It’s been two weeks of non-stop action (no, not that kind of action) and I’m just now getting a chance to breathe. Getting a chance to breathe while I nurse a large coffee to rid myself of a migraine and contemplate what I really want (or need) to write about. Until then, this is all you’re getting.

Outside my window… it’s dark. It’s dark outside @Obfuscius’ (TheMister now has a Twitter account … you should follow him, he’s cute.) window and it’s probably dark outside my own window. I moved fully into my new apartment on Saturday with the help of TheMister after a flight to and a drive from Portland with my stuff. Quite the adventure. Good times. My space is a mess (which doesn’t quite make it mine, yet) but it will be me soon enough.
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I am thankful… for my friends; for my family; for the love of TheMister; for music, books and good food. I am thankful that I have my good health – for the most part – and that I can take care of things that need immediate attention; for my job(s) during this tough economy; for the ability to pick up a phone and call my people just because. I am thankful.
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From our studies… I don’t quite know what I’m supposed to answer this with. I’m not studying anything really, although I am continually learning new things. Today I realized that if I want to stay up until 3am working in silence, I can do that – I don’t have to be “at work” at 8am anymore. I am learning more and more about who I really am everyday.
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From the kitchen… I hear the washing machine. I grocery shopped (with TheMister) today. I hate to grocery shop and especially hate it when it’s in a store I’m not familiar with, so I took emotional support. Not only did I manage to stay within my budget, I snagged some comfort foods (specific brands) so it wasn’t too bad of a trip. Trader Joe’s was insane so Safeway was blessed with my presence today. I’ll try TJ’s another day I think.
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I am wearing… an Ohio State t-shirt (go Buckeyes!), jeans that are too big for me (most of my pants are right now), flowered underoos (just what you wanted to know, eh?) and a striped bra (more TMI?). I had on my favorite REI socks (yes, I have favorite socks) but they’ve since been removed (sexy, huh?).
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I am thinking… about a lot of things. Since moving I have changed a lot. Addressing that change has been really interesting for me, and reflecting on it has put my head and heart in a strange place. Not being able to truly decompress for three months has taken its toll on me and I need to find an outlet. Yesterday, laying in my own bed and reading a trashy book (*cough*Eclipse*cough*) I came to the conclusion that I need more of that. I need more me time. I need more time where I don’t do anything. I need more time where I’m just concentrating on doing exactly what I want to at that exact moment. It’s not something I’m used to.
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I am going… in circles. Lately it’s felt like that a bit lately, even though I know I am going places, too. Life is good when it all comes down to the basics. Good times, ya’ll.
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I am reading… Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer and Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I think that might sum up my taste in books pretty well. I like trash but the good stuff makes me happy, too. I am tearing through Eclipse like none other because I’ve been relaxing while reading it. Lolita is so well written and so heavy that it’s been too much for me in the past couple of weeks. I’ll pick it up again soon.
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I am hoping… for some calm inside my head. For the most part I can compartmentalize enough that the things that aren’t calm can be put away, but every once in a while they slip out of the drawers and slide out from under the bed to poke me in the middle of the night.
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I am hearing… Sara Bareilles’ Between the Lines album. Good stuff when I’m feeling word-blocked. Puts me a little too far into my head though.
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Around the house… a cat scratches at my door at 2am, the kitchen reminds me of Three’s Company, the couch isn’t quite right for my butt, in the dark I can’t find my way down a straight hallway yet, it’s my house.
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One of my favorite things… raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. No, wait, that’s not what I’m supposed to be writing here. Uhm, the scent of my shampoo, the sound of people laughing, the feel of my hand in his; these are a few of my favorite things. I’m not just picking just one.
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A few plans for the rest of the week… watch the Beavers defeat BYU at the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl on Tuesday night, work for WEGO Health during the days this week, enjoy Christmas with TheMister’s family this weekend, write my 110 in 2010 list, enjoy life.

Hey HHO Dry Cell fans :
We get asked a lot – how do I install my hho dry cell kit properly ?
So to help everyone out a bit, we just added a page with basic installation instructions for all you DIY hho installers.

