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Erik Pema Kunsang

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.

FREEING LIVES

A person with a open mind and noble heart respects everyone, animals too. Not only by refraining from causing harm but rescuing those in danger and saving their lives, setting them free. Such person is universal hero.

THE DIAMOND THRONE OF INDIA

This is also the place where you cannot avoid meeting a Buddhist teacher or a master, one after the other. Some masters with famous names and easy to recognize, some are hidden yogis and some simple meditators on the verge of realization, perhaps looking like a poor beggar.

HOW TO MEET DEATH WITH FREEDOM

Awareness, that ephemeral conscious entity which everybody feels but rarely grasps, is not something that ceases when the body dies. A clear mind, based on knowledge and insight, makes us fearless and reduces the anxiety.

A GENTLE OPEN MIND

Sometimes, that’s all it takes: A gentle open mind, so simple. To disarm resistance and even ill-will, to thaw this heart of mine.

A SONG FROM GUHYAGARBHA TANTRA

The voice is the voice of the awakened state and by singing it you grow closer to being what you fundamentally are. Herein lies a tremendous inspiration and blessing. This is the religion for our times, which transcends cultural limitations.

BOUDHANATH THE HERMITAGE OF AWAKENING

It is from here as well that the Buddha’s teachings flow to the rest of the planet, the wonderful teachings on respecting all living beings, on uncovering our humanity and finding the deepest insight possible, the awakened state that is the nature of our minds.

RETREAT IN DARKNESS

Darkness retreat is for the yogi who come to a point in life of readiness to go beyond the normal pattern of experience that is shaped by habitual concepts of the known. The darkness is merciless, the open sphere of experience is the playground for confusion or liberation.

THE POWER IS YOUR LIFE

Stop and appreciate your open heart. Just a few seconds. A breeze touches your skin, tones of music, a bite to eat, witness it. Recognize the uniqueness of the moment.

CUTTING THROUGH SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM

A turning point for spirituality in the West occurred with the publication of a book with radical new perspective. The principle of true spirituality presented as demasking the ego, was in many ways groundbreaking and opened up for authentic meditation training for young people all over.

PURASATI’S SONG OF REALIZATION

Purasati the Courtesan, in order to realize that all phenomena exist within the profound continuum of the bhaga of the Mother, had a strong yearning to know the essential nature. She requested the meaning of the realized state from Bhashita the Rishi who then bestowed it in full and condensed the meaning for her.

A QUICK BALANCE CHECK

It’s often a dilemma to find a balance in what we do and in our attitude to life. Too much structure and fixed behavior can make life really boring, and too much flexibility can make us unstable and in doubt.

By Abdominator at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

SONG OF CHOKGYUR LINGPA – WHEN IN NATURAL KNOWING

The Buddhist master Chokgyur Lingpa from 19th century Tibet wrote very few personal scriptures. Mostly his writings were revealed to him in a particular style of divine inspiration known as terma treasure. Tantric poetry by the visionary mystic Chokgyur Lingpa. “When in Natural Knowing”, in English translation with music.

SONG OF FLAWLESS AMBROSIA

One of Vimalamitra’s specialties was alchemy, so it is apt that this excerpt of his beautiful and profound song covers the view of transforming the five poisons, using the alchemy of self-existing awareness.

JIGME PHUNTSOK RINPOCHE BESTOWING EMPOWERMENT

A wonderful master shares the transmission of blessings for Manjushri, the buddha of transcendental knowledge, the embodiment of wisdom. I meet him in Bodh Gaya under the tree of enlightenment where he placed his hand on my head with his rosary.