Namkha Rinpoche visits Tricycle September 22, 2009
Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Film, Movies, Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism, Tricycle , 4 comments
Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli (aka Christopher Moltisanti) presented his film The Hungry Ghosts, his directorial debut, at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City this month. The screening was a fundraiser for Namkha Rinpoche’s charitable organization, The Golden Bridge Association, a not-for-profit dedicated to humanitarian aid and the preservation of Tibetan culture and religion.
Imperioli brought Rinpoche to the office this morning for a chat and some coffee. Rinpoche is on his way to Washington, where he will meet with diplomats and lawmakers to discuss The Golden Bridge, which, among other projects, is building an old-folks home in Dza Chuka, Tibet, and constructing housing to relieve crowding at Sera Je monastery, in southern India. You can make a donation to Golden Bridge here.
Namkha Rinpoche’s advice for Western practitioners? “Patience!” When we asked him what the biggest obstacle Westerners face in their dharma practice, he answered, “Hesitation.” In other words, we worry too much, questioning whether we’re doing the right thing and whether we’re “doing it properly.” This, he says, hinders a full commitment to practice.
Born in Kham, Tibet, Namkha Rinpoche is a teacher in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He left Tibet in 1998 and is now based in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has centers in Switzerland, Lithuania, Spain, and soon, in the United States. We look forward to his arrival here—especially since he’ll set up shop just a block from Tricycle’s offices!
Keep an eye peeled for our interview with him. An interview with Michael Imperioli will appear in the November issue of Tricycle.
[Above: Namkha Rinpoche with Michael Imperioli at Tricycle. Below: Namkha Rinpoche with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama]
Awakening is not the same thing as Bliss
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Meditation , 2 comments
There may be bliss with awakening, because it is actually a by-product of awakening, but it is not awakening itself. As long as we are chasing the by-product of awakening, we will miss the real thing.
- Adyashanti, from “Bliss is a By-Product,” Tricycle, Summer 2009
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Don’t be afraid of pain September 21, 2009
Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism, Buddhism & Health, Buddhist Teachings, Health, Medicine, Theravada , 1 comment so far
Sometimes I think anticipation of pain is far worse than the pain itself. That’s not to diminish the reality of pain, but it’s a fact that we’ve all got to deal with it so why not find a way to be with it? It goes against the grain, but Buddhists have traditionally seen in pain an opportunity for practice. (Granted, this was before the Fentanyl patch.)
Not for everyone, but for those it does work for, it makes plenty of good sense.
Try it next time you’ve got a toothache on the weekend.
Read Upasika Kee Nanayon’s “Tough Teachings to Ease the Mind” here.
Seven Tips for Giving Up Gossip
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Tibetan Buddhism , 13 comments
by 1. Recognize that gossip doesn’t undo the situation you’re talking about. It only puts in motion another situation based on negative feelings.
2. Know that comparing yourself to others is useless. Everyone has his or her own talents. In this way, give up jealousy and the wish to put others down.
3. Be aware of and transform your own thoughts, words, and deeds rather than commenting on those of others.
4. Train your mind to see others’ positive qualities and discuss them. This will make you much happier than gossiping ever could.
5. Forgive, knowing that people do harmful things because they are unhappy. If you don’t make someone into an enemy, you won’t want to gossip about him.
6. Have a sense of humor about what you think, say, and do, and be able to laugh at all of the silly things we sentient beings carry out in our attempt to be happy. If you see the humor in our human predicament, you’ll be more patient.
7. Practice saying something kind to someone every day. Do this especially with people you don’t like. It gets easier with practice and bears surprisingly good results.
(from Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron’s “The Truth About Gossip,” Tricycle, Summer 2006 )
Why do we gossip? September 20, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Daily Dharma , 2 commentsGossip can mean many things, from benignly shared information about someone not present to false rumors insidiously spread, to idle chitchat about someone’s personal life. The question to ask is: What is our motivation when we talk about others? From a Buddhist perspective, the value of our speech depends principally upon the motivation behind it.
When talking about others is motivated by thoughts of ill will, jealousy, or attachment, conversations turn into gossip. These thoughts may seem to be subconscious, but if we pay close attention to our mind we’ll be able to catch them in the act. Many of these are thoughts that we don’t want to acknowledge to ourselves, let alone to others, but my experience is that when I become courageous enough to notice and admit them, I’m on my way to letting them go. Also, there’s a certain humor to the illogical way that these negative thoughts purport to bring us happiness. Learning to laugh at our wrong ways of thinking can be therapeutic.
—Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, from “The Truth About Gossip,” Tricycle, Summer 2006
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Praise and Blame September 18, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Daily Dharma, Dalai Lama, Karma, Tibetan Buddhism , 7 commentsIf we really stop to think about praise and criticism, we will see they do not have the least importance. Whether we receive praise or criticism is of no account. The only important thing is that we have a pure motivation, and let the law of cause and effect be our witness. If we are really honest, we can see that it makes no difference whether we receive praise and acclaim. The whole world might sing our praises, but if we have done something wrong, then we will still have to suffer the consequences for ourselves, and we cannot escape them. If we act only out of a pure motivation, all the beings of the three realms can criticize and rebuke us, but none of them will be able to cause us to suffer. According to the law of karma, each and every one of us must answer individually for our actions.
This is how we can put a stop to these kinds of thoughts altogether, by seeing how they are completely insubstantial, like dreams or magical illusions. When people praise us and we glow with delight, it is because we think that being praised is beneficial. But that is like thinking that there is some substance to a rainbow or a dream. However much benefit appears to accrue from praise and acclaim, actually there’s none at all.
—The Dalai Lama, from “Bad Reputation ,” Tricycle, Summer 2007
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Resiliency in Challenging Times September 15, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Retreats , 1 comment so farSharon Salzberg and cop-turned-dharma-teacher Cheri Maples are running a daylong retreat at the New York Insight Center on something that we could all surely use more of: Resiliency in challenging times.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
$65 for Saturday; $80 for both Friday and Saturday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
This daylong retreat is an opportunity to rediscover the resiliency of the human spirit. For many, the feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed have become all too common. Balance of heart and mind is the key to sustaining ourselves, especially in the face of daily challenges. The practice of meditation helps to develop three essential skills that cultivate balance: concentration, mindfulness and compassion. This day will emphasize these skills and move us towards deeper care, both for ourselves and for others. It is suitable for both beginning and more experienced meditators.
Sharon Salzberg is cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts. She is one of America’s leading meditation teachers and authors, and has been a student of Buddhism since 1971, guiding meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Sharon’s latest book is The Kindness Handbook, published by Sounds True. She is also the author of The Force of Kindness, published by Sounds True; Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, published by Riverhead Books; and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, published by Shambhala Publications. For more information about Sharon, please visit Sharon’s Website.
Cheri Maples is an ordained Dharma Teacher by Zen master & peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh. She is also a private consultant, trainer, spiritual life coach and founder of the Center for Mindfulness & Justice. Cheri worked in the criminal justice profession for 25 years as a police officer, the Head of Probation & Parole, and an Assistant Attorney General in Wisconsin. She also has extensive experience as a community organizer and a social justice advocate. Cheri has incorporated all of these experiences into her understanding and teaching of the Dharma, and her practice of engaged Buddhism.
Register here. There is also a New York Insight Tuesday night sitting group on the Tricycle Community.
Good! - Daily Dharma, September 15th, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Daily Dharma, Tibetan Buddhism , add a commentWhen you ask accomplished teachers how they are, they always say, “Good, good, very good” — always good. Many people say that they feel dishonest saying they are good when in fact they have problems. But what we are talking about here is developing a fundamental sense of strength and well-being. Wouldn’t it be better to associate our mind with that rather than with all the fleeting emotions and physical sensations we experience throughout the day? What is the point of being honest about something so fleeting and impossible to pin down? If your well-being is so dependent upon emotions and physical sensations, you will have little opportunity to say, “I am well.” So when people ask how you are, say, “Good!”
— Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, from “Old Relationships, New Possibilities” (Tricycle, Winter 2008)
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Pema Chödrön and William Alexander in two new discussions on the Tricycle Community September 14, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Old age, Tibetan Buddhism, Tricycle Community, Zen , add a comment
The Tricycle Book Club will be discussing Pema Chödrön’s latest book, Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears.
William Alexander discusses Buddhism and Addiction in the discussion, “We Are All Addicts.” Alexander is the author of several books about attachment and addiction, including Cool Water, and Hi, I’m Bill and I’m Old.
If you’re not already a member, you’ll have to join the Tricycle Community in order to participate, but joining is easy—and free.
31 Flavors of Craving September 13, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Buddhist Teachings, Vipassana , 1 comment so far
It’s a world of craving we live in, but don’t blame the world: We do it ourselves.
The Pali word for craving is tanha, which means “thirst.” The Buddha identified three distinct kinds of tanha that you repeatedly experience; they are often unnoticed, because they arise and then are quickly preempted by yet another and then another.
Read about the three types of craving in Phillip Moffitt’s “31 Flavors of Craving,” from the pages of Tricycle.
Image: ulteriorepicure