Teaching on Shantideva's text, second chapter, Confession, which also may be understand as purifying ourselves, or purifying negative karma. Verses 1 - 14. Subjects for discussion include, overview of the structure and chapters of Bodhisattva's Guide, training the mind, calm-ness and beginning one's day with a calm mind, YouTube and authentic texts, offering to people and to animals, complexity of mind, and the texts that explain it, preciousness of human life, Seven Limb Prayer, the tragedy in Newtown, Ct., and other subjects.
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A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Ch. 2, Confession. Lama Losang Samten, (2013.12.16)
On meditation, compassion to animals, and teachers. Sunday Morning Sangha, Dharma Talk, Lama Losang Samten (2012.12.09)
The second half of our Sunday practice on this date. A dharma talk, by Lama Losang Samten, reflecting on Lama Tsongkapa Day. In this recording: how to meditate and types of meditation, a short, silent meditation*; Miktsema (Prayer of Tsongkapa, in Tibetan), a talk on kindness and compassion for animals, on His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Lam Rim Teachings in Mondgod, India, Foundation of All Perfections, Eight Verses for Training the Mind, and on the importance of teachers in our lives and in our society. *"Silent" part of the silent meditation edited (shortened) for this recording.
A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, cnt'd: Chapt. One (3 of 3), Benefit of the Awakening Mind, Lama Losang Samten (2012.12.09)
Lama Losang continues his teaching on A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Chapter One, The Benefit of the Awakening Mind. (Verse 8 through the end of the chapter) Some of the subjects include the central importance real loving-kindness and compassion for all living beings, the wish to help all living beings to overcome suffering; the "moment" bodhisattva, the spiritual value of suffering itself, "enemies," sleep, death and dying, and other topics.
Emptiness, Interdependence and Mindfulness (Shunyata), A Dharma Talk and Meditation. Lama Losang Samten, Rinpoche, Sunday Morning Sangha (2012 12 02)
The concept of shunyata (Sanskrit), often translated as "emptiness," is so very important in Buddhism. Easily misunderstood, the term "emptiness" does not mean that nothing exists, but rather, that things do not exist in quite the way that our minds have been conditioned to perceive them. Language, and conceptualization, which necessarily draw artificial distinctions between phenomena, and between ourselves and that same phenomena, are inadequate tools to by which to understand the interdependent nature of reality. Here, Lama Losang discusses this important area, and the kind of analytical meditation that allows us to begin to slowly understand things, and ourselves, "as they are," or as we are, free of the cloudiness that necessarily enters the picture through our normal, everyday way of understanding and perception. Following this, our closing prayers, and some beautiful music.
A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Chapt. 1 (week 2) Lama Losang Samten, Introduction to the Buddhist Path (12.02.12)
Written in 700 A.D. in Sanskrit verse, Shantideva's, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Sanskrit: Bodhisattvacharyavatara), is considered to be one of the most important works in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. A subject of many commentaries, as well as more than a few translations, its virtues are immeasurable. Recorded here is the second of three teachings offered by Lama Losang Samten on Chapter 1, The Benefits of the Awakening Mind.
Sunday Morning Sangha, Closing Thoughts. On kindness, impermanence, and opportunity. Lama Losang Samten 2012.11.25
Lama Losang Samten, Rinpoche. Some closing thoughts following our regular Sunday morning meditation practice, on kindness, on impermanence, and on opportunity in this brief life.
A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, Chapt. 1. Lama Losang Samten, Introduction to the Buddhist Path (11.25.12)
Written in 700 A.D. in Sanskrit verse, Shantideva's, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Sanskrit: Bodhisattvacharyavatara), is one of the pillars of Mahayana Buddhist literature. A subject of many commentaries, as well as more than a few translations, its virtues are immeasurable. Recently returned from creating a Kalachakra sand mandala for Border Peace in El Paso, Texas, Lama Losang offers this first of four teachings in November and December on Chapter 1, The Benefits of the Awakening Mind. Offered as part of Losang La's series entitled, Introduction to the Buddhist Path, Shantideva's work will serve as the basis for teachings by Lama Losang throughout 2013 as well.
Vimalakirti Sutra, Chapter 3, Marian Droba. Sunday Morning Sangha (2012.10.21)
Called the "Jewel of the Mahayana Sutras," and the "Sutra of Non-duality," The Holy Teachings of Vimalakirti present the major teachings of Mahayana Buddhism in in all their everyday magnificence. Marian Droba reads from the third chapter, The Disciples' Reluctance to Visit Vimalakirti, followed by commentary and silent meditation. This teaching accompanied our Chenrezig Guru Yoga practice on this Sunday morning.
Introduction to the Buddhist Path: Discussion, Prayer of Refuge and Bodhicitta, and silent meditation. Lama Losang Samten, Rinpoche (10.14.2012)
The four line, Prayer of Refuge and Bodhicitta initiates and sets the motivation for perhaps most practices in the Tibetan tradition. Both prayer and practice, it contains within it all of the teachings of the buddhadharma. In this third of three introductory teachings this month on establishing a meditation practice, Losang Rinpoche offers a discussion on the Prayer of Refuge and Bodhicitta, meditation on the nature of the "I," and how to pronounce the prayer in Tibetan, too. The recording begins with about 11 minutes, silent meditation, from this morning.
Kalachakra Mandala at Trinity Center for Urban Life, Dismantling, Oct. 20, 2012
Dismantling ceremony of the Kalachakra Mandala, created at the Trinity Center for Urban Life, October 15 - 20, 2012. A beautiful ceremony. Reading from Barry Bryant's, Wheel of Time, Sand Mandala, the ceremony begins with an explanation of the three mandala's that were created for this mandala, Enlightened Consciousness, Enlightened Wisdom, and Enlightened Great Bliss. Following this was a brief talk by Lama Losang (omitted from this recording due to the quality of the audio (appears that someone was crinkling a piece of paper by the microphone for most of this part!), and finally, the dissolution itself. You can see a complete photo essay of this beautiul ceremony on our TBC website Photo Albums page.