Night of Chod

Today is Halloween :)
it's not that big of a deal to me except that it seems to me like a good night to practice Chod.
I don't know if i am gonna be able to because i have to work tonight and then might be going out with friends(i know, i know stupid reason not to do Chod) but...... Though if i don't get intoxicated i could do it whenever i get home. At any rate we all have aspirations. best of luck to Yours that are of benefit to others.

Holy Places of Buddhist

1. Bodhgaya: An important seat of Buddhist learning, Bodhgaya is located in the state of Bihar. It is here where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The town is now a well known pilgrimage site and is home to beautiful monasteries and stupas. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims come here all around the year.

2. Lumbini: This small town is located in the Nepal-India border. It is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are a number of monasteries and religious monuments which are known for their lovely carvings.

3. Rajgir: This lovely city is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Known as Rajagriha in the ancient times, this city is surrounded by mountains and greenery. It was one of the important seats of Buddhist religion and Lord Buddha imparted his teachings here. The city is full of Buddhist temples and monasteries.

4. Nalanda: This ancient university is located close to Rajgir. It was one of the important seats of Buddhist learning. Established in the 5th century B.C, the university was visited by scholars and renowned students. Hundreds of tourists now come here to see its ruins. There is also a museum which is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

5. Sanchi: Ranking among the well known Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sanchi is home to plenty of stupas, monasteries, Buddhist temples and other religious monuments. Hundreds of tourists also come here to see the famous Anand Bodhi tree.

6. .Varanasi and Sarnath: Other than being a well known pilgrimage center for Hindus, Varanasi is also a renowned religious spot for Buddhists. While on a tour to Varanasi, you can also visit Sarnath. It was here where Lord Buddha first propagated Dharma.

7. Kushinagar: Lord Buddha breathed his last in this small town in Uttar Pradesh. His last sermon was also preached here. There are a number of Buddhist temples and monuments located here which draw hundreds of pilgrims.

This is from the Buddhist Channel

And at the very least i didn't want to lose this this so i can get to the sites i have not been to yet.

interesting excerpts

If you check your mind over and over again,
Whatever you do becomes the perfect path.
Of all the hundreds of vital instructions, this is
the very quintessence;
Fuse everything into this one single point, and
recite the six-syllable mantra

From: The Heart Treasure of The Enlightened Ones
by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Patrul Rinpoche. pg 160

from me: i find this so important, this constant and
consistent effort combined with a natural presence free of
tension and fabrication. a place i hope to find.

Another one for ya related to the above,

Mere knowledge by itself, however, is not enough and,
if not applied, is of little use. As with any skill, this
knowledge must be put to work and integrated into our being
through the process of familiarization, usually referred to as meditation,
and consisting in this case of the actual practice focused on Chenrezi. pg 167

of course these words are most perfect, If i contemplate this related
a touch more to this phenomena in front of me and the western world, i would
add in the need for scholarly study of Buddhism and develop a deeper
understanding of the foundation and of what it means to be a Buddhist.
How to view reality and cut through the poisons on a moment to moment basis, and
of how to act and react to where ever we find ourselves. i.e. pausing before
an action to have it come from a place of Wisdom and Compassion as appose to
attachment, repulsion and indifference, But i am stuck in this delusion and suffering
as much as the next.


I read recently, that as one moves forward on the Path that desirable princesses or princes
will appear in front of a practitioner in effort to deter them from their goal, Enlightenment.
this next part from the Root text pg 175 reminds me of a potentially supportive or
saddening occurrence depending on ones point of view.

9. In this dark age, what people think and do is vile.
None of them will help you, they'll deceive and trick you;
And for you to be of any help to them will be hard;
Wouldn't it be best to quit the whole rat race?

10. Though you serve your superiors, they will never be
pleased;
Though you look after your inferiors, they will never be
satisfied;
Though you care about others, they won't care about you.
Think about it, and make a firm decision.

11. Being learned these days doesn't help the teachings--
it just leads to more debate;
Being realized these days doesn't help others--it just
leads to more criticism;
Being in a responsible position these days doesn't help
govern the country well--it only spreads revolt.
Think about these time with sorrow and disgust.

