RSS Feed (xml)
February 25, 2008
February 24, 2008
Brief update by Candy on Feb 24, 2008
It’s been over one month since the last update on the success of Geshe Tenzin Zopa blog. Recently the site meter captured a triple digit growth in the readership compared to the last update which was just over one month ago. Of course these figures changes every day, every hour and even every minute. We are pleased to share these statistics with you;
VISITS
Total | 1,660 |
Average per day | 15 |
Average visit length | 3.26 |
This week (week of February 19th, 2008) | 102 |
PAGE VIEWS
Total | 3,929 |
Average per day | 31 |
This week (week of February 19th, 2008) | 219 |
COUNTRY SHARE
51% | |
26% | |
10% | |
3% | |
2% | |
2% | |
1% | |
1% | |
1% | |
1% | |
1% | |
1% |
CONTINENT SHARE
81% | |
10% | |
8% | |
Oceania/Australasia | 1% |
The success of Geshe Zopa blog is due to his karma and the administrative team. Rejoices in it! We continue to receive phone calls and emails expressing their happiness and joy in being able to keep up with Geshe Zopa’s activities. Many found the blog by accident via Google and Yahoo and some of Geshe Zopa’s friends have also linked his blog to theirs.
February 20, 2008
DHARMA READING Corner
LIGHTING THE WAY by The Dalai Lama
About this book – Lighting The Way contains three fundamental Buddhist teachings given by the Dalai Lama to Western students. “Principles of Buddhism” provides the framework for understanding Buddha Shakyamuni’s first and fundamental teachings on the Four Noble Truths, upon which all of his other teachings are based. “Teachings on the Eight Verses of Training the Mind” comments on a classic text within the genre of Tibetan spiritual writing known as lojong (literally, “mind training”). His Holiness often refers to this short work as one of his main sources of inspiration for the practice of compassion. Finally, the Dalai Lama’s commentary on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment discusses in a lucid and inspiring manner one of the most important texts for serious practitioners of Buddhism.
Contents
Principles of Buddhism – The Four Noble Truths
Teachings on The Eight Verses on Training the Mind
Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment
DHARMA READING Corner
MIND TRAINING translated by Thupten Jinpa
About this book – The text in Mind Training: The Great Collection represents the flowering of an important spiritual culture dedicated to the perfection of the human heart. That process of perfection requires the radical altruism encapsulated in the famous mind training injunction to “give the victory to others”. In their birthplace of
Contents
Bodhisattva’s Jewel Garland
How Atisa Relinquished His Kingdom
The Story of Atisa’s Voyage to
Root Lines of Mahayana Mind Training
Annotated Root Lines of Mahayana Mind Training
Seven-Point Mind Training
A Commentary on the “Seven-Point Mind Training”
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons
The Peacock’s Neutralizing of Poison
Melodies of an Adamantine Song: A Chanting Meditation on Mind Training
Stages of the Heroic Mind
Leveling Out All Conceptions
A Teaching on Taking Afflictions onto the Path
Guru Yoga Mind Training
An Instruction on Purifying Negative Karma
Mahayana Purification of Grudges
Two Yoginis’ Admonition to Atisa to Train His Mind
Kusulu’s Accumulation Mind Training
Mind Training Taking Joys and Pains onto the Path
Sumpa Lotsawa’s Ear-Whispered Mind Training
Bodhisattva Samatabhadra’s Mind Training
Eight Sessions Mind Training
Mind Training Removing Obstacles
Mahayana Mind Training Eliminating Future Adversities
Atisa’s Seven-Point Mind Training
Mind Training in Single Session
Advice to Namdak Tsuknor
Glorious Virvapa’s Mind Training
Eight Verses on Mind Training
A Commentary on “Eight Verses on Mind Training”
The Story of the Repulsive Mendicant
A Commentary on “Leveling Out All Conceptions”
Mahayana Mind Training
Public Explication of Mind Training
Yangonpa’s Instruction on Training the Mind
Guide to the Heart of Dependant Origination
Supplement on the “Oral Tradition”
Root Lines of “Parting from the Four Clingings”
Parting from the Four Clingings
Unmistaken Instructions on “Parting from the Four Clingings”
An Instruction on “Parting from the Four Clingings”
A Key to the Profound Essential Points: A Meditation Guide to “Parting from the Four Clingings”
A Concise Guide to “Parting from the Four Clingings”
DHARMA READING Corner
THE GREAT TREATISE on the STAGES OF THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT by The Lamrin Chenmo Translation Committee
About this book – The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam rim Chen mo) is one of the brightest jewels in the world’s treasury of scared literature. The author, Tsong-kha-pa (1937-1419), completed this masterpiece in 1402 and it soon because one of the most renowned works of spiritual practice and philosophy in the world of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsong-kha-pa took great pains to base his incisive insights on the classical Indian Buddhist literature, illustrating his point with classical citations as well as with sayings of the masters of the earlier Kadampa tradition. In this way the text demonstrates clearly how Tibetan Buddhism carefully preserved and developed the Indian Buddhist Tradition.
