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Greetings and Namaste!
This age we live in, known as Kali Yuga in Eastern
traditions, is viewed as a time when Dharma is at its
lowest point, when the balance has tipped far into
unrighteousness and the shadow sides of human
capabilities. Darkness always summons the Light
and so it is also a time when the perennial wisdom
comes into the world through the vehicles of selfless
beings, avatars, saints and great enlightened ones.
The teachings and practices open the way to Dharma
and freedom.
What is Dharma?
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Transform and Transcend Ego Mind
...For many the Dharma is to receive initiations and
blessings from lamas, offer butter lamps,
circumambulate stupas and temples, wear monastic
robes, and other similar external activities. To do this
is indeed meritorious and indicates the general
interest people have for religion, but these are mere
branches of the Dharma; they are not the main
point...
What is the need for the Dharma? To
answer this question, we must first look around and
reflect upon our situation in this world. If we do so
without blinding ourselves to reality, we find one main
point, common to all sentient beings; suffering and
dissatisfaction.
Everyone suffers in one way
or the other. A leader has leader problems, and a
worker has worker problems... Even the president of
the United States is worried about lack of approval, of
not succeeding in bringing the whole world under his
influence, and so on...
...Moreover, how many
people are bedridden in hospitals, dying of famine or
in wars? How many families are torn apart by
quarrels, and eventually death?
Although the
modern
world has developed science and technology to an
unimaginable extent, as yet there is no machine, no
trick, no pill, that can remove suffering and generate
lasting happiness. Yet to remove suffering is
precisely the goal of the sacred Dharma - and not just
the symptoms of suffering, but the very cause of
it.
How can the teachings effect such a noble end?
The real reason beings suffer is not to be found
outside, but within themselves. We suffer because of
attachment, desire, anger, repulsion, pride, jealousy
and confusion - all sorts of mental poisons.
Therefore, true Dharma is work on the heart and
mind.
To work on the mind is a very vast
subject;
in fact, it is the subject of the entire Buddhadharma. In
essence, the main reason the mind generates its
confusing passions and intense emotions is our
strong clinging to I, me and mine.
Because of that
clinging, we suffer when we do not obtain all that the
I
wants, and we suffer by experiencing what the I
does
not want.
It is through meditating over and
again
on the illusory and insubstantial nature of mind, of
ego, of self, that we slowly can dissolve ego-clinging.
Among all the methods to achieve this result, the
deepest one is meditation on bodhicitta - unselfish
love and compassion. To be full of love for all sentient
beings and to consider others more important than
ourselves is the very root of Dharma, combining
wisdom and compassion.
Nyoshul
Khenpo Rinpoche
translated by Ven. Matthieu
Ricard in
Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and
Vajra Songs by Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche and
Lama Surya
Das
(Click on Lama Surya Das's name for
information on his programs and retreats. He's a
wonderful
teacher and writer.)
Listen
To the living walls.
Who are you?
Who
Are you? Whose
Silence are you?
Thomas Merton
Collected
Poems
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Thank you all
for your notes of appreciation for our
newsletter.
Everyone has
the heart to be a true friend of the soul, an
Anam
Cara. By embodying that ideal ourselves we
may serve to help
another to find love and compassion within
themselves.
Our highest nature is always
manifest in
relationship - to all other beings, to the
environment, in relation to our own body and
mind. Becoming mindful of the quality of our
relationships
allows us to learn where the light shines and
where it
needs to shine more. The ideal of Anam
Cara is to
continuously endeaver to expand the depth
and the
inclusiveness of the loving kindness we bring
into
every relationship, every moment, every breath.
If
you have any
suggestions, comments or sharings, for our
newsletter please don't
hesitate to e-mail me and I'll do my best to
respond.
The Anam Cara
Foundation is a 501
(C) 3,
non-profit
educational organization dedicated to
teaching
meditative practices. Our non-
denominational
programs are open to all. There are free
meditation
instructions and downloadable audio files of
guided
meditations on our website.
Thank
you for
the many ways you have shown
support for The Anam Cara
Foundation. Because
of
your gifts we can offer free programs and
instruction to
thousands of people. If you would like to
make a
tax deductible donation please send it to
address
listed below.
I look forward to welcoming you
in person to our programs.
With
all my
appreciation and love,
I thank you all.
May all beings realize complete freedom from suffering and may all our actions reflect only wisdom, compassion, patience and loving kindness.
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