12. Though you explain, people miss the point or don't
believe you;
Though your motivation is truly altruistic, people think
it's not.
These days, when the crooked see the straight as
crooked,
You can't help anyone--give up any hope of that.

13, 14 - about illusion

15. Whoever you see isn't human, but a fraud;
Whatever people say isn't right, but just lies.
So since these days there's no one you can trust,
You'd better live alone and stay free.

16. If your actions conform with Dharma, you'll
antagonize everyone;
If your words are truthful, most people will get angry;
If your mind is truly good and pure, they will judge it
a defect.
Now is the time to keep your way hidden.




It, of course, goes on with perfect guidance from the Awakened Mind.
And these words could be miss understood easily but there is nothing
i can do about that, please read and understand the correct meaning.

This seems like a taste of what my Masters experience almost everyday

Astrology

I want to get a Vedic astrology reading from Hart De Fouw! I had him do one about 10 years ago and even since then i have yet to find another that has or can provide astrological insight like he did.

Palin look alike

In John Cusacks' new to dvd movie WAR, INC. His assistant reminds me of Palin. a def must see even just for that.

ways of life

I went to an Amish store nearby and thought it was very interesting. They Know devotion beyond me by far. now granted from my point of view, there is a bit of a misunderstanding that is limiting them from being free of suffering but they most certainly are creating some great habits for the future karma of devotion to a religion. essentially great devotion but no god - sub - karma, habits, wisdom and compassion.

the smartest man

I thought i was smart and had a lot of answers last year.
This year i think i don't know much.
I think next year i will have learned more.
But that's not the point of life.
So i try to reside in what this is.

My friends are Kind

So dinner was pretty good. the rice was good, same with the steamed vegi's, the indian dishes i couldn't really screw up (just had to heat them up! hehe) the Naan was good but basic only warm by the time i served them. And now for the down fall, i over cooked the fish :( it tasted good with the pesto sauce, lemon and bread crumbs. but was def. a little dry and firm. But my friends understood what it meant for me to cook for them, that i appreciate their friendship and love. And it was nice for Tara and Yeshe to see my place, i feel like it's having a look at inside me and of who i am. for me and i presume others, home is a very sacred place. So to share that space with others in someway is something that "catches my eye" when it is occurring.

Cooking

I cook dinner for a few friends tonight. They should be here any minute! hah!! I hope it's edible and they like it!!! If it''s not, we can always order pizza :)

Her Dharma son

She is my Mother
i am Her Dharma Son
This phenomenal blood has slowly found its way
thick and slow, turning to clear and fast
letting go
to become a perfect open sky
i barely light up a dot in the darkest of nights
though, remain in Her Prayers amidst Her Love
my eyes don't see clearly but my mind and heart lead the way
Not seeing Her Brilliance through my lenses of emotion and desire
i return to an accuracy that can't be denied when applied

Jetsunma, i Love You
Thank You for Appearing in this world

Lack of Application

I just found some info written about my Lama that is incorrect and reminds me of something that has been on my mind for a few months.

There are some people in the world that do or did consider themselves Buddhist but, after receiving direction from their Teacher that they didn't like, blame Her for their Suffering. They seem to be forgetting that what ever appears in front of us is Our Karma not circumstances due to someone outside of Us. i understand the challenges but we have to apply the Teachings to OUR OWN Minds if we want to change and eliminate our OWN suffering, putting the responsibility or fault onto someone else is not what Buddhism teaches. Here in America it seems that there is a correct amount of emphasizes on Devotion, Prayer and Contemplation of Buddhist Practice and the Teachers all relate the importance of Applying the Thoughts and Concepts but as Students it seems that we maybe letting ourselves off easy and Trying to put the Teachers through the "grinder". I say this because others i've known, myself included, go about life trying to do good and be loving and kind but when it comes to looking at life and understanding what it is that's in front of us, we fall short. We want to go down that road of emotions, instead of cutting the head off the snake and pulling out the roots. It's probably the combination of remembering and the necessity of that remembering to be ever present that we have trouble with, at least that's what some Teachings i have read indicate. And i personally find this challenging as well. There is no blame to pass on, i.e. The reason i see this "flaw" in others is because it is my own lack of its' presence and my ignorance that has me lost in this world of suffering, so i don't say the previous as accusations or as a look at those bad people but more as this is the situation we find ourselves in. i Pray that Myself and Others may remain in the mental equipoise of constant and supreme awareness. my lesson here is to remember, be applying the concepts of Buddhism every moment so i don't get caught up in my own confusion and misunderstanding of what i am experiencing.