Of course you can still get the> Best hho fuel device on the planet at hho2u HHO2U hydrogen on demand

Pitzer’s endowment has grown steadily over the years, especially given the size and youth of our college. (As of last year) the endowment is invested in a U.S. Bank investment fund, and was valued at approximately $110 million, thanks to the sale of a $15 million Laguna Beach property owned by one of the founders of the college. Due to the recession, the endowment has lost approximately a quarter of its value.  For comparison, Pomona College’s endowment has ranged from $900 million to $1.1 billion.

Well, I have been a bit slack in writing new info.  It takes time to get interesting photos and new ideas, although I see them every single day at work.  I guess this post is to ask people for their dental problems, queries.  I am here for free consultation – obviously I can’t look in your mouth, but I can give advice generally about dental questions you have.  It will give me more info on what are the dental concerns people have that I can help with via the net.  I mostly get wisdom tooth questions but thought this post might stimulate some others.

I’ll have a post coming soon on bleaching and full porcelain crowns for crowded front teeth based on an interesting patient I have just had the opportunity to help.  Come and check it out in the next day or so.

Marc

I received the following question.

I don’t get a woman learning in silence in 1 Tim. 2:11, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.”  Is it not arguing while learning of God?  It’s not like don’t question or discuss though, right?

First of all, notice that the context is Adam and Eve, who were husband and wife. The words gune for woman and aner for man can also mean “wife” and “husband,” and I think they do here. The woman was not to teach the husband, but to learn from him in silence. A few facts to consider:

1. Timothy was working in Ephesus, among mostly Jewish believers. In their culture, women were generally illiterate, and therefore could not read a word of Scripture. Moreover, the men were brought up to learn the Word. For women to attempt to teach their husbands, then, would be for one with little knowledge of the Bible to teach one with more. There are often cases today when those who know very little about the Bible will confidently try to teach those of us who have diligently studied it out. These people could take a clue from this and learn to shut up. Part of being ready to learn from the Lord is realizing how little you do know.

2. Timothy himself was the son of a Greek man, and therefore was not circumcised as he should have been, or taught by his father. It was his mother and grandmother who passed on their faith to him, two women! (II Timothy 1:5)

Overall, it is rather mysterious. Wrapped up in this may have been the very dignifying fact that the Word of God elevated women by declaring that there was no difference between male and female in Christ. Women could be in Christ through believing just like men. However, some women may have been carrying this too far, and throwing off the authority of their husbands. If this carried over into them not listening to their husbands’ teaching regarding Scripture, even though they probably knew a lot less of it than their husbands did, it was not a good thing.

Paul also brings in the fact that Eve was deceived when Adam wasn’t. I don’t think we want to make a rule of this, for there are certainly men who are deceived when their wives are not. However, Paul’s argument seems to run more along the order of things established by God and why they were established that way, not that every woman is gullible whereas every man is discerning. Yet his warning seems to be against ignoring the order as established by God, that wives should submit to their husbands. The fact that all are one in Christ does not change this.

I received the following question:

Are Sodomites signifying gays in 1 Tim. 1:10? “for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,”

Yes. That is not the word used in Greek, though, but is based on the English use of “Sodomites” as meaning homosexuals. The Greek word is arsenokoitēs, from arsen, meaning a male, and koitē, meaning a bed, the marriage-bed, or sexual intercourse. It basically means a man who has sex with a male as opposed to a female.

I received the following question:

What is Scythian? They are mentioned in Colossians 3:11. “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Apparently the Scythians were considered the most vicious and backward of barbarians by the Romans. Common scholarship places the Scythians in modern-day Russia. Paul says “barbarian, Scythian.” The barbarians were just those who could not speak Greek. The Scythians were much more like what we think of as “barbarians.”

I received the following question:

Someone close to me gave me a necklace with a triquetra on it, a symbol that has been associated with the Trinity within Christianity.  However, I know that there is some other non-Christian means that it could also be associated with.  I do want to keep it and wear it because someone close to me gave it to me out of genuine love for me and respect for my faith. My concerns lay in these: by wearing it, does it show that I support “religion” as accepted by most people today, and also, does it violate “symbolism” ideas concerning stuff like not having an image of God engraved in your brain?

