Virtual Dharma

Sakya Family-Enthronement Time

Finding Peace in a Troubled World

“What we see and what the reality is are two different things. At the moment, we perceive many different things, such as forms, sounds, etc. But are the things that appear to us ultimate reality? They are not. Ultimate reality is something else. It is emptiness. The reality of phenomena is beyond all description. One cannot say that it exists, that it does not exist, that it both exists and does not exist or that it neither exists nor does not exist. Ultimate reality is beyond perception and beyond description. It is referred to as ‘emptiness’ simply because there is no other way to describe it.” See Full Article: http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/pdfs/teach_peace.pdf

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His Holiness the 42^nd Sakya Trizin Teachings

The Significance and Sense of Oneness of Humanity and
Practicing Compassion in the Time of COVID-19 Crisis

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H.H. Sakya Trichen Rinpoche’s Voice Reciting

The Prayer that Saved Sakya from Epidemics by Thangtong Gyalpo
A Telephone Prayer Gathering hosted by Tsechen Kunchab Ling
Each Friday, Saturday & Sunday evening at 6:00 pm MST
To join the telephone gathering, call +1-408-418-9388 & enter access code
791-550-275. To join from a computer, click here.
The prayers that recited are posted here

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“Sachen Kunga Nyingpo’s Parting from the Four Attachments”
A Teaching by His Holiness Sakya Trichen

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Please Click on Link: http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/teach_fourattach1.html

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‘Sachen Kunga Nyingpo’s Life & Legacy’
H.H. Sakya Trichen Rinpoche Teaching

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May Be Viewed on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Tsechen-Kunchab-Ling-254894091231321/

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo was the First of the Five Great Founding Masters of the
Sakya Lineage and is a direct ancestor of H.H. Sakya Trichen Rinpoche.
http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/tradition_founder1.html
http://www.mnsakyacenter.org/pdfs/Homage_SKN.pdf

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His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche

Basic Teachings of the Sakya Tradition
Clear and concise explanation as taught at Tsechen Kunchab Ling is
available on the temple’s website both in audio and PDF.
His Holiness’ teaching covers the basic history of the Sakya Order:
Introduction to the Lam Dre (especially the Three Visions) and
the basics of Shamatha and Vipassana meditation.
Highly recommended to deepen one’s understanding of Dharma.

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The Way of the Buddha by H.H. Sakya Trichen
A brief, comprehensive overview of the Buddhist path
Text available in English, and Simplified & Traditional Chinese.
Offered to You as a Gift from Sakya Traditions Publications
Link for Download: http://www.sakyatradition.org/whatisnew

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H.E. Jetsun Kushok Chimey Luding Interview

Her Eminence Jetsun Kushok-la did her first retreat at age 11 and the following year performed religious rituals for the public. She lived as a layperson for many years in Canada until Her Brother asked Her to teach the dharma. This is part of Her early story.
More: H.E. Jetsun Kushok-la’s Biography
H.E. Jetsun Kushola’s Long Life Prayer

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Social Media Guidelines for So-Called Vajrayana Students
by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

If you think or believe that you are a student of Vajrayana–whether or not that’s true is another matter–but as long as you think you are a Vajrayana practitioner, it becomes your responsibility to protect this profound tradition.

It’s important to maintain secrecy in the Vajrayana. The Vajrayana is called ‘the secret mantra yana’ because it is intended to be practiced in secrecy. It is not secret because there is something to hide, but in order to protect the practitioner from the pitfalls and downfalls that ego can bring to the practice. In particular, practitioners tend to fall prey to “spiritual materialism,” where their practice becomes just another fashion statement intended to adorn their egos and make them feel important, or have them feel that they’re part of a ‘cool’ social tribe, rather than to tame and transform their minds. When practiced in this way, the Vajrayana path becomes worse than useless.

Also, the Vajrayana teachings are ‘hidden’ in the sense that their meaning is not apparent to someone who has not received the appropriate teachings. It’s like a foreign language. Because some of the imagery and symbolism can seem strange or even violent to the uninitiated, it’s generally recommended to keep it hidden so that it doesn’t put off newer practitioners, who might develop wrong views about the Buddhist path in general and the Vajrayana path in particular.

While posting on social media, please bear in mind that you are not only posting for your own reading pleasure, but to the whole wide world who most likely don’t share your amusement over crazy photos, nor your peculiar adoration and fantasies of certain personalities you call as guru.

Given this, here are some suggestions I offer fellow so-called Vajrayana students about how you can protect yourself–both by avoiding embarrassment and by protecting your Dharma practice–and also protect the profound Vajrayana tradition:

(1) Maintain the secrecy of the Vajrayana (this includes secrecy about your guru, your practice, tantric images, empowerments you have received, teachings you have attended, etc.)

Don’t post tantric images: If you think posting provocative tantric images (such as images of deities with multiple arms, animal heads, those in union, and wrathful deities) makes you important, you probably don’t understand their meaning.

Don’t post mantras and seed syllables: If you think mantras and seed syllables should be posted on Facebook as mood enhancement and self-improvement aids, a makeover or haircut might do a better job.

Don’t talk about your empowerments: If you think images from your weekend Vajrayana empowerment are worthy of being posted up next to photos of your cat on Facebook, you should send your cat to Nepal for enthronement. Unless you have obtained permission from the teacher, do not post any photo, video or audio recording of Vajrayana empowerments, teachings or mantras.

Don’t talk about profound/secret teachings you may have received: Some people seem to find it fashionable to hang words like “Dzogchen” and “Mahamudra” in their mouths. If you have received profound instructions, it is good to follow those instructions and keep them to yourself.

