Take a Stroll in Your Mind

If time is circular, is this a New Year or is it recycled?

Walk the forest of your mind where your perceptions live wild or carefully cultivated. Is it a pleasant stroll, peaceful with the sun shining?
The Buddhadharma helps us become like good forestry managers, pruning out sick perceptions, which have taken over by blocking our inner light of wisdom. ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

""Geh spazieren im Wald Deines Geistes, wo Deine Wahrnehmungen wild oder sorgfältig kultiviert leben. Ist es ein angenehmer Bummel, ist er friedlich, während die Sonne scheint?
Das Buddhadharma hilft uns wie gute Förster zu werden und die kranken Wahrnehmungen herauszuschneiden, die Überhand nahmen, indem sie unser inneres Licht der Weisheit verdunkelten." - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---

Joyful Thinking: free podcast

Want to bring in the New Year with a new attitude? Listen to the last free podcast of 2010, JOYFUL THINKING. The secret to joyful thinking is closer than you may think. Come and learn the key to real joy and why joy is essential to a spiritual process aimed at achieving the perfected state. You don’t have to become dry and serious in order to be
spiritual.
The first 8 podcasts will expire Jan 1st 2011...

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/domo-geshe-rinpoche-teachings/id387058479

The Buddhist and the Angry Flight Attendant

At last! Prepared in mind as well as on paper for teachings beginning tomorrow... winter retreat in New Mexico .. Great Manjushri!

A dear student related a story of a difficult encounter on a plane with the flight attendant. This was my answer. Do a quick analysis. ‘when I asked the airline attendant for a pillow she wounded me with unspoken anger, for no reason at all ….grrrr. I have done nothing to harm her. Why is she harming me and making me upset? Grrrrr…..But wait…..grrrrrrr, now seems like a good time to apply the mind training aphorism number three! There could be an opportunity to transform this issue….grrrrr….into my enlightenment preparation process! Even though it seems incongruous, what she just did was the fault of my arch enemy, self-cherishing!’
Meanwhile, the attendant is still right there in your face, go on thinking, ‘This attendant is a sentient being, that’s for certain! In previous times when she was not the airline attendant and I was not the passenger, we were in another kind of relationship. When she was my mother of old, instead of repaying her kindness, I stimulated her negativity that obviously is still bothering her. Not only did I stimulate her at that time, during all of this time that I have not see her, she has been perpetrating negativity on others, for which I am indirectly responsible.’
This woman is, at the basis of her being, perfection. Now this lady has turned away, but you are still doing your analysis. Thinking, ‘How the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas emanate and manifest from perfection, (Oh, help me, I feel dizzy from trying!) ‘Okay, okay, deep breath. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas know that form is illusory. The nature of my being is also at its essence, perfection without obscuration. If the obstacles to perfection were gone, my life here would be like a Buddhas presence, but it is not. So, the appearance of what is happening is confused.’
This stranger is dear by action and by definition. This stranger is actually a friend, and I am not afraid of her. This friend is helping me on my way toward the transformed state of enlightenment. During this time we are together, while my karma is binding us here in this airplane, in this interaction, I will neither grasp after my friend nor push her away, but allow the causes and conditions to subside. These causes and conditions have arisen in dependence upon each other, and will definitely change when the causes and conditions cannot support the duration of our interaction.’ ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