It is questionable to use symbology, particularly symbols that are also used by current-day pagans. However, I do not believe that we have any kind of Divine mandate regarding things like this. We live in a day when God’s grace is being shown to all men. Rules regarding symbols are not something that applies to us.

That said, you have to decide what seems right to you in this case. This symbol is currently becoming popularly known because of its use in a television show about witches, “Charmed.” However, it is also used to symbolize the trinity on the cover of the New King James Version, as published by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triquetra

What would concern me is what people will identify you with when they see it, especially those who might see it but not ask you about it. Is it similar enough to the symbol used on “Charmed” that people might think you are supporting that show? Or is it more distinctly the “Christian” version of the symbol? Do you feel comfortable wearing it? You don’t view it necessarily as honoring to God, but can you wear it to honor this person you love without feeling that you are being dishonoring to God? These are questions you must decide for yourself.

Sorry that I cannot offer you more positive guidance on this, but in this day, we do have much leeway to make our own decisions. Ultimately, don’t place too much importance on this. We are not under bondage in regards to things like this. Yet each of us does ultimately answer to his Lord.

The “Constitution of Ka Lahui Hawaii”  may be viewed by clicking on the tab in the menu bar and following instructions to the link. The Constitution was originally published in 1993 on newsprint stock.

It is a long document, and the upload may take a few moments depending on your internet connection speed. It is best viewed with the browser Firefox. See sidebar at right.

Mahalo to the authors of the Constitution and the Ka Lahui citizens who made this publication possible.

Posted by Rebekah

I remember the first time I left home. How exciting to finally be out on my own! After 17 years of doing it the way my folks thought worked best, I finally had a chance to try it how I always wanted to. How much fun not to be told what to do anymore, to be able to eat dessert before dinner! Hell, to decide I wanted to eat dessert for breakfast, and not catch any crap for it! I remember it was bliss to have that freedom. And I remember it was the most difficult thing I ever had to do…trying to learn to become an adult. I say try, because it hardly happened that first shot out. Though no one told me what time to be home or what time to go to bed anymore, no one was ever there to wake my ass up in the morning to make sure I got to class either.  What a wake up call it was to watch the 3.7 of high school plummet to the 1.4 of college. Ouch! I didn’t have my parents’ car to borrow to hop off to whatever place I wanted to on a whim. Mom wasn’t there to cook dinner every night and dad didn’t take out the trash anymore. I had to figure out how to pay my own bills and a load of other crap I didn’t know or care about. The thing I missed most, though, was not having my cheering section right at my side. To bask in my successes with me, to encourage me when it got difficult, etc. etc.  In writing this I hear a woman describing what it might sound like if her parents fell of the face of the earth. That’s not how it was at all. Of course they were just a phone call away for the encouragement or cheering that I wanted, but being separated physically from that, and all the comforts of home, was definitely the most unenjoyable part about flapping my wings and flying.

And then I remember the first time I went back home. Oh my goodness! What joy! What jelly on toast! What warm towel direct from the dryer! What home cooked dinner heaven! It’s the simple things you enjoy the first times you go back home for a visit. But over the last 15 years I’ve discovered the real meaning of what it means to go home. It comes to me in bits and pieces, as I inhale a rose with all the depth my breathe can muster and feel the comfort that resonates in the center of my chest as I recall how my mom kept roses planted outside my bedroom window all those years; as I remember how easily my dad allowed me to sleep on his bicep when I was a girl, yet discover just how uncomfortable it really is when my sons do the same.

Home is a sanctuary. It’s my safe space. It’s my warmth and comfort. The place I go to at the end of the day to decompress. The place where I can kick of my shoes, strip off my pants and parade around in my knee-highs without a thought of how silly I probably look. Where I can air drum to my heart’s content with the most pathetically ridiculous rock star looks on my face and not need to care about it in the slightest. A place without judgment. A place to laugh, cry and rage with the knowing that the walls will hold my secrets if I ask. And home is the place where family lives and breathes with me, where we share common history and common bonds and love each other unconditionally through anything. I remember actually hating my brother in high school, and yet still having understanding enough to recognize that his hideousness would be over in 4 years and I’d love him again one day.

