Ocean of Dharma: March 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Becoming Real Buddhas

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 30, 2009

BECOMING REAL BUDDHAS

The person who has already experienced the cessation of suff ering is the Buddha. The Sanskrit word buddha is translated into Tibetan as sanggye. Sang means "awake," and gye means "expansion," or "blossoming." The word sang is related with awakening from the sleep of pain; and within the pain, suff ering, and unawareness, gye is like a blossoming flower....What we are trying to do is to become sanggye. We are trying to blossom. We're trying to be wakeful. That is precisely what we are doing. Quite possibly we have a glimpse of sanggye happening endlessly. Although we may think that we are fooling ourselves -- and sometimes we are fooling ourselves --that element of wakefulness takes place constantly. According to the third noble truth, cessation is possible. On the path of the four noble truths we are trying to become buddhas, real buddhas, real sanggyes.

From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation. Order your copy at:

http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm

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Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Waking from a Deep Sleep

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 26, 2009

WAKING FROM A DEEP SLEEP

If somebody is waking for the first time from a deep sleep, she might see the midnight stars. But if she waits long enough without going back to sleep, she will begin to see not only stars but the dawn, then the sunrise, and then the whole landscape being lit by a brilliant light coming from the sky. She will begin to see her hands, her palms, her toes, and she will also begin to see her tables, her chairs, and the world around her. And if she is clever enough to look at a mirror, she will also see herself. Similarly, the truth of the cessation of suffering is a personal discovery. It is not mystical and it does not have any connotations of religion or psychology. It is simply your experience.

From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation. Forthcoming from Shambhala Publications. Pre-order your copy at:

http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,986 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Truth of Cessation

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 22, 2009

THE TRUTH OF CESSATION

The third noble truth that the Buddha taught is the truth of cessation. The truth of cessation (gokpa) is related to the concept of tharpa, or �liberation.� In discussing the possibility of cessation, we should get rid of fictitious stories about how great it is to get there and become somebody at last. Such ideas may be obstacles. In relating to cessation, the question is whether we have to use our imagination or whether we actually can experience a sense of relief or freedom. The truth of the matter is, that in regard to cessation, imagination does not play a very important role. It does not help at all in getting results. The experience of cessation is very personal and very real, like the practice of meditation. Generally, however, our experiences of freedom or liberation are quite sparse and minute -- and when we do have an occasional glimpse of freedom, we try to catch it, so we lose it. But it is possible to extend such glimpses.

From "Awakening and Blossoming," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation. Forthcoming from Shambhala Publications. Pre-order your copy at:

http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,956 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week:The Psychology of Richness

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 18, 2009

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RICHNESS

Even if you don't have a full, plentiful bank account, you can still inspire other people. You can inspire them to build richness in themselves. It is not so much a question of simply buying a cow in the autumn, when it has abundant milk. We are talking about buying a cow in the spring. Later on it might have an abundance of milk. Therefore, we buy cows who have gone through the hardships of winter, but who also have sizeable udders that might full up with milk later....When autumn comes they will give lots of milk, and we can make lots of cheese and butter. Fundraising can be a process like that. When the first panic comes -- no bank account, no money -- you don't declare your poverty. You find that there is a way to adopt the psychology of richness and nonattachment.

From "Paramita Practice: Generosity," in THE 1980 HINAYANA-MAHAYANA TRANSCRIPTS, page 111.

Of Interest to Readers:

Many of the world's leading Tibetan-English translators are attending a conference, Translating the Words of the Buddha, hosted by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and the Khyentse Foundation, and chaired by the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. The conference ends March 20 and is taking place at Deer Park Institute in Bir, India. The conference has received the blessings and support of the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa, and Sakya Trizin.

Last chance to join in sending thanks to these translators, who work so diligently to bring us the Tibetan teachings in our own Western languages. For the next 24 hours, you can do so by signing a "petition" of thanks at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dharmatranslation?e
Your good wishes will be delivered to all the translators who are attending the conference. In addition to the general text, you can send personalized good wishes. The text of the letter reads:

Dear Dharma Translators,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you are doing to translate and transmit the Dharma to westerners. Without you, we couldn't practice or study the Dharma, so we are hugely grateful for your incredible gift to us! May your current deliberations in Bir, India, bring the Buddha's words and teachings to countless beings.

With warmest wishes for a very successful gathering,

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,934 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Friday, March 13, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Thanks to the Translators

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 14, 2009

THANKS TO THE TRANSLATORS

I feel highly inspired by the translation work that I and my students have done. I am realizing for the first time that the basically theistic English language has now been blessed by the Practice Lineages and is becoming a great medium for expressing the nontheistic, enlightened dharma. I and my translators have worked very hard and feel somewhat proud of what we have produced.

From "Foreword" to THE RAIN OF WISDOM, page xi.

Of Interest to Readers:
Many of the world's leading Tibetan-English translators are gathering this weekend for a conference, Translating the Words of the Buddha, hosted by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and the Khyentse Foundation, and chaired by the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. The conference runs from March 15 through March 20 at Deer Park Institute in Bir, India. The conference has received the blessings and support of the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa, and Sakya Trizin. Today's quote, written in 1980, is offered in honor of this event.

