Sangha

Things do exist

/ Debra

The doctrines of emptiness and selflessness do not imply the non-existence of things. Things do exist. When we say that all phenomena are void of self-existence, it does not mean that we are advocating non-existence, that we are repudiating that things exist. Then what is it we are negating? We are negating, or denying, that anything exists from its own side without depending on other things. Hence, it is because things depend for their existence upon other causes and conditions that they are said to lack independent self-existence ~ His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama,  Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists pages 31-32.

 

Desires

/ Debra

Although desires can be remarkably stubborn, they share a goal — happiness — and this can form the common ground for an effective dialogue: If a desire doesn’t really produce happiness, it contradicts its reason for being. – Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “Pushing the Limits”

 

Boundless joy is the joy …

/ Debra
HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche at Sakya Ward St Ce...

Image via Wikipedia ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Boundless joy is the joy you should feel when you see gifted and learned beings who are happy, famous or influential. Instead of feeling uneasy and envious of their good fortune, rejoice sincerely, thinking, “May they continue to be happy and enjoy even more happiness!” Pray too that they may use their wealth and power to help others, to serve the Dharma and the Sangha, making offerings, building monasteries, propagating the teachings and performing other worthwhile deeds. Rejoice and make a wish: “May they never lost all their happiness and privileges. May their happiness increase more and more, and may they use it to benefit others and to further the teachings.”

Pray that your mind may be filled with boundless equanimity, loving-kindness, compassion and joy–as boundless as a Bodhisattva‘s. If you do so, genuine bodhichitta will certainly grow within you.

The reason these four qualities are boundless, or immeasurable, is that their object–the totality of sentient beings–is boundless; their benefit–the welfare of all beings–is boundless; and also their fruit–the qualities of enlightenment–is boundless. They are immeasurable like the sky, and they are the true root of enlightenment.(p.49)

–from The Excellent Path to Enlightenment, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

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The things He did to further The Doctrine after Gaining these Qualities ~ Heading 6

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English: Atisha with Twenty-eight of the Eight...

Image via Wikipedia ~ Atisha

How He did this in Tibet:

“There is no other pandit who can benefit Tibet,” they said.

The king listened to them…and made it his life’s purpose to bring Atisha to Tibet. Later, after King Lhalama Yeshe had been captured….his nephew visited him.

“If he [Atisha] will see you [Jangchub Oe], give him my message: ‘I gave up my life to the Garlog khan for both the Buddha‘s teachings and your own.” and then….’Nephew, forget about me; think of the Buddha’s teachings!’

After hearing the king’s story…’Atisha then investigated whether it would benefit the Buddha’s teachings if, out of love for his potential Tibetan disciples, he went to Tibet.’

Once Atisha arrived in Tibet , King Jangchub Oe made a request of him….

“Compassionate Atisha,” he said, “for now, do not teach the profoundest and most amazing of Dharmas to your uncivilized disciples of Tibet. I ask that you teach instead the Dharma of the law of cause and effect. Also, may it please the protector to compassionately teach some error-free yet easy-to-practice Dharma, one yourself practice, one that includes the whole path, would be beneficial to Tibetans in general, and encompasses all the intent of the Victorious One’s scriptures — the sutras, tantras, and commentaries.”

How very loving and true the king was. He only wanted the Buddha’s teachings to flourish as they are…not as they had become. His compassionate nature shown through.

‘Atisha was highly pleased by this, and so composed the Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment. In only three folios this elucidates all the thinking of the sutras and tantras. It begins:

“Most respectful homage to all holy victors of the three times,

To their Dharma, and to the Sangha.

Requested by my noble disciple Jangchub Oe,

I shall light the Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment.”

And thus ends the brief outline of the greatness of the authors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have recently started Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment by Atisha….it is wonderful. I highly recommend it. It is clear and it is profound.

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Part One: The Preliminaries Heading 4

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4. The Things He Did to Further the Doctrine after Gaining these Qualities

In India, Atisha held up the teachings and ‘because he showed no sectarianism, he became the crowning jewel of all the Sangha in Magadha as well as across India. He was the acknowledged master of the whole teachings of sutra and tantra to be found in the three baskets and the four classes of tantra. And as for the teachings themselves, it was as if the Victorious Ones himself had returned.”

~~~~~~~

Atisha went beyond what most people would have done. He purposely and completely made the teachings his life. And when people see that you are committed, they look deeper. They look beyond what  images appear….they look at the Dharma itself.

That is the point…it is not our reputations, for ourselves, it is our reputation for the Dharma.  The teachings went far due to Atisha’s diligence and dedication and he did this only for the Dharma to flourish.

/!\ Debra

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