Dreaming in the Nights

Last year i asked Kunde Rinpoche of Dream State Practice in his newly published book (Q26, p.54-p.60), A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam

In some kind of self-satire, laughingly i said that i have been sleeping a lot in my life thus far, and i think may be i have the affinity for Dream State Practice.  Kunde Rinpoche briefly explained the overview of this practice, and requested me to read his book, Q26 - What is the manual of instruction of clear light dream practice of the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection?
Later, i did read once, and i found it is such a high end mental cultivatin method that it probably take me another life time to learn? But i have been rather curious with dreams, especially those auspicious narrations i heard and read about dreams of those respectful and recognized Buddhist Masters and Practitioners.

Last month on 12 March 2012, i received 3 missed calls from India, later followed by a text message from Kunde Rinpoche. I returned call, and he said that he dreamt of me.  i informed him i was safe, and take the opportunity to requested him to do Smoke Puja to transfer merits to all Sentient Beings as 13 March 2012 was the third year memorial service for my late mum. I was very moved of his compassion towards his student always, i bowed down to the Guru, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha in tears of joy.
I contemplated and curiously asked myself: 'was there anything happening to me lately',and jokingly i narrated to a Buddhist friend that mentally i tried to recall lately was there any obvious near-danger in experience? (especially i had a rather 'miraculous' road accident before and a few near and missed ones). The next few days, something did happen. I sailed through calmly in human unneccessary confrontations - it was the Blessings of the Guru and the Three Jewels.
Later i joined the Naga Puja conducted at the Dzogchen Samten Chokling Centre by Khenpo Kunga Tashi Rinpoche with 2 Lamas from Nepal Dzogchen Monastery.  When i returned, i drove and sent one of the Lamas to another Buddhist Centre at Kuala Lumpur - i had a breakthrough of my fear to drive to the congested city of somewhere i had no sense of its direction (may be it is time i get a good GPRS to save time in going round and round like samsara).
After I read the book of Kunde Rinpoche in last July, daily i make an effort to do short practices at my little space of a Buddhist shrine. Lately, one day after my Buddhist Puja late evening session, i went to my belcony and watch the sky - no moon, but i see the right-side sky space facing outside the window of my Buddhist shrine little room which was rather bright compared to the other side of the belcony, before 12.00AM.  Curiously, i photographed the 2 sides of the sky space.  The pictures were beautiful, with many blue orbs. The next day i read a news that there was a Tsunami alarm in South-East Asia, Indonesia last night.  In my pious feeling, i thanked the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas for their Blessings of calming the vibrating earth!

Dreaming in the Night (1)
One day in half-asleep, neither dreaming nor not dreaming, many spicious orbs appearing in my mental state while i was sleeping.  i woke up as if i had not been sleeping.  i thought may be i was in Bodhigaya for the Kalachakra 2012, after the 10-day festival, we spent long hours in the Mahabodhi Temple and some of the photographs we have taken were delightedly auspicious and spacious.

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Sonam Yeshi, 11 Jan. 2012] 

[Bodgaya, Photographed by Kunde Rinpoche, 11 Jan. 2012]

Dreaming in the Night (2)
This week, one day incidentally i found this picture which i had forgotten the location of my storage  drive after it was given to me in 2009.  This is a beautiful picture of Dzogchen Master in the lineage of transmission of Lama Yangtig, Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切 [p. 67-68] (i had also uploaded this picture to Kunde Rinpoche's blog under the page of 'My Root Lama').

That night i dreamt of this image smiling to me in white smoke dues, i woke up feeling neither sleeping nor not sleeping - was i dreaming? :)-D) :

[Photograph provided by Kunde Rinpoche in 2009

(Tokden Lama Lodoe Gyatso 罗珠仁波切) ]

There is a Chinese saying '日有所思，夜有所梦'[translation: Your thoughts in day time would be manifested in night dream]. But my heart was joyful after the seemingly dream, as if this highly attained Dzogchen Master had touched my head compassionately!

