Tuesday, September 29, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Ocean of Dharma: Cultivating Mindfulness
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 29, 2009
CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS
Cultivating mindfulness is the attitude that allows us to see ourselves and our world quite accurately and precisely. When we talk about attitude in this context, we are talking about developing the awareness of mind, which is precisely what mindfulness is. Awareness of mind means that you are fundamentally aware and that your mind is aware of yourself. In other words, you're aware that you're aware. You are not a machine; you are an individual person relating with what's happening around you. Mindfulness is developing this sense of being.
From "Meditation: Touch and Go," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY. Coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"Chogyam Trungpa's vision of fearlessness as honesty, joyfulness, sadness, and openness is inspiring and particularly relevant to our historical moment."-- Norman Fischer
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Of interest to readers:
Join the Shambhala Sun magazine in San Francisco this weekend, October 2-4, for an "Urban Retreat" exploring the theme, Wisdom for Difficult Times: What the Buddhists Teach. The Shambhala Sun will be joined by eminent teachers Sylvia Boorstein, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Zoketsu Norman Fischer -- three great teachers from three major Buddhist traditions, teaching together for the first time. This special weekend will include talks, meditation sessions, questions, and discussion. For more, visit www.shambhalasun.com/urbanretreat
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,819 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Ocean of Dharma: Open Your Parachute
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 26, 2009
OPEN YOUR PARACHUTE
The only way to relax with yourself is to open your heart. Then you have a chance to see who you are. This experience is like opening a parachute. When you jump out of an airplane and open the chute, you are there in the sky by yourself. Sometimes it is very frightening, but on the other hand, when you take this step, the whole situation, the whole journey, makes sense. You have to actually do it, and then you will understand.
From "Facing Yourself," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY, coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"The teachings presented in this book are transformational -- and especially relevant today, when so many of us are facing uncertainty and anxiety. Chogyam Trungpa shows us how to uncover our innate strength, confidence, and joy under any circumstances. I strongly recommend this book to all those seeking awakening and freedom." --Pema Chodron
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Of interest to subscribers: Join Pema Chodron at Omega Institute when she presents teachings from SMILE AT FEAR, October 30 to November 1. Carolyn Gimian will present the meditation instruction for the weekend. Register at: http://eomega.org/omega/workshops/3ab29488839b6f302d06b9b8d693c80e/
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,775 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Ocean of Dharma: Thoughts Are Not VIPs
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 23, 2009
THOUGHTS ARE NOT VIPS
Usually, if you have mental chatter, you call it your thoughts. But if you have deeply involved emotional chatter, you give it special prestige. You think those thoughts deserve the special privilege of being called emotion. Somehow, in the realm of actual mind, things don't work that way. Whatever arises is just thinking: thinking you're horny, thinking you're angry. As far as meditation practice is concerned, your thoughts are no longer regarded as VIPs, while you meditate. You think, you sit; you think, you sit; you think, you sit. You have thoughts, you have thoughts about thoughts. Let it happen that way. Call them thoughts.
From "Meditation: Touch and Go," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY. Coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"Chogyam Trungpa's vision of fearlessness as honesty, joyfulness, sadness, and openness is inspiring and particularly relevant to our historical moment."-- Norman Fischer
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Of interest to readers:
Join the Shambhala Sun magazine in San Francisco, October 2-4, for an "Urban Retreat" exploring the theme, Wisdom for Difficult Times: What the Buddhists Teach. The Shambhala Sun will be joined by eminent teachers Sylvia Boorstein, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Zoketsu Norman Fischer -? three great teachers from three major Buddhist traditions, teaching together for the first time. This special weekend will include talks, meditation sessions, questions, and discussion. For more, visit www.shambhalasun.com/urbanretreat
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,755 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 23, 2009
THOUGHTS ARE NOT VIPS
Usually, if you have mental chatter, you call it your thoughts. But if you have deeply involved emotional chatter, you give it special prestige. You think those thoughts deserve the special privilege of being called emotion. Somehow, in the realm of actual mind, things don't work that way. Whatever arises is just thinking: thinking you're horny, thinking you're angry. As far as meditation practice is concerned, your thoughts are no longer regarded as VIPs, while you meditate. You think, you sit; you think, you sit; you think, you sit. You have thoughts, you have thoughts about thoughts. Let it happen that way. Call them thoughts.