"Eine liebe Schülerin erzählte davon, wie sie im Flugzeug eine schwierige Situation mit einer Flugbegleiterin hatte. Dies war meine Antwort. Mach eine schnelle Analyse. 'Als ich die Flugbegleiterin um ein Kissen bat verletzte sie mich gr...undlos mit unausgesprochener Wut...grrrr. Ich habe nichts getan, um sie zu verletzen. Warum verletzt sie mich und macht mich wütend?
Grrrrr.... Aber halt......grrrrrr, jetzt scheint ein guter Moment zu sein, um Aphorismus Nr. 3 der Geistesschulung anzuwenden! Es könnte eine Chance sein, dieses Problem zu transformieren.... grrrrrr.... als Teil meines Vorbereitungsprozesses auf die Erleuchtung! Obwohl es voller Ungereimtheiten zu sein scheint, war das was sie getan hat der Fehler meines Erzfeindes, der Egozentrik!'
Unterdessen, während die Flugbegleiterin noch direkt vor Dir steht, denke folgendes: 'Diese Flugbegleiterin ist ein fühlendes Wesen, soviel steht fest! In früheren Zeiten, als sie keine Flugbegleiterin war und ich kein Passagier, hatten wir eine andere Art von Beziehung. Als sie dereinst meine Mutter war habe ich, anstatt ihre Güte zu erwidern ihre Negativität stimuliert, was sie offensichtlich noch heute quält. Nicht genug dass ich sie damals negativ stimuliert habe, sie hat auch während all der Zeit in der ich sie nicht sah negativ auf andere eingewirkt, wofür ich direkt verantwortlich bin.
Im Grunde ihres Wesens ist diese Frau die Vollkommenheit. Nun hat sich die Dame abgewandt, aber Du fährst mit Deiner Analyse fort. Du denkst: 'Wie sich die Buddhas und Bodhisattvas aus der Vollkommenheit emanieren und manifestieren (Oh, Hilfe, bei dem Versuch wird mir schwindlig!), okay, okay, tief durchatmen. Die Buddhas und Bodhisattvas wissen, dass Form illusorisch ist. Die Natur meines Wesens ist in seiner Essenz ebenfalls Vollkommenheit ohne Trübung. Wenn das was die Vollkommenheit verhindert verschwunden wäre würde mein Leben hier wie die Präsenz eines Buddhas sein, aber das ist es nicht. Also ist die Erscheinung dessen was passiert verworren.'
Diese Fremde ist gemäß Handlung und Definition wertvoll. Diese Fremde ist tatsächlich eine Freundin und ich habe keine Angst vor ihr. Diese Freundin hilft mir auf dem Weg hin zum transformierten Zustand der Erleuchtung. In dieser Zeit, die wir zusammen verbringen, während mein Karma uns hier in diesem Flugzeug verbindet, bei dieser Interaktion werde ich weder an diese Freundin anhaften noch sie wegstoßen, sondern ich werde den Usachen und Bedingungen erlauben abzuklingen. Diese Ursachen und Bedingungen sind in Abhängigkeit voneinander entstanden und werden sich definitiv verändern wenn Ursachen und Bedinungen die Fortdauer unserer Interaktion nicht länger unterstützen können.' " - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---

Prisoners of Compassion and Medicine Buddha

Blue Medicine Buddha – Sangye Menla – King of Doctors, was the in charge of medical knowledge to be disseminated as a spiritually facilitated process so people could stop worrying about their health and start worrying about existential problem of the unawakened state. ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

"Der blaue Medizinbuddha - Sangye Menla -, der König der Ärzte, war verantwortlich für die Verbreitung medizinischen Wissens in Form eines spirituellen Prozesses, damit die Menschen damit aufhören konnten sich über ihre Gesundheit Sorgen zu machen und sich stattdessen über das existenzielle Problem des unerwachten Zustands zu sorgen." - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Le Buddha Bleu de Médecine -Sangye Menla- le Roi des Docteurs, était celui en charge de répandre toute la connaissance médicale en la vulgarisant de façon à ce que les gens puissent arrêter de s'inquieter de leur santé et commencent plutôt à s'inquieter des problémes existentiels dus aux états d'hébétude.~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

Higher beings, such as bodhisattvas, find ordinary life painful unless there is great benefit for many to cause them to remain. I call them prisoners of compassion. ~ Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

""Höhere Wesen, wie die Bodhisattvas, empfinden das gewöhnliche Leben als schmerzhaft, es sei denn es entsteht daraus ein großer Nutzen für viele, der sie dazu veranlasst hierzubleiben. Ich nenne sie Gefangene des Mitgefühls." - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---"

Les êtres supérieurs, tels que les Boddhisattvas, trouvent que la vie ordinaire est douloureuse, jusqu'à ce qu'ils considérent qu'y demeurer procure un réel bénéfice à la plupart des gens. Je les appelle les prisonniers de la compassion..~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

Tibetan Buddhist Art and Modern Art Buddhas

The Hermitage- Buddhist events, retreats as well as my personal house in the Wisconsin countryside. Consecrated land dedicated for Buddhist activities and meditation. Norbu Retreat House, located a few minutes from the Hermitage on 65 wooded acres will be ready spring of 2011.

