#Longchenpa

[mahayanapilgrim]

"Normally we operate under the deluded assumption that everything has some sort of true, substantial reality. But when we look more carefully, we find that the phenomenal world is like a rainbow — vivid and colorful, but without any tangible existence.

When a rainbow appears we see many beautiful colors - yet a rainbow is not something we can clothe ourselves with, or wear as an ornament; it simply appears through the conjunction of various conditions. Thoughts arise in the mind in just the same way. They have no tangible reality or intrinsic existence at all. There is therefore no logical reason why thoughts should have so much power over us, nor any reason why we should be enslaved by them."

- Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

[ammonitetestpatterns]

harry hunt, on the nature of consciousness, published by yale university press, 1995.

[chodpa]

Immaculate Radiance: A Testament by Longchen Rabjam

Today I came across Longchenpa’s final testament — The Immaculate Radiance. I found reading the words of this incomparable Dzogchen master who was giving his final teaching just before he died, profoundly moving. What a life he led! How could you begin to measure his life, perhaps unlike that of any other?

My delight at death is much greater than the joy of traders who have made their fortunes at sea, the lords of the gods who have proclaimed their victory in war, or those sages who are abiding in absorption. Now, Perna Ledrel Tsal will not remain here much longer. I go to secure the blissful and deathless nature.

You can read the full post for free at my Luminous Emptiness blog:

Immaculate Radiance: A Testament — Longchenpa

(8 minute read)

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Perfect alignment of the Moon Saturn & Jupiter. Photographed by Picabuzz

[Exploring The Whole Universe]

* * * * 

The fourteenth-century Tibetan master Longchenpa said there are five characteristics we should cultivate in order to practice the four immeasurables:

 (1) a fundamental attitude as vast as space; (2) a mind as constant as the depths of the ocean; (3) seeing all occurrences, inner and outer, as mist floating in the sky; (4) a compassionate attitude as even as the rays of the sun; (5) sensing negativities to be like specks of dust in our eyes.

The Four Immeasurables Leave Nothing Untouched →

[alive on all channels]

[cobotis]

What do we mean by learning?… Is there learning when you are merely accumulating knowledge, gathering information?… That is one kind of learning, is it not?… As a student of engineering, you study mathematics, and so on; you are learning, informing yourself about the subject. You are accumulating knowledge in order to use that knowledge in practical ways. Your learning is accumulative, additive… Now, when the mind is merely taking on, adding, acquiring, is it learning?… Or is learning something entirely different?… I say the additive process which we now call learning is not learning at all. It is merely a cultivation of memory, which becomes mechanical; and a mind which functions mechanically, like a machine, is not capable of learning. A machine is never capable of learning, except in the additive sense. Learning is something quite different, as I shall try to show you… A mind that is learning never says, “I know”, because knowledge is always partial, whereas learning is complete all the time. Learning does not mean starting with a certain amount of knowledge, and adding to it further knowledge. That is not learning at all; it is a purely mechanistic process… To me, learning is something entirely different. I am learning about myself from moment to moment, and the “myself” is extraordinarily vital; it is living, moving; it has no beginning and no end… When I say, “I know myself”, learning has come to an end in accumulated knowledge… Learning is never cumulative; it is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end…

~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

[dudjomngondro]

Part 2 of 5 of Longchenpa's The Four-Themed Precious Garland with Tulku Thadral Rinpoche.

On December 18th @ 5pm, Tulku Thadral Rinpoche will continue with the Public Ngondro Teaching ~ Part 2 of 5 of Longchenpa’s The Four-Themed Precious Garland.  Attendance on site at Pema Osel Ling or via YouTube Streaming. Watch for the link coming soon. If you want to review Part 1 from November 13th, or missed it, you can use this link YouTube Streaming link.  Rinpoche concluded the session with…

[buddhismnow]

Morning meditation — Now, during this intermediate period of the bardo of this life.

Morning meditation — Now, during this intermediate period of the bardo of this life. https://wp.me/pFy3u-8Ou

‘Now, during this intermediate period of the bardo of this life, decide, with complete certainty, that the wisdom of your own awareness is dharmakāya, and sustaining the ongoing experience of its self-radiance, the meditation which is naturally clear’ Longchenpa Pink roses. On the net, of course, it’s morning, afternoon, evening, or nighttime 😀 somewhere. Click here to read more Morning…

[nathanaelroyale]

All beings are transient, like past and future guests: The old have gone, the young will also go. This generation wont even last a hundred years - Understand this thoroughly straight away. The presence of this life is like a single day; The presence of the intermediate state is like tonight's dream. The presence of a future life will come as quickly as tomorrow - Deal with life's real meaning straight away.

