Teaching Archive
Here you can find all the email teachings that Lama Shenpen Hookham has given on the Buddhism Connect email list.
ALL email teachings on Buddhism Connect:
15 Mar 2009 Does the Self Exist?
Lama Shenpen explores the idea of self in Buddhism.
08 Mar 2009 More on Tonglen
This email expands on the one sent out last Sunday (Dysfunctional Self Sacrifice or Genuine Giving? March 1, 2009). A different student asks Lama Shenpen to explain more about the teaching she gave on Tonglen.
01 Mar 2009 Dysfunctional Self Sacrifice or Genuine Giving?
A student has reservations about the practices of Lojong and tonglen-exchanging self for other and breathing in the suffering of others.
09 Feb 2009 Scary Energy
Lama Shenpen discusses how to approach the experience of scary energy in meditation.
31 Jan 2009 When Meditation Seems to Go Wrong
After a strong meditation experience, a student finds herself struggling.
24 Jan 2009 Do we have to accept suffering?
A clarification of the First Noble Truth
17 Jan 2009 What experiences loving kindness?
Lama Shenpen unpicks the grasping mind's claims to generate faith and compassion.
10 Jan 2009 Something Alive Bubbles Up
When we stop struggling our natural clarity can bubble up.
10 Jan 2009 Something Alive Bubbles Up
When we stop struggling our natural clarity can bubble up.
13 Dec 2008 Working with Anxiety
Is it possible that there is never any need to worry?
06 Dec 2008 Healing and Meditation
A student asks Lama Shenpen about using visualisation and meditation for healing.
29 Nov 2008 Pain and Sensitivity
A discussion of pain as an aspect of Sensitivity.
22 Nov 2008 Heart Wish and Experience
Homing in on the Heart Wish.
15 Nov 2008 Meditation and Confidence
A discussion of underlying confidence developing during meditation.
08 Nov 2008 Experiences in Meditation
A discussion of two different experiences in meditation - the first stuck in thought,the second vast and spacious. Lama Shenpen explains how it is important to relax and have confidence that the space and ungraspable nature of experience is real while the thinking is simply a temporary interference.
01 Nov 2008 Being Present in the Moment
What does it mean to be fully aware and present in the moment?
25 Oct 2008 Keeping it Simple
How it is important to keep our practice simple and coming from our hearts.
18 Oct 2008 Deepening Practice
A student writes about their practice and asks about ways to deepen it.
11 Oct 2008 NVC and Emptiness
A student writes about their experience of NVC and asks how our needs relate to emptiness and our Buddha Nature.
04 Oct 2008 Moments of Awareness
How to use moments of awareness as triggers to reconnect to a place that is always awake and sane.
27 Sep 2008 Experience, Beliefs and Awareness
How experience and beliefs create our world. If we can drop all our beliefs then we can open to what is really happening in the space of our awareness.
20 Sep 2008 Turning Towards Suffering
Lama Shenpen answers a student's questions on suffering, explaining how we need to turn towards it to experience it fully and properly. In that way we learn its true nature and how to go beyond it.
13 Sep 2008 Exploring Space
Continuing the discussion from last week, with advice on how to restart meditation.
06 Sep 2008 Meditation Advice
Lama Shenpen gives advice on meditation to a student who experiences sudden difficulty.
30 Aug 2008 Why Meditate
A student questions the nature of her true Self.
23 Aug 2008 Bliss in Meditation
A student asks about feeling blissful in meditation.
16 Aug 2008 Hiding and Deceiving Ourselves
How we find endless ways to hide and deceive ourselves because we are afraid to face the truth. If we didn't do that we would get enlightened very quickly. Awakening is simply waking up to the truth - stopping deceiving ourselves. What we find is not what we expect, so we resist. But it is wonderful - not awful, as we fear.
09 Aug 2008 Enlightenment for all Beings
A student wonders about the possibility of Enlightenment for all beings:
02 Aug 2008 Practice and Wisdom
A discussion of our practice and the path we follow - learning to access our natural wisdom so that it comes through strongly from it's own side. Then all we need to do is relax and co-operate.
26 Jul 2008 No Hopes of Fears
Lama Shenpen writes on a simple way of being, without hopes or fears.
19 Jul 2008 Interconnection with Beings
An exploration of the experience of a feeling of deep intimacy and iterconnectedness with other beings during a student's meditation.
12 Jul 2008 THe Ground of Being
A description of the nature of Primordial Ground.
06 Jul 2008 The Truth Behind Feelings
How our heart qualities do not change, even though feelings come and go. It is our nature to be open, sensitive, responsive and joyful.
28 Jun 2008 Suffering and Grief
An explanation of the four noble truths and the value of grief as a sign that we are deeply touched by the poignancy of our heart connections.
21 Jun 2008 Dzogchen and Mahamudra
An explanation of Dzogchen and Mahamudra
14 Jun 2008 Criticism and Confidence
True confidence is not based on professionalism or self image but in trusting the openness, clarity and sensitivity of one's true nature. Advice on turning towards thoughts and feelings in meditation and letting them go again and again into the space of awareness.
07 Jun 2008 Non-Conditioned Buddha Nature
Are faith, generosity and love real or conditioned.
31 May 2008 Deepening Practice
A student asks Lama Shenpen about how to deepen their practice.
24 May 2008 Taking Refuge
Lama Shenpen answers a student's questions on Taking Refuge.
17 May 2008 Discernment and the Thinking Mind
True discernment is essential to the nature of our being. When we are trapped in thinking we turn that discernment into thinking and trap ourselves in confusion. But if we simply put into words what we discern in the heart, they point us to the ungraspable essence of our experience - a light and joyful process.
11 May 2008 Heart Wish and Longing
How the heart wish is the wishing itself and not its object. The need to become more confiedent in the heart wish itself and trust it, letting go of the things that it seems to be longing for.
26 Apr 2008 Aversion and Sensitivity
Looking at aspects of aversion and sensitivity when we experience pain during meditation.
19 Apr 2008 Beliefs and Questioning
Finding the balance between intelligent questioning and accepting teachings on trust.
10 Apr 2008 Abortion a Moral Dilemma
A student and Lama Shenpen discuss abortion.
05 Apr 2008 Exploring Emptiness
Lama Shenpen discusses with a student their understanding of emptiness, explaining it's true nature.
29 Mar 2008 Distinguishing the Truth
The difference between the discriminating mind and the judgemental mind. How we need learn to notice the difference in order foster the first and let go of the second.
15 Mar 2008 Connections With Others and Beliefs
The importance of our connections with others - looked at as an expression of mandala principle. How limiting self beliefs keep samsara going.
08 Mar 2008 The Suffering of Others
A discussion of the wish for the happiness of others, their freedom from suffering and their enlightenment.
29 Feb 2008 Trusting the Heart of Buddhism and Mandalas
Lama Shenpen and a student discuss Trusting the Heart of Buddhism, focusing in particular on mandalas
23 Feb 2008 A Wish to Help
How Bodhichitta, the Awakened Heart, is the true way to help both ourselves and others.
16 Feb 2008 Retaking Vows
Ths significance of taking vows and whether or not it is necessary to retake them when joining a new Sangha.
12 Feb 2008 Sense of Space
Lama Shenpen and a student discuss our awareness of space.
09 Feb 2008 Drinking Alcohol and Practice
Lama Shenpen replies to a student who aske about drinking alcohol, in particular with reference to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche'
05 Feb 2008 Approaches to Pain and Suffering
A student and Lama Shenpen discuss different ways of living with pain.
02 Feb 2008 Belief and Adhistana
The importance of faith that arises from experience and how to move forward with genuine understanding.
29 Jan 2008 Understanding Emptiness
A discussion on the nature of Ultimate Reality.
26 Jan 2008 Hating Yourself
Lama Shenpen responds to a student who is suffering from feelings of self hatred.
22 Jan 2008 Space of Awareness
Lama Shenpen responds to questions put by a student working through the section of coursebook I looking at exploring a sense of space - it's centre and boundaries.
19 Jan 2008 Getting Going Again
How to reconnect with meditation after stopping.
15 Jan 2008 Belief in Traditions
Lama Shenpen responds to a student's concern that at present there are many things in traditional Tibetan Buddhism that they cannot fully believe.
12 Jan 2008 The Essence of Dukkha
The choice we have in every moment - to choose the heart, have confidence and open, or to tense up and be stressed.
08 Jan 2008 Something and Nothing
How can what is nothing at all be all there is?
05 Jan 2008 Chitta and Enjoyment
The sense of space and joy evoked by opening from the heart. Responses to a sense of space.
01 Jan 2008 Busy Mind
Lama Shenpen gives a student advice on different ways to cut the involvement in thinking during meditation.
29 Dec 2007 Pranidhanas, Punya and Adhistana
A discussion about making pranidhanas, dedicating our punya and linking into the adhistana od the Buddhas.
25 Dec 2007 It is all Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity
How everything that we are and see is Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity. Experience of pain as sensitivity.
22 Dec 2007 Dharma Practice and Aging
How our spirit never ages but has the same qualities as it did in our youth. The importance of starting on the path now and not waiting.
18 Dec 2007 Backing Off Meditation
Lama Shenpen advises a student who feels like backing off from their meditation because they feel it threatens their peace of mind.
15 Dec 2007 Mandalas and Dancing
A discussion of the nature of mandalas and experiences of Reality in the 'now' with particular reference to drinking tea and dancing.
08 Dec 2007 A Student's Practice
A student writes to Lama Shenpen describing their practice, with particular reference to heart wish and mandala principle
08 Dec 2007 Tha Dalai Lama and Teachings on Consciousness
A discussion of a previous Buddhism Connect looking at Consciousness.
04 Dec 2007 Emptiness Teachings
A students asks Lama Shenpen to explain aspects of the nature of emptiness.
01 Dec 2007 Proprioception and Awareness
A discussion of propriorception in relation to Buddhist teachings on awareness.