More than 10 years ago an old friend said something to me about relationships. He said, “Your partner should be home for you.” I will never ever forget this. I’ve tried to write the song so many times. And I’ve watched and waited for it continuously ever since. That place of non-judgment, that place of comfort, that place where I can unload, decompress, do my personal work and growth, and know that the loving is unconditional

Even in the midst of the wonderful butterflies of excitement and newness, that feeling- the familiarity of home- must exist.

This rambling was written at nearly the same time as “It’s Like  a Love Affair.” For me there is no creative piece, without a logical attachment. The logical portions  just happen to rarely get written down. This time it did, and so I present it in congruence with it’s creative piece.

Years ago, when I first start investigating the Baha’i faith I often found myself saying, “If I believed in God…”  “If I believed in God, this is how I would find him, independent investigation of truth.”  “If I believed in God, this is how I would know him, with no intermediary.”  I said it so many times that one day while walking down Market Street, staring at the red bricks pass below my feet I realized, I do believe in God. “Just admit it Wendy, you do believe in God.”

Now in the Baha’i faith we are given guidance about prayer. The type of prayer that is more than just ‘saying a prayer’, but how to really listen for an answer when we find ourselves with a problem, a question, anything that becomes stuck in our earthly selves.  To summarize: pray, meditate on it, and when an answer pops into your head, act on it.  Many pray. Some continue to meditate on it.  A few remain long enough for the answer to pop in their head, and fewer still have the sight to recognize it as such. But rarely do we act on it, act as if the prayer had been answered already.

For many years I had studied different faiths. The comparing and contrasting of them had been my meditation. The “If I believed in God” was the answer to my prayer, but I failed to recognize that and therefore failed to act. Until that day in San Francisco when God kindly slipped up through those bricks, between my thoughts, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, “Act as if you believe in Me, and your prayer has already been answered.”

That was more than seven years ago, and this revelation is only just coming to me now. No one said I was a quick study. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that you are never the same person you were seven years ago, since physiologically every cell in my body has died and completely regenerated itself. On a molecular level, I am a completely different person than I was that day in the sun.

And now here I am, for more than a year now, praying every night for detachment- detachment from my earthly desires.  Not the animalistic desires you see, because those I tend to relish in just for the fun of it, but from the desire of wanting the few promising men who cross my path to possibly be “the one”.  And these last few weeks, molecularly regenerated, this prayer has slowly changed. You see I don’t want God to mistake my desire for detachment as a desire to be detached from a man indefinitely. So I’ve reframed the request. Now instead of asking for detachment from my desires, I acknowledge the desire that I want to meet my person…soon.

And here is where the ah-ha moment occurs, at midnight, when I have two sons to wake up early and no business drinking that caffeinated cup of tea at 11 pm.  I say, “God, I am so thankful for all that I have and I know that there are those out there who would give whatever they have to be where I am, but still I have a small selfish request that I have been holding back on for some time now. I ask that you please put that person that I am supposed to meet, on my path…soon. And I may have already met him, so I ask that you give my soul the eyes to see him, and my mind the strength to wade through the crap that is my earthly self, a self that hinders my recognition of him for fear of rejection, nervousness and…well basically that high school girl that sometimes resides within me.”

Tonight as I reminisce on my “If I believed in God” days, I realize that a piece of those days is upon me again. I have been saying it out loud, to lots of different people, for many weeks now…“And I may have already met him…” And now to act as if that prayer had already been answered…

 

www.youtube.com/OpenBuddhistForum

AVALOKITESHVARA VISUAL DHARMA & ATI YOGIC SONG

Alive Dharma teaching, Nov 29, 2009

“Through the merit of this Dharma practice

May I quickly attain the state of Avalokiteshvara

And may I lead all living beings without exception

To the state of Enlightenment.”

