There is one thing that every Buddhist must have but has become so rare to find. What is it, you ask: the drive to attain liberation. Without the ambition to strive for liberation, we may study, practise, meditate, etc., but the scope of our thoughts and aims will not transcend the mundane world or this […]
We should constantly observe ourselves. We should know what we are thinking and doing all the time by employing mindfulness and awareness. For us, this is the best way to study and practise the Dharma. 28th January 2025, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal
When practising the Dharma, we should try to accept all the circumstances we encounter, especially suffering and challenges. Running away is useless because our experiences are ultimately created by ourselves. Therefore, escape is not an option—only acceptance. In the Dharma, we talk about taking suffering and afflictions as the path but this is a very […]
If you truly want to study and practise Buddhism properly, my advice is to find a good teacher (lama) and a supportive environment. Avoid going to every centre you can find and relying on many different lamas, as this would not be conducive to your development. If your goal is to become a genuine Dharma […]
Our mindset must transcend the mundane or worldly way of thinking. As long as our thoughts and states of mind remain within the worldly, samsaric domain, we will remain in samsara, cyclic existence. We will never attain transcendence, nirvana. Drupon Khen Rinpoche October 2024
If you wish to learn the dharma, it is better not to delay. This is especially true if you wish to benefit others in the dharma. The younger you start your studies and training, the more chance you have to learn and become knowledgeable, and it is this that will equip you to benefit others. […]
“May I never, directly or indirectly, harm a single sentient being. May everything I do bring benefit to sentient beings and the Buddhadharma. May even my negative actions ultimately lead to the benefit of the Dharma and others.” These are the kind of prayers we should make again and again. 8th January, 2025
Whether we develop faith for our lama or not depends entirely on developing our own understanding and practice of the Dharma. As our understanding of the Dharma deepens, we come to recognise that someone who is able to teach that to us must have realised it themselves. As our own understanding and qualities develop, we […]
“[Je Tsongkhapa explains] three critical approaches to the dharma, namely renunciation, bodhicitta, and the view of emptiness. These three are like the foundation, essence, and lifeblood, they are indispensable. Be it the Sutra or Tantra, the Mahayana or Hinayana, these three form the root and foundation of all buddhist vehicles.” — Words from ‘Walk Slowly […]
When you try to help someone and they refuse to listen, it might seem easier to simply let them be. Yet, the Dharma teaches that giving up is not an option. To persevere in helping others, no matter how challenging or discouraging the circumstances, is itself our practice. For instance, even if you (who are […]
Once, when I was invited to teach in the West, I took my seat and looked at the crowd. The first person who caught my eye was a man with a blue beard. I caught myself thinking, “It’s a bit strange that someone like that would come.” I quickly berated myself for being so narrow-minded […]
The meditation we do based on the explanations or teachings we've received is contrived. It is a generic fabrication of meditation rather than a meditation gained through personal experience. Real meditation is not taught; it is found within oneself through the questions and probing of the lama. You may feel that you would like to […]
Personally, I am not so interested in how good a student is at the moment, since I know they are not a buddha or bodhisattva yet. If they were perfect already there would be no point for them to rely on me as a lama. The quality I look for in a student is the […]
As we proceed on the path of Dharma, we encounter various challenges along the way. The first challenge is not knowing what we are doing or what we should be doing. Then we recognise that we have to study. It is then that we encounter our second challenge. We too heavily tied up in the […]
Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé said, “We don’t wander in samsara because we don’t know the Dharma; we deceive ourselves by not putting it into practice.” This is so true and something we should keep in mind. The one thing that stops us Buddhists in the Dharma from practising it properly is how we mix up […]
