The Dharma of Compassion

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.”

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Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

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.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

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.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

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Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

“When ignorance is our master there is no possibility of real peace.”  – His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama 

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

_____________________________________________

“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.”

_____________________________________________

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

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

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.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

“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.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

Today marks the last day of Vajrakilaya Puja – the sadhana which precedes Tibetan New Year (Losar) as a powerful means of removing obstacles, adversarial forces hostile to compassion and peace, and purification of our hearts and minds. The wrathful aspect of Heruka Vajrakilaya, the yidam deity associated with this puja represents the archetype of enlightened activities of all Enlightened Beings. While manifesting in wrathful appearance, the yidam deity is manifest compassion, destroying only that which impedes our spiritual growth and awakening.

Our morning began with Kali Puja, during which we offered all of our negative habits, thoughts and experiences to be burned in the Cremation Grounds, by the Primordial Mother – the archetype of our inner capacity to consume that which might otherwise consume us, overcome the ego and all adversarial forces, and emerge victorious.

The image above was taken in front of the beautiful new Thangka painting we received from His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Kechara House.

May all of us experience a New Year filled with peace, calm abiding, compassion and wisdom. May our lives be blessed with radiant health, goodness and love. And may all of those who suffer in Tibet, at the hands of their wicked oppressors, peacefully and victoriously emerge from that oppression, and regain their freedom. May all beings who suffer be freed from that suffering, especially those in Darfur, Uganda, Iran, Iraq, Haiti and Afghanistan. May those who are hungry be fed;. those who are homeless, find shelter; those who are sick and dying, comfort and clarity; and may all of the animals who suffer, especially those in Mongolia, be freed from their suffering.

For the long life of our Teachers, Venerable Tenzin Yangchen Ma, His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and His Eminence the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. And that my work always be mindful of the karmic debt I have to my beloved teachers, our sacred lineage, and most especially to my Supreme Guru Je Tsongkhapa, Losang Dragpa – Crown Prince of the Sages of the Land of Snows.

Om Benzar Kilikilaya Sarwa Bignan Bam Hung Phat

LOSAR TASHI DELEK!

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

“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.”

_____________________________________________

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

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

Take ownership in your life! Your are the author of your experiences. Nisargadatta Maharaj wrote: "Whatever happens, happens to you, by you, through you; you are the creator, enjoyer and destroyer of all you perceive."

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

As you begin to move beyond the limitations and delusions of the conditioned mind, a calm sense of clarity emerges. From this transcendent wisdom, we are able to move beyond our dualistic perceptions of good/bad, right/wrong, us/them and find that limitless, timeless and ultimate reality… the Groundlessness or Void that penetrates everything we imagine to be real, through which both form and formlessness are actually one and the same. And that impenetrable, eternal groundlessness… is Love.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.