Dedication verse from Visual*Visionary Dharma: Avalokiteshvara Buddha

I.Introduction

1.1.Dear friends, this week Dharma teachings is made by your creative & inspiring contributions which are like drops of wisdom. We appreciate your writings and put them together in Wisdom Without Borders – Heritage of mankind. There are many  questions from Nutier (France) and Interfaith dialogue by Anil (United Kingdom). Heartfelt welcome to new friends  on www.myspace.com/BuddhaDharma_OBFI , especially to His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche (USA) , to His Eminence Chokyur Lingpa Urgyen Jigme Rinpoche (Switzerland) , to Dechen (UK), Johann Gasser, Buddha Mind – Korea and others.  Heartfelt welcome also to new friends on youtube : alifeozen, 10LightYears – Philippines, DhammaCity and many others. May Avalokiteshvara Buddha enlighten your Path of Liberation , making all of you healthy, peaceful, joyous and prosperious. Visual Dharma: Avalokiteshvara  Buddha of compassion***** connected with this alive Dharma teaching, has many of your  coments about vegetarianism, spiritual practice and other insights. Please study them together with relaxed, meditative  and inspiring  viewing of this Visionary Dharma. The meaning  of mantra OM MANI PADME HUM is found in extensive description.  It will benefit you immensely, if you practice this meditation every day, reading the text aloud and chanting the mantra with inpsiring music. Don´t forget to favour, rate, embed, share and write your insights in the comment*****.

Yours in Wisdom without Borders: Buddha Dharma-OBF International

II. International Institute for contemporary Buddhist studies

2.1. Gentle rain of nectar Blessings, Collected Works Vol VI

Ati yogic song

While visiting EarlyTibet.com there is amusement , direct insight :

“Don´t worry so much about terminology-when you die all thoughts anyhow dissolve.Thoughts are born & dying every moment :

They appear and dissapear. In unchanging space of Dharmadatu,

your innate Buddha Samantabhadra is waiting-naked blue Light-

to be discovered.Turn your attention inward.

Become aware in instant presence : Buddha Samantabhadra within you,

Natural Sound*Light of Dharmata, Natural state.

In simplicity and naturalness be truly relaxed,happy, joyous.

Natural state-pointed out by Atiyoga master, is not deluded with conceptual ignorance.It is pure and total presence-

Unimpeded continuity-Natural Sound*Light of Dharmata.

Advice for the translators of Atiyoga*Dzogpa chenpo sacred texts:

early Dzogchen texts are primordial sacred texts

for those who are simple and natural, A-biding in this sacred Lineage

of Samantabhadra Buddha-Vajrasattva-Garab Dorje…Approach them with humbleness and respect, not with arrogance.

With silence within :

These Words of advice arouse on sunny November 17^th day , 2009.

May this Dharma benefit beings vast as the sky!

OM AH HUM SVAHA

Tara Tulku Drimed Drolkhar

„The best of all gifts is the Gift of Truth.“      D h a m m a p a d a

Copyright notice :

All rights reserved. Written permission to copy Dharma Texts  of H.E. Lama Tara Tulku Drimed Drolkhar Rinpoche can be granted, provided that reprint is for free distribution (serving the Teachings of Buddhas) and that such reprints are not sold as merchandise. Tara Tulku Rinpoche is continuing the Dharma work of Ayu Khandro Tsewang Paldron (Tibet 1839-1953), teaching in Atiyoga Essence lineage.  The Author´s copyright notice must appear, along with the title of the Dharma Text or publication and related data. Notice must be given, that reprint is by permission of the Author. For written permission to  reprint write to the Vajra-Garuda e-Publications . You will also be asked to send 1 copy of the reprinted Dharma text or publication. May all beings benefit !

E-learning curriculum :

1.Why it is important for translators of Buddhist texts to have direct experience  of Natural state ?

2.How is this direct experience of Natural state helping Buddhist translators ?

3.Why should Dzogchen terminology not be misunderstood as dry philosophy ?