May the merits of this auspicious dream be shared with all who have affinity with Dzogchen Practice (Great Perfection Practice), and May the merits be dedicated to All Sentient Beings to be Peaceful.

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意

(written after the Buddhist Puja prayer on the 1st Day of Lunar Calendar in the month of April 2012)

Zen 禅 - A reflection

This is a beautiful modern Zen classics:

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."  - Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind / Suzuki Roshi
Reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Shunryu-Suzuki/dp/1590308492/ref=pd_sim_b_1/179-3144804-4631810#reader_1590308492
When i was in high school, i appreciate poetry/poems, especially related to 'chan' 禅. later i found reading classic Chinese literature, the aesthetics in the poems by poets who were influenced by Zen Buddhism 禅宗 gave me peaceful feeling when reading it - i was facinated by the let-go of eight worldly conditions of these practitioners.  When i was interested in Buddhism, besides Jataka Stories, the Zen stories made me laugh, but the meanings could be as deep as the ocean - that was my impressions. 

I thought this is a beautiful Zen Center and i added into my favourite website of  this blogroll:
San Francisco Zen Center - Tassajara
http://www.sfzc.org/tassajara/

Kobun Chino Otogawa - Zen Master/Teacher
Much has been broadcast of the technologgy icon, the late Steve Jobs whose great contribution to ICT and human innovations in technology.  I remember while i was returning from India last November, in the airflight, i read a local newspapers reported how the simple minded local folks was somewhat believed in a local medium of praying for the late Steve Jobs shift reincarnation, the participants had to bite an apple (and thrown to the ocean?) and also paid RM50.00 for this ritual - it sounded amusing of our ignorant towards this Tech Icon, i thought...

Incidentally, i came across this insightful article in PLoS BLOG, written by Steve Siberman (Thanks for this meaningful post):
"What Kind of Buddhist was Steve Jobs, Really?"
http://blogs.plos.org/neurotribes/2011/10/28/what-kind-of-buddhist-was-steve-jobs-really/
(accessed 9 March 2012)
I like the picture of this Zen Master posted in this site, i felt he is a great Buddhist Master, having changed the lives of  many people who had affinity with him....
May be it is wiser to start learning Meditation (any tradition) rather than paying RM50?

Read this heart moving commencement address at Stanford University by Steve Jobs in 2005:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

Personally, i felt that he is a great man not merely of his artistic innovations in information communication technology, but also the spiritual quest he had spent in his life, the greatest moment was when he was at his business height, he accepted 'death' is inevitable for every one... - that may had made his life such meaningful and fulfilled besides trusting his heart and intuition?...

Email from a friend - A reflection (2)

Posted on 25 February 2012


As i was reflecting on this earlier post which i had just amended for clarity, also i recall sometime ago, another friend email me:
"... I went to library this morning after having a discussion with xxx [o] regarding my thesis. After going through the book of A Garland of Flowers: Questions &Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection, answers of Question 8 really captured my attention*:


Q: How should one mediate on death and impermanence?
A: When you die, you have no choice but to wander all alone on the great path of your future life without a single companion.
........
Regards
xxx


Note:
 o= [omission]. Though this email content is published with permission (email communication 25 Nov 2011) from the friend, the omission is done with good intention.
*p.22 - Book Title: A Garland of Flowers: Questions &Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam [ISBN: 978-967-10552-0-5], 2011.

I am thankful to this friend, though he said himself not knowing much of Buddha's teachings, his refelctive manner in reading has reminded me 'Wisdom arises through reflecting on the Buddha's teachings' 思慧.  I have much to learn from him - Thanks a lot, my Friend.

Tashi Delek 吉祥如意

Email from a friend - A reflection

Lately, when i received an email from a friend:"...FYI, one of my sis is diagnosed with Sarcoidosis now. She is taking Prednisone and ..."
In later communication， i was informed she is  reading 地藏王經Di Zang Wang Jing[地藏菩薩本願經] for her sister.
At that juncture, I have no idea at all what it is, thus i google the word 'Sarcoidosis' at the search engine. i am moved of her loved towards her sister, besides medical care, she provide spiritual supports.