From "Meditation: Touch and Go," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY. Coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"Chogyam Trungpa's vision of fearlessness as honesty, joyfulness, sadness, and openness is inspiring and particularly relevant to our historical moment."-- Norman Fischer
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Of interest to readers:
Join the Shambhala Sun magazine in San Francisco, October 2-4, for an "Urban Retreat" exploring the theme, Wisdom for Difficult Times: What the Buddhists Teach. The Shambhala Sun will be joined by eminent teachers Sylvia Boorstein, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Zoketsu Norman Fischer -? three great teachers from three major Buddhist traditions, teaching together for the first time. This special weekend will include talks, meditation sessions, questions, and discussion. For more, visit www.shambhalasun.com/urbanretreat
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,755 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Healing Our Wound
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 20, 2009
HEALING OUR WOUND
The term "warrior" in the Shambhala tradition is a translation of the Tibetan word pawo. Pa means "brave," and wo makes it "a person who is brave." The warrior tradition we are discussing is a tradition of bravery. You might have the idea of a warrior as someone who wages war. But in this case, we are not talking about warriors as those who engage in warfare. Warriorship here refers to fundamental bravery and fearlessness. Warriorship is based on overcoming cowardice and our sense of being wounded.If we feel fundamentally wounded, we may be afraid that somebody is going to put stitches in us to heal our wound. Or maybe we have already had the stitches put in, but we dare not let anyone take them out. The approach of the warrior is to face all those situations of fear or cowardice. The general goal of warriorship is to have no fear. But the ground of warriorship is fear itself. In order to be fearless, first we have to find out what fear is.
From "Facing Yourself," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY, coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"This is powerful dharma encouragement to awaken our own fearless and wise heart - from one of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times." - Jack Kornfield
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,723 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week::
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 20, 2009
HEALING OUR WOUND
The term "warrior" in the Shambhala tradition is a translation of the Tibetan word pawo. Pa means "brave," and wo makes it "a person who is brave." The warrior tradition we are discussing is a tradition of bravery. You might have the idea of a warrior as someone who wages war. But in this case, we are not talking about warriors as those who engage in warfare. Warriorship here refers to fundamental bravery and fearlessness. Warriorship is based on overcoming cowardice and our sense of being wounded.If we feel fundamentally wounded, we may be afraid that somebody is going to put stitches in us to heal our wound. Or maybe we have already had the stitches put in, but we dare not let anyone take them out. The approach of the warrior is to face all those situations of fear or cowardice. The general goal of warriorship is to have no fear. But the ground of warriorship is fear itself. In order to be fearless, first we have to find out what fear is.
From "Facing Yourself," in SMILE AT FEAR: AWAKENING THE TRUE HEART OF BRAVERY, coming in October from Shambhala Publications.
"This is powerful dharma encouragement to awaken our own fearless and wise heart - from one of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times." - Jack Kornfield
Pre-Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-696-3.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,723 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week::
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Meditation as Sacrifice
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 15, 2009
MEDITATION AS SACRIFICE
The practice of meditation is largely based on some kind of sacrifice and openness. Such sacrifice is necessary and has to be personally experienced. Ordinarily, we might sacrifice something for the sake of developing goodness, or because we are willing to suffer on behalf of humanity. However, the sacrifice that has been recommended in the Buddhist tradition is to sacrifice something without any purpose....Sacrificing something without a purpose is outrageous and precisely heroic and fantastic; it is very beautiful. The practice of meditation is sacrifice and openness without techniques, without means, without gloves, pliers or hammers. You have to use your bare hands, bare feet, bare head, to relate with the whole thing.
From "Is Meditation Therapy?" in THE SANITY WE ARE BORN WITH, condensed from pages 183-184.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-090-9.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,688 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 15, 2009
MEDITATION AS SACRIFICE
The practice of meditation is largely based on some kind of sacrifice and openness. Such sacrifice is necessary and has to be personally experienced. Ordinarily, we might sacrifice something for the sake of developing goodness, or because we are willing to suffer on behalf of humanity. However, the sacrifice that has been recommended in the Buddhist tradition is to sacrifice something without any purpose....Sacrificing something without a purpose is outrageous and precisely heroic and fantastic; it is very beautiful. The practice of meditation is sacrifice and openness without techniques, without means, without gloves, pliers or hammers. You have to use your bare hands, bare feet, bare head, to relate with the whole thing.
