The Drums of Dharma

Tales of a Moderate Ascetic

2012-01-24T14:50:00.001-07:00

My life is fairly simple.

I'm unemployed, so my schedule is leisurely. I don't have any family or social commitments. I lack a car at the moment and take public transportation. I rent a room from a friend and don't have much outside of books and clothing. My material possessions are few.

I had a discussion with a friend about my state of unemployment and the behaviors of successful people. He said we all manifest our reality from the mind. The successful people seem to have a knack for deciding on what they want and applying conscious effort in that direction to make that dream a reality. He said that I have to decide on a goal and focus your energy there.

I said that I had made a decision: I chose enlightenment.

Then he said, "Maybe, that's what your manifesting."

This made sense. There's been a shift in my thinking. There's always a Dharma topic simmering in the back of my mind. I could be thinking about the qualities of Padmasambhava or Yeshe Tsogyal, a sutra that came to mind, Vajrasattva long mantra recitations, dreams of building stupas, wrathful deities like Yamantaka or Hayagriva, dancing Green Tara, etc.

TV holds no interest. There were points in my life where the quiet hum of the television was a comforting thing. Now, its more of a bother. Movies no longer captivate me like they once did. I actually prefer sitting in the backyard listening to the sounds of the city or listening to music.

Mystical Experiences

2012-01-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

My own Navajo background is filled with stories of meetings with the Holy People, monsters and fantastic supernatural events. It wasn't a huge stretch for me to get inthralled with the pantheon of Indian/Tibetan Buddhist deities. Someone from an ordinary Western perspective might have a hard time conceptualizing the realms of the esoteric but for my mind that was already absorbed in legend, it was a simple transition.

Navajo legendary heroes, like the Twins that defeated the monsters of the four directions that were causing harm to the Navajo people, are quite similar to the lives of the great siddhas. Many auspicious signs manifest at their birth or are predicted in dreams and visions. There are circumstances that arise that they alone have to address. They are trained by realized beings by journeys to scared places. Obstacles and harm to the general populace is averted by their actions. They restore balance and harmony, heal the sick and bring about the auspicious conditions.

All of this is accomplished by the power of the meditative mind and the resolute decision to be of benefit to others.

Wisdom and Method.

Dormant

2012-01-18T23:07:00.000-07:00

One step at a time.
That is how the journey starts.
Sometimes you forget to practice.
Some days you just don't feel like it.

There are days like that. If one looks around at the natural cycle of things, there are growth and decline periods. The decline periods are where practice is tested. 'How much have you learned?' is what life seems to ask. This is where learning to rest but remain active comes into play. Where learning to go with the natural flow of events seems to be the best course of action until favorable conditions arise again. When they do occur again, the growth cycle starts over again.

New shoots break the topsoil, reaching for sunlight.

Inspiration

2012-01-10T13:38:00.003-07:00

Without movement,
nothing is accomplished.
Gather up strength
to continue on,
joyfully.

Blazing the Path

2012-01-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

The One and Only, Padmasambhava

Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, the Lotus-Born One, was instrumental in bringing the Buddhadharma to the land of the red-faced Tibetans. He worked on many levels to tame the area and assure the arising of all the auspicious conditions. By working from knowledge of the fundamental energetic systems of reality, Padmasambhava was able to bring all the opposing forces under control by the purity of his meditative power or siddhis.

Every Dharma practitioner needs to call on their own inner Padmsambhava when things get rough. If we look at the energetic properties of Guru Rinpoche, its clear that His energy blazes forth into the wild, unknown territories so that the Dharma may flourish. When the Dharma is present and healthy, it brings about the end of suffering for all sentient beings.

Sometimes we need that Padmasambhava force to help us out in a tough patch where it seems like we're being bombarded with obstacles and things just aren't operating as they should. For instance, just imagine a blazing Padmasambhava lighting the way in the undiscovered territories of your mind--always leading at the frontier of possibility, shining with the Light of Realization.

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum

For the benefit of all sentient beings!

Dreaming a New Day

2012-01-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

When the moment is right,
let go of it all.
Remember your motivation,
let go.
The morning light
belongs to all.

Happy New Year!!!

2011-12-21T10:56:00.001-07:00

I'm not too sure why the 'new' year doesn't start on the winter solstice. To me, it just makes sense. Shortest day of the year. Easily marked and tracked. A No-Brainer. But there are many 'new year' celebrations that happen around the world, given whatever calendar one follows, I choose a few dates to mark:

The 'earthly' cycle I mark by the winter solstice.

The 'spiritual' cycle I mark by Losar, concluding with The Day of Miracles.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day

2011-12-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

A very interesting series of events have occurred lately involving the Lam Rim prayer composed by Lama Tsongkhapa, 'The Foundation of All Good Qualities'. This is a significant text for me because after I received the oral transmission and commentary on 'The Foundation' by Za Choeje Rinpoche in January of 2009, my practice took on a different and new direction. It took me awhile to understand how brilliant this prayer actually is. My appreciation had not blossomed but seeds were planted.

For that seed to crack, it took the Lam Rim series of classes offered by the Emaho Foundation's resident teacher, Geshe Jampa Khechok. I've had the great fortune to take Lam Rim classes from Geshe-la three times. In fact, our most recent series of classes finished last night, December 20th. The last class was to be a summary of the topics covered, which turned into a teaching on Lama Tsongkhapa's 'The Foundation of All Good Qualities'! Geshe-la recited the Tibetan verses and gave commentary on each stanza--accomplishing the aim of summarizing the expansive Lam Rim material through speaking about 'The Foundation'.

The really auspicious part of the event was that it was Lama Tsongkhapa Day to boot. Talk about blessed! I am so very fortunate to have received teachings on this prayer from both of my teachers, Za Choeje Rinpoche and Geshe Jampa.

I'm stunned into a silence filled with gratitude and devotion.

Namo Gurubhya.

Following the Guru

2011-12-15T18:17:00.003-07:00

Green Tara Mantra: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha

My practice is something that shifts. There are core elements that remain but the study and contemplation take different routes. I'm led to new books, practice items and teachings. This last period was heavy with Guru Rinpoche, Vajrasattva and the fundamentals of tantra. There seems to be a rush of new activity, which tapers off. It almost comes to a rest with little stirring. Then, it starts again.

It seems like whatever area of focus I'm to embark on next, starts to manifest in small but sure signs. Once again, Green Tara dances to the forefront of mind. Just recently I read the english translation of Yeshe Tsogyal's secret biography. I'm also a huge fan of Padmasambhava's, so I picked up a copy of his biography as well. The two books are essential reads for practitioners of the Tibetan school of Vajrayana, in my opinion. Highly recommended. By reading her biography it is clear that Yeshe Tsogyal IS Green Tara, the Mother of All Buddhas.

Green Tara arose earlier this year as well. I gave out a few Green Tara dharma items to friends--including a Green Tara tsa-tsa for my teacher Zachoje Rinpoche's birthday. She's always around, don't get me wrong. She likes to wander off for a little bit then she comes back around to see how things are. I've heard that some people will 'see' Green Tara in different aspects. When I think of Green Tara, she's dancing on a lotus, radiating multi-colored golden light.

Rinpoche mentioned that he might focus next year's teachings on the 21 Taras, including Green Tara, of course. I just about fell out of my chair when I heard that. It would be a true honor to receive teachings on Green Tara from Za Rinpoche. I'm looking forward to it and studying up on Tara. I have several of the more popular books on Tara and also an interesting book that was published in India on the history of Tara.

Buddha. Bodhisattva. Dakini. Goddess. Prajnaparamita.

She's Non-Dual.

Dawn

2011-12-12T18:56:00.003-07:00

The first rays
cracked the sky
with beams of honey.
The night broken.

--GK Sandoval

Solitude

2011-09-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Purification is never easy. It is our own karma circling back and ripening upon us, to paraphrase 'The Wheel of Sharp Weapons.'

Sometimes on the Dharma path we encounter obstacles and blockages that seem like trying to swim in murky, black waters. Other times it feels like the ground beneath us has turned to quicksand with no sure footing. Or there's the unscalable wall sensation where nothing works out quite as intended.

These are the times where one's practice is tested. Like the world is asking you, "can you hand this?" Most of us get too caught up in the middle of events that its almost impossible to answer. The only real answer is no answer at all.

Correct action and the performance of endurance is the only response.

Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewel is the key.

Freefall

2011-09-11T09:08:00.006-07:00

These past few months have been interesting ones. All of my relationships have been recontextualized in some form. They took place over many interactions and shattered perceptions. The false reality that take the form of identity was made apparent.

Early this year, I jumped out into the abyss of samsara and all my attachments snapped. I was made painfully aware of each one. In order to let go without letting go, I had to open up those deep levels of the heart and learn to appreciate and love each one Unconditionally.

To have Gratitude for what I have.

To have Love for each sentient being.

To offer everything Unconditionally.

For the benefit of all sentient beings.

Starting Over

2011-07-04T09:05:00.005-07:00

I lived in Hawaii for a few summers. I was lucky enough to land in a very upscale area of Honolulu. I rented a room in a huge house up on a hill that overlooked Honolulu. Diamondhead was my view to the south and the glittering, metropolitan Honolulu was my view to the west. I remember the wonderful mornings of getting up early and walking down to Waikiki Beach.

The beach was beautiful at sunrise. Not many tourists out, just the locals. I remember the walk down the hill filled with the perfume of plumeria and other tropical blossoms. The crystal clear skies equally filled with brilliant sunshine. I had a great sense of peace and balance during that time. My mind was at ease.

I'm at a point in my life where I'm starting all over again. Many, many fresh changes and reboots, if you will. These changes have been startling for sure. My whole world has been shaken to the core. A large tsunami of purification, also known as Vajrasattva, washed away the foundations of the old life and readjusted just about everything stable.

Dealing with the adjustments has been brutal at times, mainly because I've had to confront the inner demons that were hiding in the shadows of my mind. In my practice, I thought I had met the nastiest of them but little did I realize that the ones that were the most frightening were hidden very deep--obscured so perfectly that my limited awareness merely passed them by without notice.

So, that has been my task over the past month--to slay the demons of the past so that I may move forward. I'm a bit exhausted, bruised and worn but I have a new sense of strength. I know I can accomplish my aims. Walking out of the house to the local coffeehouse this morning, I had that same blissful ease I found in Hawaii. Its like the desert air was filled with plumeria, again.

The real paradise is the mind in its natural state.

Song of the Non-Dual

2011-07-03T18:07:00.001-07:00

There is no attraction.

There is no aversion.

There is no neutrality.

There is only Non-Duality.

-GK Sandoval

Purification

2011-06-13T12:23:00.002-07:00

My life has been completely unturned since the Vajrasattva retreat.

Within the span of a few weeks, the old life has been washed away. All the dirt mounds that surrounded me are now gone. My feet are clean and ready to walk. No longer am I bound to the earth. The monsterous tsunami that appeared to help me along is not a destructive force but a purifying one. What I thought was impossible is now possible.

All my dreams will come true.

The Present Moment

2011-05-29T20:07:00.003-07:00

Happiness is not something that is in the future or the past. Its right around you now. We’re always projecting ourselves in the future or the past. Looking over things that didn’t go right in our past. We look at happiness as something in the future, something that has to be attained.

Happiness is now.

Being MindFULL

2011-05-27T13:04:00.003-07:00

"Meaning there's only one and not two"

Meaning the state or concept of 'one' is still dualistic. The real essence is the state of totality. The state of absolute total expression of every known phenomenon in the sphere of reality--which includes all states of manifestation in the outer, inner and hidden levels throughout the three periods of time: past, present and future. So, in essence, it is not "one" but 'ALL'. Which is why Rinpoche mentions that space is not 'empty' but full. The mind is not empty but 'full.'

When the mind is full, the mind is filled with space. When that expansive space is 'charged' with the power of bodhicitta, the ultimate wish to free all beings from samasara, then that love and compassion opens the mind to the vast sky-like nature of the clarified mind, which reveals itself spontaneously.

The '0' is not a place holder, nor is it empty of self-nature. The phenomenon of 'zero' is just a mental construct. How could there be anything missing in the total expression of reality? It would be impossible. How could the infinite be complete if it were missing? But, from a greater point of view, even the mental construct of 'infinity' is dualistic.

Dakini Land

2011-05-01T13:17:00.001-07:00

Surrounded by dancers,

wrapped in smoke

and brilliant lights.

Thundering sounds of uplifting music,

blissed out on

non-duality.

-GK Sandoval

Shake Yo MANI Maker

2011-05-01T13:04:00.004-07:00

Dancing in the sky is easy,

when you realize

the ground is everywhere.

-GK Sandoval

Q & A with Za Choeje Rinpoche

2011-03-12T18:51:00.002-07:00

Fantastic teaching today by Rinpoche!

Questions were submitted by the sangha members to be answered by Rinpoche. The questions were answered in the order they were received. I was fortunate enough to be the first question up for consideration. I asked if Rinpoche would speak a little about Guru Rinpoche and the Vajra Guru Mantra.

A 'little' with Rinpoche went a long way. The question blossomed like a 1000 petal lotus! It lead to stories about Padmasambhava, a condensed teaching on the origins of the various Tibetan schools of Buddhism and how the Dharma came to Tibet. Rinpoche even gave a wonderful account about an auspicious visit to Pema Lake.

Simply wonderful! I can't even begin to describe. Much to digest.

