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
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
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
The essence of the actual feeling of suffering or pain (beyond all the conditioned thoughts and feelings that are associated with it) is nothing other than the fundamental quality of sensitivity that is the Indestructible Heart Essence. When we touch this we touch something that is profoundly sacred. Continue reading How does our experience of Dukkha – unsatisfactoriness & Suffering – connect to our innate quality of Sensitivity?
Taking jackal ears off could be described in all sort of ways couldn’t it? That magic switch moment – switching out of one mandala into another. Like Tonglen perhaps, but for me taking off jackal ears feels like a magical, fun thing and it’s transformative in a surprising and uncontrived way. Continue reading What does the NVC term ‘Jackal Ears’ mean in terms of direct experience & meditation instruction?
Thanks to everyone who joined us online last Saturday 16th May to celebrate the Launch of Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping The Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories: An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama’ Continue reading Video: Book Launch Celebration
“When we say ‘heart’ – something resonates and we can sort of trace that resonance back to its source which is that depth within the essence of our being that contains all that is most meaningful – the word comes from there, so when we follow it back we sort of dissolve into that meaning somehow…” Continue reading How do the words heart and mind resonate within you? Why is this important?
Can we make friends with our anxiety? Is this having confidence in our meditation practice? “For us confidence would consist of acknowledging our fear and anxiety and turning towards them rather than panicking and trying to run away from our feeling, pretending it’s not there or desperately trying to change it into something else that we think we should be feeling.” Continue reading Student’s Question: Is confidence being able to acknowledge anxiety and make friends with it?