2.2.Ouestions & answers

First of all let me reflect on these series of questions send  by Nutier:

We teach here about different aspects of samsara or cyclic existence . From questions might appear that samsara is something outside, something objective. One can teach about samsara on external level , internal level and secret level. Internal level of understanding of samsara means that all and every realm relates with specific thought patterns of five poisons : pride, envy,ignorance, lust,greed and anger. We find all these thought- pattern in every unenlightened being, called sentient being.Vajrayana –tantric path teach about transforming thought patterns into five wisdoms.  To understand  secret level  how samsara develops and how to liberate samsaric thoughts,  please view and study Wish-granting prayer of Samantabhadra – Kunzang Gongpa Zhangtal, as presented in Visual*Visionary Dharma , part 1,2.

nutier France

Q.114 - What is the meaning of the four great kings , the Gandhabbas , and the Yakkas ?

They are also called Four Guardians kings or Four heavenly kings. “In the Buddhist cosmology, four mythical kings said to live halfway down Mt. Sumeru. They protect the eastern, southern,western and northern continents of traditional Indian geography.”

“The lords  of the four Quarters who serve Indra as his generals and protect 4 continents…”

Gandharva (Pali: Gandhabba) is kind of celestial musician often associated with the court of celestial monarch Indra. Gandharva cities are dream like, non-existent places , mirages in the desert.

Yaksha is swift,powerful king of gosts or demon, which is usually harmfulm but in some cases acts as protector of the Dharma. Some yakshas, according to Buddhist mythology, live in the air and some on land.

Q.115 – What are the differents of their vertuous mind ?
May peace and happiness be upon you always ! nutier

These differences are clearly described above : Gandharvas have beneficial minds, while yakshas have mostly harmful minds.

Dear venerable Sir , please enjoy my question , thank you .
Tanatimsa heaven , the thirty-three Gods with sakka ( Indra ) as their king , a devotee of the Buddha , presides over this realm . Many devas dwelling here live in mansions in the air .
Q.116 - What is the meaning of the thirty-three Gods with sakka ?
This is one of heavens in the realm of desire (Sanskrit: Kammadhatu) , with 32 deva kings presided by Indra, thus totaling 33, located at the sumit of Mt. Sumeru. Each of the four peaks in the four directions is inhabited by eight gods, and the lord of heavens, Indra, lives in the palace at the centre.

Q.117 – If this one was a devotee of the Buddha , was he born in the same period of Buddha too ?
No,  human years and celestial years of Heaven of 33 are different. Life-span of heavenly beings is very long, much longer than human life-span. Buddha´s mother was reborn in the heaven because of Her merit by giving birth to the Enlightened one. Lord Buddha spend three monts in the heavenly realm , teaching his mother and also benefiting gods. Recetly we celebrated this Dharmachakra day (Tibetan: Lha Bab Duchen )- Buddha´s return from heavenly realm. It is wise to follow Buddhist calendar which we publish occassionaly.

Q.118 – If many devas dwelling in mansions in the air , do these mansions look like meteorites ? May peace and happiness be upon you always ! nutier

No, heavenly mansions don´t look like meteorites. They resemble precious stones, shining and luminous, transparent, non-material.

Selected bibliography : The seeker´s glossary of Buddhism , Sutra translation Committee of US & Canada, published for free distribution: The corporate Body of Buddha Educational Foundation, Taiwan , 1998.

alifeofzen friendship question

hello do you think friendship is always selfish? Do Zen masters usually carry a particular view on this subject?  thank you.

Answer : It  depends on the qualities of all involved. True friendship is unselfish and is connected to Bodhicitta / enlightened awareness. At least in Buddhism. This does not mean that all Buddhists are unselfish saints ! It all depensd on one´s karma – cause, condition and effect and the spiritual practice one has done over countless lives. Then one can return to this saha/endurance world as a Bodhisattva, leading sentient beings our of samsara by clearly showing the path of Liberation . Zen masters taught and teach according to circumstances and the cultural habits of those to be trained. Some ancient Chan masters were very strict , like Chan master Hung Po (Cold mountain). Other zen masters were wery soft , like  the late Suzuki Roshi and the Vietnamese zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. In short: particular views on friendship depends also on the character of zen masters as well on those to be trained on the Buddhist path.

The same with the Bardo experiences : persons with peaceful character meet peaceful deities in the Bardo state after death . Persons with wild character meet wrathful deities. Buddhas manifest according to the need of sentient beings to lead them on the path of Liberation and toward complete enlightenment.