Clearing Away the Dust

2011-03-08T11:15:00.002-07:00

The new year tradition of making resolutions could have roots in how the elemental forces walkabout and shift, cycling through the phases and changes bringing about new circumstances for growth and renewal. If one is not in harmony with this phase shift then obstacles are encountered and imbalances can occur--its like the souring of a musical note.

The past few days for me have been about settling down. My attention had been elsewhere and an adjustment was needed. I'm the type of person who needs a good kick to the ass for me to listen. You can call me stubborn. The kind dakinis will usually give me a hint or two and point me in which direction to go. I'm usually distracted so they have to yell a little bit to get my attention. It is startling but necessary.

Its so strange when plans go astray. Sometimes it seems like some activities are accomplished effortlessly and some require more work and stress. Usually things that are not in your favor at the moment will meet with the most resistance. Those plans fade back into the background and are recycled, saved for a later date.

It takes awhile to process some of the clues that the dakinis leave. The advice lately has been 'stay on the path.' Which I take to mean, 'stop seeking, start practicing.' The past few months have been about building a firm foundation, sharping my motivation and keeping it consistent throughout the day.

Stabilizing.

The Dirty Side of Dharma

2011-03-06T14:34:00.011-07:00

The subtle stains of karmic consequences.

What I thought was going to be a relaxing afternoon turned into a demonstration of anger, impatience and downright ugliness--all on my part. Its amazing what comes to the surface during a purification period. The disgusting part of purification is witnessing all the negativity rising to the surface that had been festering inside. Then it just pops like a boil, oozing blood and puss as it heals. This is the unpleasant side of relief. This is the actual repair process. The reconstruction of the image projected, surveying the damaged areas and assessing what needs to be done.

This afternoon I wanted to attend the closing ceremony of the Mystic Arts of Tibet Tour. I wanted some of the sand from the mandala, which was Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. Due to the spring training crowd, there wasn't a single parking space to be found near the venue. I circled angrily for about 20 mins, narrowly missing a few spaces by seconds each time, which only fed my anger.

I went into some degenerating spiral of anger, circling around looking for a parking space. I was feeling very destructive. I had absolutely no patience for the clueless pedestrians and all the out-of-state drivers also looking for a parking spot. I even honked the horn at some woman who took too long at the light. I yelled at her and her out-of-state license plate. After I yelled at some people random people who told me to calm down, I caught myself and decided that all of this frustration and anger for some colored sand really wasn't worth it. I gave up and went home.

I'm doing this for some colored sand?

But the only thing I did give up on was continuing my horrible state of mind. In order not to harm myself or anyone else for that matter by my negativity, I went home. I basically put myself in timeout. When I made that decision, I calmed down and realized:

Blessings don't come from the sand...

...they come from the mind.

This fixation with the sand really didn't have anything to do with practice. When I evaluated it, it was just something to add to the altar. It was just going to be another 'thing' added to the pile of material attachments. From my actions today, it was quite clear that I didn't have a very compassionate attitude. Through introspection, my motivation was clearly out of a spiritual form of greed, a hunger for blessings and all things perceived to be holy.

I think there are times when we rely too greatly on exterior items, especially in the current internet-supermarket society of two-day shipping. Instant blessings directly to your door! Perhaps we have this idea that if we teak our altars just right, buy that one right book or have that one perfect image, we won't have to do much of the actual Dharma work.

The modern practice of 'empowerment collectors' would fall under the same category of spiritual greed. There is no substitute for doing the actual work of Buddhadharma. We seek comfort in being spiritually distracted all the time, ingesting videos, audio, dharma-related activities, traveling to this ceremony, got to get that extra blessing. No matter how many empowerments and blessings one receives, the real task of meditation and contemplation is the true fire that brings forth the fruits of attainment. Perhaps this is why Milarepa lived on nettles and wandered the land?

Grasping at sand with clenched fists,

forgetting what was learned.

Dirty hands can be washed,

The real lesson: impermanence.

Happy Losar, Year of the Iron Rabbit

2011-03-05T15:12:00.003-07:00

(Okay, maybe not that iron wabbit!)

I would just like to wish everyone a Happy Losar from all of us here at The Drums of Dharma. Many Infinite heaps of blessings to you in the new year and beyond!

NAMO BUDDHA!

Empty Sound

2011-02-25T03:18:00.002-07:00

The Empty Sound

I am like the bell,

silent when calm.

Strike me and I am clear.

I come to rest again.

Still.

-GK Sandoval

Groupon's Saving Grace

2011-02-14T23:28:00.004-07:00

Enough has been said about the Groupon commerical, I won't go into it. I won't even supply a link. The wonderful thing about the commercial was that 111 MILLION viewers worldwide, in the midst of their revelry, saw 2 Buddha statues and 4 thangkas. Thereby, creating the causes and conditions for their future enlightenment. Huge Bargain!

Talk about a deal!

Here's a PDF from Lama Zopa Rinpoch e on the benefits of holy objects, such as statues and thangkas.

Okay, I finally get it!

2011-02-10T11:27:00.004-07:00

Its been a rough few months to say the least. Lots of shaking down of old paradigms, the crumbling of foundations and the dissolving of falsehoods. I had been grasping at straws when it came to the catalyst I was missing in my Dharma practice. There were periods of stability and calm intermixed with extremes, low and high. I felt the best when I was at a teaching.

I was looking for some information on offerings and this is what hit me like a lead anvil:

"And then Lama Tsong Khapa asked Manjushri what is the quickest way to attain Enlightenment, and Manjushri answered that it was necessary to create the necessary conditions for Enlightenment:

To collect merit by making offerings such as the Mandala Offering, [Water Bowl Offerings]
To purify obstacles in order to have realizations e.g. by doing the Vajrasattva Practice
To gain the blessings of the holy guru by one pointedly asking for blessings from the guru.
To do the various Practices as advised by the guru."

Just within the last few months, I have received teachings from Za Choeje Rinpoche on Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva and the 8 Verses of Mind Transformation (still continuing). I was frustrated with what was going on internally. I could tell that something was just not right--that there were some obstructions on many levels. My practice had been all over the place with nothing consistent.

The kind dakini that likes to drop hints and subtle clues said that I wasn't following instructions. This confused me for a little bit and I had to really meditate on this one. I don't mean I sat on cushion and worked this through but it was something to chew on and hopefully when it digested, the realization would come.

I examined the teachings that I had been given over the years since I had taken refuge with Rinpoche. Instead of looking for some new teachings or seeking new experiences, I decided to focus what was already in my Dharma tool box. I've gathered plenty of books, some I haven't read yet. The wisdom is there to be studied but I have no method. The awareness came that I needed to put into action what I had been given.

Something profound happened when I was given the Amitayus Long Life empowerment by Za Choeje Rinpoche. I didn't 'see' Rinpoche up there on the throne. In my heart, I knew that we were within the mandala of Guru Amitayus. When Rinpoche gave teachings on the Medicine Buddha, I felt the presence of the Buddha, the Guru on the teaching throne. When Guru Amitayus arrived, I experienced the presence. Totally transformative.

After plodding along on MY own path, I was tired. More than tired, I was spiritually exhausted. Broken down, I surrendered myself to Guru Amitayus, who is the sambhogakaya form of Amitabha Buddha. Rinpoche also gave the oral transmission of 'The Sutra of Boundless Life and Wisdom' and the Amitayus mantras. This sutra is one of my favorites. I would print out copies to generate merit but I never got around to reciting the mantra. After the empowerment, I memorized the long mantra and I recite the sutra daily, either portions with the mantra recitation or the entire sutra. Since I received teachings from the Guru, I decided that it would be a good time to dedicate myself to one thing at a time.

The other important part of this situation was getting to the Vajrasattva purification practices, like meditating on the 4 Opponent Powers. Merit creation is in place by reciting 'The Sutra of Boundless Life and Wisdom' and making water bowl offerings. Vajrasattva mantra collection in place. I'm putting the Guru's teaching in motion by reciting the texts I've been given, such as The Heart Sutra.

Putting these suggestions into play really worked out. For the past few days, I feel more centered. I think reciting the Heart Sutra helps with that. I also recite 'The Foundation to All Good Qualities' as well. With the teachings on the '8 Verses of Though Transformation' I can add that to the list for bodhicitta inspiration.

And, of course, dedicate the merits to all sentient beings.

A new start for the new year.

Losing Patience

2011-02-06T15:57:00.010-07:00

Impatience

Dark anticipation of control,

Sighing and rolling of eyes,

Lead to flashes of anger and destruction.

Correct an avoidable mistake.

-GK Sandoval

Things are not happening fast enough for you or people don't meet your expectations--that all leads to disappointment and frustration. The end result is a dissatisfaction which builds and builds. This dissatisfaction quickens the anger response in a closed loop of negativity. The weight and inertia of this energy is so great that it stays in motion and takes quite an effort to halt the destructive cycle.

With Dharma practice, that effort could take many years, many lifetimes of consistent attention and focus. This is a realization that I'm trying to assimilate because it goes against all the cultural and conditioning of western society. The modern world moves so quickly. There is no love for a slow organic process. Things have to stimulated and blown out of proportion. Bigger and bigger still is the daily affirmation of the West. We all want things immediately and with little or no effort.

Defuse Impatience by being practical and realistic.

Be grounded. That's my affirmation for this year's teachings with Za Choeje Rinpoche. Sometimes I'm so far off in the clouds that I lose myself in abstraction. I want to be more focused, so I decided to strip away all the practices that I think I should be doing and actually put into action the teachings I've already been given, like committing to reciting texts that I have the oral transmission for, like Lama Tsongkhapa's 'The Foundation of All Good Qualities.'

Its time that I learn to do a few things well instead of trying to master everything immediately. Because what I lack is practical experience of what I've read and studied. Plenty of talk but very little action. That has to change if any measurable change is to take place.

Super Toll Distraction

2011-02-06T15:02:00.005-07:00

In this modern age, we've narrowed our focus so greatly that we can only see beyond a year or two. The 'big picture' was once a grand vista like Monument Valley with blue skies and white clouds from horizon to horizon. We've become so short-sighted that we can't look up from our electronic screens of choice (whether it be a television, computer or smartphone screen) to notice what is going on around us.

There was a time when the only screen one looked at was the movie screen. The world of the cinema was tightly contained within the popcorn-scented walls of the theater. Then, television brought that imaginary world into the home. People adorned their televisions like shrines to the network gods, giving it a central place in the home. The warm fire of the hearth was replaced with the cold whine of the cathode ray tube.

Now, we carry the false reality screens with us in the name of necessity. With the advent of digital technology, the avenues of distractions only multiplied and in some ways became totally corrupted, ie. the current taste for extreme graphic violence and sex. How much more removed can we get from our authentic original nature?

The New Year Cycle

2011-01-15T12:33:00.006-07:00

The focus of study with Za Choje Rinpoche in 2011 is on Vajrasattva.

Personally, I think that its strange that the new year should begin a few days after the winter solstice. It just makes more sense picking a cosmological phenomenon than an arbitrary date picked by some committee. Don't get me started on Daylight Savings, either. What a strange construct time is! Which is why this post is a few weeks out into the new year.

The start of the new year means various rituals and practices to enhance prosperity and positive energy, like cooking a large pot of black-eyed peas or make resolutions to shape behaviors. Most people will take up an exercise routine and dietary restrictions to lose weight and feel better about themselves.

So, what if this year people concentrated on feeling better about their mental well-being instead? Could developing a better sense of bodhicitta bring about weight loss and an improved appearance? What about purification practices like Vajrasattva and the Four Opponent Powers? What if one made a resolution for purification instead of a gym-membership?

Of course, any practitioner will tell you that the purification would lead to greater benefits over many lifetimes. Purifying the subtle causes in our minds would lead to the development of better habits. With the stable foundations for improving one's life in place, adopting a spiritual practice could be the trick to actually keeping New Years resolutions.

Often we overlook just how powerful the mind is. Sometimes we blame external sources for our failures. Even our successes we attribute to external sources, like to the influence of some celebrity or musician. They are not responsible for your accomplishments, good or bad. Once you take responsibility for the results of your actions, you gain control over your life.

You are in control.

Make New Years resolutions for the benefit of all sentient beings, thereby taking the focus off your negative qualities and instead, emphasize the excellent stainless qualities of the enlightened nature of your own mind.

Namo Buddha!

The Sutra of Boundless Life and Wisdom

2010-12-20T13:26:00.004-07:00

Here are a few links of interest if you'd like more information on the sutra that Za Choeje Rinpoche gave the oral transmission of yesterday, December 19th, 2010, during the Amitayus Long Life empowerment at the Emaho Foundation Center, Scottsdale, Arizona:

Sutra of Boundless Life and Wisdom by the Lotsawa House (please support Tibetan language and culture preservation).

This text is available as a beautiful pecha produced by Vimala, which is featured in the above picture.

Mahalo to Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar for promoting and bringing wider attention to these great Dharma projects. Namo Buddha!

Praises to the Lama

2010-12-19T16:25:00.009-07:00

Long Life Prayer for Za Choeje Rinpoche

Hail to the three-fold infallible objects of refuge,

And the assemblage of deities of longevity,

Who if relied upon, fulfill all our wishes,

And shower forth goodness and well being in Samsara and beyond.

I pray to the glorious and unequaled Master,

Who is unrivaled in disseminating the sublime

Buddha’s teachings, According to the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa,

The supreme holder of the immaculate Dharma of the Buddha.

Perfectly trained in listening, contemplating and meditating,

Upon the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa,

You are skilled in delivering countless beings to ultimate liberation,

May you, O benefactor of all beings and the Dharma, live long!

