Taking Refuge in the Sangha: Growing into Peace Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / January 18, 2018 The prevalence of technology in modern society presents us with a dilemma: the more dependent we become, the greater the chances that we begin to see technology as a sort of savior, as something that will become our ultimate friend, our source of joy and comfort. Our love affair with technology increases day by day, […] Taking Refuge in the Sangha: Growing into Peace Read More »
Universal Tender Heart and Universal Responsibility Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / August 15, 2017 As human beings we share in common our universal tender heart. Every move and response we make comes from our tender heart. This responsiveness has no beginning nor end; it is ongoing, from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep. For short periods of time, when we are deep asleep, Universal Tender Heart and Universal Responsibility Read More »
Living Life in Accordance with Natural Power: Part 2: Karma, Equality and Guaranteed Rights Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / August 3, 2017 As human beings, we naturally desire to be happy and free from suffering. In America, this desire translates into an expectation of guaranteed rights: the right to happiness, prosperity, freedom, and so forth. This guarantee of rights is just another idealistic view, and it fosters much resentment among Americans. For instance, we automatically assume we Living Life in Accordance with Natural Power: Part 2: Karma, Equality and Guaranteed Rights Read More »
Living Life in Accordance with Natural Power: Part 1 – Resistance, Surrender & Karma Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / June 22, 2017 There are two types of power. The first type of power is natural power, or things as they are. “Things as they are” means that there are naturally occurring relationships between all phenomena. For instance, if you pour water on a fire, the fire will go out. You do not need to add anything to Living Life in Accordance with Natural Power: Part 1 – Resistance, Surrender & Karma Read More »
The Basis of Happiness: Confronting the Authority Within Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / June 6, 2017 There’s no doubt that each of us wants to be happy; but happiness doesn’t come on demand. Not many people actually believe that “happiness is freedom from the suffering that our mind creates.” Even though we may want it, we won’t get this kind of happiness or peace on demand, by willing it or trying The Basis of Happiness: Confronting the Authority Within Read More »
Peace Talk: The Power of Supplication Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / May 1, 2017 In the last few years in the Middle East, hundreds of thousands of people have died, been injured, lost loved ones, and lost homes and livelihoods. Even if all American objectives were attained at a minimal cost, America will still have to suffer the repercussions of having increased the number of its enemies. And there Peace Talk: The Power of Supplication Read More »
Bearing Chyoshe: Experiencing Sadness as Freedom Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / March 15, 2017 When we feel negative feelings or aggression towards others, if we look at our mind honestly and very openly, we will discover that those feelings are nothing other than our own attachments manifesting. Consider this: whomever we think is close to us now, and for whom we have warm feelings toward now, all these relations Bearing Chyoshe: Experiencing Sadness as Freedom Read More »
Taking Refuge in the Sangha: The Training Ground for Harmony with the World Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / January 19, 2017 In spiritual communities, just as in society, there are different views, different personalities, and so conflicts do occur. Reflecting on this fact, and how harmony within the sangha leads to harmony within society, maybe we can address how to work with those examples. First to say, as much as we are American, as much as Taking Refuge in the Sangha: The Training Ground for Harmony with the World Read More »
Finding Compassion Through Pain Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / December 15, 2016 When you hit the bottom of all your resources of trying to apply so many kinds of remedies to the pain, and all of them have failed, then there comes a sense of fearlessness. A fearlessness to directly engage with the pain in a very naked way. A courage to experience the pain as it Finding Compassion Through Pain Read More »
Dropping the Show Business: Shrinking Our Persona Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche / December 4, 2016 Wherever we go, we carry this “bigness” of ourselves, this huge persona and all that comes along with it. We are not ready to give up anything, or let go of anything – whether it is our aggression, our pride, our critical mind, or any of the things that make up our persona and our Dropping the Show Business: Shrinking Our Persona Read More »