Category: Student’s Question

Student's Question

What’s the difference between ‘personal mandala’ and ‘ego mandala’?

Even though our experience of it is distorted, we have access to its qualities already. They shine through our confusion and are what lead us out of it. We need to learn to be subtle about recognising what are the Buddha qualities and trusting them, and what is ego grasping and letting that go. While we are still only on the path, it’s not easy to distinguish between them. Continue reading What’s the difference between ‘personal mandala’ and ‘ego mandala’?

Loshi
mandala principle, boundaries, Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Shenpen Hookham UK Buddhist Teacher
Student's Question

Mandala Principle & Boundaries: Boundaries feel threatening to me, what aren’t I getting?

Mandalas are a way of describing the world of our experience in which everything is appearing and yet is ungraspable. The only reason we experience anything is because we can distinguish it from anything else. If it were all uniform with no differentiation it would not be experience would it? It wouldn’t be anything. Continue reading Mandala Principle & Boundaries: Boundaries feel threatening to me, what aren’t I getting?

Awakened Heart Sangha
Article, Lama Shenpen Teaching, Student's Question

Why do we recite long life prayers for teachers & why do we need to repeat them?

We pray for our personal teachers in particular to live long and for us to keep up as close a connection as possible with them by every means at our disposal, through this and through all our lifetimes working together forever to bring all beings to Awakening. This is about Mandala Principle. Continue reading Why do we recite long life prayers for teachers & why do we need to repeat them?

Awakened Heart Sangha
person sitting on bench under tree
Student's Question

Why might someone feel lonely after taking the Refuge or Bodhisattva vow?

We are facing the aloneness of a journey only we can make for ourselves, also an alone-ness where there is nobody looking on and saying we are doing well, we are our own leader and follower – Guru and disciple – we have to do it ourselves, like growing up but on a cosmic scale.  Continue reading Why might someone feel lonely after taking the Refuge or Bodhisattva vow?

Awakened Heart Sangha1 Comment
woman with yellow eye shadow and blue lipsticks with eyes closed chin up
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’

Awakened Heart Sangha1 Comment
Student's Question

Panic as a sign of insight & The Four Noble Truths in the Living the Awakened Heart Training

It is exactly how insight starts to develop – the panic reaction is as deep as samsara itself. There would be no samsara if there were no panic. Sometimes we let things get so close to the edge that the panic manifests as raw panic and we have to start working with the reality of that – not running away or trying to avoid it – it is the First Noble Truth of Dukkha Continue reading Panic as a sign of insight & The Four Noble Truths in the Living the Awakened Heart Training

Loshi
woman washing her face with water
Student's Question

Don’t Just Leave Meditation on the Meditation Seat – How to Practise Daily Life Awareness

For example, as you wake up out of bed and open the curtains, you can be thinking this is like awakening from the sleep of ignorance. “May this day be one more step on the path of Awakening, may it awaken myself and others.” As you think and wish like this, note the space of awareness in which all your sense impressions are happening and in which all your thoughts and feelings are happening. Relax into that sense of space and waking up. Continue reading Don’t Just Leave Meditation on the Meditation Seat – How to Practise Daily Life Awareness

Awakened Heart Sangha1 Comment