Being wise, devoted and benevolent,

You are endowed with the qualities of a noble being,

Enriched with the Dharma, you possess the marks of a perfect teacher.

May you live long for the glory of the Dharma.

Through kindness of ocean-like infinite fields of refuge,

The power of the primordial pure and profound suchness,

And unwavering faith and unchanging reverence,

May all my sincere wishes and prayers be eventually fulfilled.

(from the Emaho Foundation wesbite: www.emahofoundation.org)

Today, Za Choeje Rinpoche gave the Amitayus Long Life empowerment, which included an oral transmission of the sutra and mantras. Words cannot express how absolutely grateful I am for the opportunity to receive this particular initiation from Rinpoche, who had received it from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and other great Dharma masters.

During the ceremony, Rinpoche mentioned to keep in mind and send the blessings to all the people who wished they could attend but due to distance, obligations and circumstances could not make the empowerment. This was on my mind because a Dharma friend, Terri, was not able to attend but I visualized that she was there with us--within the mandala of Amitayus.

I have a particular attraction for the padma buddha family and Amitabha/Amitayus Buddha, so this was a very, very auspicious event. This lotus 'connection' or resonance, I hope will only grow stronger after receiving these wonderful and inconceivable blessings from guruji, Za Rinpoche.

May Za Choeje Rinpoche and all the lineage masters have stainless health and long life for the glory of the Dharma and continue to benefit all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times. Namo Buddha!

As always, for the benefit of all sentient beings in ten directions and the three times.

Inexpressible Gratitude for the Guru

2010-11-22T01:34:00.012-07:00

Long Life Prayer for Za Choeje Rinpoche

Hail to the three-fold infallible objects of refuge,

And the assemblage of deities of longevity,

Who if relied upon, fulfill all our wishes,

And shower forth goodness and well being in Samsara and beyond.

I pray to the glorious and unequaled Master,

Who is unrivaled in disseminating the sublime

Buddha’s teachings, According to the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa,

The supreme holder of the immaculate Dharma of the Buddha.

Perfectly trained in listening, contemplating and meditating,

Upon the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa,

You are skilled in delivering countless beings to ultimate liberation,

May you, O benefactor of all beings and the Dharma, live long!

Being wise, devoted and benevolent,

You are endowed with the qualities of a noble being,

Enriched with the Dharma, you possess the marks of a perfect teacher.

May you live long for the glory of the Dharma.

Through kindness of ocean-like infinite fields of refuge,

The power of the primordial pure and profound suchness,

And unwavering faith and unchanging reverence,

May all my sincere wishes and prayers be eventually fulfilled.

(from the Emaho Foundation wesbite: www.emahofoundation.org)

Za Rinpoche gave teachings November, 21, 2010, on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, including an oral transmission of a portion of the text. The wonderful signs manifested in the sky. The rainbows were out in force with beautiful cobalt blue skies and gentle rainfall throughout the day. There were thoughtful Dharma discussions over vegetable korma and nan at lunch. Smiles and much laughter in the drive-thru for coffee.

A very fine day, indeed...

...for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Namo Buddha!

When the Signs Appear

2010-11-16T01:31:00.002-07:00

This past weekend in Phoenix, on November 13th, 2010, there were a number of Dharma related activities going on: a Medicine Buddha empowerment being offered, Lam Rim teachings and the Atavisi Buddha puja. In addition to this, there was a Green Tara Mandala Dance training session that was using the main room at the Emaho Center and they had two beautiful altars set up to Green Tara and White Tara. I'm taking the Lam Rim intensive again. Given Lama Atisa's connection to Green Tara, I took the appearance of the Taras to be a very auspicious sign.

The wonderous thing about these events is that the empowerment, the Lam Rim class and the puja were all scheduled start at the same time, 6:30 PM.

How wonderful and auspicious for all sentient beings!

Namo Buddha!

Medicine Man Tendencies

2010-10-29T10:43:00.010-07:00

I'm sure that anyone with a remote drop of Native blood says that their 'people' come from a line of chiefs or shamen. I especially like the line about someone's past relative being an "indian princess." I always wanted to ask those people where their castle and landholdings were located. Did they have a family shield?

The shaman aspect has always been a factor in my spiritual pursuits. In the battle of good and evil, I've always been on the side of the light. When I was younger playing Dungeons and Dragons, I liked playing a combo character of paladin/magic-user or a cleric/magic-user. I enjoyed the elements of combat, healing capabilities and esoteric art--battling dark forces while increasing knowledge.

In the Navajo tradition, there are people who exploit the left-hand tantras to harm others and for their own means of gaining power. They use that natural gift of healing and nurturing to harm. From studying tantra from a Mahayana Buddhist point of view, its clear to see that those people who choose to curse others will have to deal with some seriously negative karmic consequences once they leave this world. I hope they are happy with the decisions they've made, because no one stumbles into black magic casually.

If anything many prayers to Medicine Buddha or Green Tara should be offered to help those who got lost in the tantric wasteland of the dark arts, so that they never make that mistake again. Maybe they'll get it right next time and receive the correct Teachings and Instructions that will lead to the Great Enlightenment. Maybe they'll encounter the Buddhadharma and aspire to achieve Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Instead of death and destruction, they'll bring harmony and balance--To Walk In Beauty Again.

-------

On this day many moons ago, Sakyamuni Buddha returned to the Earthly plane after giving Dharma instruction to his birth mother who had been reborn in the deva realms. May all those who practice corrupted forms of tantra and sorcery come to know the Teachings of the Buddha and the real value of taking refuge in the Triple Jewel of the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

Namo Buddha!

(for the benefit of all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times.)

POEM - 'The Saha Universe'

2010-10-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

It is the world that must be endured,

the teaching of non-duality.

The healing of the illusion--

there is no separation.

It is the training field of the bodhisattvas

who want to know

the ten miraculous powers

of Sakyamuni’s Buddha-field.

It is the transformation

of the lotus,

stainless and pure--

even from the beginning.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'The Warehouse Made of Dust'

2010-10-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

stepping lightly across the desert floor

I made my way to the source of the sound

a thunderous wave of energy fills the clear

night air

mysterious lights dance in the distance

chaotic in their movement

I pursue the source of the sound

with more fervor

I ready myself for communion

a shattering of supposed realities

only to reform in one of pure bliss

raising my hands to the night sky

I can only give thanks

for this experience

I raise my hands in celebration

with my brothers and sisters

we dance

we move as One

raising the ancient dust

once more.

-GK Sandoval

POEM ' Wake Up'

2010-10-18T19:44:00.003-07:00

Remember: ITS YOUR DREAM

Those are your projections out there,

that don’t exist.

They only stem from your own mind.

As you forgive yourself,

you also forgive the figments of imagination--

the things you made real.

But they only existed in your dream!

When the dream ends,

so do the projections.

The disappearance of the universe.

Your ideas became reality.

The dream has been identified.

There is only Love and Forgiveness.

There Always Has Been.

We’ve only forgotten it.

Remember for yourself and remember for others: All is Forgiven.

Time to go Home.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Go Big or Go Home'

2010-10-18T19:37:00.001-07:00

Ride the wave,

waverider!

the waves of possibilities,

of interaction

and waves of energy

within waves of light

morphogenic fields

the systems of information,

systems of energy

fractal in dimension

higher energy realities

of form, structure

and architecture.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Wearing the Mohawk'

2010-10-17T11:29:00.004-07:00

its in the attitude,

the state of mind

that takes no bullshit

certainly not the clothes,

or even the music

or the popular surface poser culture

its in the DIY attitude

its the lift that is missing today,

the boost of ingenuity

that brings real change

the frustration of inventiveness

iconoclastic bombastic

taking no prisoners

this is my message

this is my time

here it is

like it or not

style, skill and expression

the essence of punk.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Where to Draw the Line'

2010-10-17T09:50:00.003-07:00

There just reaches a point in the world

where suffering just seems to reach a maximum.

It makes me wonder about the divine.

Who are those vengeful gods?

It makes me wonder about Dharma.

Who are those bodhisattvas?

Why does suffering need to be?

Unruly children who won't come in from play?

Karma is a very powerful thing.

By one's actions, the consequences

of those actions come back into play.

It might not be an immediate reaction.

It actually might take a certain number of years

when resolution of that decision might be available.

It could be remedied instantaneously

and permanently with the proper correction.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'On the Beach'

2010-10-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

I sat on the beach

and

listened to

the sound of the water.

I closed my eyes

and

directed my attention

to the wax and wane of the waves.

The waves are the most natural sound—

just the kinetic elements in motion.

No electrical amplification

or surround sound speakers necessary.

I dug my feet into the sand

and could feel the cyclic

rhythm of the walls of

water hitting the beach.

It shuddered the sand

and vibrated my feet.

I stretched my arms wide

and gazed up at the sky.

It was absolute exhilaration

experiencing the midpoint of Earth and sea,

at the meeting point of worlds

in the twilight of the continental mass.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Declaration'

2010-10-16T15:36:00.005-07:00

I will not give into

fear or hate or ignorance.

I know that I know better

and I will not let this progress any further.

Thoughts are instantaneous creations,

momentary flashes which are impermanent.

A flash of anger is nothing compared to

the Light of the Buddhadharma.

How can one momentary instant of nothing

compare with the Infinite Truth of the Buddhas?

There is no Truth within malice or ill intent.

Erase it from memory, let it go.

We strive for the elimination of negative karma

not it’s accumulation.

The elimination of our suffering,

and all sentient beings.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Channel Surfing'

2010-10-16T15:16:00.004-07:00

Grab the remote and learn to put life on Pause.

Evaluate the environment and take inventory.

What is causing this emotion?

Where are its sources?

Do I choose Love in making these decisions?

What was the outcome?

Was suffering extended or was love given?

And the most important part:

What did I Learn?

UnPause and apply what was learned.

give Gratitude for the lesson learned.

GK Sandoval---

POEM - 'The Realms of Zero Point Nine'

2010-10-16T15:06:00.005-07:00

the realms of 0.999999999

then a .00001 comes along and changes everything

it spills over into the 1

then it realizes that it never was 0.99999

but rather that it was 1 all along

but 1 becomes 2 and so for until infinity

now it realizes that it's just a number in the infinite

just like all the others

if 1 were missing, it would be incomplete

beyond the infinity

there's more infinity

followed by more

until at the infinite end of infinity

it dissolves and the infinity of 1 is no longer

is it zero? no, that would be impossible!

is it The One. no, that would be the same as the small 1

then what is it?

nothing and everything

the 1 is the infinite

and the infinite One

infinity can fit within the non-dual

-GK Sandoval

May 28, 2008

POEM - 'Centered'

2010-10-16T15:01:00.003-07:00

Work towards the center

of all Things

Mind and spirit and body

fold into the Unmanifest

Surrender all Things

with Absolute Certainty

and find the Center

of All Things.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'About Architecture'

2010-10-15T18:06:00.002-07:00

the form of space the very essence of life frozen in time a temporal void of the ordinary familiar in harmony the true use of form in its honesty defy and expand convention to go beyond the beyond into a new reality a new way of looking at the same situation everything is connected yet is its own aspect made of the same core materials yet the façade appears to be different to infuse form with vitality and beauty to bring harmony to one’s surroundings and to ease the burden’s of everyday life so that one can concentrate on what is truly essential a machine for living one that is intuitive, nurturing and safe organic in every sense free flowing the energy is perpetuated by the power of the divine innate in every aspect of creation to fulfill a service to humanity by helping to resolve the idea into creation to go from potential to kinetic to be the facilitator and the medium by which creations from the mind of god are made manifest to love and honor that gift and to give and teach others set the example do by not ‘doing’ be as one is free from ego free from judgment free from fear free from jealousy free from harm free from negative influences to live as God accorded in perfect harmony as any other state is non-existent and has no basis it is all illusion the clever spell of maya only a dream state that one can awaken from at any instant if one so chooses the choice to heal is made by the one who wants to be healed do not wish for suffering by believing in the dualistic reality it only leads to the shadow world of the ego and its tricks of distraction remain strong in mind remain strong in purpose and the distractions will lessen the original thought the original Word is still within the process continues to run for eternity it is when we believe in the illusion of time that the distractions appear one’s focus is diverted only for as long as one wants to be diverted then the clock starts to tick and eternity splits concentration broken return to concentration through meditation and the daily practice observe the field of consciousness and record any disruptions within the field learn to still the distortions find their source and collapse the wave function find truth for that is all that exists existence is truth we are truth in action as we remember our divine nature we begin the journey to return to truth that becomes the goal to merge with the singularity of the Self where all possibilities exist where Truth is returned to God and Truth is given by God.

-GK Sandoval

July 5, 2004

POEM - 'Dance of the Moment'

2010-10-15T11:07:00.001-07:00

the feeling of stepping

feet shuffle

feet step

feet pivot

where to step

how to move

mind a second ahead

limbs an echo behind

disengage logic

no progression

merging with the instant

the loss of self.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - 'Correcting Errors'

2010-10-14T20:33:00.006-07:00

Absolute intelligence

devoid of compassion

cold, ultra calculating

only knows numbers

the binary illusionary,

the process of becoming Zero

in the world of form.

In the reality beyond,

there is no shadow

it cannot exist.

only in this world

and in Time does it exist!

Once the process is complete

the ‘shadow’ is no longer existent

the One replaces the void

in the process of duality

in the process of Time.

The ego of separation

pride, arrogance, calculating,

devoid of any love

it thinks that it is illuminated

when in fact it is not.

It is literally not reality.

It is devoid of Mind

devoid of light

only a non-space.

With Forgiveness and Compassion

errors can be corrected

karmas are just past errors

corrected errors becoming whole

becoming One.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - It’s All a Continuous Process

2010-10-14T10:19:00.002-07:00

Love is the condition

of the mind-field that yields Truth.

That stems from the Love of Creation

or to Create

every infinite aspect of Love

is explored via Infinite Creation

Love is a Thought of Expansion.

Within the Great Imagination or Unmanifest,

the mind-field of Love was created.

Where did this come from?

Tracing back the source,

we can only see that

as we increase the scale to the Infinite,

it has always existed.

No matter how far we scan,

we are still limited by

concepts of time, space and form.

It has always existed.

-GK Sandoval

POEM - Breaking the Surface

2010-10-14T03:02:00.001-07:00

born in water

the lotus seed places it’s roots

firmly it seats itself for growth

through the murky depths it works

striving for the light

building strength in dedication

it breaks through the surface

and blossoms in the radiance

of unfiltered sunlight

free from distortion

it unfolds it’s thousand petals

grateful to be free

-GK Sandoval

POEM - The Light That Never Goes Out

2010-10-12T18:37:00.004-07:00

Non-Dual Reality

It is One.

It is continuous beyond all limits of space,

the singularity of all infinites,

immeasurable.

Not even eternal

but beyond any measure of time.

United with

the stillness of the world.

-GK Sandoval

Dualistic Identity

2010-10-08T14:45:00.003-07:00

What's really authentic anymore?

There are a few factors that brings this to mind. From a personal standpoint, I was having trouble resolving my blog issue. 'The Drums of Dharma' I've kept a tight editorial rein on. Rarely will I go into matters that are not 'dharma' related. I wanted to keep the content and aesthetic relatively clean. No flash ads or heavy on the embedded video content. Yet, I've struggled with this aspect of image many times before. Is it due to showing respect for the teachings of the Buddha? Or is my real concern of how I would be perceived if I posted something unsavory? How do I resolve this duality?

The Vimalakirti Nirdesa is one of my favorite sutras. Not only can Vimalakirti mingle in all areas of society but he does so from the motivation to develop sentient beings by manifesting as a householder or layperson. Vimalakirti's teaching, the Nirdesa, is actually more like the Lam Rim written by the great master Atisa, who through incredible feats of dharma mastery composed a ladder to Enlightenment. Atisa's exposition of the graduated path to Enlightenment is the result of digestion of all aspects of the Buddhadharma--a complete teaching. The Vimalakirti Nirdesa operates in much the same way. Rather, its a graduated teaching on the non-dual realm of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. If you want to have a glimpse of the Inconceivable Liberation, please give this sutra your devoted attention.

Vimalakirti was clearly not an ordinary layperson. In my dharma-daydreams of far-off buddhafields, I think he was an aspect of Akshobhya Buddha, like Sakyamuni Buddha is an aspect of Vairocana Buddha. One of the essences I pulled out of the sutra was the integration of non-dual awareness in daily life. The idea of the development of the nondual nature to bring relief of suffering--how the non-dual awareness just could be the antidote to samsaric existence here in the Saha universe.

If this is the case, then I really shouldn't be worried about what I chose to publish here because its done with the motivation to benefit sentient beings. The Dharma-motivation fuels my words and my art. I eventually decided not to keep two separate blogs but rather keep things neat by publishing under the banner of the 'Drums of Dharma' brand, so-to-speak.

I've got a number of projects in the works that I'll be unveiling here. The Illustrated feature is still developing. I've got the next one ready to go. Its just sitting on the scanner, waiting for the right moment--even though it is dated 9.20. A wider variety of content is in the works, inspired by my many interests, namely culture, design, architecture and music.

Stepping off the Path - Part Two

2010-09-25T15:55:00.004-07:00

Again, I do not recommend this but in the course of practice its going to occur at some point, in some form. Or maybe not. Our pathways are so individual. What's correct for a particular person at a particular point in their development, might not be suitable for another who has a different bend in the road.

It seems like the more people I talk to about their daily dharma routine, the more variety I'm finding. Not everyone connects in the same way. For some the form of dharma practice and worship was put into motion through cultural or ethnic influences--such as the Southeast Asian countries or Tibet where Buddhist influences are present a birth. As a child in those cultures, the images, statues and daily rituals are taught and passed down in the family. Making offerings of incense and flowers isn't a large psychological barrier as it is for some Western Buddhists.

I think I've had a head-start compared to some.

Growing up, my household was actually like most. There was a Navajo influence to my life, for sure but a large majority of the traditional Navajo spirituality was missing. I got little scraps of a legend or a historical taboo, like not going into graveyards. Given my disposition for the spiritual reams, I gladly started exploring and reading on my own. In a strange way, my upbringing was very spiritually neutral. I didn't have a lot of programming to overcome. Little by little, I was becoming more aware of the practices of the medicine people, like the songs and dances. The esoteric elements are what interested me most--specifically to heal and put things into balance.

If you've never played a record, you might not understand this example. When something is off balance, its like trying to play a 45 without the spindle adapter. Sometimes you can center it just perfectly and it plays. That's a system thats in balance. If the 45 is placed just slightly off center the record oscillates, going slow to fast and round again. That's an example of a system out of balance.

Using that example, the spindle adapter is like one's daily Dharma routine. Its safe, stable and the outcome is usually the same--the record plays as it should. I decided to chuck the 45 adapter and place the record on the turntable myself. I basically decided to let go of the comfortable safety of daily practice. I wanted to see if what would remain if I totally surrendered and let go.

The results were rather surprising.

The desire to take Refuge as soon as I awoke remained. The mental battles of keeping negativity in check were still raging. I chanted the Medicine Buddha mantra for animals and insects that I encountered. The minimum offering I would make was a string of 300+ lights. I stopped the water bowl offerings for a period and haven't purchased any incense in months. I kept a minimal presence on Twitter and on the internet in general.

I let go of the external reminders because they had internalized and arose spontaneously. The neural architecture in the brain was obviously in place. Which is what I think daily practice is all about--building the strength of the neural connections that are associated with Dharma and practice. I remember a saying that it takes about 21 days for a new neural network to really get going. Which would explain why meditation is difficult in the beginning but gradually gets easier.

Because with enough practice, if you keep playing, one learns how to center the record without the adapter.

I survived the ordeal and learned a few things. But I also felt like a seedling left to wither in the sun. The merit creation of the puzzle was missing and sorely missed. I had not being reading sutras or studying much. The rain of Dharma wasn't falling like it had before. My spiritual landscape had dried up and was nearly barren, producing very little insights and realizations.

It was just enough. Because out of the desert floor, a beautiful pundarika blossomed and its fragrance lead me back home.

100,000 Stupas

2010-09-23T20:14:00.003-07:00

I have a new Dharma daydream-fantasy in mind, inspired by the great Buddhist leader, Emperor Asoka.

PROJECT ASOKA: 100,000 Stupas in 24 Hours

It would be a world-wide collaborative effort to construct 100,000 stupas in a 24 hour period. The way it could be accomplished is by balsawood/basswood stupa kits that people could assemble. Then a special website would record on an inter-active map where the stupas had been put together. The goal would be 100,000 but more would be beneficial, of course.

For the benefit of all sentient beings.

The Fall Season

2010-09-23T19:52:00.002-07:00

Okay, the two blog thing just didn't work.

Instead of separating my interests, I'm just going to put everything out there through this outlet. Music, culture, food, local neighborhood happenings, musings on the Dharma--its all going to be here. The new illustrated feature is also a new development. I enjoy the simplicity of basic black ink on white paper and the way the ink bleeds on the page.

I used to spend hours at the library reading 'Peanuts'. My all-time favorite illustrated strip has to be 'Mutts' from the perceptive mind of Patrick McDonnell. The emotion he creates with just a few strokes of his pen is awe-inspiring. His themes of compassion and friendship are very dear to my heart.

Still more on the way!

The Illustrated Drums of Dharma

2010-09-18T15:06:00.003-07:00

Starting today I'll be publishing a new illustrated feature here on The Drums of Dharma blog. I'm not too sure what's going to develop from this. Most likely it will be a broad spectrum of elements, from humor to abstract concept pieces relating to the Dharma realm. The heavy line style is something that has developed naturally over the years.--partly through mechanical drafting and the tattoo tradition of Hawai'i and the Pacific Island Nations.

Stepping Off the Path, Out in the Wilderness

2010-09-11T17:01:00.005-07:00

Practice can take you into unknown territory.

It was examination time. Well, it felt like it. How much have I studied? Guess what? You're about to put into action and practical application what you've read about. It felt like the equivalent of taking someone, dropping them off in an unknown location and asking them to survive and return home, if possible. This is the trial by fire. I was gagged, bound and rolled out of a moving car.

I found my way home, though.

I returned a little beat up for the most part but still intact. Along the way back I learned a few things about myself, somethings that I had forgotten. I learned the meaning of relying on externals rather than the Teachings. I stripped away the external elements and concentrated on observing the mind in ordinary conditions. Despite what was going on at the time, I found that my feet were firmly on the golden ground of the Dharma.

After that adventure, its time to wipe the dust off the water bowls and get down to business.

Basically Living - Part 1

2010-08-07T11:03:00.003-07:00

Dharma study has been an adventure filled with gorgeous words and stunning depth. Many treasures have been discovered and many more are dormant, yearning to be revealed. The one essential element that we all treasure is time and also in a strange way, space. Many people today lack the time for even a few moments rest because our lives are so scheduled and regulated. We become numb through routine. There are times when it is absolutely necessary to shake off the dust.

There are some easy ways to do this without creating havoc and chaos. One way is to change your diet. Gradually, start adding in variety or treat yourself to something that you really appreciate having around. For example, if you buy bananas every week at the store, then spend the same money on different fruit that you do like. In experimenting, its best to avoid polarization and extremes, which is why a gradual approach is recommended. No one has to jump into the deep end.

Make sure that the changes that you do make are beneficial. We all get excited about starting a new phase or project but there are times when we lose focus. By making changes that benefit ourselves as well as others, it shifts the motivation from what the patterned mind is used to. The same core neural pathways are activated but with that small shift, the neurons are connecting and interacting in new ways.

Creating time for these new shifts in perception also require some operational space. This space is created by eliminating temporal clutter and time-leeches. A time-leech is an activity that is parasitic, it feeds off the host and its job is to consume. It drains away valuable time, like nervously seeking any diversion, ie. television that is used as an escape and not to educate. A symbiotic activity is one where both parties benefit, usually through effective communication where knowledge/energy is exchanged.

To be con't...

Message from The Universe

2010-07-16T11:14:00.003-07:00

"Do not rely on externals. Rely on the Teachings."

This was the message in a quick flash the other morning and its stayed with me since. In the past few months I've been on a roller-coaster ride spanning all aspects of the Dharma. It ranged from researching tantra and its many sources to historical biographies of Tibetan masters. I've been reading voraciously and consuming everything within sight, searching for bits and pieces of an unknown puzzle. It felt like I was under some kind of deadline to have certain topics under my umbrella of knowledge. As a result of this intense focus, the rest of ordinary life is so foreign and rather bland.

What I've noticed is when I turn my attention to television, movies or popular media/news, I find it very unsatisfying and totally lacking in any sort of spiritual nourishment. I like to scan the HBO tier for movies and ideas for projects. Inspiration comes from the most unlikely of sources and usually at an inopportune time. I'm wanting novelty. The 'newness' of some phenomenon to occupy my time. This desire for stimulus can be very, very dangerous. It makes me edgy, irritable and dissatisfied with my surroundings. I want something NEW and DIFFERENT!

This is where the message from the Universe is most appropriate. No more book buying binges and I don't need any more altar items. What I need to do is settle down and actually apply what's been crammed into my head for the past few months. Its like I've been stuck in download mode and the application icons sit idle on my desktop.

Time to get to the actual work and practice. Enough theory for now.

Random Notes

2010-07-15T10:19:00.003-07:00

On the path of awakening there are many beings that give help along the way. Some of this assistance might take the form of a fiery, verbal altercation or it could be the warm smile of a stranger. The instant one is born into this world, we interact with countless upon countless of numbers of beings--from the food we consume to the people we choose to call family.

I give Love and Gratitude to all who have helped me along the way. May every being who has interacted with me in some capacity:

Be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

Have happiness and every cause of happiness.

Never be separated from the Triple Jewel.

Attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi swiftly to help all beings.

Mahalo Nui Loa for your wonderful gifts. I am deeply grateful.

Namo Buddha.

First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

2010-07-15T09:13:00.002-07:00

Sakyamuni Buddha did not immediately speak the Dharma after his enlightenment. Some accounts say he sat under the bodhi tree for 49 days. After which, he was implored by Brahma and Indra to speak the Dharma for benefit of all beings.

He gave his first Teaching on the Four Noble Truths on this day, many many moons ago.

Namo Buddha!

Random Thoughts

2010-07-14T10:03:00.003-07:00

Contemplations on the appearance of the various avatara, like Sri Krsna, the Buddha and Christ.

Given the three root poisons in Buddhism of ignorance, anger and desire, what if the appearance of these great masters was the manifestation of an 'antidote' to these three poisons:

Krsna, in his play of maya, manifested many forms. This would be the expansion of knowledge, wisdom by expression in the totality of manifested form, like Krsna did showing his Infinite forms, extinguishing Ignorance and opening up the doorway to Compassion.

