Clear Light Lotus: A Dedication to Our Dharma Master

Oh magnificent one, you disregard the eight worldly concerns with the understanding that mundane preoccupations are empty of inherent existence. 

Stumbling blindly down an unmarked road paved with karma, positive and negative deeds catch up with us, creating incessant suffering fueled by ignorance, insatiable craving, aversion, and attachment. 

By sharing your vast knowledge of the Dharma with kindness, patience, and practicality, you train a platoon, these impressionable soldiers of peace, to place the needs of others before self. 

As the Lord of Death knocks on our door with utmost certainty, and we circle endlessly and needlessly in samsara, you teach us that the middle way is a better way and the only way to spend this rare and precious human rebirth mindfully. 

For two and a half decades, you immersed yourself in the scriptures of the Nalanda Masters with utmost concentration, dedication, and diligence. 

When you reference great Dharma Masters like Pabongka, Tsongkhapa, Atisha, and Nagarjuna, who spread the teachings of Lord Buddha, King of the Shakya Clan, with proper motivation, interpretation, and insight, you inspire us continuously to embrace the teachings with purpose and without interruption. 

Regardless of our diverse needs and dispositions, you never give up on schooling us on the Graded Stages on the Path to Enlightenment, teaching us small, medium, and great, renunciation, bodhicitta, and the wisdom of emptiness as if we are receiving the transmission from Losang Dragpa himself. 

May you live long, may we never be separated from you , and may you continue to spread the Dharma in places near and fat to those who exhibit the capacity to listen and learn. 

Immeasurable thanks for keeping us on this limitless spiritual path, tirelessly motivating us to learn, and strengthening our faith in the three jewels. 

In these degenerate times plagued by war, famine, natural disasters, and epidemics, your rebirth in this lifetime is cause for celebration, and a spectacular opportunity to rejoice! 

For eons upon eons upon eons, oh splendid and precious root guru, as a result of you virtuous deeds, may you be showered with internal, external, and secret offerings equaling those offered by Samantabhadra and as vast and voluminous as space.

This poem was written during Lama Rim End of Year Retreat on December 27, 2011 as a dedication to Venerable Geshe Ngawang Phende in Atlanta, GA by his disciple Paran Pordell on behalf of the Drepung Sangha

Cows, Friends, and New Beginnings

The Lamrim retreat is over, and boy was I beat when I got home.  Seven days in intensive meditation and instruction on the essence of the Buddha's teaching on the path to Enlightenment.  It was an incredible, life changing experience.  We had 3 inspiring sessions of teaching and meditation followed by a Q&A Dharma Talk with Geshe Phende-la, the questions ranging from basic Buddhist practice to complex philosophical debates.

The teachings were absolutely the best.  It was the perfect introduction to the entire aspects of the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, covering Guru Yoga, Renunciation, Bodhicitta, and Wisdom in our sessions.  We became completely familiar with Lama Je Tsongkhapa's life and teachings on the Lamrim.  It was such a difference-making event for me.  As a very inexperienced practitioner, I developed a more complete understanding of what "practice" means, giving me an outline for progress and preparing me for further studies and practices.  It expanded and deepened my understanding of compassion for all sentient beings as well as bodhicitta.  We had a wonderful session on emptiness and the meditation work associated with the topic was simply mind blowing.

The surroundings were inspirational, a beautiful location -- the Center for New Beginnings in Dahlonega, GA -- complete with cows, bears, bugs and beautiful Georgia foliage. Georgia in August, hot and humid every day,with 30 minute evening thunderstorms added lots of excitement.
Our bodies were fed as well as our minds. Meals were wonderfully engineered by Chef Sean Moran and Carol Beck, with wonderful desserts provided by Kris Lorenz to satisfy our sweet tooths.

The opportunity to really get to know the sangha members was priceless.  We developed closer friendship and the more experienced practitioners generously provided guidance; examples for those of us not quite as familiar with the ritual and practice.   The opportunity to spend so much time simply being surrounded by practitioners provided an osmosis affect that enriched everyone's practice and understanding.

Ready for Retreat!

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Drepung Loseling Lam Rim Retreat.  I'm very excited about the opportunity to expand my knowledge and practice, but I'm a little nervous about the prospects of a week of silence.  No computer, no cell, no email, no kids, no dogs, and no wife.  Hmmm, sounds like a vacation but I'll miss those things.  ALOT!  This is my first off site residential retreat, my first chance to immerse myself in the Dharma and really gain some understanding of where I'm at with my practice.  I've read the suggested readings and learned the mantras and now I'm ready for action.  I'm also looking forward to writing about the experience.  Hopefully I'll have some interesting insights into myself and the Dharma so until week after next I'm signing out.  Peace.