A Buddhist Quote worthy of note:
“When teachers break the precepts,
behaving in ways that are clearly damaging to themselves and others,
students must face the situation.
Even though this can be challenging.
Criticise openly. That’s the only way.”
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama”
The Bon religion was well established in Tibet before the introduction of Buddhism. Over the centuries however, it appears that many Buddhist practices have taken root in Bon and reverse. For someone not too familiar with robes, iconography or rituals it may even be hard to spot the difference.
Astrology is important within the Bon system. Methods are given for divination, warding off negative influences, astrological calculations and medical diagnosis.
The four types of astrological calculation systems according to David Snellgrove are:
A very important Bon deity is called Balchen Geko, who is said to govern time and the three world of existence. In this respect the deity is analogous to Kalachakra in Buddhism.
The Tibetan system works with a 360-day lunar year and cycles of 60 and 180 years. As a year is longer than 360 days, some days are doubled, and others are skipped. To make the calendar fit the observations, occasionally even an extra month is introduced.
“…I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed…”
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama”
“If there is something you truly want to know,
then you truly want to listen to your own wisdom.
You know, meditation is learning how to listen with your own wisdom,
so that you can see.
I think why meditation is amazingly important,
is that somehow our unconscious world is much bigger.
It is huge, universal, and we don’t understand that one.
Meditation allows this world to be light and knowable, understandable.
That is why it is important.
Normally we are totally robbed by the egotistic, conventional mind,
not allowing the fundamental mind to be functioning.
That is why one should have confidence,
truly… through experience,
one has confidence in one’s spiritual journey.”
By Lama Thubten Yeshe
Where Spiritualism and Buddhism Come Together
There is a very good reason to ‘be prepared for death’, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains:
“From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.”
A true friend doesn’t care what others say about you.
A true friend accepts who you are without judging you.
“Deepak Chopra”
Maybe this is why true friends can be counted on one hand.
Develop the mind of equilibrium.
You will always be getting praise and blame,
but do not let either affect the poise of the mind:
follow the calmness, the absence of pride.
“Sutta Nipata”
Christmas time is a time for giving, loving and remembering. Giving love and remembering those we love. A time for remembering our loved ones on earth and our loved ones who have gone back home to the spirit world.
Sending out kind thoughts to those who cannot be with us and those we have not seen for ages. Sadly, we do lose touch with people in this busy world.
Send out loving thoughts to those who are unable to enjoy the spirit of Christmas because of ill health or loneliness. There are many in such situations.
It is also a time for forgiving and forgetting. Life is too short to bear grudges. Let it go and you will feel better. Move on in life and aspire to better things and situations.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
“Conquer the angry man by love.
Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.
Conquer the miser with generosity.
Conquer the liar with truth.”
“The Buddha (The Dhammapada)”
BUT I NEVER DO TERRIBLE THINGS…
“Please don’t hurt others…
Please try to work with people and be helpful to them.
A fantastically large number of people need help.
Please try to help them, for goodness sake, for heaven and earth.
Don’t just collect Oriental wisdoms one after the other.
Don’t just sit on an empty meditation cushion.
But go out and try to help others, if you can.
That is the main point…
Your help doesn’t have to be a big deal.
To begin with, just work with your friends and work with yourself at the same time.
It is about time we became responsible for this world.”
Chogyam Trungpa, from “Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala”