What does the word ‘bliss’ mean in connection with love & compassion teachings?
I wonder if this is a question about what bliss means exactly in this context. It is likely that it is this word that is confusing you. We tend to think of bliss as an intense version of a strongly excited state of being happy. If so then its not really the right word here…. It doesn’t help others for you to be overwhelmed by their pain and suffering – it helps them for you to bring your heart and its natural qualities of connection – your calm and compassionate presence… Continue reading What does the word ‘bliss’ mean in connection with love & compassion teachings?
What Does Accumulating ‘Merit’ Mean? Understanding Punya & that we are punya itself
Punya is rather misleadingly translated as merit but since punya belongs to us, it is our personal wealth and power, which we can give away for the benefit of others. In order to give to others in a way that will truly benefit them, we have to think about what is the most effective way of using our punya… Continue reading What Does Accumulating ‘Merit’ Mean? Understanding Punya & that we are punya itself
How should we practise for those who have died? Do we focus on their ‘old’ identity? Should we expand the practice to all beings too?
When someone is in our heart they are always in our heart – through life through death through all their lifetimes and all our lifetimes too. That is how the Bodhisattva vow works, that is why we can make a vow to bring all beings to Awakening. It makes sense because we are connected with all beings in our hearts whatever life circumstances they are in or identities they have adopted. Continue reading How should we practise for those who have died? Do we focus on their ‘old’ identity? Should we expand the practice to all beings too?
What if rituals feel contrived to me? Am I still welcome in the sangha?
Ritual is different from simple ceremonies. If properly conducted it makes things happen – it shapes the universe if you like. It isn’t just me doing something from my own side – or a whole lot of people doing something from their own side. The universe is changed by the ritual – it’s become a different reality in some sense… Continue reading What if rituals feel contrived to me? Am I still welcome in the sangha?
Gendun Rinpoche & Supernormal Powers
Gendun Rinpoche did seem to be able to work miracles. The summer of 1976 brought a huge drought across Europe which went on for many months. Christian bishops and priests were praying for rain and still it didn’t rain. Gendun Rinpoche started to pray for rain too. One of his faithful French disciples who lived in a makeshift shelter in a field on a nearby hill was convinced that Gendun Rinpoche was about to conjure up a storm. Continue reading Gendun Rinpoche & Supernormal Powers
The gift of being ‘fully present’
We express our presence through our body, actions, movements and speech. We express it in our bearing, our posture and the way we do things. Our presence expresses itself in the way we take our place in the world, the way we take our seat. Continue reading The gift of being ‘fully present’
How do we transform our negative actions into positive actions that benefit others?
We are uniquely connected to all other beings in the same kind of way that every point in space is uniquely connected to all other points in space. If we damage our connection with others through our unskilful actions their mandala registers that Continue reading How do we transform our negative actions into positive actions that benefit others?
Article: How can a change of heart change our world?
It would seem that we are doomed to fall further and further into a vicious circle of increasingly intense involvement in negative actions and results. This is true except for the fact that we have the power to uproot negative tendencies and we need to train in exercising that power. Continue reading Article: How can a change of heart change our world?
Lama Shenpen Teaching Saturday 19th Dec
Lama Shenpen is giving a final online teaching of the year on the theme of Love and Compassion, this Saturday 19th December at 9.30am GMT Continue reading Lama Shenpen Teaching Saturday 19th Dec
The Bodhisattva Vow: A conversation about being honest & realistic
To follow the path takes absolute honesty – or perhaps what is more accurate is to say realising the truth of the path involves absolute honesty – both about the confusion and its opposite – our true nature. Continue reading The Bodhisattva Vow: A conversation about being honest & realistic