Sakyamuni Buddha, the Tathagata, Bhagavan, the Thus-Gone-Beyond One. In his omniscient wisdom and deep compassion, gave instructions and teachings to the eight classes of beings impartially. This expression of acceptance and Love, opens up Compassion which eliminates Anger and opens up the doorway to Forgiveness.

Christ, the Saviour, who appeared to open the doorway of Forgiveness and teach the pathway of Salvation to those who think they have sinned against the Father. His Message was of peace and most of all Forgiveness which extinguishes Desire.

Ksna would be the Purity of Body.

Sakyamuni would the Purity of Mind.

Christ would the Purity of Speech.

Hmm.

The Umbrella & The Shadow

2010-06-26T10:07:00.004-07:00

A shadow is a dark immaterial form cast by solid objects. A man is inseparable from his shadow, it follows him throughout life. The shadow is like the silent watcher of events, incapable of action and independent existence.

An umbrella provides shade and technically, its a mobile shelter from the elements. The Umbrella is one of the Eight Auspicious symbols of the Buddha. Refuge in the Triple Jewel is the adamantine vajra, spiritual canopy that protects and comforts--like being folded into the robes of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Under the Refuge of the Triple Jewel, the dualistic existence of object and shadow is now under the non-dual umbrella of the Buddhadharma.

Please help save the Albuquerque Stupa!

2010-06-03T17:44:00.004-07:00

From The Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar blog, you can read more there:

Ariane Emery, one of the people who built this stupa, tells the story briefly, but she tells it best:
"When the stupa was built, it was on private land. We fought the park service for 6 years after finding out they intended to take the land on which we lived. After the park service took the land, they razed everything on it, including the the house, the outbuildings, gardens and sweat lodge area. Even the 100 or so native trees are now gone. Many monks, lamas, Native Americans and practitioners visited and even lived there. Many wonderful people have poured their hearts there."

The stupa has been consecrated -- three times -- by Lama Rinchen Phuntsok, who scoured the world for the texts placed inside. As Ariane says, "Many of us came together at the right time to create this offering." However, just this past week, Ariane went back to Albuquerque, and visited the stupa. She tells us:

"There was a bulldozer nearby and a large number of piles of sand. I went to the visitor center and the ranger said the park was going to build an amphitheater there."

The National Park Service believes it has the right to bulldoze this stupa. This is completely unacceptable. Apparently, there are some people in Washington, D.C. and the State of New Mexico who believe that Buddhists don't vote, and that world opinion does not matter. We need your help to educate them. We need you to show them the error of their ways. Lets get down to cases: we need your help to raise a 'Sixties-style, students-in-the-streets, political stink about this, and save that stupa!

For All Beings

2010-05-16T11:17:00.006-07:00

Homage to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!

To repay the kindness of mother sentient beings in the ten directions and three times:

May you all attain to a higher rebirth and never be separated from the Triple Jewel.

May the doors to the three lower realms be forever closed to you.

May you keep the counsel of virtuous friends and meet teachers of the Dharma in all lives.

May you generate the bodhicitta heart and the wish to attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi for the benefit of all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times.

Namo Buddha

Namo Dharma

Namo Sangha

Om Ah Hum

The merits generated and created by this post are hereby given and dedicated to all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times.

My Altar - Wisdom & Method

2010-05-13T21:08:00.010-07:00

Here are just a few pics of my altar, Medicine Buddha statue and the water bowl offerings.

The thangkas are of White Tara, Lama Tsongkhapa and Manjusri. On the altar I have the Sanghata sutra in the blue brocade, a Medicine Buddha that a gracious friend gave me and a stupa I made to honor Manjusri. The gracious friend also gifted me with an Amoghasiddhi Buddha on my birthday last month as well! He's racking up the merits now.

In the background in small frames, I have Dzambala, Sakyamuni Buddha, Vajrasattva and Vajrabhairava Yamantaka.

In the larger, more elaborately carved frame, I have Green Tara and the 21 Taras. The frame was an unexpected gift from my Dharma sister, Rhonda. She surprised me at Lam Rim class with this beautiful frame she brought back from the pilgrimage she took with Rinpoche. I thought about it for a second and Green Tara flashed in my mind. I knew she was going in the frame. Most of the items are gifts, even the Sanghata sutra in the brocade, which was a gift from the translator, Damcho.

The only few exceptions are the water bowls. I was looking for a set of plain stainless steel bowls for convenience sake. I looked online and didn't find anything that caught my eye. A little voice whispered in my ear that I should look at the kitchen store, Sur La Table. After some searching in the store, I found the perfect water bowls--clearance item, heavy gauge stainless steel bowls made in INDIA! I bought a set of 21 bowls and each bowl was only $2! Thank you very much, kind little voice.

SRSLY

2010-04-20T10:08:00.001-07:00

New posting on its way.

Acceptable Conduct

2010-01-28T14:48:00.005-07:00

What is acceptable behavior for a Buddhist? It is something closer to the traditional rules of a monastic or something a bit more free flowing like a mahasiddha? Is there a compromise in between the two examples that is more appropriate for life in the modern age? Many people say its based on culture and the form of Buddhism one is following.

Its also based on where one is in the process of development. There are different measures and remedies for the afflictions that we all suffer from, that are appropriate for the level of awareness where one is at. This changes the more we learn and the more we practice Dharma. Based on various karmic conditions, no two people develop along the same path. So, how can another person making judgments on another's observed behavior without knowing what's exactly in their mindstream?

One example might be being married/partnered to someone who is not a Buddhist, like in my case. I've been with my partner for over 9 years. He's not a Buddhist or remotely even interested in spiritual topics nor is he a vegetarian. We've come to a point of acceptance in our relationship where we both are mature enough to entertain the other's quirks and differences. But I know that from my study of karma, he must have done some Dharma work in previous lives, otherwise how would he have come to have a Buddhist in his life or see Buddha images and be around Dharma everyday?

If you keep your Dharma close to your heart and keep Dharma on your mind in the midst of all worldly activities, you should be okay. You make the inversion from a worldly being participating in Dharma to a Dharma being participating in worldly functions. If you keep that motivation then every activity has a root in the Dharma mind and it becomes inseparable.

Emerging from the Cave

2010-01-27T16:19:00.003-07:00

Just like all good things, they must come to an end.

The break from Twitter was refreshing and much needed. The one thing I did notice about not maintaining a presence on Twitter was that my writing went down. It can be a great tool for writing, especially in the constraints of 140 characters. You have to be concise, clear and somewhat grammatically aware. It helps to concentrate ideas and hone the focus of what you are trying to convey. Word choice surfaces, so does tone and voice. I try not to use 'txt' abbreviations in what I tweet--some of the context gets lost if things are truncated too far.

In Dharma practice news, 2010 seems to be the year of the Medicine Buddha, Compassion and Lam-Rim. Za Choeje Rinpoche, my refuge guru and spiritual director of the Emaho Foundation has decided to give teachings this year focused on healing and the Medicine Buddha. There will be teachings on the Medicine Buddha sutra and the different associated yogas. The Medicine Buddha empowerment will be offered at this year's annual retreat in May. I'm very excited about all of this! The Medicine Buddha sutra is one of my favorites. I connected with it very early on in my studies. I was also able to memorize the long mantra in Sanskrit somewhat easily. Must be a past-life connection.

I am also enrolled in a Lam-Rim intensive course being offered at the Emaho Center. This 12 week intensive will take us through a general view of the Lam-Rim. Geshe Jampa is the resident geshe at the Emaho Center. His presentations are sourced from the different Lam-Rim texts as well as from various sutras and commentaries by the Indian and Tibetan Dharma-masters. He's got a good grasp on English and a fantastic vibrant teaching style.

I signed up to give a student discussion on Avalokitesvara/Chenrezig in July. The discussion topic on the sign-up sheet was on bringing compassion into everyday life and the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. I've been lightly researching some topics to discuss. Its going to be an interesting presentation because again, I have to limit myself to a time constraint but also I have to be learned enough to answer questions concisely. I'm really looking forward to the presentation. I've been formulating an outline in my head, going from the origins to prayer wheels.

It's shaping up to be an interesting year and Losar is right around the corner!

Going Within

2010-01-12T23:36:00.007-07:00

There are times when it is necessary to withdraw from the outside world. In the modern context, I take that to be involvement with the global community known as the internet. Throughout the day, many of us spend hours reading websites, blogs, playing on Twitter, texting friends & loved ones and losing ourselves in interaction with the digital world.

Is this all really necessary or it is just another sign of the degenerate age?

I have always loved new technology but at one point I refused to be a slave to it. Technology is a tool not a yoke. I don't own a smartphone or really have the need for one. I have no one to text or call, since I have few social obligations. My attention is focused mainly on my partner and our cats. Outside of that interaction, I live very detached from society, which is really a blessing I am finding.

I'm certainly not lonely or recluse. I get out to the local Starbucks, go to work, grocery shopping and check out the latest places to go eat. But I see all the people around me who are so involved in digital life, on their phones while they drive or sit at Starbucks on their laptops or even go out to walk the dog/baby with one hand on the leash/stroller and one with a phone to their ear. From an outsider's perspective, it just looks like a huge distraction from organic life.

Lately, I've been feeling the need to reinforce the bubble, so-to-speak, like there's an event I'm preparing for. Something is definitely on the spiritual horizon. Its a feeling I can't quite shake. Its a call to step-up my Dharma practice and batten down the hatches before the hurricane hits. The dark storm clouds are gathering and I've got a strange feeling its going to be a very bumpy ride for the next year or two.

This is a good time in my life to take some time out from social involvement. A good time to go within. Instead of running of to the mountains to go meditate in a cave or the forest, my daily life has become like that place of solitude. My life is very stable with few commitments. No screaming kids or family drama. I'm actually able to practice quietly and with little distraction, so I'm going to take this golden opportunity to answer that call to practice.

For the benefit of all beings.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

2010-01-11T12:37:00.005-07:00

Today's Fortune:

If this means I'm heading for the Western Pureland, I'm all for it! Sunshine, Amitabha and Dharma all day, everyday until I'm fully enlightened. Woohoo!

YOU ARE HEADING FOR A LAND OF SUNSHINE AND RELAXATION

Solar Energies

2010-01-10T21:00:00.005-07:00

From my personal observation, I've noticed that when the sun is crackling with sunpots and coronal mass ejections, I have the strangest, most far-out dreams. These dreams are unusual in that they're extremely vivid and often I feel like I've been transported to a different dimension. The last burst of sunspot activity, I went to sleep and 'woke up' in the dream, completely conscious and aware. My first thought was 'Oh, great. Where am I now?'

I'm not going to say that I don't enjoy these dreams. They're actually quite interesting and fun. Way more entertaining than television or any video game.

UPDATE: (01/11/10)

Bizarre dream of being in a very large airport and due to some trouble with rabble-rousers, I was late for a flight. The good thing was that I worked for the airline and have options for the flight. I could've rescheduled my flight for the next day or I could have pulled some strings with the ground crew to bring the flight back to the gate so that I could get on. I had options.

UPDATE (01/11/10)

Very strange sequence of events. Dreaming of H.H. the Dalai Lama and I was attending what seemed to be a teaching of his. Realizing that H.H. was seated on the floor instead of on the teaching throne, I was a little taken aback. Everyone else in the crowd was bowing with their heads in their laps and I was standing, so I sat down quickly and did the same. In the dream, I very informally asked H.H. what was going on, as he was quite close to me on the floor. Then one of his attendants came to me and said, "H.H. would like to give you something. It will protect you." Then the attendant put a stone necklace around my neck made of alternating long and short brown, muddy colored stones. I thought, in the dream, 'protect me from what?'

Later on, a Rinpoche or some famous high lama that I might have been in the service of (?) asked me to prepare a meal for him. So, I was putting some items in the basket, like breads, fruit and arranging them for presentation. I was very nervous and exciting about making offerings to the high lama. Then I walked up a flight up stairs that were in disrepair, some steps had large holes eaten away in the wood, very unsteady. I remember climbing those stairs before and they were in better condition.

Then I came to the area where the lama was. The area was roped off, like it was a restricted area and I knew that I shouldn't step over the rope to go in but I did any way with my tray of food. The lama was very displeased, very wrathful and scolded me for going across the barrier. I bowed before the lama and presented the tray. The lama seemed to be pleased but was still ranting and making a huge scene. He asked me to bow down to him with full prostrations and accept him as my guru. I thought this was very strange. I started to make my prostration and he laughed loudly, like he duped me into doing something.

In a instant I remembered a passage from The Vimalakirti Nirdesa about a monk who was fooled into prostrating to Mara disguised as Indra/Sakra. I also remembered something about demons masquerading as Tara or other holy deities. Then I started to mention very casually that I was given a gift by H.H. the Dalai Lama, "I was given something by His Holiness..." The demon-lama started to laugh again and mock me by saying, 'his holiness'. Then I knew exactly who it was. I couldn't speak the word but I knew. So, I struggled to say the word outloud.

I said, "Mara!" He looked at me in anger and the dream ended. When I said it, I heard myself say it in the dream and outloud as I woke up, like I was speaking in my sleep.

Sunshine of the Mind

2010-01-09T23:57:00.003-07:00

During the night before Sakyamuni's enlightenment at dawn, he was besieged by Mara. Various weapons were utilized but all fell short of their target. The projectiles all turned into a shower of lotus blossom petals as they entered the Buddha's field of influence. He sat in perfect equipoise, undisturbed and unfazed.

The perfect sunshine of his Mind lit up the entire universe and beyond.

