His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Ignorance 

54. 

Don’t just take for granted ideas forged by ignorance; look at the nature of ignorance itself. The hosts of thoughts, liberated by themselves as they arise, are awareness-void; This awareness-void is none other than the wisdom of the absolute expanse. In the self-liberation of ignorance, recite the six-syllable mantra

Ignorance here means ignorance of our own Buddha-nature. In this respect, we are as ignorant as a beggar with a precious jewel in his hand who, not recognizing how valuable it is, simply throws it away. It is because of ignorance that we are the slaves of our thoughts and cannot tell right from wrong. It is because of ignorance that we are blind to the law of cause and effect and refuse to believe that every action has a result. It is because of ignorance that we cannot accept the existence of past and future lives. It is because of ignorance that we have no confidence in the beneficial results of praying to the Three Jewels. It is because of ignorance that we do not recognize the truth of the Dharma. Ignorance is at the very root of the eighty-four thousand negative emotions, for as long as we fail to see that the true nature of everything is voidness, we insist on believing that things really exist; and this is the source of all deluded perceptions and all negative thoughts. However, ignorance is not everlasting like the permanent darkness of a cavern deep underground. Like any other phenomenon, it can only have arisen from voidness and therefore can have no true existence. Once you recognize the void nature of ignorance, it turns into the wisdom of the absolute expanse. This is the wisdom mind of Chenrezi, the Buddha-nature, the essence of the Tathāgatas, which is present in all beings. Only because of ignorance, as the Buddha demonstrated, do we believe our deluded perception instead of recognizing this, our own nature. By establishing its void nature, recognize the dullness and delusion of ignorance as the absolute expanse itself. Then rest in that experience and practice the view, meditation, and action. This is the very heart essence of Chenrezi.

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THE HEART TREASURE OF THE ENLIGHTENED ONES

The Practice of View, Meditation, and Action A Discourse Virtuous in the Beginning, Middle, and End by Patrul Rinpoche With commentary by Dilgo Khyentse

Translated from the Tibetan by The Padmakara Translation Group

SHAMBHALA Boston & London 2012

The Karmapa. Ogyen Triney Dorje

From one perspective, my situation is unique. From another, it is not unique at all. I was given the grand title of Karmapa and informed from an early age that I had a responsibility  to feel concern for everyone I came into contact with, and to benefit the whole world. There is nothing unique about having this responsibility; what is unique is that I was made aware of having it. We all share the same responsibility to care for others and be of benefit to the world. My title simply draws my attention to that fact clearly and means I had people reminding me of my responsibilities and encouraging me to develop the ability to fulfill them. 

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INTERCONNECTED

Embracing Life in Our Global Society

The Karmapa. Ogyen Triney Dorje

Edited by Karen Derris and Damcho Diana 

Translated by Damcho Diana Finneg

Wisdom publications

GANDEN TRI RINPOCHE

Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo is the current Ganden Tripa, the head of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was appointed to this position on 24th June 2017.

The Genesa crystal

The Genesa crystal is a sacred geometric symbol: four woven circles forming a sphere composed of six squares and eight triangles. This is an elemental geometry reflecting the ancient wisdom of unity and the modern understanding of interconnectedness.

Budai

According to Chinese tradition, ‘Budai’ was an eccentric Chinese Zen monk who lived during the later Liang dynasty (907-923 AD) of China. He was a native of Fenghua and his Buddhist name was Qieci (Chinese : Pinyin). He was considered a man of good and loving character. Some Buddhist traditions consider him a Buddha or ‘Bodhisattva’, usually Maitreya (the future Buddha). His large protruding stomach and jolly smile have given him the common designation “Laughing Buddha”.