ༀ་ཨཱཿ་ཧཱུྃ་

OM AH HUNG

嗡阿吽

Hello Reader, welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter! 🙌

This newsletter is curated by our Dharma friends. We wish to provide useful resources to help you learn Buddhism and apply the teachings to your life. ☸️

Buddhism 101

Dharma (Skt.; Tib. ཆོས་, chö, Wyl. chos) — the word used to refer to the teachings of the Buddha (Skt. Buddhadharma). It has many shades of meaning, including ‘the spiritual path’, or ‘spirituality’ in general. It also refers to phenomena, meaning things and events. See also ten meanings of Dharma. [source: Rigpa Shedra Wiki]

Reading

Many people often ask me a question: “For some reasons I started to have interests in Buddha Dharma. If I want to understand Buddha Dharma comprehensively, which book is the best to read?”

I would answer every time without hesitation: “Words of My Perfect Teacher and Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.”

---- Khenpo Sodargye

A Great Commentary on the Words of My Perfect Teacher

The Importance of The Preliminary Practice

It should be clear to many people that in Tibetan Buddhism, no matter which sect it is, there is a tradition of practicing the preliminaries before learning and practicing the highest tantra. Only after finishing the four or five preliminary practices will a qualified teacher teach you the Atiyoga such as Development Stage and Completion Stage. This is quite common in Tibetan Buddhism and is an extremely rigorous lamrim (staged practice).

[continue reading]

Khenpo’s Diamond - Living with wisdom

Do not lose your own path
Do not disturb other’s mind.

---- H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche

Dharma x Life

How to Deal With Depression?

In our time, many people suffer from depression. Fortunately, Dharma practice can cure or at least alleviate this mental affliction effectively. One practical way to break the chain of depression is to pray to the Buddha Akshobhya by chanting his mantra. Another way is to relax the mind through meditation. Give these suggestions a try and free yourself from the chain of depression.

...

I am confident in stating that through certain Buddhist practices, depression can be greatly alleviated and can even be cured. You can pray to Acala (who is said to be the emanation of Buddha Akshobhya) by chanting his mantra [Listen to the chanting by Khenpo Sodargye]:

oṃ caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa hūṃ phaṭ

Acala at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

This mantra can be of great help to you. You can also try relaxing your mind through meditation. Depression, as a disease that prevails in our time, is indeed a big issue of the age. What we can do is try not to allow ourselves become too attached to many things in the life, and learn to let things be. When our mind becomes more and more relaxed, then nothing can trouble us. I’m very confident of this. I hope all of you can pray sincerely.

[source]

Meditation

Sitting Meditation with Awareness of Breath:

Sitting in an erect and dignified posture: head, neck, and back straight, if that is possible for you;
Hands resting on your lap or on your legs, feet flat on the floor.
Closing or lowering your eyes, whichever is most comfortable for you. Alert and relaxed, allowing your body to become still…fully present to yourself.
Be aware of your thoughts: thoughts of anticipation, thoughts about feelings, thoughts about the past…
Noticing your emotions, perhaps asking yourself: How am I feeling right now? Am I peaceful, worried, frustrated…? And paying attention to your body, sort of “dropping” into your body for a few moments, and noticing how the body feels at this moment…
Not thinking about the breath, but feeling it. Feeling the direct sensation of the breath as it comes into the body and leaves the body.
Be aware of any feelings and thoughts, and bring the mind back to the breath.

Click here to listen guided meditation.

Recent updates

Youtube videos

Long Live Prayer for Khenpo Sodargye by H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche

The Key Point of Meditation (Peace)

Social media posts

Bodhi Institute of Compassion and Wisdom

@BICW_USA

All beings are naturally buddhas. However, this truth is concealed by adventitious stains. Once these stains are purified, their buddha nature is revealed.
— Hevajra Tantra  pic.twitter.com/2Hne9jeitw

June 29th 2022

Retweets

Likes

Upcoming Events

[Zoom] Weekly Preliminary Practice Study Group

Zoom ID: 605 544 4820 (passcode: 2021)
Every Sunday 4:00–5:30PM Pacific Time
Link to the class details

[Meetup] Why choose Tibetan Buddhism

2:00 to 3:00 PM Pacific Time (online event)
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Link to the event

[Meetup] Q&A on Tibetan Buddhism Practice and Meditation

5:30 -6:30 PM Pacific Time (online event)
Friday, July 29, 2022
Link to the event