The world's problems, all the frightening things in the world turn into flower petals within the stainless sunshine of awareness. In the middle of the assault of what seem to be problems, let them all melt away within the stillness of compassionate motivation to benefit all beings.

Back to Basics

2010-01-07T11:59:00.005-07:00

Getting back to the very essentials: Dharma study, writing and music. Its the music part that I miss the most. It fills my soul and takes me to unknown dimensions of experience. I've always loved underground dance music, like drum & bass. I go in phases with music, sometimes its progressive house or trance or drum & bass that captures my attention. Lately, I've been digging the big basslines of drum & bass.

As a DJ I used to spend un-godly amounts of money on import vinyl from the UK and abroad. Racking up more than $300 to $400 for the newest releases at the local shop wasn't uncommon. DJing for me was about playing the most cutting-edge music. I had to have the newest selection, even if that meant ordering records online from the UK and having them Fed-Ex'd in, especially if I had a big gig that weekend.

I'm really pleased that I can go online and shop for mp3s from the comfort of my own home. I just bought a new selection of 15 tracks to listen to and it cost me as much as buying 2 new import releases at the local shop.

All for One

2010-01-06T23:33:00.005-07:00

'We're all in this together.'

That seems to be the message I'm getting from the cosmos tonight. I was watching the last part of a 3-part series on PBS called 'This Emotional Life: Rethinking Happiness'. Quite a few interesting moments about what makes us happy or equates to happiness/contentment. Social interactions play a significant role in contributing to overall happiness--how we interact with others. Then I turn on the 1985 movie 'Brazil' for a few moments and I heard it again: 'we're all in this together.'

Impermanence - None of us are going to live forever. Be happy now.

Gratitude - Give thanks for every little detail, utilize every moment in progression.

Forgiveness - Release the anger, resentment and regret--allow yourself to expand.

Appreciation - That we've been given a wonderful opportunity to grow & help each other.

The Mental Roundhouse Kick

2010-01-06T20:08:00.006-07:00

Sometimes wrestling with my mind is a nearly impossible task. There are days when the passive-aggressive anger is at a steady simmer. I just want to unleash the mental poison on a 'worthy' target. If that poison is reinforced and guided by cold intelligence, then it becomes an operation of military precision capable of great harm. That's when things get dangerous for myself and those around me. Run. Flee. Get in the storm cellar, bomb shelter or panic room.

I've found that using an engaged, active awareness is like a having a master martial arts champion(one who fights for another) to take out those virulent thoughts. My exterior is calm but underneath I'm straining, white-knuckling it all the way, biting my tongue not to say anything that might come out as negative or harmful. I keep in mind that I have to consider the feelings of others around me. I've got to be humble and think of the needs of others before my own. You have to be absolutely aware in the moment to nip those thoughts in the bud--before those evil little monsters have a chance to hatch and run amok.

Just grab that lotus of pure awareness and give those little maras a good, hearty beatdown.

Leaving the Herd

2010-01-03T19:33:00.010-07:00

To all the great people on Twitter, I've decided to focus more of my writing here on the blog, rather than spending so much time on the micro-blogging site. I purchased a number of Dharma books over the past few months and instead of study I found myself on Twitter for most of the day, checking updates, replies and who retweeted what I had written. You get kind of lost in a false sense of self-importance and it can be nothing more than a big ego trip. I wanted to find my way back to what really mattered.

So, I made the decision to go cold-turkey, delete the account altogether and get back to real life without having to update the world every few minutes with what I was doing. It was time to put the internet playthings away and concentrate on the solid practices of study, meditation and contemplation. This isn't a part of a New Years resolution but more of a New Years Realization that I don't have to spend time lost in the digital world.

There was a purpose and a reason for interacting with people on Twitter. I feel that's pretty much over and I have no future plans on returning. It was an interesting experiment and its done. Thanks for following but its time to move onto something different. Like Jay-Z says, "I'm On To The Next One." (No, that does not mean Facebook!)

Many Blessings to you all!

Here's a great post at The Zennist on 'Leaving the Herd'

The Spirtual Renegade

2009-12-29T23:31:00.006-07:00

If I had to definite my spirituality in one word it would be: Enlightenment. I seek authentic Dharma in many different areas, from Christianity, Hinduism to Buddhism. The subject of Enlightenment dominates in all areas of my exploration in those faiths. I’m guided more by intuition, if I feel I need to learn from a particular field, then I do my research and add it to the toolbox.

My own Native background didn’t steer me in this direction or my family or friends. This quest for Truth has been pretty much of my own initiative. My partner thinks I’m crazy, my friends don’t understand my drive and I’m not bound by the ties of blood relatives or children.

So, even in the simplest of terms, I’ve been ‘out there’ by myself for some time now. In the non-dual sense, no one is really alone, we’re all interconnected, every sentient being has been our kind parent.

The school of the universe has given me an All-Access Pass in this life, so I’m going to utilize to the fullest and seek Truth, Enlightenment for all sentient beings. Who cares what other people think? Be kind, be loving, seek Truth and lead by the strength of your spiritual practice.

The Sound of the Still Drum

2009-12-22T22:27:00.002-07:00

VINAPA, The Music Lover

"After years of perseverance and devotion / I mastered the vina's errant chords / Then I found the unstruck sound / And lost my self."

Vinapa was the only son of the King of Gauda, a realm bordered by Mother Ganga. He was dearly beloved by his parents and the court. Eight nurses indulged his every whim, and the court musicians came to soothe him whenever he was fretful. Perhaps this early exposure to the deep realms of music changed his fate? For, as the prince grew older, he ignored his lessons in statecraft and pestered the court musicians continually until they agreed to teach him to play the tambura.

Hour after hour, day after day, the young prince would pluck the four strings of the tambura. His fingers never seemed to tire of coaxing the deep droning hum, the breath of OM, from his instrument. He was so gifted that he mastered the tambura after a short while, and then he learned to play the seven stringed vina. As he plucked the vina with his plectrum, the additional strings of the instrument would vibrate in perfect sympathy. Entraced by the feminine insightfulness of this instrument, the young prince could not be parted from it. He was obsessed with the vina. He could hardly bear to set it down to take a few morsels of food.

But he was no ordinary musician. He was the heir-apparent to the throne. When the time came, would he be able to rule the kingdom with wisdom and compassion? Would he have the skill, the interest, to do so? His parents and the court grew more and more concerned.

Despairing, they finally summoned a highly trained yogin called Buddhapa in hopes that he could wean the prince away from music. At their first meeting the young prince was deeply affected by the remarkable qualities of this holy man. Recognizing his master, Vinapa prostrated himself before the yogin and walked around him in reverential circles. Then they sat down to speak deeply, from the heart, about life and death and all that lies between and beyond.

Buddhapa had known instantly that the prince was ready for spiritual training. In the course of their conversation he asked the young man if he was ready to undertake a sadhana, the practice that disciplines the mind on the path to Buddhahood.

"My music is my sadhana, venerable yogin," replied the prince. "Nothing matters to me but my vina and the sound of the tambura. The onlysadhana I would practice is one that I could learn without abandoning music."

"If you are as dedicated to music as you say, then I shall teach you a musical sadhana," promised the guru. Whereupon he initiated the prince with the rite that mellows the immature mindstream.

"Meditate continuously upon the sound of your instrument," Buddhapa instructed him. "But while doing so you must free yourself of all distinction between the sound that is struck and what the mind perceives. Cease all mental interference with the sound. Cease all conceptualizing. Cease all critical and judgmental thought. Contemplate only pure sound."

The prince practiced the precepts he had been taught for nine years, during which time he grew to manhood. And as he grew in body he also grew in mind and spirit. All that lay between him and pure cognition was erased from his mind as shadows flee from a clear light. And this very light began to glow within him as though he were a precious butter lamp, and he attained the state of mahamudra-siddhi.

Wondrous were the feats he performed. He could foretell the future, read the thoughts of those around him, and appear in more than one place at the same time. He became universally renowned, and it was said that he had gained his siddhi directly from the deity Hevajra himself.

His true kingdom lay in the realms of spirit. All his long life he taught multitudes of beings how to find release from the bonds of existence. And when he completed his task, he was assumed bodily into the Paradise of the Dakinis.

-Taken from Buddhist Masters of Enchantment, trans. by Keith Dowman. Inner Traditions Publishing, 1998. Used without permission. If you are the copyright owner of this work and wish for it to be removed, please contact the blog moderator, who will be happy to comply.

The Sangha - Voices in Harmony

2009-12-22T18:50:00.005-07:00

It's really great reading tweets from inspiring people who trigger my fingers to peck at the keyboard. I call it the 'riff' effect--like a group of jazz musicians who take a particularly nice chunk from another song and add their own inflections. The online or e-sangha as some like to call it, in the course of a day or so, will usually 'riff' off a commentary or meditation from another blogger or tweeter. Sometimes I'll read an idea and it will lead me to a line of contemplation about my own practice. Usually those ideas remain in my head, because I'll usually dismiss my line of reasoning or I just have nothing significant that I want to relate to other people.

Jack/John, Mr. ZenDirtZenDust on Twitter or whatever he's calling himself this week(haha!) usually posts some very insightful bits that I'll comment on or tweet about. Today's topic is the concept of Sangha. For some reason, the first image that came to mind was India in the time of the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni.

There were members of the sangha who traveled with him everywhere he walked. I'm sure the number of these people changed from village to village, it was never a static number. Given that people are social creatures, some of those people probably got to know each other, break bread, share a drink and came to know each other rather well. When the traveling sangha member that they knew would come back into town, classic Indian hospitality was extended to them and they were put up. They became like extended family, or o'hana, in Hawaiian.

I'm sure there were many Dharma discussions and debates that went well into the night about what the Buddha had spoken about. They shared ideas, insights and tips to greater awareness, pitfalls to practice and other news of the day. Then, when the Buddha moved on to another village or area of the country, the traveling sangha member would move on, too.

This exchange of ideas is what the real Sangha means to me. Its not just about the people at the local dharma center or people who have lineage ordinations. Its about sharing ideas and viewpoints of the Buddhadharma. Back in the day, people had to wait months, even years to see each other again. In today's world of near-instantaneous communication, we can pick up the phone, jump on twitter or write on ye ole blog.

I love that people from different backgrounds and locations can communicate with one another. To me that's the real blessing of technology. The key is to keep the lines open and clear, without judgement or bias. Let's come together when we can, online or otherwise and learn from each other in the spirit of scholarship and full acceptance.

Enlightenment is possible in this lifetime.

2009-10-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

Practice like your life depended on it! Oh, wait... it does.

Making the aspiration to attain enlightenment is like having a child. You can't go on leading your old life but are given a new one. The more you try to lead the old life, the more obstacles you encounter. The adjustment of responsibilities is what most people have a problem with. The new life requires a different set of rules & behaviors. I've found that there's no comfort in the old life anymore. Its not satisfying at all, like a food you once liked but now find distasteful. Forgiveness is an essential attitude to have during this process. Learn to forgive yourself, just wipe the dust off and start again. Forgiveness overcomes the self-defeating sense of guilt. Soften your approach and you'll see a dramatic change.

Its a three-step approach: Acceptance, Forgiveness and Surrender. Be Accepting of your behaviors, acknowledge them, see the errors for what they are and move on. Forgive yourself of any errors along the way. You'll also come to forgive others with greater ease for their little quirks. Surrender to the path. Allow the Dharma to make the transformations and guide you farther. Let go of the need to control. You can't pick a flower with a clenched fist or so the saying goes. The need to control is a form of anger, so relax and let it go.

When you generate a sense of forgiveness, patience grows with it. When there is patience, guided by insight & wisdom, there is compassion. When there is compassion, there is understanding and the great Love for all beings washes over you like a flood. A flood can change the course of a river, clearing away all the debris & old growth. The great Love can change the course of your life.

Namo Buddha.

(From a collection of tweets on Twitter)

The Route of Patience

2009-09-19T14:04:00.002-07:00

In getting use to the routine of Dharma practices, I've been taking things slow. I am trying to learn patience and endurance. Usually, I would rush through and get to the destination as quickly as possible. A new approach is needed if I'm going to learn anything. One thing I do realize is that I cannot look at Dharma practices with the same mind I've been utilizing for a good portion of my life. The key aspect of awareness is well, being aware! If I went on auto-pilot and used the same learning methods that have not worked for me up until this point, the Dharma exercises would be forgotten in a week and I would've lapsed into the same mind frame I was in.

Today, I finally got around to my goal of making more than my required 49 water bowls. I made another around of 49, in fact. I've been wanting to accomplish that for a week now but again, I had to defeat my own lazy tendencies of just doing the bare minimum. Before I decided to make the aspiration to do a second set, I had to make sure that I was able to do one with good motivation and procedurally correct. Otherwise, I would be piling mistake on mistake, thinking that I was accomplishing something. Sometimes, I really have to stop and make it a point to be absolutely aware of my mind. I don't want the movements to become robotic and cold.

There should be joy and a genuine sense of generosity when making the water bowl offerings or in doing any Dharma practice for that matter. If the motivation is out of obligation then it's just time lost and wasted effort.

Sincerity should be at the center of all activities.

The Perfection of Pouring

2009-09-07T13:52:00.015-07:00

I've been making water bowl offerings on a daily basis. When I first started the practice, I made the offering of 8 water bowls, some people do 7 but either will do. They're representative of the eight types of offerings: water to drink, water to wash(the feet), food, flowers, incense, lights, perfume and music.