In refelction, over these 2 years, friends and people i know either shared in emails or in person about how someone closely related to them diagnosed with certain serious physical sickness or sudden death, and how it had affected their lives. Among these diseases: cancers, heart attack, stroke......
Historically and in the Buddhist Sutra, The Buddha spoke of The Four Noble Truth. The First Noble Truth is the Truth of Suffering in cyclic existence...But we probably have to keep reminding that the Buddha had also expounded The Cause, The Cessation of Suffering ane The Path leading to Cessation of Suffering, realistically, as remedies to the phenomenon of cyclic existence - a reflection...

In our prayers, May she recover soon..
OM MANI PADME HUM

(to share, i found some websites link of this Sutra, [in Chinese])
http://book.bfnn.org/books/0016.htm
http://www.dizang.org/xj/dzj.htm
http://buddha.goodweb.cn/music/musictxt/dizang.asp [MP3]

May the merits of reciting the Sutra be shared with all Sentient Beings...
但愿一切众生离苦得乐
阿弥陀佛！

Preserving Sacred Pilgrimage Sites - a Novel effort

New website added under favourite category, heart-touching beautiful photographs in this site, initiated by a heartful researcher cum author, Matteo Pistono
Preseving Sacred Pilgrimage Sites and Traditions
http://nekorpa.org/

There is one beautiful picture of Kirti Monaster, surrounding by green mountains in the below link, must view... but need to check when this picture was photographed? i am just wondering is this serene greenery scene & environment being preserved as seen visually in this picture?
source:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/111028/tibet-china-buddhist-monks-self-immolations-kirti-monastery (view:18 Feb. 2012)
Though it was an archiac news, that was an article for all concerned to reflect with human heart...

May All Beings be Well and Happy,
May All Beings be Compassionate
Above all,
May the Precious Sangha Jewel
be Respected and Protected
Like One's own Precious Life
With Utmost Human Dignity!

OM MANI PADME HUM

Practice of Exchange - A Live Lesson

12 January 2012, BodhGaya.

These were the last pieces of pictures i had photographed in the Maha Bodhi Temple, BodhGaya, India on 11 January 2012 evening, after spending some time at the area of the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha attained Englightenment, later queing up for more than an hour (?) to enter the Pagoda temple to the main shrine.
This was the only piece of warm outfit, worn-out sweater which was wearing by my Dzogchen Teacher/Master during the Kalachakra from 31Dec2011 - 10January2012 in BodhGaya. I found out that it was bought in the year of Nyingma Monlam (2007?) when the weather was cold. I asked why was the Teacher still wearing this warm clothing when it was already worn-out? He answered it could still fit his size and trashing it is a waste.

Paradoxically, having living in the mundane world, people around are projecting the 'corperate image' of wearing 'neat clothing' (if not gorgeous fashions) and fashonable shoes; a relative commented in nemerous occassions that the clothes we were wearing & the bag we were carrying to the office reflected the 'image' of an exercutive level staff.

My teacher, Kunde Rinpoche helped to sent off an aging mom & niece of a friend, Ani Tsering on 12 January 2012 at 6.00A.M. When he was in the bus station, he met one of his Friends from Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery, Tashi Rinpoche (not that Rinpoche in Malaysia of the same name). His friend exchanged his new jacket - bought during the Kalachakra festival, he said though he was wearing it during these days, but it was new, if Kunde Rinpoche would not mind. He suggested that as a Rinpoche, wearing the worn-out clothing might be 'looking-down' by the lay people who are used to 'judge' external material measurement. Thus he exchanged and taken away the worn-out jacket and wearing it himself (as the weather was rather cold at that time).  After i heard of this exchanged of clothing episode, i was moved by the compassion of Tashi Rinpoche, Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery. 
Though below were the last pictures i had captured of this worn-out clothing, wearing by Kunde Rinpoche, it was a live lesson of two Rinpoches showing of heartful concerns and love towards one another. 