27 Nov 2007 Karma and the Heart
Happiness is non-conceptual intuitive awareness, unborn and unceasing.
24 Nov 2007 A student asks Lama Shenpen to explai...
A student asks Lama Shenpen to explain the meaning behind two apparently contradictory Buddhist texts
20 Nov 2007 A student discusses their meditation ...
A student discusses their meditation practice with Lama Shenpen focusing on the whether it is better to meditate with form or do the formless meditation taught with the course.
17 Nov 2007 Lama Shenpen gives meditation hints a...
Lama Shenpen gives meditation hints and feedback to a student working through Discovering the Heart of Buddhism.
13 Nov 2007 A student asks Lama Shenpen about kee...
A student asks Lama Shenpen about keeping sheep and remaining true to the precepts.
10 Nov 2007 A student questions Lama Shenpen abou...
A student questions Lama Shenpen about letting go in meditation and expresses appreciation for Trusting the Heart of Buddhism.
10 Nov 2007 A student questions Lama Shenpen abou...
A student questions Lama Shenpen about letting go in meditation and expresses appreciation for Trusting the Heart of Buddhism.
06 Nov 2007 Lama Shenpen responds to a student's ...
Lama Shenpen responds to a student's question on the Buddhist thinking on the beginning of the world, evolution and creation.
03 Nov 2007 When we let be or let go, something h...
When we let be or let go, something happens in the heart and we can trust that and be simple about it, it is a natural movement of the heart.
30 Oct 2007 We have moments of Clarity during med...
We have moments of Clarity during meditation, sudden flashes of understanding. We cannot be outside of awareness so we cannot know awareness in any other way.
27 Oct 2007 A new student introduces themselves t...
A new student introduces themselves to Lama Shenpen and expresses their gratitude for the teachings and the course.
23 Oct 2007 A new student questions Lama Shenpen ...
A new student questions Lama Shenpen about taking the Bodhisattva Vow.
20 Oct 2007 Questioning Time
A student questions Lama Shenpen on the nature of time.
16 Oct 2007 Karma
A discussion on the nature of Karma
13 Oct 2007 Distorted Heart Wish
How we can train in looking at the way we behave to observe how the basic motivation of our heart wish can get distorted. Gradually we learn to distinguish between our undistorted openness, clarity and sensitivity and our distorted habits based on not having the right kind of confidence and being able to rest in and trust our own true nature.
09 Oct 2007 Looking at the nature of spaciousness...
Looking at the nature of spaciousness and the way a genuine response arises from a direct connection with the whole of a moment.
06 Oct 2007 A student asks who we pray to in Budd...
A student asks who we pray to in Buddhism as there is no belief in a creator God or gods.
02 Oct 2007 A student who is new to Buddhism intr...
A student who is new to Buddhism introduces themselves to Lama Shenpen and discusses their experiences.
29 Sep 2007 A discussion on the nature of thinkin...
A discussion on the nature of thinking. Asking Lama Shenpen questions.
29 Sep 2007 Lama Shenpen responds to a question p...
Lama Shenpen responds to a question posed by a student asking her to say a few words about the situation in Burma (Myanmar).
25 Sep 2007 How what is impermanent, unsatisfacto...
How what is impermanent, unsatisfactory and not as we want it, cannot be the self. Our true self is Buddha Nature. We try to grasp at it's aspects only to find we have grasped at thin air, but instead of just ceasing to grasp we get terrified and grasp more and more, and get more and more confused and still we're left with just thin air. The nature of volition.
22 Sep 2007 A discussion of devotion, in particul...
A discussion of devotion, in particular in relation to dogs.
18 Sep 2007 The relationship between insight aris...
The relationship between insight arising from our Buddha Nature and the thinking mind which turns it into an object of perception and then takes as an object of awareness.
15 Sep 2007 The importance of enjoying your pract...
The importance of enjoying your practice - don't take yourself too seriously, do your best and relax.
11 Sep 2007 How we get attached to strategies tha...
How we get attached to strategies that we think help us and the solution to that attachment. A discussion on hobbies and approaching Dharma with passion.
08 Sep 2007 Exploring the nature of the energy th...
Exploring the nature of the energy that is openness, clarity and sensitivity.
04 Sep 2007 How to bring the insight that arises ...
How to bring the insight that arises during meditation into everyday life.
01 Sep 2007 Lama Shenpen replies to a student's q...
Lama Shenpen replies to a student's question on protesting about the situation in Tibet.
28 Aug 2007 A discussion on the nature of memory....
A discussion on the nature of memory.
24 Aug 2007 A new student asks about taking Refug...
A new student asks about taking Refuge.
21 Aug 2007 The point of thinking everything is l...
The point of thinking everything is like a dream is to break down that idea that we are inside and the world is outside and detached from us somehow. It also breaks down that heavy sense of thinking we know what everything is when we don't. Wake up, let it go, like letting go of a dream. Then maybe you will find a more intuitive way of relating to the world of your experience and your interaction with others - less of a heavy sense of knowing, more a sense of openness and wonder.
18 Aug 2007 Some amendments Lama Shenpen has made...
Some amendments Lama Shenpen has made to a recently sent out Buddhism Connect as a result of a response from a senior Theravadin nun who said she found the original mailing misleading.
13 Aug 2007 A new student receives advice on how ...
A new student receives advice on how to open into a sense of space.
11 Aug 2007 Discussing the Tibetan Buddhist view ...
Discussing the Tibetan Buddhist view and way of presenting emptiness compared to Zen Buddhist views and presentation. Looking at Shentong and what we know in our hearts.
07 Aug 2007 A discussion of the way grasping funt...
A discussion of the way grasping funtions.
04 Aug 2007 A students asks about the need to ren...
A students asks about the need to renew Rufuge and Bodhisattva vows within the Awakened Heart Sangha.
31 Jul 2007 A discussion of the nature and experi...
A discussion of the nature and experience of the five skandhas
28 Jul 2007 A discussion of the nature of stories...
A discussion of the nature of stories and how we can lose our confidence if we find ourselves at odds with what we learn.
24 Jul 2007 A student writes of their difficultie...
A student writes of their difficulties practising and discusses with Lama Shenpen the problems and things that can help. Looking at experience and awareness. Where is awareness?
21 Jul 2007 How to let go in meditation in child ...
How to let go in meditation in child like wonder into what is happening in the moment and just letting it be.
17 Jul 2007 A student writes of their experience ...
A student writes of their experience when working through the Heart section of Discovering the Heart of Buddhism. Lama Shenpen speaks of simply being with that experience, in that place,in order to link into your own inner strength, inspiration, power, resourcefulness, sense of direction, sense of value and truth.
14 Jul 2007 How having an underlying confidence i...
How having an underlying confidence in the Awakened Heart and in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha can help us prepare for dying as well as being a way of life.
10 Jul 2007 Lama Shenpen responds to a student's ...
Lama Shenpen responds to a student's comments on her reply to a question about working with pain. The original Buddhism Connect is copied below.
07 Jul 2007 The relationship of dhyanas and shama...
The relationship of dhyanas and shamata in meditation to Nirvana and discovering the nature of reality through direct experience and insight.
03 Jul 2007 Lama Shenpen advises a student who ha...
Lama Shenpen advises a student who has been suffering from mental illness; covering the topics of duhkha and delusion, meditation, medication, therapists and sitting with fear.
30 Jun 2007 How horse riding can be used as aware...
How horse riding can be used as awareness practice and bringing insight to the awareness helps you recognise its deepest significance.
30 Jun 2007 How horse riding can be used as aware...
How horse riding can be used as awareness practice and bringing insight to the awareness helps you recognise its deepest significance.
26 Jun 2007 How to go about cultivating a sense o...
How to go about cultivating a sense of wonder in meditation.
23 Jun 2007 An in depth discussion on vegetariani...
An in depth discussion on vegetarianism and the killing of animals.
19 Jun 2007 Disscussing the nature of chitta....
Disscussing the nature of chitta.
15 Jun 2007 Lama Shenpen discusses the ways a stu...
Lama Shenpen discusses the ways a student can train for their death through their practice.
12 Jun 2007 Lama Shenpen guides a student who is ...
Lama Shenpen guides a student who is questioning their meditation.
09 Jun 2007 Ultimately all is perfection but we d...
Ultimately all is perfection but we don't realise it and that not realising is dukhka - the pain in the depths of our hearts. That duhkha is actually our true nature, the Awakened Heart struggling to wake up.
05 Jun 2007 A discussion of the meaning of ego an...
A discussion of the meaning of ego and its relevance within Buddhism.
02 Jun 2007 Advice on staying with the Heart Wish...
Advice on staying with the Heart Wish and keeping simple. Discussion of the depth of the nature of our being and the meaning of 'heart' and 'space'. Appreciating the nature of duhkha and how to help the heart energy come to life when it has been stifled.
29 May 2007 The sensation of pain itself is not a...
The sensation of pain itself is not a problem, the idea of pain happening to 'me' is the problem and the more we try to distance ourselves the more we suffer. All we need to do is just let it be.
26 May 2007 The contrast between the sense we hav...
The contrast between the sense we have of our true nature and the ego-cetered confused person. Learning to turn towards the feelings of guilt and embarassment we can feel and choosing to make them part of meditation. How we can step out of the world of conditioned thinking and despair and just be happy.
22 May 2007 Looking at and connecting with our ex...
Looking at and connecting with our experience of heart.
19 May 2007 A further discussion on ways of respo...
A further discussion on ways of responding when we experience feelings of anger.
15 May 2007 Lama Shenpen answers a question on th...
Lama Shenpen answers a question on the benefits of marriage.
12 May 2007 How we harden our hearts and resist l...
How we harden our hearts and resist letting thoughts pass. We can learn that the heart is indestructible, responsive and able to bounce back from any set back.
08 May 2007 A discussion of the nature of regret....
A discussion of the nature of regret.
04 May 2007 The difference between pain and suffe...
The difference between pain and suffering - how suffering is the pain at the heart of all existence. It is the sensitivity that enables us to respond appropriately. When recognised it is Bodhichitta, the bliss of nirvana.