Now that I come to Die - Longchenpa.

[mitleid]

Longchenpa. Meditação, amor e compaixão.

9. Todos os seres são iguais, já que desejam ser felizes e escapar de suas dores. E, ainda assim, com suas confusões eles tramam as causas dos seus sofrimentos. Quanta tristeza! Que todas as aflições dos seres infelizes e todas as suas tendências negativas diminuam. Que eles tenham uma mente equânime. Que todos os seres corporificados, atormentados por forte apego ou aversão, sejam liberados do…

[radical-revolution]

In villages, monasteries, caves, and such places – wherever we might stay – let us not look for close friendship. But with whomever we become acquainted, become neither too intimate, nor too hostile. To remain self-reliant is my heart advice.

~ Longchenpa

Thirty Pieces of Heart Advice

If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your own integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.

~ Epictetus

“You do not have to find yourself at the expense of others. This is wrong. But be by yourself all you can. Realize that this is your life. It is not your husband’s life. It is not your wife’s life. It is not your children’s life. It is not your relatives life. It’s your life. You exist here now. What are you doing with it? How can you allow other people to control your emotions? How can you allow people to tell you what to do, to make decisions for you? All the answers are within yourself. You have to sincerely turn within, with great passion, and find yourself.“

~ Robert Adams

“Stop, looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment for validation, security, or love – you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything in the world can offer.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Do not associate with those who are in love with the sense objects of this world, for if you have less they will disregard you, and if you have more they will envy you.

~ Imam Ali

Just Dharma

[mahayanapilgrim]

In the morning, you should reflect on the difficulty to obtain a precious human birth; in the evening, you should reflect on death and impermanence, and throughout the day, you should reflect on karma, cause and effect, and act according to the 37 Bodhisattva Practices.

Meditate in shorter but more frequent sessions to ensure the good quality of your meditation. It is best to just observe the nature of mind, the ordinary bare mind, and preserve it. When thoughts appear neither reject nor accept them. Do not try to stop thoughts, allow them to arise, but recognize their arising and do not pursue them.

The goal is not to have no thoughts but for thoughts to arise and yet be rendered powerless. You must habituate this. Then later when negative thoughts and emotions arise, you will not fall under their power. The energy of these thoughts may arise but will not affect you in one or the other way.

Sometimes in meditation, there will be a time when there are actually no thoughts. In that instant, you will know that this is the true nature of your mind - the mind that abides like space, vivid and empty, open, not grasping at anything. This alert awareness must be upheld throughout all activities.

So do not try to stop thoughts, just relax into the nature of awareness. Whenever you meditate, our minds will be together. If you understand this you will not feel tired of meditation. - Garchen Rinpoche

[ammonitetestpatterns]

[tibetanthangkapaintings]

We strive in meditation because we desire excellence, but any striving precludes attainment; excellence resides only in timeless self-sprung awareness.

~ Longchenpa

[chodpa]

Luminous Emptiness - a Dzogchen / Mahamudra meditation blog, exploring in-depth Tibetan Buddhism, Nondualism, Vajrayana, Zen, Advaita Vedanta, Bhakti and beyond.

[santoschristos]

Buddha-Dharma

Since everything is but an apparition, Perfect in being what it is, Having nothing to do with good or bad, Acceptance or rejection You might as well burst out laughing! --Dzogchen master Longchenpa

Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense. --Rumi

Dharma in Buddhism means cosmic law and order. Buddha-Dharma

Image art Mahaboka

Dharmachakra (Wheel of the Law)

The Dharmacakra symbol refers to an eight-spoked wheel that is a universal symbol of Buddhism. Also called the Wheel of Dharma, it represents the Dharma or law taught by the Buddha as the path to the achievement of nirvana or enlightenment.

The Dharmacakra is also representative of the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth.

The eight spokes of the Dharmacakra symbolize the noble eightfold path that leads one to enlightenment. These are right faith, right thought, right speech, right action, right endeavor, right livelihood, right concentration and right mindfulness.

[mountain-sage]

Observe your awareness in this very present moment, just as it is.

It cannot be spoiled by the comings and goings of thoughts and memories,

Nor corrupted by ordinary thoughts of good and bad.

This awareness is vividly present, yet devoid of thoughts,

And while it is devoid of thoughts, it is vividly present.

This naked transparency is, in essence, the dharmakaya.

-Longchenpa