If you would like to join in sending thanks to these translators, who work so diligently to bring us the Tibetan teachings in our own Western languages, you can do so by signing a "petition" of thanks at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dharmatranslation?e
Your good wishes will be delivered to all the translators who are attending the conference. In addition to the general text, you can send personalized good wishes. The text of the letter reads:

Dear Dharma Translators,

With warmest wishes for a very successful gathering,

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,902 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Take Another Step

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 12, 2009

TAKE ANOTHER STEP

Whenever there is doubt, that creates another step on your staircase. Doubt is telling you that you need to take another step. Each time there is an obstacle, you go one step further, beyond it, step by step. You walk or you jump one step at a time until you see the Great Eastern Sun. I wouldn't suggest that in the beginning you look at the Great Eastern Sun directly -- the light might burn you -- but I wouldn't suggest you wear sun glasses all the time either. In the shade of fearlessness, you can appreciate the light that comes from the Great Eastern Sun and then you can appreciate how it illuminates the colors of everything around you. Then slowly but surely, you will actually see the Great Eastern Sun directly without it blinding you. That is the warrior�s way, and that is the way that we can conquer fear.

From "Conclusion," in CONQUERING FEAR: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery. Forthcoming, August 2009 from Shambhala Publications.

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,893 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Monday, March 9, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Patterns That Cause Suffering

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 9, 2009

PATTERNS THAT CAUSE SUFFERING

The origin of suffering, strangely, can come either from trying to be highly disciplined and aware or from completely losing one�s awareness. Generally, if you are not mindful and aware, suffering begins to arise; whereas, if you are mindful and aware, suffering does not arise. However, suffering can also come from using your awareness discipline as a means of securing yourself by developing set patterns in life. Ego-oriented patterns arise from both attitudes and actions, and lead to suffering. They include (1) regarding the five skandhas, or aspects of ego, as belonging to oneself, (2) protecting oneself from impermanence, (3) believing that one�s view is best, (4) believing in the extremes of nihilism (that nothing matters) and eternalism (that things last forever), as well as the extreme emotions of (5) passion, (6) aggression, and (7) ignorance....

As a practitioner, you realize that these patterns don't particularly go away, but at least you know what they are all about, and as you go along, you will probably know what you should do about it. You may think that once the dharma or the truth has been spoken, it should solve those problems automatically, but that is not the case. First you have to get into the dharma; then you can think about what you can do. Unless you are a businessman, you can't discuss bankruptcy.

From "The Development of Set Patterns," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation. Forthcoming from Shambhala Publications. Pre-order your copy at:

http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-668-0.cfm

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,875 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Friday, March 6, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Relating with the Subtleties of Thoughts

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 6, 2009

RELATING WITH THE SUBTLETIES OF THOUGHTS

The connection between small ideas and large ideas is very important. For instance, sudden dramas, such as murdering somebody or creating immense chaos, begin on the level of minute concepts and tiny shifts of attention. Something large is being triggered by something quite small. The first little hint of dislike or attraction for somebody eventually escalates and brings on a much more immense scale of emotional drama or psychodrama. So everything starts on a minute scale, at the beginning, and then expands….Although emotions are seemingly very heavy-handed, large-scale, and crude, they have their origin in the subtle twists that take place in our mind constantly….We experience the arising of such thoughts right now, all the time. It is possible for people who have been practicing meditation and studying the teachings, who are opened up and intrigued, to see this pattern. If you have been practicing, you are somewhat raw and unskinned, which is good. Being able to relate with the subtleties of mental shifts is connected with the principle of paying attention to every activity that we do in smaller doses.

From "The Power of Flickering Thoughts," in THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING: and the Path of Liberation. Forthcoming from Shambhala Publications.

Of interest to Ocean of Dharma subscribers:

A weekend conference on Mindfulness, Love and Relationship sponsored by the Omega Institute and the Shambhala Sun Foundation will take place April 3 to 5 in New York City. The presenters are Sylvia Boorstein, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, John Tarrant, and Polly Young-Eisendrath. A chance for those with an interest in meditation and the contemplative traditions to bring this together with the thorny issues of love and relationship that we all face. These teachings are part of the "What the Buddhists Teach" series. For registration and further information, go to:

https://www.eomega.org/omega/registration/workshop/38667fdf3f5bf8b8e192cc6e5a3b78ec/

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Carolyn Rose Gimian

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.
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Carolyn Rose Gimian

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 visit the website at http://oceanofdharma.com
For the Chogyam Trungpa Legacy Project and the blog of Carolyn Gimian go to: http://ChogyamTrungpa.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Awareness of the Teacher

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

March 3, 2009

AWARENESS OF THE TEACHER

As a dharmic person, a practitioner, you also have awareness of the teacher and of other realized people whom you are studying with. The idea is to be without shyness and to be able to relate with your teacher, who in the hinayana tradition is an elder. You relate to the teacher as somebody who has accomplished the path already. Because you are without shyness, you can relate with the teacher and emulate him or her properly and fully. You have a sense of appreciation that you are and will be part of a certain tradition, a certain discipline. You have as an example a teacher who is behaving in a way that you should behave, and you have some sense of sacredness in studying and listening to the teacher.

From "Seven Characteristics of a Dharmic Person," in THE COLLECTED WORKS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA, Volume Two, pages 488.

Of interest to Ocean of Dharma subscribers:

A weekend conference on Mindfulness, Love and Relationship sponsored by the Omega Institute and the Shambhala Sun Foundation will take place April 3 to 5 in New York City. The presenters are Sylvia Boorstein, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, John Tarrant, and Polly Young-Eisendrath. A chance for those with an interest in meditation and the contemplative traditions to bring this together with the thorny issues of love and relationship that we all face. These teachings are part of the "What the Buddhists Teach" series. For registration and further information, go to:

https://www.eomega.org/omega/registration/workshop/38667fdf3f5bf8b8e192cc6e5a3b78ec/

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,862 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.