Receiving blessings

On life's journeyFaith is nourishment,
Virtuous deeds are a shelter,
Wisdom is the light by day and
Right mindfulness is the protection by night.
If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him;
If he has conquered greed, nothing can limit his freedom." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Buddha

From Garchen Rinpoche:

When we develop devotion to and confidence in the lamas, by the power of devotion, some tears come into the eyes. These are a sign of genuine great confidence in and devotion to the lama. And that becomes a special method or factor that receives the blessings. For example, when a baby cries, the mother has to pay attention. Similarly, when the tears come by the power of devotion, we are assured to get Buddha’s blessings. But that does not mean that the Buddha is not with you; he is always with you. The blessings of all the Buddhas are always with every single sentient being. But without the condition of our devotion, it is difficult to receive the blessings."

“Lama,” said the yogi, “I’ve meditated for some years, but I don’t think I got the point.
I’ve hardly developed any qualities. So would you please give me an oral instruction?”

“Here’s everything you need to know—” replied Milarepa. And he sang the Song of
Six Essential Points:

Mental projections way outnumber the dust motes you see in the sunlight; A great yogi knows what appears for what it is. At bottom, the nature of things isn’t a product of causes, nor of conditions. A great yogi cuts to the core of the issue. Even a hundred men with spears couldn’t stop the thought-bubbles of consciousness; A great yogi knows not to get hung up on them. You can’t lock up the flow of mind in an iron box; A great yogi knows mind to be intrinsically empty. Wisdom gods and goddesses don’t say no to sensory pleasures; A great yogi knows this full well. The Buddha’s own hands couldn’t block the appearance of objects to the consciousness; A great yogi knows there is no object behind the appearance.

“Do such experiences come about step by step?” asked the yogi. “Or is it all at once?”

“Skilled individuals get it at once,” answered Milarepa. “It comes more gradually
for those of average and mediocre abilities. Some develop definitive realization,
others don’t, and others still get signs that look like realization, but aren’t really.”
And he sang the Song of Distinguishing the Four Yogas:

I bow down at the feet of the supreme lama! It’s the mind fixated on objects that causes samsara. If you recognize as spontaneous The luminous self-awareness, free of fixation,You’ll taste the fruit of the first yoga, one-pointedness. Some talk and talk about union, yet their meditation is all conceptual, They talk and talk about cause and effect, yet their actions are flawed, Such petty, deluded meditations Have no place in the yoga of one-pointedness. Luminous mind itself, free of fixation, Is naturally blissful, without constructs. If you recognize your very essence to be as clear as space, You’ll taste the fruit of the second yoga, simplicity. Some talk and talk about “no elaboration,” but they elaborate plenty, They talk and talk about the “inexpressible,” but they’ve got plenty of terminology. Such self-obsessed meditations Have no place in the yoga of simplicity. In the dharma body, appearance and emptiness are not two, Samsara and nirvana are experienced as one. If you know the Buddha and sentient beings to have the same identity, As many have said: that’s definitely the third yoga, one-taste. Some talk and talk about “oneness,” but they still want to make a point. Such hazy confusion Has no place in the yoga of one-taste. Conceptual thoughts are in nature great awareness; Cause and effect are non-dual, spontaneous. They’re the three bodies, And knowing this is the fruit of the fourth yoga, non-meditation. Some talk and talk about non-meditation, but how active their mind is!They talk and talk about “clear light,” but how thick their meditation is! Such platitudesHave no place in the yoga of non-meditation.

“Oh, what wonderful advice!” exclaimed the yogi from Gutang.
Source: http://www.likeanillusion.com/milarepa-mahamudra.shtml
May all sentient beings understand this teachings and gain the realization of
Mahamudra in one lifetime!

In Our Prayers.
Remember friends who are ill or are having to deal with other difficult circumstances.

FOOD OFFERING PRAYERS
(1)

TON PA LA ME SANG GYAY RIN PO CHE
Supreme guide, the precious Buddha

KYOB PA LA ME DAM CHHO RIN PO CHE
Supreme protector, the precious Dharma

DREN PA LA ME GEN DUN RIN PO CHE
Supreme leader, the precious Sangha

KYAB NAY KON CHHOK SUM LA CHHO PA BUL
To the most worthy Triple Gem Refuge, I make offering.

OM AH HUNG
(2)

GYAGAR PENCHEN BODLA KADRIN CHE
Indian Pandit showing great kindness to Tibet

PEMA JUNGNEY KULA DEYDROUG MED
Padmasambhava, whose body is free from death,

DATA LHONUB SINPOI KHANON ZED
Now you are taming the monsters in the Southwest.

ORGYEN RINPOCHE LA CHODPA BUL
I make offering to the precious Oddiyana Master.
(3)

KHEDLA CHODCHING SOLWA TABPAI THUE
By praying and making offering to you

DAYSOG GANGDU NEYPAI SACHOG SU
In whatever area myself and others stay,

NEDDHON ULPHONG THABTSOD ZHIWA DANG
Please pacify illness, evil spirits, poverty, quarreling.

CHODANG TASHI PEL WAR ZEDDU SOL
Please cause our dharma practice to develop and make everything auspicious

Conversation. Use this spot to ask a question, get information, share almost anything

Building the Stupa and construction progress:

I never dreamed that I would be a stupa builder. When the project began, I thought experts would be in charge, and I would just make sure materials were delivered on time, etc.

Things did not turn out that way at all! Experts did emerge and provide guidance as to the layout and the placement of sacred items, and, of course, the Lamas performed all the neccessary ceremonies. But as to the building itself, Matthew and I have been on our own. There were many, many choices of materials and building systems. We employed a structural engineer who developed plans so we could get permits, but every step of the way reality stepped in and forced us to rethink pretty much everything.

Our original thinking was to build in a traditional way with traditional materials. We soon discovered that there was not really a tradition to follow. Much to our surprise, from the unique foundation of 14 helical screws drilled into the earth's bedrock 9 feet below ground, to the Mikey Block (insulated concrete forms), and the Bhumpa (dome) which is a monolithic dome made by spraying a ballon with foam and concrete, the Stupa is very high tech.

All the High Tech features will be hidden behind a very "green"and traditional hydraulic lime plaster. This technique has been used for centuries in Europe and results in very warm looking finish that is also exceptionally durable and very beautiful.

To be continued. Please click on comments to ask questions or make observations.