(2) Avoid giving in to the temptations of spiritual materialism and using Dharma in service of your ego (do not attempt to show off about your guru, your understanding, your practice etc. Likewise, do not speak badly of other practitioners or paths.)

Don’t share your experiences and so-called attainments: If you think declaring what you think you have attained is worthwhile, you may have been busy bolstering your delusion. Trying to impress others with your practice is not part of the practice. Try to be genuine and humble. Nobody cares about your experiences in meditation, even if they include visions of buddhas, unicorns or rainbows. If you think you are free of self deception, go ahead, think again.

Don’t boast about your guru: No matter how great you think your guru is, it would probably serve better for you to keep your devotion to yourself. Remember that being buddhist is not joining a cult. If you think your guru is better than another’s, you probably think your equanimity and pure perception are better than another’s.

Don’t attempt to share your so-called wisdom: If you think receiving profound teachings gives you license to proclaim them, you will probably only display your ignorance. Before you “share” a quote from the Buddha or from any of your teachers, take a moment to think if they really said those words, and who the audience was meant to be.

Don’t confuse Buddhism with non-Buddhist ideas: No matter how inspired you might be of rainbows and orbs, and how convinced you are about the end of the world, try not to mix your own fantasies/idiosyncracies with Buddhism.

Be respectful to others: Without Theravada and Mahayana as foundation, there would be no Vajrayana. It would be completely foolish of Vajrayana practitioners to look down on or show disdain towards Theravada and Mahayana. If you think attacking other buddhists will improve Buddhism, do a service for Buddhism, take aim at your own ego and biasedness instead.

Don’t create disharmony: Try to be the one who brings harmony into the sangha community with your online chatter, instead of trouble and disputes.

Always be mindful of your motivation: Please do not attempt to display “crazy wisdom” behaviors online, just inspire others to have a good heart. If you think you are posting something out of compassion, try first to make sure you are doing no harm. Whenever you can’t let go of the itch to post something, make sure that it helps whoever who reads it and the Dharma.

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“Insight of Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Symbolism”

Excerpt from Lama Choedak Rinpoche’s talk at the
Sacred Realm: Blessings & Good Fortune Across Asia exhibit
International Museum of Folk Art, Santa Fe NM

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Jetsun Rinpoche Dragpa Gyaltsen’s
“Great Song of Experience”

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Podcast of Lama Migmar’s teaching

mangalamstudio.com/teachings

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“Great Sakya Women: Great Khön Jetsunmas”
As told by His Holiness Sakya Trizin

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http://hhthesakyatrizin.org/teach_women.html

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Ven. Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche
Making Earth Treasure Vases

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A Poem by Milarepa, the Great Yogi & Mahasiddha

Embodiment of great mercy,
All pervading dharma-body of clear light,
Universal lord unified with space—
To kind Marpa’s feet I bow.

I the yogi Milarepa
Began meditation with fervent faith.
After initiation, empowerment, and instruction
I practiced with strong determination.

I entered retreat and did difficult practice
Till realization and experience were born in mind.
I realized the inner nature of samsara,
Saw the natural-state essence of mind,
Tore off the shackles of samsara,
And untied the knot of self-attachment.

Smothering the demon of belief in ego
And soaring in the vast sky free from addiction to concepts,
I saw without eyes the visible realm,
Heard without ears the sound of voidness,
Smelled without nose the natural state’s scent,
Tasted without tongue reality’s sweet taste,
Attained without body the rainbow vajra-body,
And was absorbed without mind in the mahāmudrā state.

Eh ma! The things of samsara’s three realms
Don’t exist—yet are just as they appear!
They appear—yet are voidness itself!
That’s the nature of the illusion of the superficial world.

About the nature of reality I cannot speak—
An artist without hands
Draws pictures in the sky,
Without eyes sees myriad things
In perfect vision without movement or strain.

After singing this he rose into the air to a height of one story.
The patron exclaimed in amazement,
“Is this some kind of magic trick or optical illusion?”

from “Drinking the Mountain Stream”
Translated by Lama Kunga & Brian Cutillo

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“When you have strong compassion, the enlightenment mind naturally arises.”

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An Ocean of Offering Clouds:
A Light Offering Prayer

by Gatön Ngawang Lekpa Rinpoche

I consider that this lamp is made of the finest precious metal,
And is as vast as the entire billionfold universe.
It is filled completely with the finest essence of butter,
And in its centre is planted a wick as large as Mount Meru
Its flame is alight and has the nature of the five wisdoms;
In appearance, it blazes with the dazzling splendour of a billion suns,
Its light pervading everywhere throughout all the realms of the ten directions.
Out of this radiant expanse, appear vast clouds of offerings like Samantabhadra’s,
To make gifts throughout all eternity, until the very ends of time,
So that the objects of our prayers, be they living or dead,
Gather the two accumulations, purify the two kinds of obscuration,
And swiftly attain unsurpassable awakening.

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Tsechen Namdrol Ling’s First Anniversary

Sang-chod is the practice of offering fragrant incense smoke

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“Global Ecology from a Buddhist Perspective”
http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/audio/7_8GlobalEcologyfromBPerspective.mp3

“Ilumination of the Sage’s Intent”
Audio Recordings from the most Venerable Deshung Rinpoche
http://www.tsechenkunchabling.com/teachings/

“Prayer for the Happiness of All That Lives”
http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/audio/2_Prayer_for_the_Happiness_of_all_that_Lives.mp3

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“Manifold is the drifting away of Precious moments
Rarity is the returning of Precious moments
Certainty is the exhaustion of Precious life
Indispensability is the embracing of Precious moments together”