds, rivers, swamps, and so forth. From an ordinary-mind perspective, nagas are animals, and you will find people who argue this perspective with special vigor. 

However, from an extraordinary perspective, nagas are one of the eight classes of spirits, having a special connection with weather, wealth, treasure, teachings, and health. In this sense, they are to be regarded as the continuum of primal spirits arising in a prehistoric age: spirits of the environment.

Thus, in an an ancient, environmentally-dependent society, if the nagas are pleased, they send rain to speed the crops. This equates to wealth and health. If they are displeased, they send rains to break down earthen restraints and create floods. This equates to ruin and disease. In between these two extremes there is much to learn.

In ancient Buddhist societies, this fortune comes and goes with the rains. In time, it devolves down to specific days of the lunar month. Just like a farmer with his almanac, the ancient observers came to consider particular days as having certain qualities with respect to interaction between nagas and men. We used to publish those days here at DTBA, until it became tiresome.

The "interaction" of which we speak is wholly dependent upon contracts made long ago between fully realized entities and the nagas, wherein ordinary beings, i.e. mankind, are the beneficiaries. You cannot communicate directly with nagas, nor would you particularly wish to try. Everything that might be said and done with respect to nagas has already, in the fullness of time, been said and done. But, what you can do is generate yourself as a deity, and engage the nagas in the context of those long-ago contracts. You can keep your side of the bargain, so to speak, by reaffirmation of -- or subscribing to -- the ancient promises made by the deity on your behalf.

Because nagas are worldly spirits. They are not transmundance. Among their number are oath-bound spirits, and some yet to be tamed. When you generate yourself as the deity to reaffirm oaths -- making offerings of special incense and so forth -- you are engaged in a symbolic communion with the oath-bound spirits as representatives, or intermediaries to the whole class. Sometimes peaceful offering will not suffice, and outright coercion seems necessary. Maybe that works with baby nagas, but I do not think it will work with developed nagas, unless you are Padmasambhava and know where to find a mongoose mob.

The promises between our transmundane representatives and the naga representatives are not unilateral. These are bilateral promises of certain conduct on both sides. So, it is fundamentally important to realize that this is a two-way street. If the nagas become fractious, and start bending the rules on their side, we can take the moral high ground and shake them up a bit. If, on the other hand, we become sloppy and forgetful...well, in this case you may rest assured that the nagas have their little ways.

Not only do they have their ways, they also have a mind to up the ante, and do not shy away from provocation. They are aggressive beings, who generally do not know how to return kindness for kindness.

These photographs (which are Photoshopped, by the way, just for snakey fun) are of worldly nagas. Nevertheless, polycephalic snakes do occur in nature. If worldly nagas can show such aberration, can you imagine what their spirit brethren can do?

Escalations can take many, many forms -- these are usually forms that we do not immediately associate with reptilian motifs,  although they may evoke prehistory.

I am writing these words because I see that we have so profoundly broken our pact with the nagas as to invite full scale disaster upon ourselves.

We have broken samaya.

The black misery that our greed for power poured into the Gulf of Mexico -- you might say that undersea oil is in some fashion the blood of ancient nagas -- has resonated in the absolutely world-threatening misery from Japan. Just think: one shake of the earth, one wave of the ocean, and the whole of the planet is in mortal danger.

This is the NOAA model of the flow of debris from Japan, following the March 2011 tsunami. Now, since the tsunami struck before the nuclear disaster, government scientists are saying that the tsunami debris is not radioactive.

I have a question.

What will this model look like if the nagas decide to send another message?

Don't you think it is high time we stop breaking promises to nagas?

Shambhala Swallows Snow Lion

In a development likely to have far-reaching influence on the state of English-language Buddhist publishing, Shambhala Publications of Boston, Massachusetts this past Thursday announced that they have acquired Snow Lion Publications of Ithaca, New York, for an undisclosed sum.

Shambhala thus absorbs its only effective competitor in the field of Tibetan Buddhist books, and while the acquisition is being heralded as a good thing for both companies, it remains to be seen if it is a good thing for the reading public. 