28 Apr 2007 Lama Shenpen speaks on synchronicity,...
Lama Shenpen speaks on synchronicity, making skillful pranidhanas and relaxing and having confidence when making decisions.
24 Apr 2007 How to improve our communication and ...
How to improve our communication and understanding by turning towards our feelings and seeing what really matters to us. NVC.
21 Apr 2007 How we need to go beyond teachings th...
How we need to go beyond teachings that help us get rid of the mind that grasps at reality as objects we could know and see what is truely real.
17 Apr 2007 An in depth explanation of dukkha and...
An in depth explanation of dukkha and sensitivity.
14 Apr 2007 How stopping in our tracks, linking t...
How stopping in our tracks, linking to our hearts and just letting ourselves be for even just a minute of two somehow enables us to tap into our natural wisdom.
10 Apr 2007 Advice on how to work with our inner ...
Advice on how to work with our inner critic through discussion of a painting.
10 Apr 2007 Advice on how to relate to our inner ...
Advice on how to relate to our inner critic through discussion of a painting.
07 Apr 2007 How it is advisable to keep up a regu...
How it is advisable to keep up a regular practice even when you may not feel like it and the advantages of doing so.
03 Apr 2007 Lama Shenpen explains the difference ...
Lama Shenpen explains the difference between Mahayana and Theravada.
31 Mar 2007 How it is important to train ourselve...
How it is important to train ourselves to be as simple as we can, honouring each experience and so allowing some inspiration to naturally arise.
27 Mar 2007 The incomprehensible and mysterious n...
The incomprehensible and mysterious nature of our experience of awareness.
24 Mar 2007 Lama Shenpen responds to a student wh...
Lama Shenpen responds to a student who is highly sceptical of anything supernatural or ritualistic.
20 Mar 2007 Lama Shenpen gives advice on turning ...
Lama Shenpen gives advice on turning towards difficult experiences in out meditaion, valuing that as practice and developing equanimity.
17 Mar 2007 Exploring the nature of our sense of ...
Exploring the nature of our sense of a centre and boundaries. The true nature of faith.
13 Mar 2007 Advice for a student starting the sec...
Advice for a student starting the section on the heart in Discovering the Heart of Buddhism.
10 Mar 2007 A student asks Lama Shenpen about tim...
A student asks Lama Shenpen about times when she has felt the supportive presence of loved ones who have died. Considering the nature of the deep heart connections beyond this time and space which we find in meditation.
06 Mar 2007 A student looks deeply and questions ...
A student looks deeply and questions their experience of emptiness.
03 Mar 2007 Discussion of a student's practice wh...
Discussion of a student's practice who feels no good at Buddhism.
03 Mar 2007 Discussing the practice of a student ...
Discussing the practice of a student who feels no good at Buddhism.
27 Feb 2007 An in-depth discussion on free will....
An in-depth discussion on free will.
24 Feb 2007 The real meaning of the Dharma is fin...
The real meaning of the Dharma is finding what goes beyond conditioning, what goes beyond dependence on particular conditions - what goes beyond birth and death - that is always reliably real and true and never lets you down. Not being busy in a worldly sense is the best situation for finding that reality.
20 Feb 2007 A student responds to the discussion ...
A student responds to the discussion and Lama Shenpen's posting concerning assisting death based on their experience.
16 Feb 2007 Lama Shenpen's reply to a question ra...
Lama Shenpen's reply to a question raised by a student in a discussion on Sanghaspace concerning assisting death.
13 Feb 2007 A discussion of resting in the awaken...
A discussion of resting in the awakened heart, letting go and letting be in trust.
10 Feb 2007 Looking at how we can relate to anger...
Looking at how we can relate to anger differently by noticing it arising in the space of awareness and letting it be. How anger can be a compassionate response and come from a wish to respond in a kind and sensitive way. How this relates to non-violent communication.
06 Feb 2007 How all beings have a Pure Land as al...
How all beings have a Pure Land as all are essentially Buddha. Entering the Pure Lands of Awakened Beings helps us because the environment they create in their Pure Land is conducive to Awakening others.
03 Feb 2007 How all that we do can be Dharma prac...
How all that we do can be Dharma practice. If we lead our lives with the intention of using all our experience to awaken to the true nature of reality then it's a path of Awakening.
30 Jan 2007 An in depth discussion of punya, rela...
An in depth discussion of punya, relating it to adhistana and karma.
26 Jan 2007 A discussion of the problems a studen...
A discussion of the problems a student encounters with their meditation and ways to remedy them.
23 Jan 2007 How to work with glimpses of the trut...
How to work with glimpses of the truth, seeing through the habits of the grasping mind and just working with what is there, with trust in the living path of Awakening.
20 Jan 2007 A discussion on the nature of thought...
A discussion on the nature of thoughts, relaxing the concept of time and focusing on the heart. How just a glimpse of truth can make a huge difference.
16 Jan 2007 A discussion on understanding, confid...
A discussion on understanding, confidence and the next step to take in study.
13 Jan 2007 A discussion of the problems encounte...
A discussion of the problems encountered trying to fit formal practice into a busy life of work and Sangha service. The importance of having you service flowing from your practice and not pushing against it. Realising you can't do everything and prioritising.
09 Jan 2007 A discussion of the role food plays i...
A discussion of the role food plays in feast offerings leading to an exploration of the nature of Reality.
06 Jan 2007 A discussion on self improvement and ...
A discussion on self improvement and positive thinking. The importance of using what we do as Dharma practice and making each and every situation into the path to Awakening.
02 Jan 2007 How the negative belief that one is p...
How the negative belief that one is powerless might be transformed into a liberating power for everyone's benefit.
30 Dec 2006 Questioning why we meditate. The impo...
Questioning why we meditate. The importance of connecting with the Heart Wish. Discussion of connecting with the heart and breathing out into space. Sitting with thoughts. Discussion of the sense of a 'wall' and its significance. The difficulty of explaining what Buddhism is.
26 Dec 2006 A discussion of the significance of t...
A discussion of the significance of the story of Martha and Mary from the New Testament.
23 Dec 2006 How to approach relating to the teach...
How to approach relating to the teacher - remember it is Dharma itself you are relating to. Discussions of the freedom and freshness by letting go and also turning towards frightening things.
19 Dec 2006 Exploring conciousness, concepts and ...
Exploring conciousness, concepts and questioning in meditation.
16 Dec 2006 Information on Dharma Buddies. How to...
Information on Dharma Buddies. How to be gentle with ourselves in meditation if we are feeling very emotional, trust our underlying sanity and just allow ourselves to be.
12 Dec 2006 The experience of 'words failing' and...
The experience of 'words failing' and a discussion of old age, suffering and it's relathion to karma.
09 Dec 2006 Thanks to Lama Shenpen. A discussion...
Thanks to Lama Shenpen. A discussion of the significance of the heart connections we make with our teachers. What heart connections are and how they can affect our ability to open to the teachings and the lineage.
05 Dec 2006 When we lose our conditioned confiden...
When we lose our conditioned confidence we can respond in two different ways - either open out into the experience and really let ourselves be what we naturally are, or close off and believe that this state is how we really are. A discussion of unconditioned confidence.
02 Dec 2006 Discussion of a student's meditation ...
Discussion of a student's meditation experience and instructions on working with the sense of not knowing; remaining very simple and naive and turning towards experience.
28 Nov 2006 Different forms of forgiveness and re...
Different forms of forgiveness and rebuilding trust.
25 Nov 2006 A student writes of the difficulties ...
A student writes of the difficulties on their spiritual path and their happiness at reconnecting with the Sangha.
21 Nov 2006 What of us lives on after death? How ...
What of us lives on after death? How we are not separable from any other person and yet we are distinct.
18 Nov 2006 How auspicious, mysterious connection...
How auspicious, mysterious connections beyond thought - that go from life to life - create worlds especially Pure Lands.
14 Nov 2006 How we can change the world itself by...
How we can change the world itself by changing our perceptions. When we lose grasp of our concept of time we can see through to what really is.
11 Nov 2006 When we first start practising we oft...
When we first start practising we often feel we need to struggle but what we really need to do is simply be and allow our natural responses to spring from the depths of our being. How everything comes about through our power of volition - the power of pranidhana.
07 Nov 2006 How we resist looking at the nature o...
How we resist looking at the nature of our mind and prefer to stay in our familiar cosy world. How it is important to turn towards it now - it is the route to freedom, relaxation and fearlessness.
04 Nov 2006 A description of how the ego mandala ...
A description of how the ego mandala operates and how we can respond more effectively if can simply open to experiences and situations.
31 Oct 2006 The interaction between self and othe...
The interaction between self and others, how all action takes place at the interface between the two and how this movement is really all that there is. It creates universes and Pure Lands and is the basis for karma.
28 Oct 2006 A profound discussion of unconditione...
A profound discussion of unconditioned confidence, heart connections and devotion.
24 Oct 2006 Looking at synchronicity, making skil...
Looking at synchronicity, making skillful pranidhanas and being relaxed about making choices.
21 Oct 2006 Discussing the difference between ego...
Discussing the difference between ego-driven spiritual ambition and the urgency to practice felt as a manifestation of the heart wish.
16 Oct 2006 How advanced practitioners use Tantri...
How advanced practitioners use Tantric sexual union as a form of practise - resting in the moment with no attachment. How we can make pranidhanas to meet again and again in future lives to build strong mandalas.
14 Oct 2006 How it is important to keep resolves ...
How it is important to keep resolves that we make. If it is no longer workable, don't be sloppy, be clear and make a new resolve.
10 Oct 2006 Learning to recognise what is false o...
Learning to recognise what is false or conditioned confidence and then trying to rely on something deeper that could withstand the loss of all those conditions. Exploring the experience of self.
07 Oct 2006 Looking at the nature of thoughts and...
Looking at the nature of thoughts and seeing them like clouds in the space of our awareness.
