Chokhor Duchen, one of the four great holy days of the Tibetan calendar, is today. Also known as the Festival of Turning the Wheel of Dharma, Chokhor Duchen commemorates the anniversary upon which Shakyamuni Buddha first began teaching the Dharma. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. After this period, Indra…
But Joyous and Devoted thoughts Will yield abundant fruits in greater strength. Even in great trouble, Bodhisattvas Never bring forth wrong; their virtues naturally increase.
For when, with irreversible intent, The mind embraces bodhicitta, Willing to set free the endless multitudes of beings, In that instant, from that moment on, A great unremitting stream, A strength of wholesome merit, Even during sleep and inattention, Rises equal to the vastness of the sky.
Bodhichitta, the awakened mind, Is known in brief to have two aspects: First, aspiring, bodhichitta in intention; Then active bodhichitta, practical engagement. Shantideva, The Way of the Bodhisattva, Verse 15
Just as on a dark night black with clouds, The sudden lightning glares and all is clearly shown, Likewise rarely, through the Buddhas’ power, Virtuous thoughts rise, brief and transient, in the world.
Here I shall say nothing that has not been said before, And in the art of prosody I have no skill. I therefore have no thought that this might be of benefit to others; I wrote it only to habituate my mind.
Visit this link on Study Buddhism dot com to read the article by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. How to deal with materialism.
Video excerpt from Living in the Path, Realizing the Lamrim, All Topics: Advice for Realizing the Lamrim. This video is helpful as we engage in the teachings on the Lamrim with Venerable Gyalten Samten.
Our Way of Compassion Dharma Center’s regular Wednesday teaching facilitated by John Bruna. During this teaching, John offers the foundation of the Lamrim Chenmo teachings laying the groundwork for the upcoming teachings by Venerable Gyalten Samten from New Delhi, India. The Lamrim Chenmo are the graduated stages on the path to Enlightenment based in…
In this short teaching, Mingyur Rinpoche discusses one of the four common foundational practices, also called the four thoughts. These practices help us understand our true nature and develop wisdom that can end suffering. They aid in seeing and ending our negative habitual patterns. The first thought, precious human birth, is a contemplation of appreciation…