According to Snow Lion's management:

Thirty years ago His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave the founders of Snow Lion a mission: to publish books from all the traditions of Tibet.  It was most important, he told us, to be non-sectarian in our approach. More specifically, he suggested that we publish translations of classic texts and monastic textbooks from each of the four main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, commentaries by eminent lamas past and present of their respective lineages, and works by Western practitioners and scholars skilled at bridging the cultures. In addition, he suggested we publish books for those newly interested in Buddhism, books for serious students and scholars, as well as materials for advanced practitioners. 

Whether or not Shambhala can manage to hold that editorial vision intact is a valid question. Snow Lion had the courage to take on projects that were less than viable from an economic perspective, but vital from a spiritual perspective. Snow Lion also went to considerable lengths to identify, cultivate, and publish new authors, often outside the mainstream Shambhala represents. 

Once a renegade independent, with its roots in a storefront on Berkeley, California's Telegraph Avenue, Sam Bercholz's Shambhala -- now run by his children -- has reinvented itself as an upscale, establishment publisher with an unadventurous list. The firm originally came to prominence through an exclusive relationship with Trungpa Rinpoche, but in recent years has depended mainly upon authors such as Pema Chodron to define a mass-market stance. Shambhala also controls magazines, and a fledgling digital presence principally concerned with promoting its products and its authors.

In many other fields, Shambhala's acquisition of Snow Lion might prompt anti-trust scrutiny, but it is unlikely in this particular case. Nevertheless, the move does represent a tightening of Shambhala's grip on English-language Buddhist print media in North America.

Apart from Dharma Publishing and Wisdom Publications, we are pressed to find anyone else of comparable consequence in the field. Both of those firms are closely held by non-profit entities.

The fate of Snow Lion's approximately 300 title backlist -- including several works by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and "initiation only" titles such as Yeshe Lhamo or The Roar of Thunder -- is now in some question. According to sources, Shambhala follows the business model of "running out" its backlist in order to maintain interest in its new titles. One presumably well-informed source quotes Shambhala founder Sam Bercholz as believing, "That an open backlist printed on demand would slow the demand for new books."

Look for Grandmother Pema's Sixty-Second Weight-Watching Meals Without Fear from the Vajrayana Kitchen, coming to a bookstore near you. And, copy the below to pin up in your cubicle:

"Dharma books die when driven by market demographics."

Vital Advice

My Vital Advice 

Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro

Homage to the unsurpassed savior, the Lord of Oddiyana.

Now that you've found this precious human life with freedom and richness,
Take care not to squander it unconsciously.
Push yourself to uncover the meaning of this life.

Your mind is the source of everything.
It is skilled in deception and manipulation, and beguiling when unexamined.
Once you look into it, it is without basis or root.
It comes from nowhere, stays nowhere and goes nowhere.
Everything, including samsara and nirvana,
Is but a reflection of pure and impure mind;
In reality, neither samsara nor nirvana exist.

The source of compassionate awareness
Is primordially empty. Though free from characteristics,
It is not just a barren nothingness
But is luminous and naturally present.
Pristine awareness is not captured by names and labels.
The endless unfolding of samsara and nirvana pours forth as its radiance.
At the same time, there is no rift between the place from where all these come and that which is coming;
Remain in that nondual place.

Unborn dharmakaya Rigpa
Arises naturally without cause or condition.
Alert, fresh and naked,
It is uncolored by dualistic mind
And unpolluted by intellectual ideas.
Stay in that spontaneously arisen meditation.
Even the words "to meditate" are but words;
In reality, there is no meditator and nothing to meditate on.
Without distraction, always maintain empty awareness,
The true face of dharmakaya.

The deluded karma of samsara will never run out.
The more you work to solve your problems, the greater they become.
Belief in enemies and friends grows and grows,
And the causes for incarnating in lower realms pile up.

Direct yourself toward the dharma,
And if you can bring dharma to every action, word and thought,
You will uncover the great awakening, the path to liberation.
When death falls upon you, you will regret nothing.
During this life and in those to come,
You will walk the path of ever-growing happiness.