Tsong-kha-pa’s text has continued to be essential for any student of Buddhist thought who wants to put the teachings into practice. Because it condense all the exoteric sutra scriptures into a meditation manual that is easy to understand, scholars and practitioners have for centuries relied on its authoritative presentation as a gateway leading to full understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.
The Great Treatise is now translated in its entirety in three volumes, the heart of the Great Treatise, covers the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta; byang chub kyi sems) and the deeds of the bodhisattvas, the great beings whose deeds are motivated by this altruistic spirit.
Contents
Volume 1
Atisha
The Greatness of the Teachings
How to Listen to and Explain the Teachings
Relying on the Teacher
The Meditation Session
Refuting Misconceptions About Meditation
A Human Life of Leisure and
The Three Types of Persons
Mindfulness of Death
Reflecting on Your Future Life
Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels
The Precepts of Refuge
The General Characteristics of Karma
The Varieties of Karma
Cultivating Ethical Behavior
The Attitude of a Person of Small Capacity
The Eight Types of Suffering
The Six Types of Suffering
Further Meditation on Suffering
The Origin of Suffering
The Twelve Factors of Dependent-Arising
The Attitude of a Person of Medium Capacity
Ascertaining the Nature of the Path Leading to Liberation
The Nature of the Three Trainings
Volume 2
The Stages of the Path for Persons of Great Capacity
Compassion, the Entrance to the Mahayana
The Seven Causes-and Effect Personal Instructions
Exchanging Self and Other
The Ritual for Adopting the Spirit of Enlightenment
Maintaining the Spirit of Enlightenment
An Introduction to the Six Perfections
Training in the Mahayana; Precepts and Perfections
The Perfection of Generosity
How to Give
The Perfection of Ethical Discipline
The Perfection of Patience
The Perfection of Joyous Perseverance
The Perfection of Meditative Stabilization and Wisdom
Helping Others to Mature: The
Volume 3
Part One Meditative Serenity
Serenity and Insight
Preparing for Meditative Serenity
Focusing Your Mind
Dealing with Laxity and Excitement
Attaining Serenity
Serenity as Part of the Path
Part Two Insight
Why Insight Is Needed
Relying on Definitive Sources
The Stages of Entry into Reality
Misidentifying the Object to Be Negated
Dependent-Arising and Emptiness
Rational Analysis
Valid Establishment
Conventional Existence
Production Is Not Refuted
Not Negating Enough
The Actual Object to Be Negated
Misinterpretations of the Svatantrika/Prasangika Distinction
Refuting Misinterpretations of the Svatantrika/Prasangika Distinction
Our Interpretation of the Svatantrika/Prasangika Distinction
Our Critique of Svatantrika Does Not Hurt Our Own Argument
Analyzing a Chariot
The Person Lacks Intrinsic Nature
Objects Lack Intrinsic Nature
Insight Requires Analysis
Uniting Insight and Serenity
Summary and Conclusion
Note
This section is STRICTLY not for commercial purpose but for the purpose of sharing with students and friends of Geshe Tenzin Zopa worldwide.
February 18, 2008
February 15, 2008
DHARMA READING Corner
Whatever dharma books we like to refer to should be from great enlighten beings and from my personal point of view, these books should be from proper unbroken lineage, unstained with broken samayas with the gurus, not too much exaggeration and not too much self comment, rather refer to the root enlightened great masters. This is because the purpose for us to read dharma books is for us to gain proper knowledge which is the unmistaken advice on the stages of the path such as in sutra and tantra. Even though we commemorate the hundreds and thousands of dharma books available for reference, in my opinion one should not refer based on one’s own assumption that it is easy and sounds supportive in one’s way of thinking, rather even though it looks very deep, profound and may face some difficulties in root text of enlightenment beings, there are greater benefits to explore the beneath and valid meaning of the teachings. So that is in general but in today’s language, the most relevant and most complete thing that relates to our lifestyle with deep and complete understanding on the whole stages of the path is to refer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s books. Although there are many different writers and publishers out there, I will always recommend people His Holiness’s books as they are safe and easy to relate. His Holiness’s books are well polished from every expect in particularly his advise and teachings and one is able to apply into one’s daily practice without any doubt. His Holiness’s books are also available and easily found world wide with topics covering study on stages of the path such as renunciation, bodhicitta, emptiness, loving kindness compassion, six perfections, understanding one’s mind, various methods of meditation, samadhi (single pointed concentration), karma abiding, different methods on mind transformation, different stages on tantric meditation, ground and paths, four noble truths , life and rebirth, cause and effect, twelve dependent origination, heart sutra, etc.
I am happy to share with everyone some of my personal book collections and I will continue to do so from time to time. I am certain these books will be able to benefit everyone from all levels.
AN OPEN HEART by The Dalai Lama
About this book - Compassion – sympathy for the suffering of others and the desire to free from it – is wrested with in all spiritual traditions. Yet how does one actually become a compassionate person? What are the mechanisms by which a selfish heart is transformed into a generous heart? An Open Heart is a clear and simple introduction to the Buddhist path of enlightenment, by its greatest teacher, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Contents
The Desire For Happiness
Meditation, A Beginning
The Material and Immaterial World
Karma
The Afflictions
The Vast and the Profound: Two Aspects of the Path
Compassion
Meditation on emptiness
Cultivating Equanimity
Bodhicitta
Calm Abiding
The Nine Stages of Calm Abiding Meditation
Wisdom
Buddhahood
DHARMA READING Corner
A GUIDE TO THE BODDHISATTVA’S WAY OF LIFE by
About this book –
Contents
The benefits of the Awaking Mind
Disclosure of Wrongdoing
Full Acceptance of the Awakening Mind
Conscientiousness
Guarding Alertness
Patience
Enthusiasm
Meditation
Wisdom
DHARMA READING Corner
ESSENCE OF THE HEART SUTRA by The Dalai Lama
About this book - In Essesnce of the Heart Sutra, The Dalai Lama masterfully unpacks the Heart Sutra so that any reader can benefit from its teachings – teachings meant to help us release ourselves from suffering and live with true compassion. Comprised of his “Heart of Wisdom” talks, originally delivered to thousands of listeners in 2001, the book offers the Dalai Lama’s commentary as well as his easy-to-follow overview of Buddhist philosophy that places the sutra within its historical and philosophical content. With additional contributions by scholar and translator Thubten Jinpa, Essence of the Heart Sutra is the authoritative presentation of a text seminal to the world’s religious heritage.
Contents
The Quest for Inner Development
Religion in Today’s World
The Foundations of Buddhism
The Great Vehicle
Freedom from Suffering
The Opening
Entering the Bodhisattva Path
Selfness in Context
Interpreting Emptiness
Developing an Unmistaken View of Reality
Attaining the Result
Generating Bodhicitta
DHARMA READING Corner
THE HEART OF THE BUDDHA’S PATH by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
About this book – In The Heart of the Buddha’s Path the Dalai Lama describes in a clear and simple style how to bring wisdom and compassion into our daily lives. He explores the fundamentals of the Buddha’s teachings, from basic advice on how to deal with anger and other emotions to the importance of compassion.
Contents
Contentment, Joy and Living Well
Facing Death and Dying Well
Dealing with Anger and Emotion
Giving and Receiving:
Interdependence, Inter-connectedness and the Nature of Reality
The Challenge for Humanity: An Interfaith Address
Questions and Answers on Various Problems of Modern Age
Note
This section is STRICTLY not for commercial purpose but for the purpose of sharing with students and friends of Geshe Tenzin Zopa worldwide.
Photography / Design by Belinda Chong
February 11, 2008
February 06, 2008
Losar And Chinese New Year 2008 Greetings
Tashi Delek,
During the next 15 days of Losar and Chinese New Year which starts from Feb 7 till Feb 21, karma multiplies one hundred million times. We must try our very best to do more meritorious deeds and most importantly try to develop more compassion and more loving, more forgiving and more detachment. It’s very important to learn the true nature of ourselves and try to recognize the Buddha nature in us and to live a life as happy as possible in the year 2008. Happiness brings positive energies and creates more conditions for greater future happiness and success and by understanding this brings 2008 a more meaningful year for all.
I like to wish all of you Happy Losar and Gong Xi Fa Chai! May you be most happy, most healthy, most successful and have the most meaningful life.
