The Trouble with Truth: Confusing the terms Relative and Absolute Truth – Why Lama Shenpen Prefers to teach about One Truth.
I like to emphasise that there is one Truth, we already intuit it, we are already it, and the best things about us are related to that. We’re already ‘there’ but we overlay it with all these doubts and confusion, which is what we’re working with. Continue reading The Trouble with Truth: Confusing the terms Relative and Absolute Truth – Why Lama Shenpen Prefers to teach about One Truth.
Student’s Question: Understanding Generosity – should we always give to others?
Should we always give to others even when they show no gratitude or abuse our giving? How can we give in a way that benefits both the giver and receiver? Continue reading Student’s Question: Understanding Generosity – should we always give to others?
Is it possible to keep things simple? Is having a simple practice ‘enough’?
It’s important to keep it simple and coming from your heart. Sometimes other practises help us to recognise blind spots and inspire and galvanise us – but always at the heart of it all the practice is simplicity. Continue reading Is it possible to keep things simple? Is having a simple practice ‘enough’?
Student’s Question: I can’t relate to images of the Buddha
How important is relating to imagery, ceremonies and ritual in Buddhism? Does it matter if we can’t? It is true that often the meaning of a ceremony can easily get lost or neglected and then it can become a poor substitute for the real thing. But it can actually become a kind of language that we can use to express our deepest aspirations. Continue reading Student’s Question: I can’t relate to images of the Buddha
Limitless love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy & Equalness – Four Immeasurable qualities to discover within ourselves
Although we are talking here of love, compassion and joy as if they were qualities that we have to develop, actually they are the natural responsiveness of our chitta (heart-mind) when it is completely unimpeded by the confusion arising from not recognising our true nature. Continue reading Limitless love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy & Equalness – Four Immeasurable qualities to discover within ourselves
Student’s Question: How can we prevent grasping at our Buddha Nature?
Well there are no easy solutions to the tendency for ego-grasping to latch on to any Dharma practice one does. One just has to keep going back into the heart and finding the genuine motivation that lies there. Meanwhile the little ego-characters that haunt us will continually try to turn every experience into some sort of self-confirmation. Continue reading Student’s Question: How can we prevent grasping at our Buddha Nature?
How is it possible to find a sense of well-being in pain and suffering?
The only good thing that can be said about feeling pain and suffering is that at least you are alive. It is very important to link into that constant feeling of aliveness as something good and inescapable. That is the goodness of your heart which can never be destroyed, even by death. Continue reading How is it possible to find a sense of well-being in pain and suffering?