03 Oct 2006 A student's letter about their practi...
A student's letter about their practice and experience which Lama Shenpen found very inspiring.
30 Sep 2006 A discussion of a student's practice ...
A discussion of a student's practice followed by Lama Shenpen explaining the place of fun in Buddhism.
26 Sep 2006 A detailed teaching on working with i...
A detailed teaching on working with impermanence in meditation.
24 Sep 2006 Can we become more compassionate peop...
Can we become more compassionate people by simply linking into our hearts and trusting our own judgement and sanity?
19 Sep 2006 Some problems encountered in attempti...
Some problems encountered in attempting to switch from "formed" meditation to formless and how to approach them.
16 Sep 2006 A short discussion on feasting follow...
A short discussion on feasting followed by advice on working with impatience.
12 Sep 2006 What could the concept of a separate ...
What could the concept of a separate mind and body really mean - is there any possibility of separation from the world?
09 Sep 2006 Lama Shenpen advises a student who's ...
Lama Shenpen advises a student who's friend is dying.
05 Sep 2006 A discussion of the difference betwee...
A discussion of the difference between firm resolve and being fixed and rigid. How to keep one's word while maintaining flexibility.
02 Sep 2006 More on the heart, space and chitta. ...
More on the heart, space and chitta. Working towards an understanding on not self.
29 Aug 2006 Experiencing Chitta and exploring our...
Experiencing Chitta and exploring our awareness of space.
26 Aug 2006 How sitting with our thoughts and emo...
How sitting with our thoughts and emotions in meditation can lead to feeling more relaxed and confident and lead to deeper understanding of ourselves.
22 Aug 2006 The difference between thoughts and f...
The difference between thoughts and functionings of the brain. How thoughts connect with concepts of self and non-self and how connections with others are quite miraculous.
19 Aug 2006 Lama Shenpen answers questions on the...
Lama Shenpen answers questions on the Buddhist approach to marriage and expands the topic into tantra.
15 Aug 2006 A discussion of the effects and benef...
A discussion of the effects and benefits of meditation and daily life awareness practice.
12 Aug 2006 A discussion of how we often think we...
A discussion of how we often think we know and understand more than we do.
08 Aug 2006 A discussion of the heart language lo...
A discussion of the heart language looked at in Section A of Course Book One of Discovering the Heart of Buddhism.
05 Aug 2006 Looking at the nature of the essence ...
Looking at the nature of the essence of a person that lives on.
01 Aug 2006 Questions and answers on the nature o...
Questions and answers on the nature of clarity.
29 Jul 2006 Looking at the difference between con...
Looking at the difference between conditioned and unconditioned confidence. Letting go and relaxing.
25 Jul 2006 Developing experience of Awareness....
Developing experience of Awareness.
22 Jul 2006 An explanation of the Tibetan view of...
An explanation of the Tibetan view of past lives and how we are purified by our faith in the Dharma and connection with those who have Awakened.
18 Jul 2006 A discussion on working with fear, pa...
A discussion on working with fear, particularly when feeling threatened. How it's best to remain as open and responsive as one can so as not to 'miss the moment' for appropriate response.
14 Jul 2006 A discussion on aspects of the wish f...
A discussion on aspects of the wish for others to achieve Enlightenment. How this is not an imposition of our will but a desire for their happiness and freedom from suffering.
11 Jul 2006 Advice on making vows of abstinence a...
Advice on making vows of abstinence and meditation instructions.
08 Jul 2006 How to work with the pain of loss and...
How to work with the pain of loss and bereavement by giving up clinging, letting go and letting be.
04 Jul 2006 The importance of study and learning ...
The importance of study and learning as a means of supporting our practice.
01 Jul 2006 Exploring the experience of space and...
Exploring the experience of space and barriers.
27 Jun 2006 How meditation changes the 'patterns'...
How meditation changes the 'patterns' because you are not investing in beliefs, you are investing in trusting the spaciousness of your awareness and your heart. How the real essence of the experience of hate is the heart hating being squashed by all the thinking.
24 Jun 2006 A discussion on how to work with fear...
A discussion on how to work with fear, particularly in relation to darkness and demons.
20 Jun 2006 The benefits of setting ourselves goa...
The benefits of setting ourselves goals and counting such things as the number of repetition of pranidhanas or days spent on retreat.
16 Jun 2006 A discussion relating to the need for...
A discussion relating to the need for teachers in order to gain access to and understand the Dharma.
09 Jun 2006 How to get the right touch in meditat...
How to get the right touch in meditation and keep the mind loose and flexible.
06 Jun 2006 How 'I' relates to 'body'...
How 'I' relates to 'body'
06 Jun 2006 How 'I' relates to 'body'...
How 'I' relates to 'body'
02 Jun 2006 Lama Shenpen answers some questions a...
Lama Shenpen answers some questions asked by a student preparing to take the Bodhisattva Vow.
26 May 2006 A discussion on the nature of thought...
A discussion on the nature of thoughts, awareness and space. How meditation is about being very simple and allowing doubts and confusions to be a further manifestation of openness.
23 May 2006 How we can galvanise our practice whe...
How we can galvanise our practice when our motivation is low.
23 May 2006 An explanation of karma....
An explanation of karma.
19 May 2006 Lama Shenpen discusses Rigdzin Shikpo...
Lama Shenpen discusses Rigdzin Shikpo's explanation of the nature of time.
16 May 2006 A discussion of a student's thoughts ...
A discussion of a student's thoughts on sections D and E of Cousebook One of Discovering the Heart of Buddhism including letting go into openness, letting go of awareness, coming back to the heart and fooling ourselves.
12 May 2006 Advice on turning towards thoughts an...
Advice on turning towards thoughts and recognising them as "thinking" in the space of awareness. The nature of the Bodhisattva's heart wish and how an understanding of reality is needed to accomplish it.
09 May 2006 A discussion of how the ego mandala w...
A discussion of how the ego mandala works and how we can learn to respond differently.
09 May 2006 A discussion of how the ego mandala w...
A discussion of how the ego mandala works and how we can learn to respond differently.
04 May 2006 A discussion of the meaning of pranid...
A discussion of the meaning of pranidhanas in relation to punya and linking in to the adhistana of the Buddhas.
28 Apr 2006 How to work with an attitude of forbe...
How to work with an attitude of forbearance.
25 Apr 2006 How we create the worlds that we live...
How we create the worlds that we live in.
21 Apr 2006 Exploring the experience of self and ...
Exploring the experience of self and space.
18 Apr 2006 The nature and value of thoughts....
The nature and value of thoughts.
15 Apr 2006 A discussion of loving within persona...
A discussion of loving within personal relationships.
11 Apr 2006 How we can talk to people in the way ...
How we can talk to people in the way we wished we could as a practice in loving kindness and patience until the feelings are genuine.
08 Apr 2006 How we experience ourselves and can e...
How we experience ourselves and can eventually find that we are and always have been nothing at all.
06 Apr 2006 A discussion on working with and deve...
A discussion on working with and developing the Apramana practice.
04 Apr 2006 How to get the right touch in meditat...
How to get the right touch in meditation plus discussions on various reflections.
01 Apr 2006 Discussion of the heartwish and longi...
Discussion of the heartwish and longing for loving, spiritual relationships
01 Apr 2006 A discussion of the heartwish and the...
A discussion of the heartwish and the longing for loving , spiritual relationships.
28 Mar 2006 Looking at the experiences of 'I', th...
Looking at the experiences of 'I', thinking and not thinking during meditation.
25 Mar 2006 A student describes how they use imag...
A student describes how they use imagery to relate to principles of meditation and receives advice from Lama Shenpen about working with feelings of guilt.
21 Mar 2006 Lama Shenpen responds to a student's ...
Lama Shenpen responds to a student's questions on the problems of fear, stress and anxiety.
18 Mar 2006 Discussion of the Bodhisattva Vow and...
Discussion of the Bodhisattva Vow and trust in the lineage, the teacher and the Living Truth.
14 Mar 2006 Further thoughts from Lama Shenpen in...
Further thoughts from Lama Shenpen in response to questions arising from the debate about compassion on Sanghaspace.
11 Mar 2006 Lama Shenpen responds to questions ar...
Lama Shenpen responds to questions arising from a debate on Sanghaspace concerning compassion and suffering.
08 Mar 2006 How the Sangha welcomes people from a...
How the Sangha welcomes people from a range of different professional backgrounds.
04 Mar 2006 Lama Shenpen responds to a further qu...
Lama Shenpen responds to a further question about unrequited love and talks about turning towards the pain and truely feeling it, enabling you to open your heart and connect with the pain of all beings.
01 Mar 2006 How we never "give up" and an explana...
How we never "give up" and an explanation of the Apramana practice.
25 Feb 2006 How to balance the aspiration for mor...
How to balance the aspiration for more retreat with the choice to live a householder's life.
18 Feb 2006 As we let go in meditation, a new res...
As we let go in meditation, a new response--literally from nowhere--bubbles up spontaneously.
14 Feb 2006 Desire for another person is quite be...
Desire for another person is quite beautiful and poignant. Even as one reaches out, the object of our desire is disappearing under our touch. The moment is always gone...Unrequited love is just as good for practising with as requited love actually. What a roller coaster! There is a living quality to it all that is beyond grasping. That is what we are seeking to rest in.
11 Feb 2006 By examining your experience you can ...
By examining your experience you can have a glimpse of realisation. Linking into that glimpse, we can begin to understand delusion. This understanding banishes delusion like light banishes darkness.
07 Feb 2006 Exploring our Heart Wish can feel lik...
Exploring our Heart Wish can feel like exploring our pain. The true samsaric condition is always looking in the wrong place for manufactured solutions. Practicing without being attached to results does help us feel better!
04 Feb 2006 Exploring our Heart Wish can feel lik...
Exploring our Heart Wish can feel like exploring our pain. The true samsaric condition is always looking in the wrong place for manufactured solutions. Practicing without being attached to results does help us feel better!
