Crazy Wisdom

No doubt, Chogyam Trungpa was one crazy Rinpoche. For me, he is best known as Pema Chodron's teacher, and the reason she is the Director of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. But serious Dharma students know him for his prolific, amazing writing and for creating Shambhala for Westerners who found Vajrayana too esoteric.

I was primarily posting the link below, from Shambhala to my blog (rather than sending it to FB) because other than a handful of folks, I don't think the FB crowd really "gets" my incessant interest in Buddhism. I would really LOVE to get a small group of like-minded folks to either share and read our blogs (and of course, we can still use FB to share links, too) and create a Virtual Sangha. I was going to tweet this link to Zatheos, when he emailed in with his own thoughts about life in "the Cave." I don't think he'll mind my sharing this one line with my limited followers:

Most days I'm really ok with it--having no one in my life who really understands this thing I'm so invested in. But some days you just don't want to feel alone in the things that matter most to you. . . I wonder if there were days in that cave that Milarepa wished that Marpa was there.

The irony is I started posting this hours ago, in response to an email exchange Z and I were having about deity worship. When I finally came back to finish this and post it, he sent the cave comment. So, Zatheos, this is mostly for you!! The next time you feel isolated, PLEASE post a comment here and include a link to your Amazing blog!! Vajra fan Ryan would love it, I'm sure!!

Here's that Trunpa link Crazy Wisdom / Choiceless Transmutation

I do have a Pema "fan group" on FB that I moderate, so perhaps a few of them (VERY eclectic folks) would ride this wave length-- Crazy Cave folk ;) OR, the title of another Trungpa book "the Mishap Lineage." Really!!

Auspicious, indeed!

During the last week of my Vajrasattva Retreat, we studied Mahamudra. This is a "secret" teaching, and until recently remained one of the teachings that was very inaccessible. So, it certainly seemed more than coincidental when on the last day of the retreat, I learned that Lama Dudjom Dorjee from Dallas would be in Albuquerque to give Mahamudra teachings over that weekend (Friday - Sunday) at the KTC center which is only three miles from my house! That is auspicious enough. But, then at the initial public talk, I learned that he would be teaching the same translation used by Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, who is the Abbot of Pema Chodron's Gampo Abbey, two of my "top teachers." Then, we had the special opportunity to have dinner with Lama Dorjee Saturday evening at the home of one of the Sangha members. That was even more amazing and during that time I received a very special transmission.

Our Kagyu lineage actually means "the whispered teachings" and places extreme importance on receiving oral transmissions. I have spent far more time reading than directly receiving the transmissions, but the times I've had these blessings and insights, I am reminded why it is so valuable. Proper guidance. Auspicious, indeed!

Meditation and Dharma

GREAT Post, Great site: Meditation Journal

Sometimes I write here, and sometimes I write in emptiness. Sometimes I write about meditation. Sometimes writing is meditation.

Exploring Inner Space

That's the topic for today's section in the Sadhana (retreat program), but I'm going to veer off a bit and then circle back.

At the long life ceremony for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (at the conclusion of the Kalachakra 2012 in Bodhgaya ) Westerners got a rare glimpse of a secretive aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Oracles (in trance!) can be seen in the sixth photo (of the previous link.) There are now THREE Oracles that HHDL consults during auspicious events such as the Kalachakra event. Until about a year ago, I don't think anyone in the general public had seen any of these Oracles in trance, and only serious scholars and advanced practitioners probably knew of them (please comment and correct me if I'm wrong on this.) HHDL decided to allow a documentary, which I will link to later, to be filmed in 2010. I think his decision might have been tied to the ongoing controversy over the Shugden spirit (a former Oracle that you might say has haunted HHDL.) That is also addressed in the documentary.

I have to say my mind was blown when I saw the Oracles appearing right there on Ustream last night. I didn't think that ceremony would be streamed to the general public. We must stop and realize that only with the advent of the internet are we privileged to even see the Dalai Lama on a screen in our home, much less conducting an advanced tantric rite. Not so many years ago seekers and Buddhists had to travel to India and literally climb the Himalayan mountains for a brief audience with him. Then HHDL began to travel and I felt so honored to see and hear him give a public talk here in Albuquerque in 1991. I watched all the live video sessions of the summer Kalachakra in Washington DC and marveled at the opportunity. But, to "broadcast" the previously never-before-seen Oracles "in trance" was a true spectacle! I thought the Nechung State Oracle was much older. (You can see how young he is in the clip below, out of trance.)

Given that HHDL allowed this documentary to be filmed and it was released in 2010, you too can marvel (or maybe recoil in horror) at this clip from "The Oracle - Reflections on Self."

If that's not exploring inner space, I don't know what is! Once again, this is nothing like the post I envisioned. I have written over 100 pages in various journals since the retreat began. I'll cull through it all and hopefully post more insights soon.

2012!

If this first day is any indication of what 2012 holds in store, it's going to be a Wild Ride!

After fasting yesterday and spending a very quiet New Year's Eve of contemplation, I was looking forward to hopping up to eat and celebrate today -- it's called rejoicing ;) The very fist thing I saw, however, was an email that "set me off." My heart was racing and I was mad. How could this so-and-so ruin my plans? After pacing around a bit, and sitting down to breathe, I was able to turn this situation around and SEE it for what was really happening. People are going to do whatever they do, but MY reaction is a choice. I didn't have to "go off." I could do anything from ignore it to quickly handle it and move on. Izzi (my dog) was growling about something, but I don't have to fight back. All these situations can be lessons or opportunities, if we choose to see them that way. I felt inspired and thought I would come and blog about that bit of insight. But, first, I decided I should check my Facebook site, get my daily retreat update, and perhaps post an inspirational note to a sick friend.

I went over to my friend Kelli's page, ready to post something like, "Welcome to a brand new year," when I saw something about a memorial-- HER memorial. The blood literally drained from my face and hands. She had died just two days after Christmas. This was not expected. Yes, Kelli had been fighting cancer for the past three years, but she had been going out to eat when I last heard from her. This is the way I remember Kelli O'Brien from high school. Kelli, Kristi, me and many other girls all looked the same -- long straight hair parted down the middle. It was the 70s. I left Kristi a message and she called back very quickly. We would have cried, but I had sobbed uncontrollably before she called and she had cried at the memorial service Friday.

Talking to Kristi, my best friend in high school, was wonderful. We live a thousand miles apart, but called a couple of times last year; not enough. I will never see or speak to Kelli now. What a roller coaster day of emotions. I have a feeling this year is going to bring us face to face with what really matters. Get ready. In fact, if you haven't see the film, "I AM" I consider it "must viewing" (it's on Netflix this month.) I've watched it four times since October and I think I'll watch it again tonight. Call someone, hug someone you care about. Make today and this year matter.