Thoughts

Birthday

Today is Jetsunmas Birthday, so i say Happy Birthday to my Most Precious Lama. i pray You have a Long Life and that all Your Apirations come to perfect Fullfilment.

Gas Prices

So Oil prices dropped to approx. $87 today with gas prices at $3.25-ish. In 3 minutes, I found a year ago the Barrel price was the same, at 87, but the gas per gallon was 2.75. so the big question is are prices going to drop .50 tonight while we sleep???? I doubt it, The government and the rich are united in a deceiving dance to create a two class society in America, the poor and the rich. I wouldn't believe my own words except that the bailout passed without helping the citizens but by supporting Big Business. To which a number of Big Businesses decided not to accept because their Golden Parachute would become non-exsistant if they do participate. America, Home of Government and Big Business Manipulation. We need to take the Power and Influence away from the SIGs, the NGOs and Lobbyists. Particularily when their influence is not truly focused on supporting the people of America and of the World.

just a thought

When i speak of how i think an occasion may turn out, whether good or bad, is based out of my own point of view if placed in a similar position. with the added moments of space that allot for the making of a "good choice" or the "hindsight is 20/20" concept . So i think in the way of probabilities, not from emotion when contemplating. Though as i find myself in the moments myself, the dragons of poisons rise and make of a far memory the truth of the past, present and futures. and only later due i contemplate the actions of my future experience

two Problems

So i think for the most part there may only be a limited number of afflictions that are preventing suffering from ceasing. first remembering the foundation of Buddhist thought. Second Applying the preferred point of view to cut the desire and pain of life from continuing to progress. Then thirdly staying present in space, somewhere within the mixture of karma formed into aggregates agreed upon out of habit into our relative reality. so here i sit. with silly thoughts. not really knowing anything. Trying to know something that can't be imagined. Only by knowing.
Om Benzar Sato Hung

let me walk on thin ice please

Like frozen ice on a pond,
The aggregates coagulate into a solidity called my
reality.
Seemingly separate from the water below and the
humidity above.
Year after year slightly altering the life's surface.
The seasons feeling like lives unto themselves.

line from a movie

Weapons aren't for killing but for defending what is precious

quote from Danzan Rabjaa

A sign of Loyalty is to criticize without Reserve.
A sign of Wisdom is to consider Deeply.
A sign of of a Lover is to talk without Secrets.
A sign of of Friendship is to have similar Thoughts.

something i wish to never forget

Refuge Vow

I take refuge in the Lama,
I take refuge in the Buddha,
I take refuge in the Dharma,
I take refuge in the Sangha.


Bodhisattva Vow

I dedicate myself to the liberation and salvation of all sentient beings. I offer my body, speech, and mind in order to accomplish the purpose of all sentient beings. I will return in whatever form necessary, under extraordinary circumstances to end suffering.
Let me be born in times unpredictable, in places unknown, until
all sentient beings are liberated from the cycle of death and
rebirth.

Taking no thought for my comfort or safety, precious Lama (Buddha), make of me a pure and perfect instrument by which
the end of suffering and death in all forms might be realized.
Let me achieve perfect enlightenment for the sake of all beings. And then, by my hand and heart alone, may all beings achieve
full enlightenment and perfect liberation.
Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

Foundation

Four Noble Truths Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Four Immeasurable s
Truth of Suffering Precious Human Rebirth Love
Cause of Suffering Impermanance Compassion
Cessation of Suffering Cause and Effect Equanimity
Path to the cessation of suffering Faults of Cyclic Existance Joy