Tibetan Buddhist art is meant to be standardized with traditional proportions and coloring. They are meditation references that relate to the qualities and 32 marks of the Buddha and uplift the mind. I can appreciate some of the modern art Buddhas but really... so many do not depict serenity, wisdom and peace. Instead they show the face of the artist... sensual, distorted, suspicious, druggy looking eyes... blech!! ~~~~

""Tibetische buddhistische Kunst soll einem Standard entsprechen und traditionelle Proportionen und Farben haben. Diese sind Hinweise für die Meditation, die sich auf die Qualitäten und 32 Zeichen eines Buddha beziehen und den Geist erheben. Einige der Buddhas in der modernen Kunst gefallen mir, aber wirklich... so viele von ihnen stellen keine Heiterkeit, Weisheit oder Frieden dar. Stattdessen zeigen sie das Gesicht des Künstlers... sinnlich, verzerrt, misstrauisch, mit bedröhnt aussehenden Augen... Schrott!!" - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---"

Memory is a Fiction

Memory is a not very useful fiction because at best it is a fuzzy photo of an event, and at worst, a fantasy that does not touch the experience of the past. That is what we want, an authentic connection to our past. Memory does not offer this and in addition, robs us of the opportunity to experience the present. ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~

""Die Erinnerung ist eine nicht sehr nützliche Fiktion, weil sie bestenfalls ein unscharfes Foto eines Ereignisses ist und schlimmstenfalls eine Phantasievorstellung, die das vergangene Erlebnis nicht einmal berührt. Aber was wir wollen ist eine authentische Verbindung mit der Vergangenheit. Die Erinnerung bietet uns das nicht und beraubt uns außerdem der Möglichkeit die Gegenwart zu erleben." - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---"

Blessings on the Wind Return

The heartbeat of original mind is yours!

The prayer flags outside my window are flapping... I fancy that they are receiving the blessing that they sent that-a-way, which went full around the earth; returning to bless the blessor! ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

""Die Gebetsfahnen vor meinem Fenster flattern... ich stelle mir vor, dass sie die Segnungen wieder...erhalten, die sie ausgesandt haben und die um die ganze Erde gingen; sie kehren zurück, um die Segnenden zu segnen!" - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---

Who We Are Not

The heart knows; how kind it is, waiting for the mind to awaken. ~DGR ~~~

Within the vast path of healing purification, we gradually become aware of how strongly we are enmeshed in an existential dilemma. The Buddhas core teachings of the four noble truths, and understanding dependent arising shake us out of complacency, making us fresh and clean again. These wonderful ideas stimulate new viewpoints in us, not so much helping us learn who we are, but who we are not. ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

""Innerhalb des großen Pfads heilender Reinigung wird uns allmählich bewusst, wie stark wir in ein existenzielles Dilemma verstrickt sind. Die Kernlehren des Buddhas über die vier edlen Wahrheiten und das Verständnis abhängigen Entstehens rütteln uns aus unserer Gleichgültigkeit auf und lassen uns wieder frisch und rein werden. Diese wunderbaren Ideen regen neue Sichtweisen in uns an und helfen uns nicht so sehr dabei zu lernen wer wir sind, sondern eher, wer wir nicht sind." - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---

A Lively FB Discussion on the Reality of Dark Matter

A recent question I posed on facebook. Many responded in a lively discussion. My responses are named, and others not, for their privacy. I thank all for their comments.

Is the universal dark matter, which is described by theoretical physics, empty, illusory or possessing the characteristics of a non existent phenomenon?

