Author: Awakened Heart Sangha

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Student's Question, Uncategorized

The Natural Tension of the Heart Wish – Balancing Living in the World and Practising Dharma

A Student writes: My question relates to the Heart Wish – it struck me today that I often feel guilty about living so much in the world, socialising, listening to music, having fun. Although the guilt is just a thought, I still feel it needs exploring… Lama Shenpen responds: Yes, it does. It suggests you could do more to make socialising, listening to music and … Continue reading The Natural Tension of the Heart Wish – Balancing Living in the World and Practising Dharma

Awakened Heart Sangha
gold buddha figurine lot
Student's Question

Not Self – If the Self doesn’t exist what would motive people to meditate?

A student writes: If the self is non-existent, what motivates people to meditate and do things such as this training course? Lama Shenpen responds: Do I ever say that the self is non-existent? What the Buddha always taught was that what was impermanent, unsatisfactory and not as we wanted it, could not be the Self. The Self, in this context, is the one who wants … Continue reading Not Self – If the Self doesn’t exist what would motive people to meditate?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Life Story Book

What makes your mind relax? Learning from Karma Thinley Rinpoche – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories

“One day Karma Thinley Rinpoche asked, ‘What make your mind relax?’  I told him, ‘Swimming in the sea – throwing myself into the big waves without a care in the world like I did as a child.’  With wide-eyed amazement he told me that would frighten him…” Continue reading What makes your mind relax? Learning from Karma Thinley Rinpoche – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories

Awakened Heart Sangha
person holding skin
Student's Question

Pain and suffering as practice & how our thoughts can increase the suffering of pain

If you can relate to your present suffering with some kind of sense of it being your path, then the suffering itself becomes your practice. Just being able to let go of negative thinking and struggling with the pain and being more simple about it, that already means you are making the suffering into the path. Continue reading Pain and suffering as practice & how our thoughts can increase the suffering of pain

Awakened Heart Sangha
exhausted young woman yawning while reading textbook in armchair
Student's Question

Meditation makes my mind dull and sleepy, what can I do?

The problem here is that the Shamata [calm abiding meditation) is strong but there is very little insight [Vipashyana meditation]. You need to become interested in the nature of the thoughts instead of just letting them go. If you let them go too quickly it is almost as if you are cutting them off rather than simply letting them be. It is a very fine edge or distinction… Continue reading Meditation makes my mind dull and sleepy, what can I do?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Lama Shenpen Teaching

Lama Shenpen in Conversation on Buddha Nature

A few weeks ago Lama Shenpen was live in conversation with Lopen Dr Karma Phuntsho of the Tsadra Foundation’s Buddha-Nature initiative, discussing the deep topic of Buddha Nature, which can now be viewed on YouTube and above. On the Tsadra’s Buddha-Nature resource website, it also has created several handy, short clips divided into topics which can be viewed here. Continue reading Lama Shenpen in Conversation on Buddha Nature

Awakened Heart Sangha
Student's Question

“The meditation cushion is not a magic wand” – Lama Shenpen on balancing acting in the world & meditating

The meditation cushion is not a magic wand that solves all problems.  Each situation needs to be addressed with Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity – sometimes face to face in the situation we find ourselves in – and sometimes face to face with ourselves in meditation. Continue reading “The meditation cushion is not a magic wand” – Lama Shenpen on balancing acting in the world & meditating

Awakened Heart Sangha