02 Feb 2006 Karma can be seen as actions forming ...
Karma can be seen as actions forming configurations that are then structured into the fabric of the Universe.
31 Jan 2006 With openness and conviction, one cou...
With openness and conviction, one could enter the Pure Lands through the gateway of the heart.
28 Jan 2006 Creators and creations are concepts—e...
Creators and creations are concepts-experience is ungraspable yet real. With no world to grasp and nobody you can pin down as the one who did it, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas create Pure Lands. And we create the world we live in right now.
24 Jan 2006 The body is mysterious. What happens ...
The body is mysterious. What happens if you let go of the idea of foot and just experience the sensations you usually associate with the foot?
21 Jan 2006 We can examine our relationships and ...
We can examine our relationships and become clear about whether they are positive and helpful or not. If they are helpful, we don't need to worry so much about attachment—we can deal with that when the relationship inevitably ends.
17 Jan 2006 Does the ego survive death?...
Does the ego survive death?
10 Jan 2006 Actions form configurations in the fa...
Actions form configurations in the fabric of the Universe which we then encounter again in other circumstances.
07 Jan 2006 How to really link into and honour th...
How to really link into and honour the Heart Wish
03 Jan 2006 How each Karmapa is "chosen" and the ...
How each Karmapa is "chosen" and the way in which all Gurus are seen as Guru Rinpoche in the Karma Kagyu tradition.
31 Dec 2005 How we are connected with those we lo...
How we are connected with those we love, even after death. Lama Shenpen speaks of her connection with her teachers beyond space and time.
27 Dec 2005 Advice on how to work with any confus...
Advice on how to work with any confusion and lack of confidence that may arise as a result of studying and meditating upon the material in 'Discovering the Heart of Buddhism', using a light touch, opening and relaxing.
24 Dec 2005 How worlds are created, what they are...
How worlds are created, what they are and how they are experienced and perceived differently.
20 Dec 2005 How Taking Refuge is not about leavin...
How Taking Refuge is not about leaving others behind but taking the path to Awakening for their benefit as well as yours.
17 Dec 2005 A student discusses their practice wi...
A student discusses their practice with Lama Shenpen with particular focus on the problem of attachments.
13 Dec 2005 A few points on how to approach start...
A few points on how to approach starting meditation, keeping a relaxed touch.
10 Dec 2005 An explanation of the nature of reinc...
An explanation of the nature of reincarnation.
06 Dec 2005 Looking at the living qualities of aw...
Looking at the living qualities of awareness and manifesting experience in space. "The truth is that we are resting in openness."
03 Dec 2005 How to turn towards the experience of...
How to turn towards the experience of not understanding and looking at space.
29 Nov 2005 Lama Shenpen recounts a discussion wi...
Lama Shenpen recounts a discussion with her father on the beginningless of time.
26 Nov 2005 Different ways of working with sexual...
Different ways of working with sexual desire or renunciation as forms of awareness practice.
23 Nov 2005 Reality is not conditional or compoun...
Reality is not conditional or compounded. Our story is an interpretation of the non-compounded so we should choose it wisely. "Following the path to Awakening is the best story out!"
20 Nov 2005 Ego clings to what is false while the...
Ego clings to what is false while the Awakened Heart is loving and liberated
19 Nov 2005 Seeing how our life is a story that w...
Seeing how our life is a story that we live and how we can respond intuitively to our connections and life choices.
15 Nov 2005 Learning to stay more open to Reality...
Learning to stay more open to Reality by doing nothing more often.
12 Nov 2005 How to cope with the pain and negativ...
How to cope with the pain and negative emotions aroused when confronted by the death of people we love.
08 Nov 2005 Going beyond words and concepts to so...
Going beyond words and concepts to something more precise. By turning towards the rawness of experience we gradually start to feel more compassion than pain.
02 Nov 2005 The process of turning towards experi...
The process of turning towards experience and "tracking" unpleasant feelings can lead to an awareness of self-existent confidence
01 Nov 2005 The nature of Primordial Ground and t...
The nature of Primordial Ground and the relationship between ordinary thinking and intuition leading to deeper understanding and experience.
30 Oct 2005 There will never come a time when all...
There will never come a time when all beings are enlightened. Although all beings will eventually become enlightened, endless beings are coming into existence.
29 Oct 2005 An explanation of the meaning of Maha...
An explanation of the meaning of Mahamudra and Dzogchen in relation to the Kagyu and Nyingmapa lineages.
25 Oct 2005 Wishing not to suffer is natural, but...
Wishing not to suffer is natural, but our usual reaction of turning away only makes things worse. To learn the true nature of suffering and go beyond, we need to turn towards it.
21 Oct 2005 Meditation can reveal our habitual cl...
Meditation can reveal our habitual closing off to ourselves in a sometimes uncomfortably clear way. We can feel fearful in meditation. Allowing the feelings to just be there in the space of Awareness, and also taking Refuge can allow our confidence in the spaciousness of our nature to grow.
19 Oct 2005 When examined, our ideas of time and ...
When examined, our ideas of time and space are full of condradiction. But emptiness and illusion do not mean nothingness. The question is what is this reality that we conceptualise so falsly?
17 Oct 2005 How might we bridge the gap between f...
How might we bridge the gap between finding it easy to delight in some people and finding that others just do not delight us?
11 Oct 2005 Correct understanding of Buddha's tea...
Correct understanding of Buddha's teachings leads to a life of joy and engagement with the world and with others.
08 Oct 2005 Often we feel that our thinking happe...
Often we feel that our thinking happens in the head, but can we really say where it happens?
02 Oct 2005 There is little direct reference to t...
There is little direct reference to the Truth of the Awakened Heart in the life story of the Buddha because this Reality is beyond words. Our inspiration to follow the Path connects us to the lineage of the Buddha's teachings and we can enter directly into the experience of the Awakened Heart just as the early disciples of the Buddha did.
02 Oct 2005 There is a way of "looking" at emotio...
There is a way of "looking" at emotions such as despair during meditation which enables us to transform painful experiences into fuel for Awakening the Heart.
27 Sep 2005 Advice on different ways of working w...
Advice on different ways of working with dullness in meditation.
22 Sep 2005 We use thought in different ways and ...
We use thought in different ways and it seems that we need thought in order to know what to let go of. The actual moment a thought arises is very difficult to notice.
18 Sep 2005 Painful experiences and difficult cir...
Painful experiences and difficult circumstances are opportunities to reverse lifetimes of habitual clinging and grasping which are the true source of all our suffering. Dharma practice is the sword of Wisdom that cuts through all that we cling to.
14 Sep 2005 Evolution and creation. In a Buddhist...
Evolution and creation. In a Buddhist world view, both terms can apply.
11 Sep 2005 Lama Shenpen gives a very clear expla...
Lama Shenpen gives a very clear explaination of the self centred habits of ego. Ultimately they lead to the opposite of what we want- feelings of powerlessness and insecurity. Through training in openness, clarity and sensitivity we can understand and uproot mistaken thinking, and respond accurately to situations with confidence in our true nature.
06 Sep 2005 Subtle comments upon the nature of ar...
Subtle comments upon the nature of arising and non- arising with regard to thoughts, emotions and sounds.
02 Sep 2005 Can anyone make a place sacred?...
Can anyone make a place sacred?
19 Aug 2005 A student shares an experience of the...
A student shares an experience of the power of the mind to create its own reality.
18 Aug 2005 A teaching that describes the many as...
A teaching that describes the many aspects of the Sanskrit term "punya".
17 Aug 2005 Aspiration and motivation to progress...
Aspiration and motivation to progress on the path to Awakening can become ambition and grasping if we become too goal orientated.
16 Aug 2005 A deep and honest reflection into the...
A deep and honest reflection into the possible causes of hatred which lead to acts of violence or harm.
14 Aug 2005 A profound teaching from Lama Shenpen...
A profound teaching from Lama Shenpen in response to a student's question about the changeless nature of the Indestructible Heart Essence.
13 Aug 2005 Exploring different ideas about the c...
Exploring different ideas about the concept of a path within Buddhist practice. What is important is to know that Buddhist practice is a process of removing the clouds to our intrinsic awareness.
30 Jul 2005 A student reflects upon the seeming d...
A student reflects upon the seeming division between beauty "in here" and beauty "out there" and on how one's practice can become less contrived and more natural. Lama Shenpen teaches that "we can use the contrived practice as a launching pad into the uncontrived".
26 Jul 2005 This teaching explores further questi...
This teaching explores further questions that arose from the Buddhism Connect email titled "The Truth of Suffering" which was sent out on 29.05.05
24 Jul 2005 Naturalness, rather than adopting a c...
Naturalness, rather than adopting a certain type of behaviour is the key to reponding compassionately towards others. Meditation gives us the key to arriving at the natural simplicity that spontaneously benefits others by its very nature. As we come to understand our mind through meditation, without judging ourselves, we can dedicate the benefit of this practice to others.
19 Jul 2005 Some general questions and advice abo...
Some general questions and advice about the practice of Tonglen.
15 Jul 2005 How to "Be"....
How to "Be".
10 Jul 2005 Although it is wise not to lash out a...
Although it is wise not to lash out at others when we feel angry, we also need to develop kindness towards ourselves and allow ourselves to explore the experience of anger by relaxing into the feelings and physical sensations when meditating. We can develop a fearlessness that will help us to get right down to the root of that anger which is actually springing from the wisdom of the Heart. Then we are able to drop all the complicated twists that cause anger to manifest in unskilful ways.
08 Jul 2005 Lama Shenpen's advice on what to pray...
Lama Shenpen's advice on what to pray for in response to the bombings in London yesterday.
03 Jul 2005 Developing more faith in the saving p...
Developing more faith in the saving power of the Buddha and Dharma helps us to overcome our fear of death. Fear of the lower realms is good as long as it increases our faith in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and our faith in our power to follow the Path to Awakening.
