Tag Archive for "dharma"
I recently found the movie The Yogis of Tibeton Stage6. It is a documentary about the Himalayan kingdom of Tibet and her Buddhist and Bon yogis.
You can watch the movie in its entirety here: Yogis Of Tibet.
This movie shows video from the Chinese invasion of Tibet while it also speaks about the one million Tibetans killed in that invasion and the years since then. Western countries have largely ignored this brutal holocaust in order to appease the Chinese government and promote trade with the commerce engine we know as China.
Tibetan yogis are not the yogis most westerners think of, the Hindu yogis. Hindu yogis are known for producing body-bending feats, but the Tibetan yogis are known rather for their practice of yoga of the mind.
In the film one lama comments that the definition of a yogi is someone who trains their mind to be “always at ease, always at peace.” Sounds to me that we should all strive for that. I have a hard time imaging a more compassionate practice than being at peace at all times. Stressful jobs, relationships, friendships - all of those would benefit.
Just for a moment, concentrate with me. Soften your eyes, relax your forehead, let the stress fall away like so much dust. Feel your breath, maybe for the first time today, maybe for the first time ever; really feel it. Take in a deep breath and with it, breathe in the energy that surrounds you, the energy that pervades the whole universe and feeds you even when you do not know it is there for you. Exhale and push out the suffering you have felt today. Exhale and push out the suffering of all those around you, your family, friends, coworkers, people on the street and all of the beings in the universe. Offer everyone this one quiet moment of peace.
Now, while you are momentairly stress-free and if you have any interest in Buddhadharma, Tibet, China, world economics or global politics; then please take the time to watch this amazing and beautiful documentary. Let me know what you think too.
A while back I read some articles on the Four Reminders and they made a lot of sense to me. They are the a way to think about ourselves and our place in the universe. A way to make some sense of it all and a way to keep the Dharma in mind.
- This chance is precious.
- We will all die.
- Samsara - suffering is everywhere.
- Karma is the law of the universe.
This is very foreign to many of us in the west, but also has a resonance about it. It just sounds familiar and right. I have nothing deep to depart with you today, just this small message that the 4 Reminders has for us. If you wish to learn more about the 4 Reminders, and I hope you do, please visit this link to read meditations written by Ven. Lama Norlha Rinpoche.
On a side note I found a small list of parenting and children’s books on the subject of the Buddha, the Dharma and other Buddhist related topics, I added a few more and so now I want to share this with you.
Books about parenting with Compassion:
- Dharma Family Treasures: Sharing Buddhism With Children, by Sandy Eastoak (Editor) (North Atlantic Books, 1997).
- Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting, by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn (Hyperion, 1998).
- The Family Meditation Book, by Kerry Lee Maclean (On the Spot! Books, 2004)
- Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children, by Sarah Napthali (Allen & Unwin, 2003)
- Buddha Mom: The Journey Through Mindful Mothering, by Jacqueline Kramer (Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2003)
- Zen Parenting: The Art of Learning What You Already Know, by Judith Costello (Robins Lane Press, 2004)
- Baby Buddhas: A Guide for Teaching Meditation to Children, by Lisa Desmond (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2004)
- Teaching Meditation to Children: A Practical Guide to the Use and Benefits of Meditation Techniques, by David Fontana and Ingrid Slack (Element Books, 1998)
- Karma Kids: Answering Everyday Parenting Questions With Buddhist Wisdom, by Greg Holden (Ulysses Press, 2004)
- The Way of Youth: Buddhist Common Sense for Handling Life’s Questions, by Daisaku Ikeda (Middleway Press, 2000)
- Your Children Will Raise You: The Joys, Challenges, and Life Lessons of Motherhood, edited by Eden Steinberg (Shambhala, 2005)
Children’s Books for many ages:
- Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young Buddhists, by Sumi D. Loundon and Jack Kornfield (Wisdom, 2001).
- Buddha’s Apprentices, More Voices of Young Buddhists, by Sumi Loundon and Sharon Salzberg (Wisdom, 2006).
- Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents, by Sarah Conover and Valerie Wahl (Eastern Washington University Press, 2001).
- The Hungry Tigress: Buddhist Myths, Legends, and Jataka Tales, by Rafe Martin (Yellow Moon Press, 1999).
- The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales, by Sherab Chodzin, Alexandra Kohn, Marie Cameron (Tricycle Press, 1998).
- The Rabbit Who Overcame Fear, by Eric Meller (Dharma Publishing, 1991).
- I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told, by Jeanne M. Lee (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1999).
- Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas, by Naomi C. Rose and Pasang Tenzin (Clear Light Publishing, 2004)
- Taking Our Places: The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up, by Norman Fischer (Harper SanFrancisco, 2004)
- Buddha in Your Backpack, by Franz Metcalf (Ulysses Press, 2002)
So there you go, more reading.
In Dharma,
Matt
Lama Dudjom Dorjee came back to Oklahoma City this past weekend for another Dharma Talk at Windsong Dojo. He mainly spoke about the Bardo, compassion and understanding. Toward the end of the talk Lama-la said that he has some small gifts for us if we were on the Dharma path. Most of us came forward in a single file line to receive his gifts. Most were given small pendents on a red string. Mine is a small pendent with White Tara on one side and what I will assume is her mandala on the other.
I knew a little bit about Tara already, but really only about her emanation as Green Tara, so I decided to do some reading and some meditating on White Tara. I found a great resource about Tara and in reading this page I quickly realized that I want to receive teachings from Lama Dorjee soon about Tara.
Compassion and Understanding struck a chord in me when Lama-la spoke that night. I am drawn to Chenrezig anyway, I suppose it was just who Chenrezig is that drew me to learn more and begin to meditate upon him. I mean, the sum of all the innumerable Buddha’s compassion; that is amazing. All the enlightened beings in creation consciously pour their compassion into one being for the good of all sentient beings.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Then to find out that Tara is the emanation of compassion and understanding that shown forth in Chenrezig, that just made sense to me. Lama-la saw right to the heart of me and handed me the prefect gift. A red string with a small pendent hanging from it; White Tara on one side and her mandala in thread on the other. Perfect.
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
Thank you Lama-la.