March 6th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
“What we have labeled as ‘mistakes’ are, in actuality, the seeds of personal transformation. It simply depends on your awareness.” – Through the Looking Glass of the Heart Retreat – 2008 (Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda)
March 4th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
We often allow ourselves to become disturbed by those who fail to recognise our attempts to do the right thing. We become agitated by the hypocrites, closet cases, hatemongers and bigots, when they attempt to justify their horrid behaviour, by casting aspersions upon others.
One of the monks living in the Desert Skete, Abba Lucas gathered the Desert Brothers together, and taught:
“May you all be forgotten.”
“But why?” one of the monks asked. “Does that mean that our example can never serve to help someone in need?”
“In the days when everyone was just,” the abbot replied, “ no one paid any attention to people who behaved in an exemplary manner. Everyone did their best, never thinking that by behaving thus they were doing their duty by their brother.
“They loved their neighbour because they understood that this was part of life, and that they were merely obeying a law of nature.
“They shared their possessions in order not to accumulate more than they could carry, for their journeys lasted an entire lifetime.
“They lived together in freedom, giving and receiving, making no demands on others and blaming no one.
“That is why their deeds were never spoken of and that is why they left no stories. If only we could achieve the same thing now: to make goodness such an ordinary thing that there would be no need to praise those who practise it.”
March 2nd, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
The Sakyong notes, "When we aren’t confused by our own mind, we’re afraid of it either, & we’re able to see what’s going on in the minds and hearts of others. – Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
February 28th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
The entire purpose of our spiritual practice is to develop mindfulness and to generate compassion. These give rise to wisdom and awakening. If our sadhana is not filled with awareness of the immense suffering in the world… if we are not aware that children are going to dying of hunger and disease… that animals are being tortured and slaughtered for selfish consumption… that people are being marginalised, disparaged and attacked… then our practice is without merit. Spiritual practice is the practice of mindfulness and engaged awareness. If mindfulness and compassion are not part of the practice, then it is escapism and egotism. It is showmanship and puffery.
Don’t tell me about the miraculous signs you invoke with your pujas, your Phowas, your mantras or your sadhana. Show me the beings you’ve fed, clothed, comforted, protected and cared for.
Act as though every action is multiplied ten million times everyday. Give with a heart that is overflowing. Follow the breath, and you will always find mindfulness and compassion there, in the moment.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
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“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion; Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom; Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces; O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa — Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows, Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”
February 27th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
The true essence of understanding and forgiveness is compassion. When we become aware of the physical, material, psychic and emotional suffering of others, it stirs up something within us that recognises our essential unity of nature, and compels us to do something to alleviate that suffering.
February 25th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
Genuine compassion need not be extraordinary. If you cannot do great things, do small things with great love as Teresa d’Avila taught. It was this essential idea that motivated the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, centuries later.
February 20th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we say that all actions undertaken during this lunar month are multiplied 100,000 times. Therefore, we mindfully engage in activities that we would like to develop as "better habits", and attempt to do good for others.
The following is an example of a tsog offering – an essential part of the Vajrayana practice, which enables us to move beyond the dualistic mindset.
Tsog offerings are made in our tradition on the 8th and 25th day of the lunar month, therefore Monday will be a Tsog Offering day. During the practice of tsog, one attempts to relax the body and mind, and even relax one’s speech. Releasing our bodies and speech brings us closer to the realisation of fundamental wisdom.
The tsog offering is very important for renewing commitments and averting obstacles. A tsog is an assembly of Heroes and Heroines (Daka and Dakini in Tibetan). We offer the tsog offering to the Field for Accumulating Merit, which includes the entire assembly of Heroes and Heroines.
When we make a tsog offering we should regard both those to whom the offering is made, and those who are making the offering, including ourselves, as Heroes and Heroines. The great 8th-century Buddhist scholar and Madhyamaka adherent, Shantideva said that a real Hero or Heroine is someone who has destroyed their self-cherishing mind, has conquered their delusions, and has developed the courage to help many living beings.
I encourage you to listen to this beautifully recorded tsog puja on Monday, so that even those who have not received the higher tantric empowerments can accumulate the merit and some significant benefits in this first month of the New Year.
Namasté
khenpo gurudas sunyatananda
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“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion; Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom; Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces; O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa — Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows, Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”
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Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Khenpo Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com
February 18th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
Sometimes, the best we can do is extraordinary. Other times, it may only seem to be mediocre. What’s important is that we simply do our best, for even within the seemingly mediocre are seeds of extraordinary potential and impact.
February 14th, 2010 by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda
“I teach about suffering and the way to end it,” Buddha Sakyamuni said, “Conquer the angry person by love. Conquer the ill-natured person by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with the truth.”
Buddha taught the the secret for both a healthy body and mind is not to mourn what happened in the past, nor cry over what could have been… not to become angst over what might happen in the future, or grasp at what we think will make us happy, but simply to live in the present moment with awareness.
At first, this might seem like a difficult path. We must begin by embracing the Four Noble Truths and actually come to understand them intellectually. As we grow in that understanding, we begin to practice (by means of the Noble Eightfold Path and our sadhana). With practice, we begin to see the Dharma, and from that clear sight, we realise awakening and the pervasive joy of Enlightenment.
Every child is a bit awkward the first time they get on a bicycle and attempt to ride. But they persevere, and with practice (and a few falls here and there) they develop the skills needed to ride. The Dharma is not unlike learning to ride that bike. Perhaps you and I will feel moments of awkwardness, uncertainty or fear from time to time. We may fall, and at times, get a bit scraped up. Yet our perseverance, daily practice and effort will yield skilful results in time.
“I teach about suffering and the way to end it,” Buddha Sakyamuni said, “Conquer the angry person by love. Conquer the ill-natured person by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with the truth.”