From "Is Meditation Therapy?" in THE SANITY WE ARE BORN WITH, condensed from pages 183-184.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-090-9.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,688 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Saturday, September 12, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: A Star in the Middle of a New-Moon Night
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 12, 2009
A STAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEW-MOON NIGHT
The contrast to samsara, or confused existence, is nirvana, or peace. At this point, however, we don't have anything but samsara and little points of light that arise from the midst of darkness. Our first alternative to samsara is the practice of awareness or mindfulness, which brings us through the journey of the four noble truths. The practice of meditation seems to be the only way. We have to come back to becoming the Buddha. The third noble truth is very simple: nirvana is possible. Before you have complete cessation, you have to have a message that it is possible to have complete cessation. That message is like seeing a star in the middle of the sky on a new-moon night. Eventually, you are inspired by the crescent moon, the full moon, and then by the dawn -- and finally you are inspired by the whole thing.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Page 67.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,685 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 12, 2009
A STAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEW-MOON NIGHT
The contrast to samsara, or confused existence, is nirvana, or peace. At this point, however, we don't have anything but samsara and little points of light that arise from the midst of darkness. Our first alternative to samsara is the practice of awareness or mindfulness, which brings us through the journey of the four noble truths. The practice of meditation seems to be the only way. We have to come back to becoming the Buddha. The third noble truth is very simple: nirvana is possible. Before you have complete cessation, you have to have a message that it is possible to have complete cessation. That message is like seeing a star in the middle of the sky on a new-moon night. Eventually, you are inspired by the crescent moon, the full moon, and then by the dawn -- and finally you are inspired by the whole thing.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Page 67.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,685 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Sunday, September 6, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Ping Pong Ball Has a Gap
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 6, 2009
THE PING PONG BALL HAS A GAP
It is possible to undo the mythical, fictional aspect of the cessation of suffering and to experience a glimpse of cessation as reality, although it may be only a very short, small glimpse. The first step is to realize you are in the samsaric mess, the mess of confused existence. Although many people have heard this for years, they still do not actually recognize that they are being Ping-Pong balled. That is precisely why you are in samsara, confusion -- because you know what you are doing, but you still keep doing it. However, in being a Ping Pong ball there are still gaps of not being one. There are gaps in which something else is experienced. In fact, during that Ping-Pong-Balling, another experience takes place constantly: the experience of awareness. You being to realize what you are, who you are, and what you are doing.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Page 66.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,675 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 6, 2009
THE PING PONG BALL HAS A GAP
It is possible to undo the mythical, fictional aspect of the cessation of suffering and to experience a glimpse of cessation as reality, although it may be only a very short, small glimpse. The first step is to realize you are in the samsaric mess, the mess of confused existence. Although many people have heard this for years, they still do not actually recognize that they are being Ping-Pong balled. That is precisely why you are in samsara, confusion -- because you know what you are doing, but you still keep doing it. However, in being a Ping Pong ball there are still gaps of not being one. There are gaps in which something else is experienced. In fact, during that Ping-Pong-Balling, another experience takes place constantly: the experience of awareness. You being to realize what you are, who you are, and what you are doing.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Page 66.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,675 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Ping Pong Ball of Fixation
Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week
September 2, 2009
THE PING PONG BALL OF FIXATION
The cause of samsara, or ultimate confusion, is holding on to vague concepts. That is what is called fixation, or in Tibetan, dzinpa. When we do not have clear perception, we must hang on to vagueness and uncertainty. In doing so, we begin to behave like a Ping-Pong ball, which does not possess any intelligence but only follows the directions of the paddle....Whatever we do, our actions are not perfectly right because, based on this neurotic game, we keep being Ping-Ponged. Although it may appear that the Ping-Pong ball is commanding the players, although it seems amazing that such a little ball has so much power to direct the players' actions and even draw spectators to watch it going back and forth -- actually, that is not true. The Ping-Pong ball is just a ball. It does not have any intelligence; it's just operating on reflex....As the Ping-Pong Ball, you feel very dizzy and you ache all over your body because you've been bounced back and forth so much. The sense of pain is enormous. That is the definition of samsara, or confused existence.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Pages 65 to 66.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,665 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
September 2, 2009
THE PING PONG BALL OF FIXATION
The cause of samsara, or ultimate confusion, is holding on to vague concepts. That is what is called fixation, or in Tibetan, dzinpa. When we do not have clear perception, we must hang on to vagueness and uncertainty. In doing so, we begin to behave like a Ping-Pong ball, which does not possess any intelligence but only follows the directions of the paddle....Whatever we do, our actions are not perfectly right because, based on this neurotic game, we keep being Ping-Ponged. Although it may appear that the Ping-Pong ball is commanding the players, although it seems amazing that such a little ball has so much power to direct the players' actions and even draw spectators to watch it going back and forth -- actually, that is not true. The Ping-Pong ball is just a ball. It does not have any intelligence; it's just operating on reflex....As the Ping-Pong Ball, you feel very dizzy and you ache all over your body because you've been bounced back and forth so much. The sense of pain is enormous. That is the definition of samsara, or confused existence.
From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation, Pages 65 to 66.
Order your copy at:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm
Ocean of Dharma now has 7,665 subscribers.
Please send comments to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian, at carolyn@shambhala.com.
Teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE, unsubscribe, see the quotes online or read the Ocean of Dharma blog, visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)