Wishing all an auspicious, full blue moon (30th-31st August 2023). The moon is often associated with the female 'wisdom' aspect and energy. This idea traces back to ancient cultures that saw the moon as a symbol of the goddess of the night and fertility. Many cultures associate the moon with feminine aspects of life, such… Continue reading ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: The Female Energy Cycle and Wisdom Principle
Month: Aug 2023
SAMANTHABHADRI’S CHILD OF THE ROOT OF BLISS: TAKING THE RESULT AS THE PATH IN SECRET MANTRA VAJARYANA. The three aspects of yidam deity practice, the three roots of Vajrayana practice, and the first two of the three inner tantras, Maha and Anu Yoga, and the three-fold mandala of Samanthabhadra
“The three inner tantras assert that both the essence and the nature are the deity. The first of these is the mahāyoga, which focuses on the creation stage." “This Anuyoga asserts that one must restrain the aspect of ordinary confused perception into the expanse by focusing on the points of the channels, winds and drops… Continue reading SAMANTHABHADRI’S CHILD OF THE ROOT OF BLISS: TAKING THE RESULT AS THE PATH IN SECRET MANTRA VAJARYANA. The three aspects of yidam deity practice, the three roots of Vajrayana practice, and the first two of the three inner tantras, Maha and Anu Yoga, and the three-fold mandala of Samanthabhadra
‘THE ART OF UNTRASHING MISFITS’: REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND ART OF JIGME CHOEDAK (1997-2023). New Tibetan exile art exhibition and live auction fundraiser in memory of tragic death of Tibetan exile artist, Jigme Chodrag
"At third grade for the first time I was praised by my Tibetan teacher because of a drawing and from then on I started loving art. During school times I didn’t particularly like listening to the lectures, I would always stay at the back bench, but I always drew, be it during my leisure times,… Continue reading ‘THE ART OF UNTRASHING MISFITS’: REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND ART OF JIGME CHOEDAK (1997-2023). New Tibetan exile art exhibition and live auction fundraiser in memory of tragic death of Tibetan exile artist, Jigme Chodrag
RECOGNISING JONANG AND RIGHTING PAST WRONGS IN TIBET: New online campaign launched by Tibetan Jonang lineage holder to demand that central Tibetan exile government authorities officially recognise one of the main Tibetan Buddhist lineages
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." --George Santayana "History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done." ~ Sydney J. Harris Introduction A new campaign and online petition to recognise the Jonang Tibetan Buddhist tradition has been launched by the… Continue reading RECOGNISING JONANG AND RIGHTING PAST WRONGS IN TIBET: New online campaign launched by Tibetan Jonang lineage holder to demand that central Tibetan exile government authorities officially recognise one of the main Tibetan Buddhist lineages
BUDDHA NATURE IS NOT LIKE A ‘CHILDLESS WOMAN’S CHILD’: THE CLARITY ASPECT OF BUDDHA NATURE AND MIND: The importance of bodhicitta, devotion and recognising the nature of mind as a union of clarity-emptiness (Magic Key, Day 8, Thrangu Rinpoche)
“It is not completely non-existent emptiness, mere nothingness like space, or the child of a barren woman.” --Khenpo Gangshar in the Magic Key to the Philosophical Tenets commentary "When we think about that emptiness of space what is it like? It is inanimate, there is no clarity to it in any way. But when we… Continue reading BUDDHA NATURE IS NOT LIKE A ‘CHILDLESS WOMAN’S CHILD’: THE CLARITY ASPECT OF BUDDHA NATURE AND MIND: The importance of bodhicitta, devotion and recognising the nature of mind as a union of clarity-emptiness (Magic Key, Day 8, Thrangu Rinpoche)
CELEBRATING A TIBETAN HERO KEEPING THE ANCIENT ‘KARMA GAR-DRI’ ART ALIVE IN CONTEMPORARY TIBET: Verses of Praise to 90-year old Karma Deleg, master thangka painter by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
"Artisan with creative dexterity in the snowy land [Tibet]'s ancient arts,The Je’u Gang, Men-dri, Khyen tradition and so on.Wish-fulfilling jewel of the beautiful forms of manifold Victors,The one who accomplished beauty (eye-nectar) beyond calculation.In particular, the Great Encampment [Garchen]’s single worldly ornament,Praised and renowned in extensive directions,The painting tradition of forms of appearance and existence,That… Continue reading CELEBRATING A TIBETAN HERO KEEPING THE ANCIENT ‘KARMA GAR-DRI’ ART ALIVE IN CONTEMPORARY TIBET: Verses of Praise to 90-year old Karma Deleg, master thangka painter by the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
AT THE ‘PEAK OF VICTORY’ (TSEMO) MONASTERY WITH ONE-THOUSAND ARMED AVALOKITESHVARA: Photos and overview of Tsemo Monastery, highest monastery in Leh, Ladakh
For Dakini Day today, am happy to offer this new article on Namgyal Tsemo Monastery (gompa), a Buddhist monastery located at the highest point of Leh, Ladakh on a hilltop, located just above the Leh Palace. The Tsemo Monastery was founded by the King of Ladakh Tashi Namgyal (who ruled from 1500-1532) circa 1530. The… Continue reading AT THE ‘PEAK OF VICTORY’ (TSEMO) MONASTERY WITH ONE-THOUSAND ARMED AVALOKITESHVARA: Photos and overview of Tsemo Monastery, highest monastery in Leh, Ladakh
THE KHYENTSE FOUNDATION’S SHODDY AND UNETHICAL TREATMENT OF A FEMALE SURVIVOR AND DHARMA TRANSLATOR. New information sets a dangerous precedent regarding the unethical, unfair and unprofessional treatment by the Khyentse Foundation of a scholar-translator who is also a survivor and whistleblower of lama misconduct
'“Anyone who harms a translator is also injuring the teachings in general.” --Vimalamitra. In July 2020, I wrote about how the Khyentse Foundation (KF) awarded me the Ashoka Grant for a second year running but then soon after, immediately, without checking anything with me verbally or personally, withdrew their award. The reason for this withdrawal… Continue reading THE KHYENTSE FOUNDATION’S SHODDY AND UNETHICAL TREATMENT OF A FEMALE SURVIVOR AND DHARMA TRANSLATOR. New information sets a dangerous precedent regarding the unethical, unfair and unprofessional treatment by the Khyentse Foundation of a scholar-translator who is also a survivor and whistleblower of lama misconduct
WHAT IF WE PRAYED TO THE MOUNTAINS? ‘SĀ LADAKH’, HIGHEST LANDSCAPE ART EXHIBIT IN THE WORLD. New landscape art exhibition in the high peaks of Ladakh, with themes of hard labour, environmental pollution, local identity, tradition, climate change, deep time and impermanence
"What if we prayed to the mountains? Would the world then be a better place?" ---Arunima Dazess Wangchuk, artist in the SāLadakh exhibition "One can say it is the brokenness of the environment but also a giving life to those things thrown away as useless." ---Gurmet Kungyam, artist in the SāLadakh exhibition "As I sat… Continue reading WHAT IF WE PRAYED TO THE MOUNTAINS? ‘SĀ LADAKH’, HIGHEST LANDSCAPE ART EXHIBIT IN THE WORLD. New landscape art exhibition in the high peaks of Ladakh, with themes of hard labour, environmental pollution, local identity, tradition, climate change, deep time and impermanence
THE NYINGMA IN LADAKH: Rock-roof (Drag-thog) Monastery, Ladakh, Guru Padmasambhava and the Guru Tsen-gye Cham Dance (July 2023)
On the 10th and 11th days of the 6th Tibetan lunar month (28th and 29th July, and birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava). the Dragthog monastery, said to be the only Nyingma monastery in Ladakh, (generally mis-spelt online as Tagthog, which some even say Tigtog 🙂 ), held a two-day cham dance festival which I was… Continue reading THE NYINGMA IN LADAKH: Rock-roof (Drag-thog) Monastery, Ladakh, Guru Padmasambhava and the Guru Tsen-gye Cham Dance (July 2023)
Dakini Translations and Publications མཁའ་འགྲོ་མའི་ལོ་ཙཱ་བའི་འགྱུར་དང་འགྲེམས་སྤེལ། 