III. Wisdom Without Borders

3.1.Viewers and friends selected comments and post

10LightYears Philippines Comment on Prayer that swiftly fulfills all wishes

to open buddhist forum- I practice tibetan buddhism under the nyingma lineage. We always have dharma teachings & our resident rinpoche ( Samten Phuntsok) have taught us the importance of visualization in every puja, the meaning of what we’re praying, & of course the devotion to the dharma. The real problem I see is communication ‘cos most of them hardly or don’t speak english at all.

openbuddhistforum reply

Dear Buddha Dharma friend , we aggree with you. Buddhist masters should learn English and teach in that language also, to benefit beings. Our Visual Dharmas have Buddhist texts-prayers & meditations in English as well as extensive descriptions/research/teaching . Will write more in one of next alive Dharma teachings. May your Dharma practice go well. OM MANI PADME HUM

P.S. It is interesting that  many Lamas don´t want to teach in English so that almost all could understand and benefit from the Dharma. Maybe they think that their teachings would not be authentic , if they teach in English, because they themselves received the teaching in Tibetan. The situation in most of so called Tibetan Buddhist lineages is similar to Roman-Catholic Church before the II. Vatican council : all priests used Latin language until 1962 or about that time. Authentic Dharma don´t depens on language barriers : of course it is beneficial to have good transaltions of Buddhist texts. It is even more beneficial to communicate with the Lama directly in English language . Then the student can progress more easily on the spiritual path. Only very conservative Lamas don´t learn language which is most understood in nowdays contemporary world. If the structures of the Dharma centers are not too authoritarian the students should ask for Dharma teaching in English or other language which they undestand well. Too much precious times is spend with translating the teachings ; translations are sometimes incorrect, causing misunderstandings. T Lama should deepen his Bodhicitta for benefiting sentient beings and learn the language which students understand.

Comment by Marian on November 7, 2009 at 6:25am  on We Women.ning

this is one of the most beautiful prayer/open-meditation videos I have ever seen. Thank you  for sharing it. The first half – as I used it as a visual meditation – drew me immediately into that wonderful looping light I feel when I succeed with my own (closed eyes) meditation. I haven’t felt it for a while, so it was like coming home. Thank you thank you – may the 7 human qualities change the Earth! x Marian

Answer by Her Eminence Tara Tulku Rinpoche on November 7, 2009 at 11:53am

Thank you, Marian for this inspiration and insights . I appreciate all creative comments a lot Will publish it in one of next alive Dharma teachings (section: Wisdom without borders). This Prayer : Sampa Nyur Drupma is from Khandro Nyingthig Liturgy which is very precious. Video/Visual Dharma is meant to be practiced , recited and sung with joy and inspiration. With reciting it regularly through one´s lives, we are changing the world for better place.
OM MANI PADME HUM Tara Tulku Rinpoche Nov 7, 2009

Oct 1, 2009 9:35 PM   Johann Gasser   at www.MySpace.com/BuddhaDharma_OBFI Here, beside a clear deep lake,
You live accompanied by clouds. Soft through the pines the moon arrives
To be your own pure-hearted friend.You rest under thatch in the shadow of your flowers,Your dewy herbs flourish in their bed of moss.
Let me leave the world.Let me alight, like you,On your western mountain with
Phoenixes and cranes.                                 ~ Ch’an Chien ~
May all your days be Blessedwith Love and Light          Johann

DechenDolma   United Kingdom Nov 5, 2009 1:19 PM

Welcome to my circle of Dharma Friends,
Dechen

Tiziana, Italy

Nov 26, 2009 11:12 AM”The wisdom of all Buddhas is infinitely wide and deep”.                 Thank you!!!

Chokyur Lingpa Urgyen Jigme Rinpoche Nov 22, 2009 1:19 PM   Tashi Delek!
Are you fine?
For my site you see here: www.tharlam-dronme.org
Greetings    Rinpoche

Spletna knjigarna Julia Doria, Slovenia (Internet bookstore)

Nov 14, 2009 11:06 PM”From wonder into wonder existence opens.” Lao Tzu –

Chokyur Lingpa Urgyen Jigme Rinpoche , Switzerland

Nov 11, 2009 4:14 PM                      Welcome!