Eight Wordly Dharmas Eight Fold Noble Path
Desire for fame Correct Understanding
Desire for Wordly Pleasure Correct View
Desire for Material Gain Correct Speech
Desire for Praise Correct Action
Feeling Unhappy when Loosing Fame Correct Livelihood
Feeling Unhappy when Loosing Worldly Pleasure Correct Effort
Feeling Unhappy when Loosing Material Gain Correct Mindfulness
Feeling Unhappy when Hearing Criticism and Not wanting Blame Correct Concentration

Mental symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
Deity Delusion Enlightened Mind
Vairochana ignorance All-encompassing Dharmadatu Wisdom
Akshobhya anger, hatred Mirror-like Wisdom
Ratnasambhava pride, miserliness Wisdom of Equality
Amitabha desire, lust Discriminating Wisdom
Amogasiddhi jealousy, fear All-accomplishing Wisdom

Physical symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
Deity Element Sense Medical/physical Organ
Vairochana space sight energy channels heart
Akshobhya water sound blood flow kidneys
Ratnasambhava earth smell flesh spleen
Amitabha fire taste body heat liver
Amogasiddhi air touch inner winds lungs

Names and relation to other Buddhas & Bodhisattvas
Deity (Sanskrit) English name Consort Bodhisattva Wheel-turning Buddhas
Vairochana Illuminating White Tara Samantabhadra Krakucchanda
Akshobhya Unshakable Locana Vajrapani Kanakamuni
Ratnasambhava Jewel-born Mamaki Ratnapani Kashyapa
Amitabha Infinite Light Pandara Avalokiteshvara Shakyamuni
Amogasiddhi Conqueror Green Tara Vishvapani Maitreya

Imagery symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
Deity Color Direction Gesture (mudra)
Vairochana white Center Dharmachakra-Turning theDharma-wheel
Akshobhya blue East Bhumisparsa-Earth-touching
Ratnasambhava yellow South Varada-Bestowing, giving
Amitabha red West Dhyana-Meditation
Amogasiddhi green North Abhaya-Fearlessness

More symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
Deity Family symbol and family Syllable Vehicle Aggregate
Vairochana Dharma-wheel and Tathagata OM Dragon Form(Skt.rupa)
Akshobhya Vajra and Vajra HUM Elephant Consciousness(Skt.vijnana)
Ratnasambhava Jewel and Ratna TRAM Horse or Lion Sensation(Skt.vendana)
Amitabha Lotus and Padma HRIH Peacock Perception(Skt.sanjna)
Amogasiddhi Double Vajra and Karma AH Garuda impulses(Skt.Samskara)

Significance of offering bowls at alters

First offering bowl with Water
-TO CLEANSE THE MOUTH OR FACE
-SIGNIFIES AUSPICIOUS CAUSES AND CONDITIONS
-AS VAST AS AN OCEAN
-I DEDICATE THIS TO BECOME A CAUSE FOR ALL SENTIENT
BEINGS TO ALSO COLLECT POSITIVE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS


Second offering bowl with Water
-TO WASH THE FEET OF AN ENLIGHTEN BEING
-MIXED WITH SANDALWOOD FOR PURIFICATION
-CLEANSING OUR NEGATIVE KARMA AND OBSCURATIONS
-I OFFER AN OCEAN OF THIS KIND OF WATER TO ALL ENLIGHTENED
BEINGS TO PURIFY ALL TEMPORARY OBSCURATIONS OF OURSELVES
AND ALL SENTIENT BEINGS

Third offering bowl with Flowers
-SIGNIFIES THE PRACTICE OF GENEROSITY AND OPENS THE HEART
-TO BE FREE OF STINGINESS
-GIVE FEARLESSNESS, WISDOM, WEALTH, FREEDOM FROM DANGER
TO LIFE
-I DEDICATE THIS SO THAT ALL SENTIENT BEINGS MAY ACHIEVE THE
FREEDOM AND ENDOWMENT OF A PRECIOUS HUMAN LIFE

Fourth offering bowl with Incense
-SYMBOLIZES MORAL ETHICS AND DISCIPLINE
-MORAL ETHICS, SAMADHI AND WISDOM
-MAY ALL SENTIENT BEINGS ACHIEVE WISDOM FROM SAMADHI AND
SAMADHI FROM ETHICS AND DISCPLINE, AND THROUGH THESE
ACCOPLISHMENTS DEVELOP AN ENLIGHTENED BODY, SPEECH AND MIND