I'm incredibly lazy, I'll admit that right off. So, to make the effort of keeping a daily commitment was a bit of task. I had to break my nasty habit of shirking responsibilities. I've got a very long trail of broken promises and commitments. Through some contemplation on the matter of my lack of practice, I had to put into application what I had learned through studying the Dharma. I couldn't just read a few sutras a few times a week and dedicate the merits. If I was going to progress in my search for enlightenment I had to beyond what I was doing because I was swimming in circles, so to speak--I wasn't advancing and growing. The practice of making the water offerings was the perfect antidote for this.

Before a few months ago, I had no daily practice. I would take refuge in the morning or in the evening but that's about it. The most I was able to muster up was to remember to recite the short Vajrasattva mantra before I went to bed. I didn't meditate or have a set of sadhanas that I was obligated to do. I had no point of reference for the practice of making the offerings, so I had to stumble through the process. I equate it to a person who wants to be more fit decides that they're going to go to the gym everyday to workout. Well, I did that, too, and like most people I stopped going after a month or so. This was different. This just wasn't about vanity or superficial desires. This was about my future enlightenment and I had to make a greater effort.

It's actually paid off quite handsomely. Making the conscious decision to do the practice helped to reinforce beneficial habits. After I clumsily made it through the first week, I got the routine down: never put empty bowls in front of the altar, pour slowly to the correct level, space the bowls correctly, make the dedication of merits, pour the water out, make sure the bowls are dry and clean. Pretty simple.

I would make it a point to be bathed and sparkling clean before I made the offerings. The way I came to see it was that I was making offerings to the Buddhas like they were physically present in the room, sitting on lion-thrones made of the seven-precious substances. In my wild imagination, perhaps I had traveled to some far-off Buddha-field and I was making prostrations, circumambulations and offerings to the Tathagata of that world-system. When meeting a Thusly Gone One, a Teacher of Gods and Men, a Buddha--you wouldn't want to offend by arriving from the Saha world-system all stinky and unbathed. It would reflect badly on Sakyamuni Buddha. I had to represent the sentient beings in this world-system properly!

I had to increase the offerings to 49 water offerings a day to remedy some heavy obstacles I've been encountering in daily life. I was kind of put off by this. In my childish, self-cherishing mind, I was whining like a five-year old who was asked to take out the trash. I had to take the plunge and make a greater commitment. When I was confronted with such a 'monumental' task, I contemplated on what I was doing. There's a lesson in all of this, I thought. I really don't know why I made such a fuss in my mind about this. The only thing I can attribute it to is conditioned behavior--perhaps accumulated from numerous previous lifetimes. As I continued to defeat the thoughts of procrastination, I realized that making the water bowl offerings is an exercise in the Six Paramitas:

The Perfection of Generosity – Dana Paramita

This is a no-brainer. You're making offerings to the Buddhas. The key though is the proper motivation. You can't just slap down a bowl and begrudgingly say, "Here ya are, drink up!" No, you are giving your time and energy to further your own enlightenment by purging negative karma by making the representative offerings. It's actually a gift you are making to yourself, to better yourself as a person by selfless giving. Who in their right mind does not want to benefit themselves? It's clever way of tricking the self-cherishing mind into Dharma practice with a simple offering of water. Every act of charity and giving starts small and grows from there with the proper motivation. This small act can only lead to good things.

The Perfection of Ethics – Sila Paramita

Ethical behavior is making the time to keep your promise. If you're a person, like me who tends to make promises but infrequently keeps them, its a great way to train yourself to be worthy of bigger obligations of practice. One learns to be honest with the only person that really matters--yourself. If you can be totally honest with yourself, you can be completely open and honest with other people, especially your family and friends. This leads to changes in behavior and conduct just by the sheer fact that you are not expending further energy by maintaining lies and keeping secrets. You also lessen the need to control situations and people because you don't have anything to cover up or hide.

The Perfection of Patience – Ksanti Paramita

Water is a liquid and if not handled right, it gets everywhere. You have to slow down and be conscious of your movements otherwise you will spill water all over the altar or knock the other water bowls over. You have to have a certain degree of patience to fill the bowls properly. It's not something you can rush through or take short cuts. It is much like the slow, gentle movements of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Patience is a crucial lesson for any person living today's world of instant gratification. If your incorporate breath observation into this aspect, it really does become an absolute pleasure.

The Perfection of Joyous Effort – Virya Paramita

After I got over the initial 'shock' of making 49 water bowl offerings a day, I've come to enjoy making them quite a bit. I hesitate a little in the morning sometimes but really, its no different than waking up a little earlier for work or other samsaric commitments. The joyous part arrives when you're in the middle of all the effort and contemplate on all the benefits of the practice. When you realize the benefits, the act becomes effortless. I appreciate the ability to practice Dharma and I value its influence because I see direct results. I get a boost in making this small but courageous step to my future enlightenment. It motivates and energizes me because I know I can handle and do more for myself and my family.

The Perfection of Concentration – Dhyana Paramita

This goes along with patience. You have to have a certain level of concentration and awareness of your actions in making the offerings. The water bowls need to be filled to a certain level, not too full or too little. They have to spaced correctly, not too close or far apart. The correct mantra 'OM AH HUM' needs to be said as you pour the water into the bowl. All of this really comes down to a single-pointed concentration of being aware of everything that you do in the process. All you are doing is pouring water into a bowl but one has to do it mindfully and with the correct motivation. The distractions of daily life just fade away you'll find as you do it more and more. It's all about being completely absorbed in the moment of the pour--the sound of the water, the bowls clinking together, the gentle placement and spacing of the bowls, reciting the mantra, visualizing making offerings to the Buddhas. That momentary lapse in a sense of 'self' is liberating to say the least.

The Perfection of Wisdom – Prajna Paramita

The real beauty, the grand 'satori' moment of insight,occurs when everything comes together in your mind and you realize all the benefits of this practice through performing it. The insights for this post came during the periods of Concentration and little by little it all came together. There are elements of meditation/contemplation, visualization, mantra recitation and most of all encouraging positive daily practice habits. The perfection of wisdom comes about because you are actualizing your Dharma practice. You are connecting with the compassionate act of giving and the wisdom of concentrated mental focus. So, the simple act of pouring water into a bowl becomes a catalyst to higher understanding and true transcendental knowledge.

Don't have time for sitting meditation or long sadhanas? Contemplate and visualize while you pour water! This really is a complete Dharma practice rolled into one, perfect for the busy, modern Dharma practitioner. It is a dynamic practice suited for one like myself that has trouble with sitting meditation. Its Dharma multi-tasking at its finest without the necessity to 'modernize' or update the practice. Making the offering of the water bowls puts you in touch with a tradition that goes back thousands of years and has an authentic Dharma lineage that extends to just about every branch of Buddhist practice yet is so simple and elegant.

The Starfish

2009-08-12T23:29:00.004-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a wise kupuna (elder), who went to the sea to contemplate. One day while walking along the shore, the kupuna looked down the beach, and saw a gracefully dancing human figure. The kupuna wondered out loud, "Who would so joyfully greet this day with hula?" and began to walk faster to catch up.

Getting closer, the kupuna saw that the dancer was a keiki (child), who was not dancing at all. The keiki was reaching down to the sand to pick up something and was gently throwing it into the sea. The kupuna called out to the keiki, "Aloha! What are you doing?"

The keiki paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the sea."

Surprised, the kupuna sputtered, "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish into the sea?"

The keiki smiled brightly, pointed upward and with exquisite simplicity replied, "The sun is up, the tide is going out, if I don't throw them in they will die."

"But, don't you realize," asked the kupuna, "that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The keiki listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it gently into the sea, just beyond the breaking waves and exuberantly declared, "It made a difference for that one."

--Author Unknown

More thoughts on suffering.

2009-07-31T15:40:00.008-07:00

The Buddha did clearly state that suffering originates within the mind, through illusionary thoughts and ideas about reality. The Dharma really comes to life when it is applied. It comes to life when the Buddhas words have struck a chord within you to spur you to make different choices about your thinking. These words might be harsh to hear but do not think they are spoken from anger or the desire to mislead. With the Dharma, you have the space to allow for introspection and take a different course of action. You begin change by changing yourself. To eliminate the suffering of yourself and others, you start by initiating the change where the source of suffering is rooted--within your own mind.

Seeing the non-dual nature of things and having a sense of equanimity, your mind's hard edges begin to soften. You begin to have an understanding of your own suffering. Once that is awakened, you might actually want to do something about the suffering instead of playing out some sort of self-identified role as a 'victim,' feeling powerless to do anything or feeling that the world 'owes' you something, like you were cheated out of an inheritance. The more you enforce the victim identity the more you enforce the separation and the unwillingness to assist others who are in your same situation. No one benefits at that point. It only increases suffering.

Through the study of non-dualism and applying Buddhist principles, I have come to an understanding THROUGH APPLICATION that, I don't need to think that I am a 'minority' and that other people are any different than myself. The suffering that is on the reservations is the same suffering of any third-world nation or inner city. The realization that people suffer in the same way is other other side of equanimity. Your sadness is the same as mine and that its the same as your neighbor's grief. That's part of being a human during this period of time.

If I can change the way I think and operate, I can eliminate the suffering of those illusionary thoughts and apply patience, compassion and develop a true sense of bodhicitta. By doing this and setting an example like the Buddha did, I can help others. But I can't do it until I start to work out my self-deluded illusions that exist within my mind. I have to learn how to cope with them, tame them and eventually eliminate them--escaping samsara in the process. Or if you have extreme bodhicitta and the aspiration to become a Buddha, you follow the path of the Bodhisattva and make the vow to return to help others.

I clearly acknowledge the suffering that goes on in this world and I want to do something about it. My acknowledgment is not pity or sentimental notions of being some sort of 'savior'. The Buddha set the example in this world-system through purifying body, speech and mind. He relied on no one. He relied upon contemplation, meditation and correct action to achieve the state of the Clear Mind, the Luminous Mind of the Tathagatas.

I am just trying to follow his teachings and instructions to better myself and the world.

A comment on Equanimity

2009-07-31T10:49:00.006-07:00

Here's a comment I posted at Angry Asian Buddhist:

The Buddha set an example for people to follow. He accomplished a great goal in his lifetime. He gave advice and methods on how to achieve what he done--which was in the time of a most degenerate age, he attained the awakened state, anuttarasamyaksambodhi or fully completed enlightenment. Following in his example, the mind that has the gnosis of the non-dual aspect of reality, sees that there is no difference between you, the computer you are using, the table or your neighbor. The non-dual mind sees that there is no separation. Everything is of that infinite aspect. How can infinity be incomplete? The Heart Sutra states that the Buddha went "beyond the Beyond." He went beyond all created thought and conception to Ultimate Reality.

It's your ideas, illusions of dualism that prevent one from seeing the true reality and the nature of all things. There is no separation! There is no 'us' verse 'them' or 'black' verses 'white' or any of that nonsense. If you can train the mind to include everything that is out there, the supposed good and bad--the TOTALITY of reality, one will eventually see that it is the mind that creates those little compartments to put people and things into.

Get over the duality aspect and the world opens up because you have refused to see the illusion of form, formlessness and constructed thoughts.

The anger and resentment fades away because you see the EQUANIMITY of all beings and all things. So, yes in the enlightened mind there is no race, no other tags of self-identification, like gay or straight, Buddhist or non-buddhist.

Namo Buddha!

Some of my background and realizations

2009-07-28T10:19:00.005-07:00

As a full-blooded Native American, I’m a rarity to begin with. As a student of the Dharma, I’m even more rare in that demographic. My tribe, the Navajo, have a number of similarities with the Tibetan people(look up Peter Gold’s book if you are interested in the subject). I don’t have strong ties with my culture, even though I spent my childhood growing up on a reservation. Our family split up due to alcoholism and I left the reservation at age 6.

I realized at a young age that I didn't need to feel anger towards "the white man" for deeds done in the past towards "my people." I thought it through and it seemed silly to punish people for the color of their skin based on these misconceptions. I threw away my cultural conditioning that said I had to be hateful for what was done in the course of history. Racism manifests in a resentful mind, the mind that dwells in a sense of 'injustice'. I flicked that chip off my shoulder and got rid of the resentment and anger.

For my high school education, I attending a small preparatory school where I was one of two Native Americans–the other guy was only half-Native. Throughout my personal history, all my friends, pretty much, have been white people. I really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. I was off the reservation and well to be honest, there really aren't too many Native Americans around to pal around with. I had to adapt and seek out relations outside of my genetic pool. So, as a result, for some reason a majority of my friends/relations have been with caucasian people. Some of them have been very affluent, some have been dirt poor, some have been middle class. I've lived in all sorts of areas, from exclusive sub-divisions to the reservations with no electricity and running water. I've seen the high and lows of life, including minor celebrity as a DJ, being flown out to various clubs to play to planting corn by hand on my grandmother's plot of land.

What do I attribute to all this?

Karmic conditions from previous lifetimes.

If you are studying the Dharma, then the interactions that you have with people in this lifetime are the conditions/karmas from a previous life being resolved. If you feel like the ‘outsider’ most likely you did the same thing to others in a previous existence. Now, that negative karma has ripened and you are experiencing the result. It doesn't matter what race, sexual orientation or any other physical characteristics you choice to identify yourself with--karma applies equally to all.

