All entries filed under this archive
The Great Vow – HIGHLIGHT
Bodhisattva by Liza MatthewsOur motivation determines our success on the spiritual path, says Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. And the greatest of all is the vow to save all sentient beings. In Buddhism, it is motivation that defines what kind of practitioner we are. Simply put, the greater our ... continuePosted September 4, 2013 by
The Great Reversal – HIGHLIGHT
Illustration by Megumi YoshidaPutting others first—it’s the great switch that changes everything. It cuts samsara at the root and plants the seed of enlightenment. Sakyong Mipham here describes how to be a bodhisattva. The Mahayana Buddhist tradition is defined by the supreme thought of bodhichitta, the intention ... continuePosted August 5, 2013 by
Bravery: Synchronicity of Body and Mind – HIGHLIGHT
by Sakyong Mipham “We have quickly realized that without synchronicity, we are only idling in the dark age.” When we realize the power of aligning our mind and body with our surroundings, we are able to be dignified and courageous because synchronizing our thoughts, actions, and the environment ... continuePosted September 16, 2011 by
Bravery: Taking a Leap – HIGHLIGHT
by Sakyong Mipham Bravery is a highlight of the Shambhala teachings. On the sacred path of the warrior, it is one of the unconditioned qualities that arises from living with virtue and valor. It is defined as “the act of both personally and socially manifesting.” To put it ... continuePosted July 19, 2011 by
Bravery: The Vision of the Great Eastern Sun – HIGHLIGHT
by Sakyong Mipham Bravery is a highlight of the Shambhala teachings, which were introduced to the West by my father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. In an an earlier teaching I describe the first form of bravery, freedom from deception. I’ve also introduced the second bravery, abruptness — the ... continuePosted July 13, 2011 by
Bravery without Deception – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham My father, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, introduced the teachings of Shambhala to the West. These teachings are called “the sacred path of the warrior,” for they emphasize bravery as an important factor in determining the outcome of our personal future and that of the world. Bravery ... continuePosted February 20, 2011 by
Six Ways to Lasting Happiness – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham Bodhichitta has many translations: “mind of enlightenment,” “seed of enlightenment,” “awakened heart,” “open heart.” It is a venerable word and a venerable practice that has been done for thousands of years. When we think of bodhichitta, we have a hard time putting a shape ... continuePosted December 24, 2010 by
Moving Out of the Dark Age – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham According to many wisdom traditions, we are in a dark age. Over a thousand years ago, Padmasambhava, the great teacher who brought Buddhism from India to Tibet, predicted that this particular dark age would be distinguished by our increasing cleverness. We would create myriad ... continuePosted August 22, 2010 by
Creating Peace the Shambhala Way – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham It is absolutely possible to create a good human society here on earth. To do so, we need strong mindfulness and intention. As human beings, we are influenced by our environment. If we create an environment of aggression and disharmony, stress will become the ... continuePosted March 5, 2010 by
How to Work with Obstacles – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham Whatever our level of practice, there will always be obstacles. The Tibetan word for obstacle, parche, means “what cuts our progress.” In fact, sometimes the more we are engaged in practice, the greater the obstacles become. If we understand that obstacles are part of ... continuePosted February 7, 2010 by
Shambhala Warriorship and Meditation – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham In one of the most beautiful Buddhist poems ever written, the great Indian teacher Shantideva talks about the bodhisattva warrior. The Tibetan term is changchup sempa, “the warrior with the mind of enlightenment.” Such a warrior dedicates his or her life to others, using ... continuePosted January 17, 2010 by Jennifer Holder
Interdependence and Freedom – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham What keeps us from tasting our inherent wisdom? Concept. We are generally chasing one conceptual creation after another. This matrix of concept appears in many variations, but its weak point is always the same: it is fabricated. Without really looking at the nature of ... continuePosted November 21, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Taking Refuge – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham The Tibetan word for refuge means “to be protected by.” Every day we wake up and tacitly take refuge in something that we think will offer us security and protection. Most of the time we put our poker chip on the little thing that ... continuePosted October 2, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
The Power of Being Cheerful – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham I recently asked a Tibetan lama friend, “Who seems happier—the nomads in Tibet or people you have met in America?” He told me that since America is famous for its wealth and technology, in the beginning he was sure that he would find happier, ... continuePosted September 5, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Creating a Sustainable Internal Environment – HIGHLIGHT
By Sakyong Mipham When the Buddha was on the verge of realizing enlightenment, he was attacked by the daughters of Mara. Mara is the seductive quality of mind that continually tricks us into thinking that the endless circle of samsara contains some kind of essence or fulfillment. ... continuePosted August 5, 2009 by Jennifer Holder