Teaching on 'The Precious Garland of the Supreme Path' to the retreat staff, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center, Nepal
The Sanskrit word ‘guru’ translated as ‘lama’ in Tibetan, has the sense of weightiness; meaning the individual is laden with excellent qualities. These qualities have nothing to do with a person’s position or status, nor with their level of education, but are principally concerned with the way they think: their renunciation, bodhichitta and view of […]
Words of advice from Drupon Khen Rinpoche in response to a student's wish to become a bodhisattva
Try not to think about yourself too much and instead focus on the well being of others. Try to feel, ‘If I’m sick, fine. If I’m having a hard time, fine. As long as others are well and happy, that is enough for me.’ If you can think and feel like this you will become […]
Teaching at First UK Kagyu Monlam 2018
To those of you who have deep feelings for the Dharma, you need to be clear about what you need to do. You need to give the priority to study and practice rather than focusing on the external conditions for practice. Better buildings doesn’t mean better study; it’s quite possible that simpler buildings and simpler […]
Teaching at First UK Kagyu Monlam 2018
We only make plans for living and we do not make plans for dying. When there is an important task and a big event we count down the days. But we do not do this for our death. The truth is we are moving closer and closer to death each minute.
If we forsake a single sentient being, we break our Bodhisattva vows. ~ Teaching at First UK Kagyu Monlam 2018
Teaching at 1st UK Kagyu Monlam, Samye Ling, Scotland, 2018.
In the Dharma there are often illustrations given, such as ‘like a dream or like a mirage’. For example, ‘wealth and property are like a magic show or illusion.’ You could think, ‘yes, I understand that’. If, on hearing a teaching like this, your attachment to your wealth and property changes, then that shows you […]
First UK Kagyu Monlam 2018, Samye Ling, UK
Most beginners see the three jewels as an outer object, as something separate from ‘me’. This is the beginner’s view, and it will not lead us to Liberation. The basic Buddhist view is that the Three Jewels are not something that truly exists externally. Buddha, Sang-Gye in Tibetan, shows us, or demonstrates to us our […]
Teaching at 1st UK Kagyu Monlam, Samye Ling, Scotland, 2018.
Having our faults pointed out is receiving the Dharma, Seeing our faults is understanding the Dharma, Eradicating our faults is practising the Dharma.
Kagyu Samye Ling Zimbabwe, 10 September 2017
Meditation is to leave the mind just as it is, relaxed and easy, without thinking too much. But we find this incredibly difficult to do. As soon as we sit down and relax, we feel we have a bit of free time and start thinking and making plans. It is for this reason that when […]
Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal, 14 March 2018
The true study of Buddhism is a quest to establish the truth; to ascertain the basic reality of things. When that happens for someone, their intelligence and understanding blossom; they become clear about the whys and wherefores of life. This intelligence and insight permeates and transforms their whole perspective and behaviour.
Teaching on the Precious Ornament of Liberation at HwaYue Foundation, Taiwan, 21 October 2017
Gampopa said, ‘Rely on a holy lama endowed with realisation and compassion.’ This tells us that a genuine lama is someone with realisation, who has wisdom and compassion, and directs all their efforts to teaching and guiding students on the path to liberation. Such a lama is a holy lama. When I was staying in […]
HwaYue Foundation, Taiwan, 21 October 2017
Once you have examined a lama in whom you have faith and decided to put yourself in their hands, then from that point on don’t worry too much about what Dharma they’re teaching. If the lama you rely on is good, then whatever they teach will be directed at remedying your faults and wrong ways […]
Kagyu Samye Ling Zimbabwe, 11 September 2017
When it comes to meditation we should keep things simple right from the start. We shouldn’t have too many ideas within, nor too much clutter and stuff we think we need without. If we don’t keep things simple, we might find ourselves in a situation where we want to meditate but, lacking some ‘vital’ item, […]
HwaYue Foundation, Taiwan, 21 October 2017
Sometimes, we forget what really matters in our practice and give more emphasis to the external aspects of Buddhism; when that happens, our practice of Dharma may become a cause of upset and friction with our family and friends. But the true practice of the Dharma is not about doing external activities such as prostrating, […]
Teaching on the Precious Garland of the Supreme Path, HwaYue Foundation, Taiwan, 20 October 2017
The text talks about ‘worthy disciples’, sometimes this is also translated as ‘fortunate individuals’. This is talking about people who, when they encounter good conditions for receiving or practising the Dharma, become inspired and enlivened. They readily accept the teachings, seeing them as a way to transform their characters and root out their troublesome bad […]