Atop your head and in your heart,
Imagine as a single being
Your most kind guru and the great Lord of Oddiyana.
Feel an upwelling of unbearable longing and devotion.
Whatever joy or sorrow befalls you, whatever favor or misfortune,
Pray forever to the lord Guru.
Let your minds flow together, yours at one with his.
As death draws near, let go of all attachment and hatred.

Picture Guru Padmasambhava above your head;
Imagine your consciousness as an orb of light, marked with the syllable Hri;
Dissolve that into the heart of the guru.
If you practice regularly now
And recite "The Aspiration to Be Born in the Copper-Colored Mountain,"
At death, a clear visualization will be easy.

To put it briefly, the essence of dharma
Is to cut through clinging to samsara,
To cultivate love and compassion toward those in the six realms
And to completely tame one's mind.
Without distraction, please always practice thus.

Even though I am immune to dharma, have no experience of meditation, and just use up the donations, I, Chokyi Lodro, wrote this according to what the past masters have taught, to fulfill the request of the yogini Pad Lu.

Celestial Events Promise Excitement

Saturday, 5 May 2012 at 11:35 EDT in the United States will witness this year's "supermoon," coinciding with a full moon, and if you have never witnessed one, now is a chance you won't want to miss. This is the moon's perigee -- its nearest distance to Jambudvipa -- happening this year on Vesak! To make matters more interesting, this will happen while the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower (remnants of Halley's Comet) is hitting its peak.

Next, coming up on 20 May 2012, a major astrological event unseen for 26,000 years: the Sun and Moon ( New Moon) will be precisely conjunct with the important Central Star of the Pleiades, in the constellation Taurus, in the midst of the first annular eclipse visible in the 'States in almost eighteen years. More precisely, the Sun and Moon will be within 5 degrees from Ketu, the Southern or descending node in the sidereal zodiac sign Taurus. Get out the cat's-eye chrysoberyl talisman! During this solar eclipse, the effects of positive and/or negative actions will be multiplied 10,000 times, so really -- pull out all the stops.

This event ushers in Saga Dawa, on 21 May 2012.

The solar eclipse will be followed by a lunar eclipse on 4 June 2012 -- which, this year, coincides with Saga Dawa Duchen, when the effects of positive and/or negative actions are multiplied ten million times (with an extra 1,000 multiplier owing to the eclipse). The mid-year solstice falls on 20 June 2012 -- the first day of the fifth Tibetan month. 

This one month period from 20 May to 20 June will be remarkable in several respects, not the least of which will occur on 5 or 6 June (depending on time zone), when the planet Venus will glide across the sun in a rare celestial event that won’t happen again until 2117.

As we all understand, this is a Dragon Year, and all sorts of predictions have been made. If you like, you can think of the events noted above as the "trigger" of this year's energies.

If there was ever a time when you wanted to devote extra attention to practice, now is most definitely the door. We can use the coming days to lay in stocks of barley flour for tormas, incense, oil for the lamps (or candles), new prayer flags, and we can ready supplies to repair stupas, make flower offerings, and so forth. I also want to suggest sponsoring prayers at your temple, live releases, and making gifts to teachers and ordained.

Beyond all of this, we can settle down with our best practice text, and all commentaries if need be, and really perform for the benefit of all sentient beings.

May it be joyous! 

A Dirty Shame

Ian Thorson, newly-wed husband of Christie McNally -- the well known one-time spiritual companion of  Michael Roach -- has died in a cave in Arizona, following a bizarre series of events.

The statement of Ms. McNally (written immediately before Thorson's death) is given here.

A statement by Michael Roach (written after Thorson's death) is given here.

I leave it to you to read the above two statements, and figure out the story for yourselves. I cannot bring myself to do our usual reporting on the matter because it is a low-down, dirty shame. Here was a young man come to needless grief from all the bullshit that surrounds franchise Buddhism in America.

Looks to me like a gyalpo got loose.

UPDATED:
http://tibetanaltar.blogspot.com/2012/06/dirty-dancing.html
http://tibetanaltar.blogspot.com/2012/06/tibetan-buddhist-cults-run-amok.html

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.).