Fifth offering bowl with Light or clear Crystal
-SIGNIFIES THE STABILITY OF CLARITY OF PATIENCE, THE BEAUTY
THAT DISPELS ALL IGNORANCE
-I DEDICATED THIS PRACTICE SO THAT ALL SENTIENT BEINGS DEVELOP
PATIENCE AND ENLIGHTENMENT


Sixth offering bowl with Scented water or Oil
-FOR PERSEVERANCE AND JOYOUS EFFORT
-OFFERED TO THE MIND OF THE BUDDHA BECAUSE PERSEVERANCE IS
THE HEART OF ENLIGHTENMENT
- MAY ALL SENTIENT BEINGS PROGRESS IN THEIR ATTAINMENT OF
THE QUALITIES OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Seventh offering bowl with Food
-EXCELLENT QUALITY OF FOOD SIGNIFIES SAMADHI, WHICH IS THE
NECTAR OR AMBROSIA TO FEED THE MIND
-SAMADHI IS THE FOOD OF BOTH MIND AND BODY
-THROUGH THIS OFFERING MAY ALL SENTIENT BEINGS HAVE THE
HEALTH WHICH RESULTS FROM SAMADHI FOOD. AND THE SAMADHI
NATURE AND QUALITY

Eigth offering bowl with a Conch Shell
-MUSICS NATURE IS WISDOM
-COMPASSION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH GREAT WISDOM.
-INTERDEPENDENCE IS REALIZED THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT,
SOUND AND MAKER
-DUALITIES FALSE AND ILLUSORY NATURE IS VIEWED FROM THIS
-MAY THE WISDOM, THAT QUALITY OF SUPERMUNDANE, ARISE WITHIN
ALL SENTIENT BEINGS’ MINDS AND FREE THEM FROM ALL CONFUSION
AND IGNORANCE,. MAY THEY ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT..


By this Effort may All Sentient Beings Be free of Suffering,
May their Minds be filled with the Nectar of Virtue,
In this way may All Causes resulting in Suffering be Extinguished
and Only the Light of Compassion Shine Throughout All Realms

Been reading about Danzan Ravjaa

September 27

The view from a certain point just outside my fence with rain soaked pine needles draping without weeping, revealing a view that brings me back to living in the woods in many places through out America and India. Thoughts contemplate into concepts of life from which The Three Kayas remind the collection of my past of the presence of the present.

Hahaha Playing with words and thoughts is fun but truly i can't wait to embody that of which i do not know

Yesterday

Yesterday started out like any of the recent past days but by afternoon turned much brighter even though the brilliance couldn't be seen by eye.
Sooo what was this goodness??? Well, I went over to Jetsunmas to give Cian a copy of ."Bones of the Master" and just before i arrived an order of approx. 20 plants arrived for J. With them came a desired assistance from Cian. From that came the opportunity for me to help out, it ended up taking until a little after 7pm but i was content with that. Thinking about it this morning i was seeing how much i enjoy a spontaneous life. It's not a fear of commitment but really about going with the natural flow of life. I think my mind was still churning it throughout the night while the conscious part of me was asleep.
I also think that the noticing of the "coincidence" of my presence by Linda (Jetsunmas current Main Attendant) had my mind turning too. I had nothing, consciously, to do with timing, it was more a demonstration of fortunate karma. There are two main aspects that really stood out for me. One is that the only way to really call a day a "good day" is to have been in the presence of one's Lama and to be able to do prostration to Them. And the other is the quantity of happiness that comes from spontaneity. It was similar to when i was traveling around America in School busses doing the hippie thing. We would be where ever we were for however long we needed or wanted to be and if other things happened then we would naturally just adjust to it. Though, yes, we did have tension and disagreements due to things like breaking 8 feet of our drive shaft. But the important part is that for the most part it is and was living in the moment, kinda Buddhist.

Thought of the Day

In space i sit, a mix of the Aggregates like a recipe.
Sometimes a sweet pie,
Other times a bitter moldy dish from weeks ago.
Either way i find myself the same.
More like a spoonful taste of the grand Buffet