Khandro Tsering Chödrön, the greatest woman master of our day

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Khandro Tsering Chödrön, Khyentse Sangyum, beloved by so many, passed away on the 30^th of May 2011 at Lerab Ling in France.

Sogyal Rinpoche wrote about her in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: “In a figure like Khandro Tsering Chödrön, the greatest woman master of our day, who was the wife of my master Jamyang Khyentse, you see very clearly what years of the deepest devotion and practice can create out of the human spirit. Her humility and beauty of heart, and the shining simplicity, modesty, and lucid, tender wisdom of her presence are honored by all Tibetans, even though she herself has tried as far as possible to remain in the background, never to push herself forward, and to live the hidden and austere life of an ancient contemplative.”

Sogyal Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche were both present at the moment of her passing where she showed all the signs of attaining the final accomplishment of a great Dzogchen practitioner.

For Buddhist practitioners, Sogyal Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche have suggested that we accumulate 100,000 recitations of Narak Kong Shak, along with 100 million recitations of the 100-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva. This is not for Khandro’s sake, as she was such a great practitioner, but to purify the connection with all the sentient beings that came into contact with her. It would be wonderful if other sanghas would like to join the Rigpa sangha in this and for us to be able to offer and dedicate our practice together. (Accumulations from other sanghas could be sent to: practiceforkhandro@rigpa.org. Rigpa students should still go through their national & local accumulation coordinators.)

Sogyal Rinpoche also said that this is a very powerful time to do Guru Yoga practice. He said for us to consider Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lödro, Khandro Tsering Chödrön, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s wisdom minds are one and to make strong aspiration prayers for our own accomplishment of Dzogchen practice and the spiritual path.

Tergar Meditation Community | Teachings & Resources | Videos

Tergar Meditation Community | Teachings & Resources | Videos

Dalai Lama on Religious Diversity

If we view the world's religions from the widest possible viewpoint and examine their ultimate goal, we find that all of the major world religions, whether Christianity or Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, are dedicated to the achievement of permanent human happiness. They are all directed toward that goal. All religions emphasize the fact that the true follower must be honest and gentle, in other words, that a truly religious person must always strive to be a better human being. To this end, the different world religions teach different doctrines which will help transform the person. In this regard, all religions are the same, there is no conflict. This is something we must emphasize. We must consider the question of religious diversity from this viewpoint. And when we do, we find no conflict.

...Different kinds of food have different tastes: one may be very hot, one may be very sour, and one very sweet. They are opposite tastes, they conflict. But whether a dish is concocted to taste sweet, sour, or hot, it is nonetheless made in this way so as to taste good. Some people prefer very spicy, hot foods with a lot of chili peppers. Many Indians and Tibetans have a liking for such dishes. Others are very fond of bland tasting foods. It is a wonderful thing to have variety. It is an expression of individuality; it is a personal thing. Likewise, the variety of the different world religious philosophies is a very useful and beautiful thing. (p.13)

--from Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists by the Dalai Lama, edited by Jose Ignacio Cabezon, published by Snow Lion Publications

Dalai Lama on how do self-attachment and so forth arise in such great force

Afflictions are classed as peripheral mental factors and are not themselves any of the six main minds [eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mental consciousnesses]. However, when any of the afflicting mental factors becomes manifest, a main mind [a mental consciousness] comes under its influence, goes wherever the affliction leads it, and 'accumulates' a bad action.

There are a great many different kinds of afflictions, but the chief of them are desire, hatred, pride, wrong view and so forth. Of these, desire and hatred are chief. Because of an initial attachment to oneself, hatred arises when something undesirable occurs. Further, through being attached to oneself the pride that holds one to be superior arises, and similarly when one has no knowledge of something, a wrong view that holds the object of this knowledge to be non-existent arises.

