Author: Awakened Heart Sangha

Lama Shenpen Quote, Lama Shenpen Teaching

How can we increase our sense of sacredness & transmission with online Dharma teachings & downloaded texts?

These days we surf the net and find a likely looking Dharma website and feel that parting with our money is to take a risk, since who knows who the people are and what they’re are up to. So often it is with suspicion and scepticism that we embark on a course and the practice, hardly knowing what to expect and wondering if this is yet another internet scam.
Hardly the best way to approach the holy Dharma teachings! Continue reading How can we increase our sense of sacredness & transmission with online Dharma teachings & downloaded texts?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Life Story Book

Meeting Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

He was about forty at the time, small in stature, with the walk and presence of a samurai warrior.  There was something very direct and yet very kind in everything he said or did.  Having shown him into his room, I sat down in the semi-darkness of the gathering dusk to listen to him talking and felt an immediate sense of rightness and connection.  Continue reading Meeting Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

Awakened Heart Sangha
Lama Shenpen Teaching

What Does the Term ‘Guru Principle’ Mean?

Even our enemies can become our gurus if we learn patience and forbearance from them. Texts can be our guru; the world around us can become our guru. This is because the guru is the all-pervading and timeless compassionate action of the Buddha’s mandala of awakening, which is reaching out to us through all the circumstances of our life…. Continue reading What Does the Term ‘Guru Principle’ Mean?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Life Story Book

Rigdzin Shikpo’s 3 Year Retreat – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories

The following is a fascinating excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories’ about Rigdzin Shikpo’s three year retreat, how he received the name Rigdzin Shikpo, as well as an explanation of the term ‘guru yoga’. Shared in memory of Lama Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche who recently passed away. Continue reading Rigdzin Shikpo’s 3 Year Retreat – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories

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The Passing of Lama Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche

Lama Shenpen’s husband and teacher Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche has passed away (1935-2023).
“Rigdzin Shikpo passed away at about 8pm on Friday 28th April. He just suddenly had cardiac arrest and the paramedics couldn’t save him. That night we made offerings to the stupa and offering the lights to the stupa, with prayers such as the Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche…” Continue reading The Passing of Lama Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche

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Student's Question

Striking the balance between feeling good about yourself and the ‘8 worldly dharmas’

This is not to say that it isn’t fun and even meaningful to dress well, to be liked, to be praised for what we do and so on. That could all be thought of as positive feedback that helps us communicate and be effective in the world. But if our confidence depends on things like that then sooner or later we are going to come unstuck Continue reading Striking the balance between feeling good about yourself and the ‘8 worldly dharmas’

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Noticing the Difference Between Conditioned and Unconditioned Confidence

We have to train ourselves to not panic, to let the doubts and worries go or at least let them arise and cease freely in the space of awareness. There they are – there they are not – they come and go. The spaces between ARE our non-conditioned confidence but most of the time we don’t notice them. Continue reading Noticing the Difference Between Conditioned and Unconditioned Confidence

Awakened Heart Sangha