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Precious Gems from Domo Geshe Rinpoche |
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The Newsletter of White Conch Dharma Center
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Feb 6, 2010
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Follow Rinpoche on FaceBook
You can receive your daily dose of precious dharma gems from Domo Geshe Rinpoche by following her on FaceBook. You can also follow Rinpoche's Blog, Satisfied Buddhist. Don't miss your daily dose of wisdom and humor!!
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Listen to Dharma Radio with Dolma. Dolma has a weekly radio show on Tuesday mornings in Occidental, CA. Now available streaming on the internet.
Join White Conch on the first Sunday of every month for the practice of Ganden Lhagyama, The Hundred Deities of the Land of Joy. Via conference call. Next occurring on Feb 7, 2010.
Grand Transitions Institute on FaceBook
White Conch on FaceBook
Joyful Path Healing Center on FaceBook
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"Buddhism is more about human emotions. In the course of that
exploration, it will become obvious that most disturbances are
stimulated, not by external causes, but by such internal events as the
arising of disturbing emotions. The best antidote to these sources of
disruption will come about through enhancing our ability to handle these
emotions ourselves. Eventually we need to develop an awareness that
provides the ways and means to overcome negative, disturbing emotions
ourselves," His Holiness, the Dalai lama Jan 15, 2010
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What we are is the result of what we have thought, is built by our thoughts, is made up of our
thoughts. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows one like a shadow that never leaves.
"They insulted me; they hurt me; they defeated me; they cheated me." In those who harbor such thoughts, hate will never cease.
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Rinpoche in Hawai'i
On our first teaching visit to Hawai'i, Rinpoche was welcomed by a Hawaiian Kumu. See this brief video of the sacred dance of hula.
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How to be Happy,
Selection 1
If your mother
had her way, she would tell you, "Oh, my children, you just be
happy," and you would have instantly understood your mother's
wishes and complied with them perfectly. You would have never
suffered. She never intended to bear children to experience the
least amount of unhappiness, isn't that so? There is something
magic, I hear, although I do not have children, that happens when
people want to have children. They visualize that nothing bad and no
unhappiness will ever come to visit them.
From a teaching given Apr 17, 2008. Available as DVD, CD and MP3
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How to be Happy, Selection 2
In fact, your mother
may have been right because happiness in the natural state of the
mind. Therefore, unhappiness must be the unnatural state of the
mind, unnatural meaning unbalanced, meaning not poised, meaning out
of equilibrium, and I say bulging with an agenda that is weighing
down the mind. In this unbalanced state
of the unhappy mind, a cascade effect happens, and the first thing you do is
you produce a state of blaming - trying to figure out how it got
there and whose fault it was.
This blame arising in
you gives rise to a dysfunctional perceptual circus. The actual delusion is the practice of
blame, feeling disrespected, and then further noticing how that
feeling feels. This is the perceptual machinery
associated with the unhappy mind.
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Upcoming Events:
Feb 12-22, 2010 Teaching visit in Northern California Rinpoche will be teaching in Livermore, Oakland, Marin County, and Sebastopol, CA. Details here.
This yea r, Losar (the Tibetan New Year) falls on Valentine's Day in the west, and also during the Medicine Buddha retreat in Livermore. Although Rinpoche will be in retreat, we wish everyone a Happy Losar and Happy Valentine's Day.
Feb 27, 2010 Conscious End-of-Life Training Program Hospice Level 1, Modules 1-3 at Joyful path Healing Centerin Blue Mounds, WI
Mar 6-7, 2010: 24 Hour Mahayana Vows: A Joyful Path Event Save the Date: Sat Mar 6- Sun, Mar 7, 2010
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Give the Gift of Dharma
Red Lotus Buddhist Wisdom: Nice for a small coffee table book. Many people have already purchased as Christmas gifts We hope these inspirational and thought provoking quotations by the 9th Domo Geshe Rinpoche, accompanied by dramatic portraits of lotuses, will awaken your natural joy as they have for her many students over the years. Although Buddhism is ancient, it remains fresh and contemporary. Known for purity, peace, and tranquility, the teachings of Buddhism also instill strength and determination in us to rise from the mud of ordinary life and gain enlightenment, just as the lotus emerges triumphantly. Quotations by Domo Geshe Rinpoche are presented in graphics word art also created by Domo Geshe to emphasize the Buddhist concepts that can be used as meditations. Click on the picture (above) to order.
Price: $18.95 plus Shipping & Handling Mystery of Emptiness & Love: "There are Buddhist centers in nearly every town and city,
yet most people who are interested in spiritual development
never walk into one. You are probably like them, researching
on your own for many years before deciding to enter a group
setting. Perhaps you will never meet Buddhists face to face
but will choose to read and contemplate deep questions at
your own pace. Whether you are studying on your own or
under the guidance of a mentor, this book will assist you
in uncovering answers to some of the deepest questions
of philosophers and sincere thinkers about the nature of
reality (i.e., what is real). Based on common sense, in easy
language and with correct Buddhist reasoning, this guide will
guide and encourage you to put into practice the analysis of
reality, rather than simply acquire more knowledge. This
book will also act as an guide to many important points
regarding the core of Buddhist philosophy concerning
compassion combined with the nature of reality, what is
called �emptiness�. Click on the picture (above) to order.
Price: $16.95 plus Shipping & Handling
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How to be Happy, Selection 3
The view that you have
been traditionally taught about how to find happiness, generally
speaking, is about as nourishing as sweet-n-low artificial sugar
substitute. Even though they say that this is valuable, and this
will give you the good taste, and this is going to bring you the
happiness, there is nothing there! There is no nutrition there.
In truth, being happy
does not depend upon having successes or having our needs met in the
way we want them to be met. Sometimes, people get the thing they
want, but it was not done the way they wanted it to be done, so then
it becomes an unhappiness. Getting a raise happiness, getting a new
car happiness, or getting the final tin soldier in your antique
collection set happiness, are not the criteria of happiness. Our perceptions of what
is happiness and what is not happiness form our opinions of what we
seek and how we mold our goals. This mature individual
cannot take a short-term gain in happiness and a long-term loss as a
method. It would be like a farmer who eats the seed corn instead of
planting it. What comes very strongly nowadays is the environment,
using our environment only for our own pleasure and not thinking
about future generations. This is the short-term gain and long-term
loss. A satisfied mind brings happiness.
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" Another method of being
happy is to be in the present moment. Life is only lived in the
present moment. Please wake up to the living energies that surround
you and interpenetrate you. Do not be afraid to be here and be
alive! Yes, life is illusory, but the lessons are real! Allow
yourself to touch life and be part of the living stream of learning
and growth that is only possible if you are actually here.
Work
toward arising bodhichitta, the precious mind of enlightenment that
changes you from a high maintenance being to a benefit being.
Working for the benefit of sentient beings is true happiness because
it is in alignment with the nature of higher being. That nature of
higher being is in alignment toward perfection, the actual goal of
all living beings.
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~ Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~
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The Dharma is Free
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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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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