When you have created the right karmic conditions by merit/positive force generation, like real committed Dharma work, then you will find your sangha and your guru/teacher. Then you’ll stop feeling like the outsider, no matter where you go. People will be receptive to you, they’ll inquire about your situation and want to know more. So, instead of meeting the people who shun you or push you away, they’ll welcome you with open arms and you’ll find your extended dharma family or in Hawaiian, your o’hana. (By the way, I feel more ‘Hawaiian’ than I do ‘Navajo’. When I lived in Hawai'i, I connected deeply with the culture, the language and the spiritual traditions.)

From a Dharma perspective, it has nothing to do with race or anything else. It all has to do with seeds of karma ripening in this lifetime. I come from a culture where there is no Dharma, no Buddha even mentioned or referenced in the spiritual culture. You might even say I was born in a ‘remote area or region’ as mentioned in some of the sutras and dharma texts. I now realize that those conditions came to be because it was probably the result of negative karma from previous lifetimes. I might have disparaged the Triple Jewel or committed some other negative action which separated me from the Dharma.

On the other hand, I must have planted good karmic roots in those lifetimes as well because here I am, studying the Dharma for the benefit of all beings. I feel at home in the Dharma, much like I when first stepped off the plane on Mau'i--like I found the long lost precious treasure that I had been searching for. I have taken refuge in the Triple Jewel and I’m not letting go of it! I love studying the Dharma and am hungry to learn more, as much as I can. I'm not going to waste another minute. The karmic conditions have arisen that I have found my way back to the Dharma and for that I am grateful.

Take responsibility for your actions, practice diligently and honestly and you will see results. There's no need to play the victim anymore. Through thorough examination of your mind and meditation on past actions, including applying what you've learned from Dharma instructions, you'll come to realize that the only person to 'blame' is yourself. You are responsible for the condition of your mind and you have to be honest enough to face the horrors that are waiting in the dark corners.

Take on those karmic conditions that you are experiencing now with joy and happiness, because if you truly have Dharma, you'll realize that its a process of purification and you will never have to see those conditions arise again in future lifetimes. You will only plant the causes for happiness in this life as well as future lives and you'll be able to help others as well.

Actualize your practice--use the Light of the Buddhadharma to scare those shadows away. Those creations of the dark are terrified of the Clear Light of the Mind because they reveal the illusion behind their existence. For example, the sutras state that just the name of Manjusri Bodhisattva alone terrifies all Maras--they lose all power to control and have no authority in his presence. Manjusri is the wisdom aspect that cuts through all delusions, including all false ideas of identity.

In equanimity, there are no Native Americans, Asians or Caucasians--the enlightened mind shines on all just like the sun.

Namo Buddha!

The Infinite Radiance of the Buddha

2009-06-26T14:49:00.006-07:00

I was first inspired to build a small stupa when my cat was very sick. He had been diagnosed with a fatal disease and I was so heart-wretched that I couldn't do anything for him. I went out on my patio at sunset and faced west and made a plea to Amitabha Buddha for guidance on how I might be able to help him. Later that evening, I was led to a rough English translation of the Casket Seal Dharani Sutra. In the sutra, it mentions that if you enshrine the dharani in a stupa of any size then it transforms the stupa into a wonderful treasury made of the precious substances.

I wanted him to receive many benefits, so if I couldn't bring my sick kitty to a stupa, I had to bring the stupa to him. I was in architecture school at the time and received the inspiration to make a scale model of a stupa from some craft cardboard I had used to make a model for studio class. The proportions were a little funky but I printed out the dharani and sealed it up in the stupa with some incense. I call that first stupa, the Bodhicitta Stupa, because had it not been for my sick kitty, it probably would not have come about. My little Bodhisattva kitty helped me to generate the proper motivation for its construction.

We made circumambulations around the stupa, day and night, before he passed away. I envisioned him reborn in Sukhavati from a beautifully, fully formed lotus. Since then I've built six others for a total of seven. Each have been made from cardboard with a wooden life-tree and a Four Dharmakaya Relic Mantra scroll. I believe the stupa in the picture also has the Casket Seal Dharani sutra in Tibetan, just for added benefit.

Here's a sculpture I made from wire and Christmas lights. I made this life-sized sculpture the day after I had finished reading the Sanghata Sutra. The basic frame took about 3 hours to shape and mold. Putting the lights on took a little longer but the sculpture manifested in less than 24 hours. The Buddha is holding a bowl and in the 'Earth-touching' mudra. It could be Sakyamuni Buddha or it could be Medicine Master Vaidurya Light Tathagata.

A Strange Dream

2009-06-23T16:56:00.001-07:00

I had a strange dream last night. Actually, they're all pretty strange from a certain perspective. I remember that I was being chased through a dark corridor that took a turn to the left. There was very little light, almost pitch black, which is kind of unusual in my dreams. I could barely see in front of me, so put my left shoulder to the wall and followed it out.

I looked behind me as the light increased in the tunnel. I could see strange shapes crawling along the ceiling and walls of the tunnel. I wasn't particularly scared or frightened. I would say more annoyed than anything. I looked back at the humanoid shapes creeping in the darkness and I said rather defiantly to them, "NO!! I've come too far and done this for far too long to be captured now!"

I burst out of the tunnel through a pair of double doors and found myself outside of a strip mall. It was night time and the sky was clear. The strange shapes in the tunnel didn't follow me but I knew I had to get away, so I looked for a car with an open door. I found a mid-sized hatchback and located a crude key on the floor. I put the key in the ignition and drove away as quickly as I could. I drove right into a luminous, multi-colored fog that had rolled in. Apparently, I was near the ocean shore and the gray, foamy waves were crashing fiercely.

I have had similar dreams. I'm usually thrown into unusual situations where I have to find a way out. Sometimes there is a group that I am leading to safe location, like a group of fugitives or refugees. Most of the time I'm out in some remote area with little resources and being followed by a malignant force. It's a fight for survival and to avoid detection, to avoid getting caught.

It's quite thrilling, to be honest.

Now, it's time to become the dream and claim a destiny rejected for too long.

It's time to get off the shore and ride the big wave....

The Arya Sanghata Sutra Dharmaparyaya

2009-06-22T13:59:00.004-07:00

I was surfing around the 'interwebs' and found that the Sanghata Sutra website had been updated. Some developments at the site are: new translations of this wondrous sutra in Romanian and Slovakian, adding to the already impressive number of languages the sutra is available in. Secondly, the announcement of Global Recitation Dates!

I'm a big fan of collective efforts, especially when it comes to the Dharma. The internet provides us a wonderful medium for getting together and interacting in ways that were not normally possible ten years ago. The people at the site have posted dates for Global Recitation Days:

"On particularly auspicious days each year, Sanghata Sutra practitioners around the world put special effort into reciting the sutra together. Since so many people recited on these days in so many locations, those days became days of global Sanghata recitation. "

- from the Arya Sanghata Sutra website.

The Global Recitation Dates for the remainder of 2009 are:

July 7 - World Cleansing Day

July 25 - Buddha First Turned the Wheel of Dharma

September 4 - Day of Healing

November 9 - Buddha's Descent from the Heaven of the 33

November 27 - Special Tara Day

I'll be Twittering practice date reminders, so if you want to receive Dharma reminders and other Mahayana goodies, then please follow me on Twitter.

Many Blessings!

The Isle of Lanka - The Jetawana Stupa Opens Again

2009-06-18T08:04:00.005-07:00

The historic Jetawana stupa in Anuradhapura conserved by the Central Cultural Fund will be unveiled for the benefit of the public by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at 4.00 p.m.

The conservation work of the stupa, which is considered the largest and tallest stupa made out of bricks, went on for nearly 28 years being sponsored by the CCF. Jetawana chetiya, according to the “Mahawamsa” has been constructed by King Mahasena the son of King Ghotabhaya and the elder brother of King Jettatissa King Mahasena (276-303 BC) is credited with the construction of a cluster of reservoirs such as Minneriya, Kawudulu Wewa, Huruluwewa, Kanadara Wewa and several irrigation canals.

The chief incumbent of Jetavanarama temple Venerable Ihala Halmillewe Rathanapala Nayaka thera said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a devout Buddhist showed a great interest in the progress of the Jetawana Conservation Project when he was a Minister and later the Prime Minister.

The original article from Sri Lanka's Daily News can be found here.

More photos can be found here.

Thoughts on Reincarnation

2009-06-09T12:32:00.003-07:00

I think the American sage Mark Twain explained reincarnation very simply when he said, "history does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme."

Something to contemplate.

Many Blessings!

Saka Dawa - Buddha Day

2009-06-07T00:39:00.003-07:00

Tashi Delek!

Today, is Saka Dawa:

"Saka Dawa, an auspicious day in Tibetan Buddhism, is the celebration of Buddha Shakyamuni's birthday, enlightenment and Parinirwana (passing away). In Tibet, this is the most important holy day of the year, a day to remember Buddha.

According to Tibetan tradition, the day that marks the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment and parinirvana is the full moon day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar. According to Theravada tradition it is marked on full moon day of the third month lunar calendar." - from the Emaho Foundation Website.

Karmic actions are multiplied by a factor of one hundred million today. So, it is a great day for Dharma practices and recalling the Buddha and the Triple Jewel--for the benefit of all sentient beings in the ten directions and three times. Maybe print out a few copies of the Sanghata sutra or the Sutra of Golden Light. Please remember that any effort you expend in the direction of the Buddhadharma, plants the seeds of anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

Best wishes on this most auspicious day!

NAMO BUDDHA!

For the benefit of all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times.

Unmistaken Child

2009-06-06T10:44:00.003-07:00

Film and the tulku system meet again! Here is a new film that is gaining quite a lot of attention. The trailer is beautiful and inspiring, so please help to support Dharma media and seek out this film.

Please visit the official website of the film to see the trailer:

www.UnmistakenChild.com

Many Blessings!

Update from Oz (Osel)

2009-06-05T10:34:00.002-07:00

If you have been following the news of Oz or Osel of the FPMT lineage, you might be aware of some of the quotes that were taken out of context to sensationalize a story. There were many different scenarios given as to why Oz was leaving the order. Here is an excerpt from the full statement from Oz that was posted on the FPMT website, clearing up any doubts in this matter:

"So I’m trying to find a different way for this future generation. One of the ways is through music, movies and audio-visual techniques. In a movie you can condense so many different stories. You can put in music, you can put in different situations and messages. Even just the sunset can be enough to give you peace to find a moment of meditation in yourself. There are so many different millions of possibilities in movies."

This has also been an aspiration of mine--to find a blend of media and Dharma without straying or distorting the original message of the teachings. How can these practices be updated for a different time and place than the original contextual environment? If this is to happen there need to be serious students of the Dharma who are willing to commit to an independent study course of the teachings, meditating and contemplating on them and revealing the insights they have gained. The internet is great medium for sharing these insights, which can be used for great benefit.

I wish Oz all the best in his course of study. I have no doubt to his potential.

Many Blessings to you all!

A Demonstration of UPAYA - Skillful Means

2009-06-04T10:18:00.005-07:00

POOLESVILLE, Md., June 3 (UPI) -- A Maryland man bitten by a baby copperhead snake at his apartment inside a Buddhist temple said he prayed for the animal before setting it free.

Sam Pettengill, 36, said he assumed the tiny snake was harmless when he found it inside his studio apartment Sunday night at the Kunzang Palyul Choling temple near Poolesville, so he attempted to pick it up, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

He said some friends helped him catch the snake in a vase and identify it as a potentially venomous species after it bit him twice on his index finger. However, he said he took the snake on a three-minute walk around the temple's holy Enlightenment Stupa, offering "prayers for a higher rebirth," before setting the animal free and going to the hospital.

David Srour, who works at the emergency room of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, said snake bite victims usually come in with the dead snake in tow, but Pettengill offered only a calm description of his experience.

"He was very calm. It was unusual, I thought," Srour told the newspaper. "He talked about the snake in an almost reverential tone."

Dharma Resource

2009-05-30T15:53:00.002-07:00

http://www.sutrasmantras.info/index.html

This is a great resource tool for recent English translations of rare Mahayana sutras. I recommend browsing the titles and pick one that you are most drawn to. Read, skim, glance over the sutra and even though you only read a few lines, you gain great benefit and plant firm roots.

Many Blessings!

In Love and Gratitude to Sakyamuni Buddha

2009-05-30T04:32:00.005-07:00

In the early morning dawn, the lotus opens to greet the morning sun......

Namo Buddha!

Namo Dharma!

Namo Sangha!

For the benefit of all sentient beings in the ten directions and the three times.

May 30th 2009 - Buddha Day

2009-05-29T10:35:00.004-07:00

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the approaching May 30th is considered an excellent day for dharma practices. This one of many revolving Buddha Days that occur throughout the year, which are calculated by the lunar calendar. On these auspicious days, karmic results of actions are multiplied by one hundred million. It is certainly a good day for taking the Mahayana vows or any dharma activity like making offerings, circumambulating stupas, printing sutras, reciting of sutras, mantras, sadhanas or meditating and contemplating the Triple Jewel. Basically, anything to do with the Buddhadharma.

Namo Buddha!

The Multi-Media Experience

2009-05-26T14:27:00.003-07:00

I have a Youtube channel that I usually update with a video favorite, a teaching, something from popular culture--basically anything that catches my interest. I'll be starting another blog along those same lines, enlightenment in popular culture, any music I find to be interesting, trends in architecture, design, music, etc.

The tone will be much more casual but still with a solid basis in the Buddhadharma and for the benefit of all sentient beings. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas-Mahasattvas teach in many different forms using upaya or skillful means to bring about the maturity of sentient beings, helping and benefiting them.

http://www.youtube.com/user/wavemechanism

Many Blessings!