"Ist die universelle dunkle Materie, die durch die theoretische Physik beschrieben wird, leer, illusorisch, oder besitzt sie die Merkmale ei...nes nicht existenten Phänomens?" - DGR ---

very empty

I think maybe it has the characteristics of a non existent phenomenon

Rinpoche: non existent phenomena are like the child of a barren woman or the horns of a hare. They do not exist

They say it is matter which does not reflect light. I would say it is both illusory and empty (but does it matter?)

But it has an energy associated with it

we both exist an do not exist...it's pretty amazing...

so it must be illusory?

Rinpoche: then it cannot be an non existent phenomenon... or could it?

Rinpoche: N, how do we exist and how do we not exist?

a phenomenon exists and has energy so I guess

Rinpoche: L, so, if it exists then we might say it is real?

om gate paragte parasamgate boddhi yes svahaaaaaaaaa!

Rinpoche: N, so how do we exist, if we do not exist due to transcendent identity

It is real if it exists

But a snowflake is real until it melts

Rinpoche: we might need to discover various points of reference to understand different kinds of real... isn't that so?

we exist in the flesh but our soul is transcendent

lama said...if i hit you do you feel? and Blake said...if a thing loves it is infinite, the ego is transient...but then there is the abyss...the thing in between...the mystery ♥

Rinpoche: what is real could depend on where our identity is lodged. If we identify with the transcendent, the world easily appears dreamlike and unreal.

The thing in between the mystery exists then? It is love isn't it?

What if your frame of reference moves between the transcendent and the physical

What if you view the physical through the eyes of the transcendent?

Rinpoche: then is dark matter empty, illusory or non existent?

neither. dark matter is merely the matter that we don't have the ability to see, yet. We may have to wait for future discoveries, or maybe a new stage of the life/death cycle. But I don't think it's very different from visible matter.

At this point, dark matter only "exists" in mathematical assumptions.

yes but those assumptions are compelling...IMHO

dark matter is illusory depending on your frame of reference ...it has an energy and it exists in your mind like feelings, thoughts, one's soul

feelings thought one's soul do not occupy "space" but they do exist

it does not possess the characteristics of a non existent phenomenon because the characteristics of non existence is used in the explanation of all phenomena regarding its quality of emptiness. which mean somethings existence is devoid of ...any intrinsic self-hood or independent reality, no essence that can be reduced down to identify it as real - instead things exist as a amalgamation of its aggregates - therefor examining the reality of something , no single part of it is the thing being examined - it only exist as the combination of all parts and factors, creating on a conventional not an ultimate level the existence of whatever it is (and ultimately an illusion) your talking about empty space, that's just space which will at some point be fill with a sun planet moon or asteroid in which case the existence of the astroid will be dependent on the space it occupies. so um.... . maybe in a way it does possess the characteristics of non-existence, but so does everything.

Rinpoche: non existent phenomena is an interesting category.. they do not exist even in conventional reality! So, the real skeptics of this theoretical dark matter would have to say that it is NEP, a kind of fairy tale!

Rinpoche: therefore phenomena can not be explained by referring to non existent phenomena

They are of the same phenomena that we are... they are neither existent nor nonexistent ...

true, a phenomena means that "an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition" and as "a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation"

Rinpoche: However, Buddhism more largely includes mental phenomena such as concepts or thoughts to be phenomena. If we include consciousness as a sense (as it is in Buddhism) then thoughts would be part of the senses. I am not sure about intuition as phenomena.. would have to think about that

Rinpoche: In the second quote, theoretical science could contain valid phenomenon?

But if thoughts are part of the senses then they are "felt" like we feel pain or love or sadness but not all thoughts emote a feeling...

I think it's mostly empty. Did you see the movie about the young man in Japan who thought up dark matter, then shot himself? It was just a theory...in the movie he never prove it to the university. Things seem illusory because we don't know what they are and change over time. It's a great word but could describe many things. I like the word ephemeral these days. 'Non-existence'...is there such a thing?

so your saying that thoughts and concepts exists in isolation and are dependent on no factors for their existence? they exist because of there own intrinsic self-hood do they and arise because of no conditions or causes? ... i think all phenomena is non existent. everything appears to exist on a conventional level, but that is the illusion. what is your idea of non existent phenomena, and or phenomena that does not exist on a conventional level? what are examples of this "interesting category" you speak of?