How do self-attachment and so forth arise in such great force? Because of beginningless conditioning, the mind tightly holds to 'I, I' even in dreams, and through the power of this conception, self-attachment and so forth occur. This false conception of 'I' arises because of one's lack of knowledge concerning the mode of existence of things. The fact that all objects are empty of inherent existence is obscured and one conceives things to exist inherently; the strong conception of 'I' derives from this. Therefore, the conception that phenomena inherently exist is the afflicting ignorance that is the ultimate root of all afflictions. (p.26)

--from The Buddhism of Tibet by the Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, with Anne Klein, published by Snow Lion Publications

Devastation in Japan - Message from Sogyal Rinpoche

Sogyal as a child

Dear Rigpa Sangha and Friends,

As you know by now, there was a massive earthquake in Japan on Friday, followed by a tsunami with waves as high as 10 metres that surged across parts of the country washing away everything and everyone in its wake. Whole villages have been washed away and huge fires caused by the earthquake are burning, affecting tens of thousands of people. The pictures of the devastation coming from Japan are shocking.

I want to express my deep sadness and heartfelt condolences to all the people of Japan, and especially to those who have lost loved ones. The next few days will be critical, and my prayers are also with all the rescue workers and everyone helping with the recovery effort.

Hundreds of people are already reported dead, hundreds more are missing, including four passenger trains, and police are reporting that 215,000 people have fled their homes. And we don't yet know the full extent of the damage.

There are also serious concerns for the safety of some of Japan's nuclear power plants in the earthquake affected area, and people living near them have been evacuated.

Please join me in holding the Japanese people in your prayers, especially those who have died or been injured, and their families.

Pray that there are no deadly aftershocks, no radiation leaks from the nuclear power plants, no more fatalities, and no obstacles for the rescue and recovery work.

Also remember that many people will have lost their homes and their livelihoods so please also pray for their well-being and safety.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recommended that Japanese Buddhist practice the Heart Sutra for those who have lost their lives, and to help prevent further disasters in the future, and has organised for it to be recited 100,000 times in Dharamsala for this purpose. And His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa has emphasised that joining together in prayer for those who had suffered in this natural disaster is one way of benefiting beings.

If you would like to make a donation towards the relief effort, you could contact the Red Cross Society in your country, or Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Kalachakra For World Peace 2011 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Beginning on July 6, 2011, the 76th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Kalachakra for World Peace will be offered at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. His Holiness will offer this great ritual empowerment, including preliminary teachings, from July 6 through 16.

The Kalachakra was first given by Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, in ancient India. A noble lineage has carried those sacred teachings directly from the Buddha to Washington, DC, in July of 2011. We invite you to take part in this joyful and unprecedented event.

July 6—12

During the first seven days of the Kalachakra, from July 6 through 12, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals which prepare and consecrate the venue. These include chanting of prayers, creation of the sand mandala and other ancient rituals
July 9, 10, and 11

His Holiness will give teachings to present the foundations of Buddhist thought on July 9, 10 and 11. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained the importance of these preliminaries during the Kalachakra offered in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1999:

Pray for the Earth. Pray for Japan. Pray for human kind

Kunzang Palyul Choling


A Message from Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo March 15, 2011

Come Together and Pray for the Earth!

Dear Friends,

I want to ask- beg, really, for all to stop the busy work and pray in whatever fashion you are familiar with. The situation in Japan is spiraling out of control. Please pray for Japan and stay informed! Pray for the Earth as well, as this will affect our planet.

It is time, without self concern or ego to join hands, join hearts, minds, and spirit and encircle the Earth with love and protection. We are spiritual beings, all we see is a hologram projected by our "mind." If we determine we have faith it is time to use it. Without holding back, without prejudice, please join together: Christians, Jews, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Pagan, Sufi, Shinto, indigenous. Let our differences go and join together as never before.

The ground, water, sky, wind is filling with poison. We have the power to transform this poison. Love and compassion are stronger; our very spiritual nature has the power to transform. It must be done purely and without any negativity. If you pray to God, Allah, the Buddhas, Krishna, no matter, it is love and compassion that matters. We must empower ourselves to be "divine" in whatever way we can. It is within us to create the antidote to this.
If our seas are poisoned, our blood will be. If our wind is toxic our breath will be too. If our Earth is poison all our bodies will be as well. We cannot afford to take a vacation from guardianship of this planet. No one will save us but us. It is time to awaken. This is our Mother Earth and we are her children. We cannot fail. Awaken to spirit, to love, to compassion and to responsibility. This is what it is to be human. Human children of our Mother and we must honor her.
Pray for the Earth. Pray for Japan. Pray for human kind.

OM AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEDMA SIDDHI HUNG!
OM MANI PEDME HUNG!
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA!

Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo