"The legacy of the Dalai Lama “will live forever” and nobody will give Chinese President Xi Jinping any credit." --US politican, Nancy Pelosi at a US congress delegation meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama (June 2024) "Over the last few decades in exile, there has been a conscious and continuing project to conflate “Tibetan Buddhism”… Continue reading THE MONGOLIAN-GELUG SHADOW OVER TIBET: Six decades of failed US-Gelug policy
Month: August 2024
UPDATE: NO RESPONSE FROM ELECTED TIBETAN EXILE REPRESENTATIVES. 17th Karmapa’s visit to Sikkim petition, please contact CTA representatives
Despite the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje being the supreme head the 900-year old Karma Kagyu tradition, of great importance historically and spiritually to Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, as well as his thousands of followers in Europe, North America, and most of Asia, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has been unable… Continue reading UPDATE: NO RESPONSE FROM ELECTED TIBETAN EXILE REPRESENTATIVES. 17th Karmapa’s visit to Sikkim petition, please contact CTA representatives
VISITING PHUNTSOG DARGYE LING (PUJI SI 普濟寺) AND RE-VISITING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 8TH KENTING TAI SITUPA: A historical and pilgrim’s account of the 18th Century Phuntsog Dargye Ling (Puji Si) monastery, the ongoing persecution of Karma Kagyu monasteries in Lijiang by violent Mongol-Gelug forces, personal pilgrimage observations (China/Tibet pilgrimage part 9)
"The principle of self-defence, even involving weapons and bloodshed, has never been condemned, even by Gandhi." - Martin Luther King, Jr. "Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defence against a homicidal maniac." --George Orwell "One need not destroy one's enemy. One… Continue reading VISITING PHUNTSOG DARGYE LING (PUJI SI 普濟寺) AND RE-VISITING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE 8TH KENTING TAI SITUPA: A historical and pilgrim’s account of the 18th Century Phuntsog Dargye Ling (Puji Si) monastery, the ongoing persecution of Karma Kagyu monasteries in Lijiang by violent Mongol-Gelug forces, personal pilgrimage observations (China/Tibet pilgrimage part 9)
MASSES OF GOLDEN GEESE ON A MOUNTAIN: JE GAMPOPA AND THE ORIGIN OF ‘DAGPO KAGYU’ IN TIBET. The meaning of ‘Ka-gyu’, the reason ‘Dagpo Kagyu’ became widespread in Tibet, Milarepa’s dream of golden geese and the dakini’s prophecy, and the lineage and view of the ‘Innate’ Mahamudra teachings of Gampopa (17th Karmapa, August 2024)
"Ka-gyu (བཀའ་རྒྱུད།) means anyone who upholds the words of the teachings and treatises of the 'three baskets' and 'four tantras' of Buddha." “The Nirmanakāya, Dagpo Gampopa prophesised by the dakinis will shine on all beings like the sun.” "Milarepa said: “I am a yogi, but all my followers will be mainly monastics. So I have… Continue reading MASSES OF GOLDEN GEESE ON A MOUNTAIN: JE GAMPOPA AND THE ORIGIN OF ‘DAGPO KAGYU’ IN TIBET. The meaning of ‘Ka-gyu’, the reason ‘Dagpo Kagyu’ became widespread in Tibet, Milarepa’s dream of golden geese and the dakini’s prophecy, and the lineage and view of the ‘Innate’ Mahamudra teachings of Gampopa (17th Karmapa, August 2024)
AN ISLAND OF COMPASSION IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIVER: THE PARINIRVĀṆA OF ĀNANDA: The cause of Ānanda’s passing away ‘in the middle of a river’ levitation, splitting bodily remains into two halves to avoid future conflict (17th Karmapa, Day 8)
“It is better to live for a single day free from arising and disintegrating than live for a hundred years not free from arising and disintegrating.” "If you memorize the Sutras incorrectly, it is like an elephant getting stuck in quicksand." -- Ānanda's advice to a monk Introduction/Summary For the full moon today, here is… Continue reading AN ISLAND OF COMPASSION IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIVER: THE PARINIRVĀṆA OF ĀNANDA: The cause of Ānanda’s passing away ‘in the middle of a river’ levitation, splitting bodily remains into two halves to avoid future conflict (17th Karmapa, Day 8)
VISITING NO-HIGHER LAND (OG-MIN LING/FUGUO SI 福國寺) MONASTERY : 17th Century founded, ‘mother’ Karma Kagyu monastery in Lijiang, Og-Min Ling, its historical background and contemporary state (China/Tibet pilgrimage, part 8)
"Before its being built, it was reported in Chinese sources, that prior to its founding, the 6th Zhamarpa, Chokyi Wangchug, had been given the land by the Mu Naxi King after he pointed to it and said that would be a good place to build a monastery. Six Naxi disciples whom the 6th Zhamarpa had… Continue reading VISITING NO-HIGHER LAND (OG-MIN LING/FUGUO SI 福國寺) MONASTERY : 17th Century founded, ‘mother’ Karma Kagyu monastery in Lijiang, Og-Min Ling, its historical background and contemporary state (China/Tibet pilgrimage, part 8)
Offering for the ‘crown jewel’ of Kagyu, the erection of the Sambhogakāya, the unequalled, great Gampopa: New praise to Dagpo Gampopa by 17th Gyalwang Karmapa (16th August 2024)
Today, for the forthcoming commemoration on the 19th August 2024 of the parinirvāṇa of Karma Kagyu founding forefather, Dagpo Gampopa, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa published a new Offering Praise in Tibetan. As there is no English translation of the praise, I have provided one here (see below). Apologies for any errors in meaning or intent!… Continue reading Offering for the ‘crown jewel’ of Kagyu, the erection of the Sambhogakāya, the unequalled, great Gampopa: New praise to Dagpo Gampopa by 17th Gyalwang Karmapa (16th August 2024)
THE ‘INHERITORS’ OF THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS AND THE PARINIRVĀṆA OF FIRST ‘INHERITOR’, MAHĀKAŚYAPA: The first ‘inheritors’ of Early Buddhism after the Buddha’s passing away, and the remarkable parinirvāṇa of Buddha’s ‘legacy-holder’, Mahākāśyapa (17th Karmapa teaching, Day 7)
"Generally, in the Vinaya, there was a tradition in the Sangha for people to be normally appointed by some kind of vote, or consensus. However, there was no vote for the first 'inheritor of the teachings'. Buddha personally appointed the 'inheritor' as Mahākāśyapa." "In terms of the meaning of 'inheritor' of the teachings, according to… Continue reading THE ‘INHERITORS’ OF THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS AND THE PARINIRVĀṆA OF FIRST ‘INHERITOR’, MAHĀKAŚYAPA: The first ‘inheritors’ of Early Buddhism after the Buddha’s passing away, and the remarkable parinirvāṇa of Buddha’s ‘legacy-holder’, Mahākāśyapa (17th Karmapa teaching, Day 7)
17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s announcement about his father, Karma Dondrub’s cremation in Tibet, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso’s parinirvana ritual, and Je Gampopa commemoration this month
A few days ago, at the end of Day 7 of his teachings,, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa spoke for the first time (publicly) about his father, Karma Dondrub’s recent passing in Tibet and arrangements for his cremation there on the 19th August. First, the 17th Karmapa spoke about the plan for the forthcoming commemoration of Kagyu… Continue reading 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s announcement about his father, Karma Dondrub’s cremation in Tibet, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso’s parinirvana ritual, and Je Gampopa commemoration this month
White Tārā, goddess of wisdom, healing and long-life: video presentation for Goddess Conference, Glastonbury UK (July 2024)
Today, for Noble Tārā day, am sharing a video clip from a presentation on White Tārā that I created for Goddess of Healing conference in Glastonbury, UK, which took place last month. Even though the conference was not about Buddhism, the two female organisers, Katinka and Marion, contacted me and requested I contribute something for… Continue reading White Tārā, goddess of wisdom, healing and long-life: video presentation for Goddess Conference, Glastonbury UK (July 2024)