Translator of ancient Buddhist scriptures, author, bridge-builder to modern life, Buddhist teacher & meditation instructor. Board of director at 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Founder of Rangjung Yeshe Publications, LEVEKUNST art of life and Bodhi Training. Other LEVEKUNST articles by the same author. Erik's website & retreats.
A song to raise positive conditions. Among all the beliefs people may have about why some prosper and some don’t, the Indian master Padmasambhava taught that we can create prosperity. It starts in our minds, in our ability to imagine combined with boundless kindness.
Here is a song I wrote for everyone who is a rainbow child at heart and longs for more peace, love and understanding.
Encouragement to use both adversity and success
to make our lives meaningful.
Throughout human civilization there have been attempts to formulate that conscious ability in response to the question, what are we really, of what is experience made, where does perception takes place, what is it that feels emotions, and the big question, can consciousness, meaning us, know what it is, directly, by itself and without the use of technological instruments?
Imitate that and your body is now in meditation posture. But you are not the body. You are in a body. It is not the body that meditates; it’s the mind. Meditation takes place in the realm of consciousness: that in you which is aware and thinks, feels and experiences.
“I will try my best to respect, protect and nurture this life I now have and this mind I am. I will also respect, protect and nurture the lives and minds of others.”
For centuries meditators have been using songs to remind themselves of very important key points. This song is about life and death. It’s especially about how to use every situation and every experience to improve and liberate our minds.
From the magical net of the knowledges-holders the guru vidyadharas, here are two profound verses, declarations of ultimate confidence, the self-confirmation of our timeless divine nature.
The shieldless naked heart is the amour of the true warrior. The very moment we take a step back from what we call ourselves and allow room enough in the field of experience, this inner spaciousness is the most wonderful medicine against fear, claustrophobia and the timidity of dualistic mind.
A documentary on the impact of the recent earthquakes on Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery and Nagi Gompa in Nepal. These monasteries have served thousands of local and international students of all types over many decades.
In the old Tibetan manuscript from the 12th century, we find this story about Tso Pema, the Lotus Lake, and why the tantric master Padmasambhava allowed himself to be burned alive and then transformed the blazing fire into a lake.
When chanting Padmasambhava’s sacred invocation, it is said that at first dualistic mind needs to approach the awakened state with the graceful bow of inner surrender. In this way the chant is a tool for awakening through song.
Holy anger is a mixture of taking pride in being violent, a distorted version of the brave heart, which intoxicate and entices us to feel: my wrath is just, I’m rightfully allowed, I just have to put things straight, by blowing up, losing my temper, and telling the awful truth, about how wrong you are.
Listen to your favorite piece of music. It is not your ears that hear, but your consciousness. Usually we think that we hear better by concentrating and focusing, but it is only apparently true. We hear much better by staying unoccupied.
Today we celebrate article number 108 from LEVEKUNST art of life with a reminder of the symbolic meaning of the mala with its 108 beads.
Today, on a very special day, I want to share for the first time in English, some words from a real saint and true of master of freedom. Just thinking of him brings tears to my eyes and my heart aches to realize the awakened state completely. His name was Adeu Rinpoche.
Spiritual means more open-minded, sensitive and intelligent. It means combining heart and mind by being willing to allow natural intelligence to coexist with sincerity and honesty. Being this way, we appreciate people’s noble heart and good qualities.
We can test this out at our own pace, that lowering defenses opens up to acknowledging the deeper and more basic strength of this insight: that spaciousness cannot be hurt.
There is a point in meditation training, after having developed a sense of calm and being able to remain consciously present, where the need of yielding personal territory is unavoidable, inescapable.
It’s pure magic how ink on paper can touch you deeply and resonate with a sound so clear and true that the realization of its meaning comes alive and is part of your own being. This is possible because we all share the same nature of mind.
Space is the most powerful metaphor for consciousness, it’s the fifth elements that accommodates everything. All there ever was and will be is thanks to space. Nothing can move without space, nothing exists outside of space. Within space all worlds and events arise and cease.