I like to wish all of you Happy Losar and Gong Xi Fa Chai! May you be most happy, most healthy, most successful and have the most meaningful life.
February 04, 2008
February 01, 2008
A prayer for the Beginning, Middle and End of Practice
A prayer for the Beginning, Middle and End of Practice
By Lama Tsongkhapa
I bow before the conquering buddhas, budhisattvas, and arhats of all directions and of all times.
I offer this boundless prayer with the purest of minds to free countless beings from cycles of existence.
By the power of the unfailing Three Jewels and of great rishis possessed of the force of truth,
Life after life, may I never be born into realms of great suffering or unfavorable circumstance
but gain always a precious human form blessed with every conducive provision.
From the moment of birth may I never be lured by the pleasure of existence, but, guided by renunciation intent on freedom, be resolute in seeking the pure life.
May there be no hindrance to becoming a monk, from friends, family or possessions, and for every conducive circumstance,by mere thought may it appear.
Once a monk, may I be untainted as long as I live, by breech of vow or natural fault, as promised in the presence of my preceptor.
I pray that on such pure foundation,and for every mother sentient being,I devote myself with hardship for countless eons to every aspect, profound and vast, of the Mahayana.
May I be cared for by true spiritual friends, filled with knowledge and insight, senses stilled, minds controlled, loving, compassionate and with courage untiring in working for others.
As Sada Prarudita devoted himself to Dharma Arya, may I sincerely please my spiritual master with body, life and wealth, never disappointing him for an instant.
I pray that the Perfection of Wisdom, forever profound,a bringer of peace, unbound by identification,be taught to me as taught to Sada Prarudita,unsullied by the muddy waters of false views.
May I never fall under the swayof false teachers and misleading friends,their flawed views of existence and nonexistence well outside the Buddha’s intention.
With sail hoisted of the sincerest of minds, driven by winds of unflagging effort, on this well-built ship of study, thought and meditation, may I bring living beings from samsara’s ocean.
As much as I excel in learning, as much as I give to others, as pure as my morality grows, as much as I become wise, by as much may I be empty of pride.
I pray that I listen insatiably to countless teachings at the feet of a master, single-handedly with logic unflawed, prizing open scriptures’ meanings.
Having examined day and night with fourfold logic all that I have heard,may I banish every doubt
with the discerning understandingthat arises from such contemplation.
With conviction on dharmas profound gained from understanding born of contemplation,I pray that I retreat to solitude with a perseverance severing life’s attachments to devote myself to proper practice.
When the Buddha’s thoughts dawn upon me through study, thought and meditation, I pray that things of this life forever bonded to samsara and thoughts of my happiness alone never arise in my mind.
Unattached to my possessions I pray that I destroy parsimony, gathering disciples around me
by giving first of material wealth to satisfy them with Dharma.
With a mind renounced may I never transgress even the smallest precept, though it may cost my life,flying forever, therefore, the flag of freedom.
When I see, hear or think of those who struck, beat or maligned me, may I be without anger, speak of their virtues, and meditate upon patience.
I pray I will apply myself to enthusiasm,achieving virtues unachieved, improving those attained,
banishing utterly threefold debilitating laziness.
I pray to abandon the meditative absorption that lacks the power of insight to quell samsara,
that is divorced from the moist compassion to quash nirvana’s passivity, and that mostly throws one back to cycles of existence, but develop instead the meditative absorption that unites compassion and insight.
I pray that I banish false views of emptiness, mentally fabricated and partially known, born from fear of the most profound truth, cherished as supreme,and that I realize all phenomena to be forever empty.
May I bring to faultless morality those so-called practitioners with their wayward ethics, shamelessly empty of pure practice, rashly pursuing path shunned by the wise.
May I bring to the path praised by buddhas those lost and fallen onto wrong paths, swayed by deluded teachers and misleading friends.
I pray that my lion-like roar of teaching, argument and composition flattens the pride of fox-like false orators,
In whatever life I may drink the nectar of Buddha’s teachings, I pray to be born into good family and be of handsome build, wealthy, powerful and wise, blessed with long life and sound health.
May I develop the unique love of a mother for those who malign me and harbor ill designs upon my life,
my body or my possessions.
By growing within myself the pure and extraordinary bodhi mind whose nature is to cherish others more than self, may I soon give them unsurpassable enlightenment.
Whoever hears, sees or call these verses to mind, may they be undaunted in fulfilling the powerful prayers of the bodhisattvas.
By the power of these vast prayers, made with the purest intention, may I attain the perfection of prayer and fulfill the hopes of every living being.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
