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Precious Gems from Domo Geshe Rinpoche
The Newsletter of White Conch Dharma Center |
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Have the Courage to be Free
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Oct 21, 2008
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Across White Conch
The students of White Conch in California invite everyone to join them in weekly meditation via conference call on Monday evenings. Details are available here. |
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Related teachings by Domo Geshe Rinpoche
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Listen to a brief teaching:
Teachings by Domo Geshe Rinpoche on the internet
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 Have the Courage to be Set Free
Selection 1
In the Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Shantideva speaks to) the very individualized and specific way that you yourself can
change your thinking, and change the way you react. A lot of this has to do with
how you react to inner and outer events so that you become heroic. You become
the heroic being that truly is capable of saving living beings.
Last week we
talked about the two types of mind.
"In brief, the awakening mind should be
understood to be of two types: the mind that aspires to awaken, and the mind
that ventures to do so."
(Guide to the Bodhisattvas Way of Life; Chapter 1, verse 15)
Sep 16, 2002
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Have the Courage to be Set Free,
Selection 2
In that way,
with the aspiring wish you give your mind permission to dwell on the
possibility that you could be an enlightened being. This rare opportunity of self-permission,
even within Buddhism, is not that easy to find in its purest form without self-doubt or inappropriate pride. So we cherish this mind and
cultivate this mind like the nacre, the lustrous mother-of-pearl coating on a pearl. This wish to attain
enlightenment is the innermost seed, and it becomes more and more and more beautified
through your daily practice. Like the nacre of a
pearl is added coat by coat by coat, this wish to attain enlightenment builds up the most beautiful luminous strength of purpose.
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Have the Courage to be Set Free
Selection 3
This is a call
by Shantideva over more than a thousand years - calling you to meditate on this
distinction (between the mind that aspires to awaken and the mind that actually engages in awakening) so that you in your own mind can check to see what is your present level of aspiring motivation, and what are you doing about it? It is
not enough to have this remain in the book. It must be in your own mind. (Socrates) said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." And (I say), "The unexamined mind
is not worth having."
And so the
courage to look in your own mind and say, "What do I really believe?" Not what kind
of marvelous ideas are floating like little stars within your mind?
Not something that is out there. When you examine, look at yourself with deep honesty asking, "What exactly is my level of wishing to be
enlightened? (Intakes breath sharply, like recoiling) I don't really want to
know. I want to believe that I have the most vast wish to be enlightened. I don't
want to really know that my aspiration is lacking."
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 Winter Retreat in New Mexico
December 27th, 2008 3PM - January 4th, 2009 3PM
at the Madonna Retreat Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Vajrayogini
is one of the most beloved and powerful Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism.
She embodies: (1) the fully enlightened female, wild, fiery, and
energetic aspect of a Buddha; (2) the wisdom aspect leading to
Buddhahood; and (3) the dakini, inspirational aspect leading the
practitioner to enlightenment. Vajrayogini's practice is said
to be well-suited to those with strong desirous attachment, and to
those living in the current "degenerate age". Register here. Single Room or Double Room or Make a Deposit to hold your space.
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Have the Courage to be Set Free
Selection 4
You must have the
courage, and now is the time. We have spent the first part of this time
talking about how marvelous it would be to have the
enlightened mind, to have the aspiring mind awaken. And there is nothing that is more worth doing than
gaining enlightenment. We have looked at it in a hundred different ways and the
response has been, "OK Rinpoche, now what do I do? How do I get it? It sounds
great, but now what do I do?"
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Midwest teachings - the series moves to Wisconsin
All times below are Central Time. Please make adjustments for your own time zone.
Evening teachings are available via conference call.
Evening teachings in the coming week:
Illusion and Reality: What the Bleep Do We Know? on Oct 24 from 7-8:30pm in Madison, WI
Semi Professional Worrier on Oct 27 from 7-8:30pm in Baraboo, WI
All-Day Seminar in the coming week:
The Awakening Heart and Quantum Reality on Oct 25 from 10am-5pm in Blue Mounds, WI
(just west of Madison)
Upcoming Weekend Retreat Oct 31-Nov 2 in Brownsville, WI
Quantum Reality of the King of Prayers
Did the early Buddhists describe quantum reality? Yes. The extraordinary reality described in the
King of Prayers draws you to aspire toward the Buddha state: a hallmark of highest development.
Register here.
See flyer for addresses and details.
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The
powerful messages of the dharma speak for themselves. Share the dharma
by forwarding these Precious Gems to your friends and family.
May there be a rain of dharma
Ngawang Thekchen
White Conch Dharma Center
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"Life is Illusory, But the Lessons are Real"
~ Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~
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The Dharma is Free
Unfortunately,
the programs of White Conch require ongoing funding. Please support
White Conch programs, including the important hospice project. We are
also establishing a scholarship fund for those whose financial
struggles make it difficult to attend retreats and trainings. White
Conch is a 501c3 organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible in the US.
Donations may be mailed to:
White Conch Dharma Center
PO Box 14372
West Allis, WI 53214
or donate online via credit card through PayPal.
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