 

For details you look here: www.tharlam-dronme.org
Best for your life!
Greetings , Rinpoche       Note by Buddha Dharma: His Eminence Chokyur Lingpa Urgyen Jigme Rinpoche  is Dharma successor of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche , taking care of retreat center with 25 monastic practitioners at Samye monastery in Central Tibet. Rinpoche is incarnation of famous tertön (treasure revealer) Chökyur Lingpa (Tibet).

Buddha Mind    Korea Nov 7, 2009 12:46 AM ♥
♥ ♥ ♥ – ♥ ♥ ♥ – ♥ ♥ ♥
♥ “All that we are is the result
♥ of what we have thought…♥ The mind is everything…
♥ What we think we become.”♥ ~Buddha♥
♥ May all beings be Well…♥ May all beings be Happy…
♥ May all beings be FREE.♥♥ Namaste ~ ॐ  ♥ 卍 卍 卍♥
♥ FREE ♥ TIBET ♥♥ ♥ ♥ – ♥ ♥ ♥ – ♥ ♥ ♥
♥From Buddha Dharma friends  on youtube

DhammaCity

Re: Visual Dharma for  auspiciousness – for new Friend of Buddha Dharma

Dear Dhamma Friend,
Thanks so much for your message informed about Buddhist forum. and also thanks for accepting my request. May peace and happiness, love and compassion along with harmony be upon you always! May you attain Nirvana!   With Much Metta   Nanda

friasalf Mexico

Re:Visual Dharma for auspiciousness – for new Friend of Buddha Dharma

Gracias                 Abrazos de Sol             Deyi

marcdruten Netherlands

Re:OCEAN OF WISDOM Alive Dharma teaching, Nov 22, 2009

best wishes!

~ 2012 – LOVE CHANGES Everything ~

Reflections over 2012 and my advise for all of us, about the Maya Calender and beyond… and i wonder what do you think about 2012?
As we near the final date of the Mayan Calendar, mankind must face what is perhaps the most difficult hurdle of all…

IV. Interfaith dilogues

4.1 anil204 United Kingdom

Re:OCEAN OF WISDOM Alive Dharma teaching, Nov 22, 2009

Thanks for the video clip very good & cool
In Buddha we had the great, universal heart and infinite patience, making religion practical and bringing it to everyones door. In Shankaracharya we saw tremendous intellectual power, throwing the scorching light of reason upon everything. We want today that bright sun of intellectuality joined with the heart of Buddha, the wonderful infinite heart of love and mercy. This union will give us the highest philosophy. Science and religion will meet and shake hands. Poetry and philosophy will become friends.What! Those giants of old, the ancient Rishis, who never walked but strode, of whom if you were to think but for a moment you would shrivel up into a moth, they sir, had time–and you have no time! by Swami Vivekananda !
With All the best wishes     – anil

V. Colophon

BUDDHA DHARMA – OBF INTERNATIONAL Generaly beneficial religious org. since 1995 registered in Slovenia, EU. www.youtube.com/OpenBuddhistForum www.MySpace.com/BuddhaDharma_OBFI blog, Dharma art photowww.buddhadharmaobfinternational.wordpress.com Heritage of mankind – Treasure of pure Dharma , links to Wikipedia and related photosServing, upholding and protecting the teachings of Buddhas by promoting ten enlightened activities as taught by Buddha Shakyamuni and His emanation Buddha Padmasambhava; promoting Millenium goals of United nations : Universal education ,Gender equality and empowerment of women www.un.org.milleniumgoals

Her Eminence Lama Tara Tulku Drimed Drolkhar Rinpoche- Nyingma Vajrayana Atiyoga Ling, EU

His Eminence Lama Karma Gyan Sagar Rinpoche, Association for non-violence, world peace, wheel, Buddhist religion in Nepal(monastery, Buddhist school for orphan children, peace pagoda, Dechen Ling gompa, three-year meditation retreat)*****

Shifu John Chow : Martial arts, Healing,Dharma,  Australia

Venerable Mangala Konchok Norbu, Dharma art director, Buddha Dharma, European Union

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