03 Jul 2005 A student writes to express how comfo...
A student writes to express how comforting they found Lama Shenpen's booklet abouth death.
29 Jun 2005 When we find ourselves building a con...
When we find ourselves building a conceptual framework of "ideas about practice", Lama Shenpen advises us to see these just as thoughts. They are to be treated just as any other thought- it comes up, we grasp onto it, we notice that we have grasped and we let it go. No problem.
24 Jun 2005 A kind of mind that chatters and a mi...
A kind of mind that chatters and a mind that Knows it chatters- what is that experience? Lama Shenpen suggests ways in which we can reach a more precise understanding.
21 Jun 2005 Lama Shenpen encourages a student to ...
Lama Shenpen encourages a student to keep pondering ever more deeply and letting go of hidden assumptions and habits of thinking- this process is the Path to Awakening.
17 Jun 2005 Some texts stress that the Buddha was...
Some texts stress that the Buddha was an ordinary being in order to encourage us to practice as he did. It is also clear that from the Buddhist perspective, the Buddha must have laid down the foundations for becoming Awakened in former lifetimes.
15 Jun 2005 How are we to understand impermanence...
How are we to understand impermanence when relating to the constancy of the heart. What is our experience once we let go of grasping and become aware of the reality that lies beneath concepts such as permanent and impermanent. Concepts arise in dependence upon each other and are not, in fact, reality itself.
10 Jun 2005 Taking Refuge whole heartedly as part...
Taking Refuge whole heartedly as part of a formal Refuge ceremony gives us the courage and willpower to follow the path to Awakening. It helps us to recognise doubts as habitual patterns.
07 Jun 2005 Asking for forgiveness means letting ...
Asking for forgiveness means letting go of clinging to ideas of being powerless. Reflecting deeply and honestly on our harmful actions, and taking responsibilty for them opens our hearts and becomes a powerful cause for Awakening.
04 Jun 2005 Some essential advice on meditation a...
Some essential advice on meditation and the benefits of letting go and relaxing into the heart.
31 May 2005 Opening to the truth of suffering is ...
Opening to the truth of suffering is the path to Awakening.
25 May 2005 How to relate to thoughts and mental ...
How to relate to thoughts and mental chatter during meditation and some reflections on course book one, section A of the "Discovering the Heart of Buddhism" course.
25 May 2005 The questions we can ask ourselves an...
The questions we can ask ourselves and reflections we can undertake to help us trust the truth of our experience and feel confidence in the Path to Awakening.
20 May 2005 Exploring the nature of reality- what...
Exploring the nature of reality- what might ultimately exist, and the way in which the world usually appears to us as something "out there".
17 May 2005 How to develop equal love for all bei...
How to develop equal love for all beings.
10 May 2005 Can we turn painful life experiences ...
Can we turn painful life experiences into wisdom? Do we risk confusing ourselves even further?
10 May 2005 Defining the terms "Generation" and "...
Defining the terms "Generation" and "Completion" phases and relating them to our formless meditation and daily life awareness practice.
06 May 2005 Defining what it is within us that re...
Defining what it is within us that responds to the call to lead a spritual life.How we can recognise and strengthen our genuine impulse.
01 May 2005 Time and movement are not what they i...
Time and movement are not what they initially appear to be.
27 Apr 2005 The experience of bliss in meditation...
The experience of bliss in meditation. What bliss is , where it comes from and how to relate the experience of bliss while on the Path.
27 Apr 2005 The experience of Bliss in meditation...
The experience of Bliss in meditation. What bliss is , where it comes from and how to relate the experience of bliss while on the Path.
27 Apr 2005 The experience of Bliss in meditation...
The experience of Bliss in meditation. What bliss is , where it comes from and how to relate the experience of bliss while on the Path.
26 Apr 2005 The limitations of language, going be...
The limitations of language, going beyond ego- clinging and the truth that lies behind the naming of the Heart Wish.
18 Apr 2005 Practicing meditation while raising a...
Practicing meditation while raising a child
08 Apr 2005 Questions about heart, mind and the s...
Questions about heart, mind and the space of awareness
08 Apr 2005 Practising under difficult circumstan...
Practising under difficult circumstances
02 Apr 2005 The profound truth of suffering; lett...
The profound truth of suffering; letting thoughts be in the spaciousness of awareness
27 Mar 2005 The effects practise and meditating r...
The effects practise and meditating regularly can have; the importance of linking practise to the heart wish
24 Mar 2005 Faith and trust in the path to Awaken...
Faith and trust in the path to Awakening and reading about the lives of the Buddha and his disciples will help us face any fear or hesitation we might feel in practising formless meditation.
19 Mar 2005 If our true nature is the Awakened He...
If our true nature is the Awakened Heart how do we get lost in confusion?
11 Mar 2005 There is a difference between remembe...
There is a difference between remembering insights and being inspired by that, and being attached to them.
06 Mar 2005 Questions and answers on the mandala ...
Questions and answers on the mandala principle
01 Mar 2005 There is a difference between enjoyin...
There is a difference between enjoying a state of mind and being attached to a state of mind.
25 Feb 2005 Our true self is the true nature of o...
Our true self is the true nature of our being, Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity, which cannot be taken as an object of knowledge.
21 Feb 2005 It is good to notice when we wake fro...
It is good to notice when we wake from a dream how real it had seemed. During the day when we are awake we can know then too, that what we are seeing and experiencing is actually the creativity of our own minds.
21 Feb 2005 It is good to notice when we wake fro...
It is good to notice when we wake from a dream how real it had seemed. During the day when we are awake we can know then too, that what we are seeing and experiencing is actually the creativity of our own minds.
17 Feb 2005 Is the heart-feeling more than just a...
Is the heart-feeling more than just an emotion; what is there that's behind that emotion; what is the force that is beneath thoughts and emotions?
11 Feb 2005 You can use concepts to distinguish a...
You can use concepts to distinguish appearance from emptiness, but experientially appearance and emptiness is just what reality is - mysterious and beyond conceptual grasping.
06 Feb 2005 Linking into the Heart Wish in a skil...
Linking into the Heart Wish in a skillful way, recognising the real causes of unhappy feelings, going deeply into why we wish for something.
03 Feb 2005 How does one decide, from a Dharma po...
How does one decide, from a Dharma point of view, the best life style to follow?
28 Jan 2005 The importance of linking into what i...
The importance of linking into what is real, looking at how the world really is and facing the fact of death
23 Jan 2005 Prayer is opening the heart and being...
Prayer is opening the heart and being connected. There can be two types of prayer, one based on the idea of praying for and the other on the idea of praying to.
21 Jan 2005 A student struggles with difficult fe...
A student struggles with difficult feelings. These feelings are thoughts that don't have to be given the weight of realness. Know that your true nature of Openness Clarity and Sensitivity is indestructible and have faith in the fundamental nature of your being. The two way exchange of forgiveness.
17 Jan 2005 Looking at our own wish for happiness...
Looking at our own wish for happiness and understanding that others can bury their Heart Wish as we sometimes do, can deeply motivate us to practice for others to awaken as well as our selves.
14 Jan 2005 Seeing that you are a mandala linked ...
Seeing that you are a mandala linked to other people and the environment around you - a mandala that can act as an energy exchange of giving and receiving
10 Jan 2005 How to work with the rush of rapid th...
How to work with the rush of rapid thoughts and conversely, how to work with a low state where sitting meditation can feel almost harmful
05 Jan 2005 What is meant by 'phenomenal world'? ...
What is meant by 'phenomenal world'? What is meant by 'beyond the range of conceptual recognition'? The importance of looking very carefully at contradictions; exploring questions of control and how we make choices
31 Dec 2004 A look at the meaning of words, findi...
A look at the meaning of words, finding an English equivalent for Chitta, the importance of seeing how the words heart and mind resonate within us
25 Dec 2004 How compassion and forgiveness can be...
How compassion and forgiveness can be understood in relation to the idea of being punished for negative actions. The importance of having a very clear understanding of the term 'non-duality'
20 Dec 2004 Letting go of attachments in a positi...
Letting go of attachments in a positive rather than a self-punishing way; can moving along the path make one more awakened even through not yet completely enlightened?
17 Dec 2004 How to use Formless Meditation instru...
How to use Formless Meditation instructions to help one meditate in a clear, relaxed way
14 Dec 2004 What is that judgemental voice inside...
What is that judgemental voice inside? Two ways of practicing - direct looking meditation followed by dropping your awareness down into your heart. Being focused, pushing forward and being patient, relaxing with confidence
10 Dec 2004 How do we stand strong and not let ou...
How do we stand strong and not let ourselves be walked over but at the same time stay open to what is happening and respond in a clear and sensitive manner?
05 Dec 2004 How to have the courage to face probl...
How to have the courage to face problems and obstacles; restarting the course and meditation practice; linking up with other students
02 Dec 2004 Motivation to practice can come from ...
Motivation to practice can come from a desire for truth, from the positive effects of meditating or even from curiosity. Becoming aware of the question, focusing.
28 Nov 2004 It's important to approach meditation...
It's important to approach meditation in a light, relaxed way.
22 Nov 2004 Using feeling to turn toward problems...
Using feeling to turn toward problems; trusting the inner sense of rightness
18 Nov 2004 Why the teachings are presented as th...
Why the teachings are presented as they are rather than in a more traditional way - starting with where people are and basing the teachings on what motivates a person to practice the path to Awakening.
15 Nov 2004 A student asks how to stop mental cha...
A student asks how to stop mental chatter. The instruction is not to stop mental chatter, but to notice it.
11 Nov 2004 How to prepare for a meditation sessi...
How to prepare for a meditation session, suggestions for recitations, where to find more information
06 Nov 2004 Should we always give to others even ...
Should we always give to others even when they show no gratitude or abuse our giving? How can we give in a way that benefits both the one who receives and the one who gives?