Rinpoche: the child of a barren woman and the horns of a hare are two classic examples

Rinpoche: Illusory means that they appear differently than their nature. Ephemeral would be more subtle, wispy or less real or valuable

whats is the child of a barren woman and horn of a hare?

dark matter is "material in the universe which cannot be observed directly" but exists

the more we agree that dark matter is a phenomenon the more it appears within our gravitational pull here. Otherwise, how do we explain that Scientists have estimated the distribution of dark matter and dark energy in the universe according to the past and the present? 13.7 billion years ago, they believe the universe was comprised of dark matter (63%), neutrinos (10%), photons (15%), and atoms (12%). Today, scientists estimate the universe is comprised of dark energy (72%), dark matter (23%), and atoms (4.6%). Anyway, all I am saying is that it was illusory until it wasn't.

I know very little about dark matter, however if dark matter is connected to regular matter like up is to down then it is subject to interdependent nature and therefore illusory as it is not the basis for reality due to its composite nature.

Do you trust your intuition more than your reason?

Rinpoche: Is that a general question or for me?

I was thinking out loud after reading what you said:
"If we include consciousness as a sense (as it is in Buddhism) then thoughts would be part of the senses. I am not sure about intuition as phenomena.. would have to think about that"
But the question was directed generally... however, would love your thoughts

I treat them like my left and right leg.

Be guided and you shall find your true self.

but intuition is transcendent and immanent and is connected to the energy of the universe..and reasoning is based on the here and now

Love ♥

I am chuckling cause I just realized that intuition cannot be analyzed or thought about... in a rational way... it just can't

ok, it is a phenomena because it is there and it is a factor and condition that supports our existence, our solar system and everything. to confuse it with Buddhist terminology such as "non existence" and "emptiness" is silly - it has no correlation. ok, empty space whatever you want to believe it to be is phenomena because its part of the interdependent factors that helps give rise to our existence. emptiness in the Buddhist sense, like i said before, is a description of the fact that things in reality are "empty" of a inherent self-hood or identity or existence that is not dependent on causes and conditions - there is nothing that exist in isolation - therefor the existence of everything has to be explained by laws of karma and the interdependent relationship of everything...... but now i think about it.. things do spontaneously mutate and that subsequently gives rise to new organisms, and likewise, creativity seems rather spontaneous and independent, so maybe there is things i can't figure out hahahahha

you cannot "figure it out" because intuition has to be felt... it is outside the everyday world until we allow it in... so much of Buddhism (Vajrayana especially) is devoted to developing intuitive and telepathic senses. This is not part of the analytical reasoning brain. Instead it is the part of you which is the mind... the wonderful mind that is not of this world

So this would be phenomena that would be found alongside the 'edge 'of the universe; if indeed it ( the universe) does have a stopping point ?

Illusory & empty. Not a skeptic about dark matter. Something explains the phenomena that the scientists posit dark matter to explain, and whatever it is, it will be tagged "dark matter."

emptiness is not equal to nothing, emptiness is not equal to not existence, phenomena are empty and phenomena have existence, but existence is impermanent, sorry I am not good writing in English /\

not one of my worries, fortunately! ;)

When we speak of the entirety of the universe, the "law of infinite probability" comes into play, in which case everything you can think of must be true, someplace.....

Interesting discussion....

A tree has a relationship with its leaves. Does that relationship continue when the leaves fall? After all the leaves will become compost and return to the soil and these nutrients will flow into the roots....does the tree 'recognize' them ...as its own material when this happens....If there is a relationship when the leaf falls this is an 'emotional' link with the leaf, beyond the physical, and as unseen we can call it dark matter.
In the Quantum field, Einstein's "spooky action at a distance" occurs when identical matter are separated by time and space - yet still oscillate when the other is agitated. Would suggest a relationship beyond the physical. As all life in the world shares a common origin, we all have something in common with everything else. Therefore we can all experience a link/feeling/sensation that connects us in this quantum way to something far removed from ourselves. In this sense we are all antenna, and feel these connecting influences...and since all the universe comes from the same origin...we can extend this across all time and all space.....dark matter is our relationship with everything, it is our collective consciousness and it is the fabric that supports the entire universe.
~I am happy to call "dark matter relationships"... Love