On the contrary, when i reflected how other practitioners i know had requested financial assistance from Kunde Rinpoche for various occasions and reasons, he had given without reservation despite my reminder that funds were meant for his first English translation publication, he said it could be delayed. i was rather disappointed when the time he needed hands to help, those benefitted from his kindness did not come forward or even asked of it, even though this person was around (and could not be contacted via mobile phone!). There were others even to the extend of expecting him to attend to their aging relative, a 11-year old child etc, when Kunde Rinpoche was supposed to enter the main shrine, sitting on the seat with his name already tagged. He said sitting outside in open air was the same!  More than that, this family left those bought raw materials food for him to carry back to the camp who was staying nearby his camp after the Puja in different days. That time, i felt that compassion is a perfect word but rather very much much easier to say than to practise for us.  After these days during the Kalachakra, i felt myself have not been practising well - i did not have the wisdom & skillful means to handle these types of occassions well, and  i felt i did not serve the Teacher skillfully, and find these mundane happenings within the 'spiritual' settings unacceptable, though the Teacher had not declined those 'unacceptable demands'.

Nevertheless, I thought these were special pictures i had photographed to share with his Friends - the nature of mind is beyond my naked eyes!!!

[Kunde Rinpoche, 11 January 2012, BodhGaya, India. Photographed by sonam yeshi. All rights reserved]

When i asked him what did it mean in his book :" ...have developed the four primordial wisdoms of joy (joy, supreme joy, extraordinary joy and innate joy" (p. 40, A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam).  He gestured as below, i captured the picture, it speaks more than words:

[Kunde Rinpoche, 11 January 2012, BodhGaya, India. Photographed by sonam yeshi. All rights reserved]

Happy New Year
Tashi Delek

Live Lessons from my Spiritual Friend (5)

October 11-14

We travelled by train from Aurangabad to New Delhi, the journey, plus changing another train in between, we probably spent about 24 hours to reach the destination. In between, the train stopped at a destination, up to now, i vividly remember this boy who came in front of me with some food (one piece of bread and some biscuits) holding with one hand, the other hand streching towards me as other local people seemingly 'immune' to this scene. He looked very skinny, and hungry.  i asked Ani if i could give the 2 pieces of breads, she nodded, and i gave him with the plastic covering it as originally packed.  At that time, Kunde Rinpoche left to the train station, walking around. Later he came back and asked if we could give this pack of food to someone, he said there was a boy eating hungrily with 2 pieces of bread in the station area, thus we passed the pack of food which was supposed to be dinner to one of us through the window to Tulku.  Later he came back and said there were 2 Hindu monks bringing rice and curry for those people sitting at the station, and praising their kindness...

For the next few days, we spent in the Tibetan community.  We travel to the town a couple of times for various reasons. If the journey was within a few Kilometer, Tulku would ride with the cyclist - He cheekily playing with them such as pulling their bicycle when they tried to move etc.. and they would laugh together - I was seeing simple joy in their faces, and i felt their happiness being connected. Initially, i asked Tulku why did he choose to ride bicycle and i thought riding the mini motorcar was safer and looks less dangerous - the answer was the same - save money, no waste. If we have travel further which could only ride by mini motorcar, I had to catch up my Spiritual Friend who was walking and walking along the road until a driver agreed to the normal charge of the journey.

After i returned from the trip, as i contemplating on the experience of the joyful moments Kunde Rinpoche had with the cyclist who ride us, i felt moved by His compassion - my Spiritual Friend was making connection with simple folks in the streets! - i regretted for my worldly judgement of kept suggesting it was safer to travel by motor engine vehicle! I felt that we complaint too much within a comfortable life provided with all basic needs, unnecessary needs...etc...etc....