31 Oct 2004 Deciding when to go on to the next co...
Deciding when to go on to the next coursebook; how to find a balance between following a teacher and having confidence in one's own judgement
26 Oct 2004 The distinction between the intention...
The distinction between the intention and commitment to meditate and ego-grasping
21 Oct 2004 Unhappiness with one's inability to b...
Unhappiness with one's inability to be the kind of person one would like to be in daily interactions with others may act as a catalyst for practice even though that practice may not be the way to solve those particular problems.
16 Oct 2004 A further explanation of understandin...
A further explanation of understanding mandalas (previously discussed in the email teaching of 20-08-04)
08 Oct 2004 Looking at feelings and desires that ...
Looking at feelings and desires that well up from deep inside can lead us to looking at desire itself, not at what we desire, but the actual desire itself.
04 Oct 2004 Some thoughts about how Buddhist teac...
Some thoughts about how Buddhist teachings may interact with British traditions and culture and whether there will be a British form of Buddhism that still remains faithful to its root lineage.
28 Sep 2004 When something just pops up - for exa...
When something just pops up - for example, a melody - and plays in your mind while you meditate, you can look at that experience, use it to meditate on the not-self, be awake to that.
25 Sep 2004 Naming a practice that one is doing a...
Naming a practice that one is doing as Vajrayana or Tantric doesn't automatically mean that one is actually practicing at all in a Vajrayana or Tantric way.
19 Sep 2004 Would we know the Buddha was an Awake...
Would we know the Buddha was an Awakened being if we met Him? Can enlightenment be spontaneous? Where do the thoughts I have come from?
16 Sep 2004 A student comments on the effects of ...
A student comments on the effects of looking at mind and heart together and how doing this has radically changed her way of relating both to meditation and to life.
11 Sep 2004 Can we have any idea of what Awakenin...
Can we have any idea of what Awakening is? Is it helpful to try to imagine what it is? What does an Awakened being do all day?
07 Sep 2004 What answer can there be to the quest...
What answer can there be to the question 'Who am I?' Is there such a thing as a fixed I? Do we need to have an opinion about ourselves?
01 Sep 2004 A student examines the question of wh...
A student examines the question of what mind is and searches for the meaning of heart.
28 Aug 2004 This teaching explores the nature of ...
This teaching explores the nature of free will and pre-determination.
26 Aug 2004 A number of people commented a while ...
A number of people commented a while ago about Shenpen's reply concerning eating meat. (See Buddhism Connect Teaching 26 March 2004, 'Dependence on other living beings') This is one person's comment.
21 Aug 2004 Thoughtful questions about mandalas; ...
Thoughtful questions about mandalas; the conflict between the Awakened mandala and the ego mandala; the source of the mandala's energy
16 Aug 2004 Looking at how to work on a possible ...
Looking at how to work on a possible conflict between 'worldly' goals and the heart's genuine motivation
13 Aug 2004 Images, ceremonies and symbols; the G...
Images, ceremonies and symbols; the Greek influence; ceremony and image as a focus for the adhistana or blessing power of the lineage
09 Aug 2004 When ego tries to distort our experie...
When ego tries to distort our experiences we can keep on track by going back into the heart to find its true motivation.
05 Aug 2004 Looking at what is really happening w...
Looking at what is really happening when we feel out of touch with a sense of well being.
01 Aug 2004 The nature of confidence is more evid...
The nature of confidence is more evident in its absence than in its presence.
27 Jul 2004 The contrast between having an inspir...
The contrast between having an inspiring experience and grasping at it. The question of angels
23 Jul 2004 Becoming more familiar with the life ...
Becoming more familiar with the life stories of the Buddha and Guru Rinpoche is a way to open to our innate Heart Wish for Awakening. Worship means being open, full of awe, wanting to be like the Buddha.
17 Jul 2004 There can be a backlash after a perio...
There can be a backlash after a period of meditation going well; how to work with the thoughts and feelings that arise.
16 Jul 2004 How do we keep a healthy confidence i...
How do we keep a healthy confidence in our practice without getting caught in ego traps?
11 Jul 2004 The words openness, clarity and sensi...
The words openness, clarity and sensitivity have a profound meaning for each of us because they express what we essentially are.
09 Jul 2004 A further exploration of auspiciousne...
A further exploration of auspiciousness, continued from the 3 July 2004 email teaching
05 Jul 2004 A student wonders about the importanc...
A student wonders about the importance of meditation. The difference between the reality of Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity and simply experiencing a feeling that is open, clear and sensitive.
03 Jul 2004 How seeing things as 'auspicious' rel...
How seeing things as 'auspicious' relates to a sense of what feels right - a look at the many questions that arise when we examine the idea of 'auspiciousness'.
29 Jun 2004 What is the need for practise when ev...
What is the need for practise when everything in life is going well; how can one be motivated to practise when already content?
21 Jun 2004 How does energy arrange itself; what ...
How does energy arrange itself; what causes the appearances of the phenomenal world?
21 Jun 2004 The difference between real compassio...
The difference between real compassion and just giving in to a friend's demands
18 Jun 2004 The reality of death can help us to k...
The reality of death can help us to know our connectedness with others.
13 Jun 2004 Simply being with experience as it is...
Simply being with experience as it is, right here and now
09 Jun 2004 A student who feels blocked from medi...
A student who feels blocked from meditating asks for advice.
05 Jun 2004 Should we be concerned about feeling ...
Should we be concerned about feeling happy when other people are suffering?
31 May 2004 Taking responsibility for our own sta...
Taking responsibility for our own states of mind; using our emotional responses to mistakes or difficult situations as triggers of awareness.
28 May 2004 A student responds to a teaching by S...
A student responds to a teaching by Shenpen in the December 2003 Awakened Heart Sangha newsletter. Quote from the teaching: "The main problem when working is distraction. There are so many things to focus on - planning, reviewing, considering and evaluating. Somehow you need to maintain a steady 'touch' of awareness that keeps bringing you back to the point. The point is to rest in the space of awareness."
21 May 2004 Being aware of thoughts, seeing that ...
Being aware of thoughts, seeing that realising we have been lost in thought is itself a thought, but then going deeply into the whole question of how we experience anything.
15 May 2004 A look at how confidence in oneself a...
A look at how confidence in oneself and one's own judgement relates to trusting a spiritual teacher; the difference between faith in the usual sense and complete faith which is knowledge of the truth.
09 May 2004 When meditating how can we tell wheth...
When meditating how can we tell whether we are bringing 'interest' to our meditation experience or merely creating a contrivance; how do we find a balance between letting our experience be and intervening in what is going on?
03 May 2004 An answer to student's questions abou...
An answer to student's questions about the Buddha's Enlightenment day.
29 Apr 2004 A student comments on her reactions t...
A student comments on her reactions to some of her first encounters with the Tibetan aspect of the weekend teaching and practice sessions.
24 Apr 2004 Thoughts about how the connections we...
Thoughts about how the connections we make in this life continue to another life; looking at what is meant by the words brain and mind.
20 Apr 2004 In our every day life there is a way ...
In our every day life there is a way to be aware of both the content of thoughts and the nature of experience.
15 Apr 2004 This continues the topic discussed in...
This continues the topic discussed in the April 11, 2004 email about meditating with open eyes.
12 Apr 2004 A look at why it is good to keep ones...
A look at why it is good to keep ones eyes open while meditating, how the visual field can make our world feel very solid and a technique to help us let go of attachment to what we see.
10 Apr 2004 How should we understand the concept ...
How should we understand the concept of evil? Is there a force for evil in the world that exists as a separate, real entity?
06 Apr 2004 An inspiration and encouragement for ...
An inspiration and encouragement for us all, especially for those in similar circumstances.
02 Apr 2004 Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity are...
Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity are three aspects of wisdom, three aspects of what is ultimately real. How do we go from an intellectual understanding of impermanence, suffering, and non-self to a real experiential understanding?
29 Mar 2004 A request for prayers to begin and en...
A request for prayers to begin and end meditation sessions; relying on a sense of rightness will guide us in our meditation.
26 Mar 2004 Is it ever necessary to kill other li...
Is it ever necessary to kill other living beings? Is it important to become a vegetarian?
21 Mar 2004 Looking at the meaning of the term em...
Looking at the meaning of the term emptiness; the inadequacy of all words to express what the words point to.
19 Mar 2004 What is meant by linking your heart c...
What is meant by linking your heart concerns with the sense of space in which experiences arise; how to work with feeling unmotivated
16 Mar 2004 Sometimes it can seem that thinking a...
Sometimes it can seem that thinking about impermanence doesn't help to lessen suffering; one still feels overcome by the pain of suffering.
12 Mar 2004 The practice of reciting prayers, its...
The practice of reciting prayers, its importance in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and how it can be a deep and effective practice and a support to the practice of formless meditation.
09 Mar 2004 Can we distinguish between an unpleas...
Can we distinguish between an unpleasant feeling that arises from an emotion that goes contrary to Buddha Nature and a feeling that offends our sense of "I"? Is counteracting a thought with another thought the best way to overcome a thought?
06 Mar 2004 Is feeling discouraged a normal part ...
Is feeling discouraged a normal part of the practice? What causes it and how can one get back to the sense of heart and space?
29 Feb 2004 How can awareness exist without the s...
How can awareness exist without the senses and isn't our true nature dependent on the body? There can be two ways in which to use the word awareness: awareness meaning to remember to pay attention and awareness as expressing what experience fundamentally is.
28 Feb 2004 The experience of impermanence can be...
The experience of impermanence can be unbelievably painful when one suffers the loss of a loved one. How can one meditate on impermanence in a way that leads to wonder and delight when one has felt such grief?
23 Feb 2004 Two types of trust: the trust that is...
Two types of trust: the trust that is our true nature and a more limited trust or hope that someone can relate to us in a trustworthy way over time.
19 Feb 2004 A student writes of her concern for s...
A student writes of her concern for sheep her husband raises and asks if it's appropriate to say prayers for them.
16 Feb 2004 The importance of remembering that ev...
The importance of remembering that even when we are not formally meditating what is going on is always nothing other than awareness itself at play.
