The Meaning of Refuge In Abhisamayalankara’s 10 instructions, the basis on which you conduct your spiritual practice is developing refuge in the Three Jewels. Taking refuge is more than just stating that you are taking refuge in the Three Jewels; that’s just relative refuge, and while it is very important, you should strive to achieve…
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The Qualities of the Sangha An authentic member of sangha has one or more of the eight qualities of recognizing/realizing either the state of realization or the state of cessation. There are some significant technicalities here, but basically this means that one must have a direct insight or realization of emptiness. The sangha as conventional…
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The Qualities of the Dharma Up to now, our discussion has been about bodhimind, the union of compassion and wisdom, the Two Truths, and the Four Noble Truths. Today we focus on basis of our religious practice, the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. We already discussed the eight qualities of Buddha. Of the…
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The Eight Qualities of the Buddha In this talk Rimpoche continues with the 6 remaining of the 8 qualities of the Buddha: not realized by other conditions, total knowledge, unlimited love, unlimited ability, benefit for oneself and benefit for others. This Sunday webcast, August 31, 2014 was sponsored anonymously. Audio Only

The Qualities of the Buddha Rimpoche continues with teaching on the Three Jewels, going into details on the first two of the eight qualities of Buddha, first the the unconditioned nature body. We also have Buddha nature, but that doesn’t mean we are buddhas. We have the seed or potential. The second quality is: spontaneously…
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The Three Jewels of Refuge Going to the 3rd of the 10 Mahayana instructions of the Abhisamayalankara, Rimpoche talks about Buddha as the base on which we practice and explains Buddha as one who has achieved the three kayas, Dharmakaya, Sambogakaya and Nirmanakaya. The Dharma is equivalent to the last two of the Four Noble…
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Four Aspects of the Truth of Cessation and Path of Cessation Rimpoche begins with talking on bodhimind, drawing attention to the 22 types of bodhimind and the shepherd like bodhimind. Then he continues with the 16 aspects of the Four Noble Truths, in terms of the four of the Truth of Cessation, which are: abandonment…
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Four Aspects of the Truth of Suffering and Cause of Suffering Rimpoche talks about the last two aspects of the 1st Noble Truth, emptiness and selflessness, pointing out that emptiness is not nothing and that even zero is not nothing, but makes a difference to any number it is attached to. Selflessness in this context…
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Four Noble Truths The slight difference in the Four Noble Truths in the Mahayana and the Theravada system is not in the causal and resultant aspects but rather in the way they are presented as well as in the 16 refutation of misunderstandings about the Four Noble Truths. Understanding these differences as well as the…
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The Goal of Mahayana Buddhism is Bodhimind The three yanas (vehicle) in Mahayana Buddhism are divided into Sravakayana, Pratyekayana and Buddhayana/ Mahayana. Understanding that the differences in the scope of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, changes the goal from freedom from suffering, pain and misery to that of total knowledge of everything that there to be…
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Developing Bodhimind Bodhimind is the basis of Mahayana Buddhism. Through the five paths and ten instructions one develops the perfection of wisdom and love/compassion in order to attain Buddhahood. This session covers the base of development which is one of the ten instructions given by the Buddha – the two truths. This Sunday webcast, June…
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Emptiness in Buddhism The goal of Mahayana Buddhism is total knowledge which is called Buddhahood or enlightenment. This includes not only education/knowledge but the quality of a person of being able to see reality as it is ie. seeing the truth of self – a reality of an interdependent system and getting away from pre-projected…
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Bodhimind as the gateway to Mahayana The distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism is not done on the basis of the dharma which one practices but on the basis of who the person is. The Bodhimind is the basis of Mahayana Buddhism and it is the totally altruistic dedicated mind for benefiting others and seeking the…
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The Mahayana Path – from Theravada to Vajrayana Mahayana is based on Theravada principles like Four Noble Truths and 12 links of dependent origination. Wisdom is common to both, but bodhimind is the distinction. Most people develop bodhimind first, but some develop wisdom before bodhimind. According to Theravada, personal nirvana and buddha hood are two…
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Equanimity and Love Back from Netherlands, Rimpoche reviews Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, especially conscientiousness and awareness. Our addictions and stubbornness are the obstacles to making real changes. The two truths help to stay balanced in reality, not going to any extreme. With bodhimind we sincerely wish to help others and thereby help ourselves too. Bodhimind…
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