D.. if there were a way to "tag" water molecules, you would find that we have drank water from every living thing on earth, probably more than once... not to mention every living thing that has ever lived... and, many times, we have drank water that was previously a part of our own bodies... if we drink a gallon of water, we also put out a gallon in terms of waste, perspiration, and expiration. We lose "all" our water when we perish... There is "infinite connectivity to all living beings" in this way... but, innately, we have no ability to sense or know this... let alone a tree, which is nothing more than a "reactionary engine"... with no "consciousness" per se....

I have always believed that the 'space' between subatomic particles is where we are connected to everything... and actually, according to the theories of Nassim Haramein [who has rewritten Einstein's field equation to accommodate torsion or Coriolis forces} one cubic inch of that space contains infinite amounts of energy - the only thing is to learn how to harness it.

Rinpoche: Such a variety of opinions here... how will I learn about the reality of dark matter?

Domo Geshe-La, it's quite easy.. you must use your "supernatural abilities" to travel into the cosmos, and explore the dark matter personally.... :P OR perhaps you and I will be able to personally explore the phenomenon in our next human lifetime. It is unlikely that either of us will do much space exploration in this one... :)

Rinpoche:What is called dark matter is what I see in a different way... it is living. Traveling the cosmos is nothing in comparison to awakening!! Yea... Buddha!!

Rinpoche: in the strict sense, all phenomena, even those that cannot be discovered by advanced beings because of subtle causes and conditions are empty of inherent existence. The controversy whether space is permanent or not is debated as fine points... of distinction between traditions. If dark matter has function, it is pure or clarity illusory as well as empty, whereas the contamination that brings rise to phenomena is simply the aggregation of confusion without producing a valid function.

I agree completely... and, if there is a sort of "consciousness" to this stuff, even if it be rudimentary, we "should" be able to connect to it with our "emanation bodies".... some way, some how, some day....

Rinpoche: I personally cannot accept dark matter as a fantasy, because it has a reactive existence by default: unexplained energy is there where we cannot see it with todays instruments... but tomorrow...

‎"Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo"
Conceptually translated as, “Every experience contains the potential for the enlightenment we seek” Our own prana cannot help but tell us all the truths we need to learn. x

It's a dark matter--called so because of the unexplained mass or weight of stuff unseen out there in deep space. Because it's unseen it's a mystery. It's existence is theoretical; it's simply implied by the weight. But that's beside the point in a way--all existence seems theoretical, or even mostly non-existent. Dark matter might be pure potential--stored energy, slowed down light. Our planet qualifies?

Are there different kinds of light? Stars shine brightly, but within them, massive amounts of stuff are exploding all over the place. I'm not a physicist, but I'm aware, when making a fire in the wood stove, for instance, that I'm going to have to fuel it with heavy logs and less heavy twigs, and do some things like light a match to start the reaction. Is there a kind of light that is inherent--not dependent on stuff? Maybe the Clear Light? The light of understanding?

Wrinkles, Jesus in Tibet and other musings

Don't feel bad when discovering a new wrinkle! We Buddhists pray for long life; this is a good sign of the success of our prayer! ~Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~

""Fühl Dich nicht schlecht, wenn Du eine neue Falte entdeckst! Wir Buddhisten beten um ein langes Leben; dies ist ein gutes Anzeichen dafür, dass unsere ...Gebete erfolgreich sind!" - Domo Geshe Rinpoche ---

Daylight still comes late, nearly 7:30AM. The snow on the roof of the huge old oat granary glows with a lavender blue cast like the sky and snow on the old oak tree outside my window. I see the roof of the dharma hall from my chair... blessed be..

A number of people over the years have informed me that Jesus went to Tibet to study Buddhism during his "lost years." That is interesting, as Buddhism arrived in Tibet 700 years later...