13 Feb 2004 What to do when we feel ambivalent ab...
What to do when we feel ambivalent about practicing; the limits of meditating by watching the watcher; meditation - an aid that helps us respond with sensitivity to the world around us.
09 Feb 2004 A practise is beneficial if it helps ...
A practise is beneficial if it helps the student to develop deep faith and devotion and sustain a beneficial relationship with a teacher.
05 Feb 2004 A student asks if the Ultimate Truth ...
A student asks if the Ultimate Truth is subjective or objective and how this relates to various lineages' explanations.
26 Jan 2004 A discussion of boundaries, the space...
A discussion of boundaries, the space of awareness, how the feeling of there being a boundary may come about, how heart relates to the space of awareness.
23 Jan 2004 A student looking at dreams gets a se...
A student looking at dreams gets a sense of how the desire for attachment to something, anything, functions.
18 Jan 2004 Looking at issues in one's life and, ...
Looking at issues in one's life and, because of following the course, softening toward them, can lead to feelings of fear. There is a way to work with this fear reaction
16 Jan 2004 How to use periods of inactivity at w...
How to use periods of inactivity at work as a time to meditate.
11 Jan 2004 Heart wish seen as a possibility with...
Heart wish seen as a possibility within, which can be realized; positive and negative thoughts in relation to emptiness
09 Jan 2004 For some people there is a tension be...
For some people there is a tension between heart and mind. Conditioning can distort how heart and mind can function together. It's important for each person to explore what is happening within themselves.
05 Jan 2004 Following through on the heart wish a...
Following through on the heart wish and looking at what thoughts can show us
03 Jan 2004 A comparison of the use of formless m...
A comparison of the use of formless meditation, mantra, visualization, and other techniques.
02 Jan 2004 A look at what is meant by confidence...
A look at what is meant by confidence; learning to trust that we have the qualities within to be confident.
29 Dec 2003 A student comments on the use of the ...
A student comments on the use of the word Truth in the context of Absolute Reality in Buddhism.
26 Dec 2003 A student asks for help with beginnin...
A student asks for help with beginning again to study the course, and advice on how to keep her eyes open without strain while meditating.
21 Dec 2003 Finding a way to keep your meditation...
Finding a way to keep your meditation from turning into 'trying'
19 Dec 2003 An exploration of what yearning is an...
An exploration of what yearning is and what happens when we turn away from yearning instead of linking into it.
14 Dec 2003 Replies to a student's comments about...
Replies to a student's comments about confidence evasion, learning from mistakes and triggers of awareness.
10 Dec 2003 A look at some of the issues that com...
A look at some of the issues that come up around the idea of a spiritual teacher
07 Dec 2003 Looking at impermanence with a sense ...
Looking at impermanence with a sense of wonder and delight
04 Dec 2003 The importance of one's attitude whil...
The importance of one's attitude while meditating; focusing on your heart wish for happiness and truth.
30 Nov 2003 A student responds to the question of...
A student responds to the question of sects and lineages raised in the previous 'Buddhism Connect' and Shenpen replies.
27 Nov 2003 An explanation of sectarianism, linea...
An explanation of sectarianism, lineages of teachers and students and the Rime movement.
23 Nov 2003 If the mind is obscured then how is i...
If the mind is obscured then how is it that the obscuration can be removed?
18 Nov 2003 How reflecting on heart phrases relat...
How reflecting on heart phrases relates to the space of awareness
14 Nov 2003 Looking at motivations for making off...
Looking at motivations for making offerings.
09 Nov 2003 Not letting doubts hold us back from ...
Not letting doubts hold us back from practicing; discovering what is true for ourselves by examining our own experience.
06 Nov 2003 A student asks if it is helpful to re...
A student asks if it is helpful to read spiritual books while following the 'Discovering the Heart of Buddhism' course.
02 Nov 2003 How is it that there is more than one...
How is it that there is more than one Buddha? How can we relate to the Buddha?
30 Oct 2003 Aids to keeping meditation on course....
Aids to keeping meditation on course.
27 Oct 2003 A look at Awareness and how it functi...
A look at Awareness and how it functions
23 Oct 2003 A student comments on how she has use...
A student comments on how she has used the technique of a 'watcher' to help her in overcoming certain habits; Shenpen reminds us that both watcher and watched are thoughts.
20 Oct 2003 A dialogue in which a student examine...
A dialogue in which a student examines the concept of personal not-self and Shenpen replies.
17 Oct 2003 How to develop compassion for oneself...
How to develop compassion for oneself; allowing oneself pleasure.
12 Oct 2003 How the 'Discovering the Heart of Bud...
How the 'Discovering the Heart of Buddhism' course can help to deal with emotional problems
10 Oct 2003 When meditating one needs to become i...
When meditating one needs to become interested in the nature of thoughts instead of just letting them go.
06 Oct 2003 A student questions whether the sense...
A student questions whether the sense of peace she enjoys in walking meditation is too dependent on external circumstances.
03 Oct 2003 Focus and the space of awareness...
Focus and the space of awareness
29 Sep 2003 The mandala structure; its relationsh...
The mandala structure; its relationship to impermanence and change; awareness, the center of all mandalas.
25 Sep 2003 It's important not to try to prove or...
It's important not to try to prove or believe there is no self but instead examine one's experience to discover what you do find. There are two aspects to experience and we can look at that and see what that is all about.
20 Sep 2003 When we begin to have a vast view and...
When we begin to have a vast view and see the possibility of countless lives, countless realms, countless connections, we can then understand more clearly that every world is the product of karma. This in no way predetermines anything. When we see how all pervasive suffering is, our compassion cannot help but deepen.
15 Sep 2003 Looking at phrases such as goodness o...
Looking at phrases such as goodness of the heart, purity of heart, purity of mind, to see what they really mean to us and learn how they are used in Buddhism.
11 Sep 2003 Thoughts about looking at suffering f...
Thoughts about looking at suffering from the point of view of the first Bodhisattva stage
07 Sep 2003 How memory relates to dependently ari...
How memory relates to dependently arising appearance and emptiness.
02 Sep 2003 One needs to learn the basic principl...
One needs to learn the basic principles involved in following the path to Awakening through contact with a teacher and through studying the important points again and again until they become the basis and inspiration for one's practice and progress on the path.
29 Aug 2003 The fact that we are able to find hap...
The fact that we are able to find happiness and value in life is a clue to how our experience could be if we could see our true nature. Our life is the opportunity to practice, discover and learn to trust it.
27 Aug 2003 What the heart wish is - the longing ...
What the heart wish is - the longing for happiness for ourselves and others. The Buddha said that the nature of human life is suffering, but that there is a solution to suffering. If we really believe there is a path to Awakening, and start out on that path, it can give us a new way of viewing our experiences and a trust in our ability to reach that state that can benefit others. We will catch a glimpse of how it is truly possible to follow our heart wish.
13 Aug 2003 How the personal mandala, basically o...
How the personal mandala, basically our innate Buddha Nature, differs from the ego mandala; the use of the words ego and self, and looking at whether the word 'I' can be used in a true, meaningful way.
30 Jul 2003 By spontaneity do we mean the charact...
By spontaneity do we mean the characteristic that is found in a person who feels accepted and confident, and that seems to arise from being less conditioned, or can we go much deeper into the real meaning of spontaneity.
23 Jul 2003 Is 'clear light' a metaphor for somet...
Is 'clear light' a metaphor for something inexpressible in words or is the light of the mind something that we can experience? The radiant nature of awareness is always there and if through our meditation we come to be able to let go of clinging and attachment, thoughts and concepts; that radiance manifests as radiant emptiness.
16 Jul 2003 Daily life awareness practice means t...
Daily life awareness practice means taking the awake quality that we find in meditation and bringing into our daily life, so that we live our lives in that same space of awareness. During the day we can bring our attention back to what is happening in this very moment, and with a light touch, notice the space of awareness in which all our thoughts, sense impressions, and feelings occur. We can relax into that sense of both space and being awake.
13 Jul 2003 It can be the very feeling of dark, l...
It can be the very feeling of dark, lifeless coldness, knowing that our experience does not have to be like that, and wanting things to be different than they are, that can show us the constant presence of a deep wish for happiness that is at the heart of everything and always present in each of us. We can rely on and focus on that constant heart wish.
09 Jul 2003 A feeling of rightness can be just a ...
A feeling of rightness can be just a conditioned response or on a deeper level the same sense of rightness can help us turn towards our experience without grasping, just letting our experience be as it is, letting what comes up, just come up. The sense of heart is the essence of our being that we don't yet fully know. If we look directly at our experience and ask if there is a boundary to it, ask what really we are experiencing, we may begin to see in a very different way, a way that becomes open, spacious, unrestricted.
06 Jul 2003 We cannot act free from desire but we...
We cannot act free from desire but we can learn how to let desire express itself. We can learn how to make desire open, clear and sensitive. All feelings come and go in the space of Awareness. The feeling of disappointment can be painful but if we just allow ourselves to experience it we see that disappointment, too, is full of sensitivity and responsiveness.
02 Jul 2003 Our practice benefits others in a vas...
Our practice benefits others in a vast way when we finally become enlightened, but it may also benefit others in unseen ways right now. Our prayers can connect others with Awakening and invoke the aid of Awakened beings. (Discussion continued from teaching of 30th June 2003)
29 Jun 2003 All forms of Buddhism emphasise that ...
All forms of Buddhism emphasise that being fully Enlightened is the only way to fully help others. This can be a difficult concept for us to understand but thinking and reflecting on it is a powerful and humbling way to practice.
27 Jun 2003 We can use words about the heart to l...
We can use words about the heart to link into an inner intuitive sense of natural responsiveness, that we could awaken and rejoice in. We are trying to discover the experience that leads us to contrast head and heart and to really experience that, so that we can take our understanding deeper.
23 Oct 2001 A discussion of Dzogchen, formless me...
A discussion of Dzogchen, formless meditation, and related terms.
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