August 23

Through My Eyes

Saturday August 23

(Still at Takster with the Dalai Lama as he describes Buddhism.)

" The fundamental precept of Buddhism is Interdependence or the Law of Cause and Effect. This simply states that everything which an individual being experiences is derived through action from motivation. Motivation is thus the root of both action and experince. From this understanding are derived the Buddhist theories of consciousness and rebirth.

The first holds that , because cause gives rise to effect which in turn becomes the cause of further effect, consciousness must be continual. It flows on and on, gathering experiences and impressions from one moment to the next. At the point of physical death, it follows that a being's consciousness contains an imprint of all these past expeiences and impressions, and the actions which preceded them. This is known as karma, which means 'action'. It is thus consciousness, with its attendant karma, which then becomes 'reborn' in a new body- animal, human or divine.

So, to give a simple example, a person who has spent his or her life mistreating animals could quite easily be reborn in the next life as a dog belonging to someone who is unkind to animals. Similarly, meritorious conduct in this life will assist in a favorable rebirth in the next.

Buddhists further believe that because the basic nature of consciousness is nuetral, it is possible to escape from the unending cycle of birth, suffering, death and rebirth that life inevitably entails, but only when all negative karma has been eliminated along with all worldly attachments. When this point is reached, the consciousness in question is believed to attain first liberation and then ultimately Buddhahood. However, according to Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition, a being that achieves Buddhahood, although freed from Samsara, the 'wheel of suffering' as the phenomenon of existence is known, will continue to return to work for the benefit of all other sentient beings until such time as each one is similarly liberated.

Now in my own case, I am held to be the reincarnation of each of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas of Tibet ( the first having been born in 1351 A.D.), who are in turn considered to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig, Bohhisattva of Compassion, holder of the White Lotus. Thus I am believed also to be a manifestation of Chenrezig, in fact the seventy-fourth in a lineage that can be traced back to a Brahmin boy who lived in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni. I am often asked whether I truly believe this. The answer is not simple to give. But as a fifty-six year old, when I consider my experiences during this present life, and given my Buddhist beliefs, I have no difficulty accepting that I am spiritually connected both to the thirteen previous Dalai Lamas, to Chenrezig and to the Buddha himself."

( I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Through my eyes

( Please see my spinning for you!.)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! I worked on the outside of the studio in the morning and then continued to scythe and bring mulch up to the Grove. I got a lot done! I found a great big hornet's nest on the path up to the Grove. Hornets are actually rather good natured and I was able to take some pictures which I will bring to us soon. They just fly around you as you stand there going about their work. I'm glad they are there. I accidently cleared in front of one in the Grove while scything and tried to cover it up again. They must have moved the nest and now it is much more impressive! You'll notice the slight change in the address as usual; the website file was once again getting big. I got in late; it's quite late now so I'll put this up now so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday August 23 (Still at Takster with the Dalai Lama as he describes Buddhism.) " The fundamental precept of Buddhism is Interdependence or the Law of Cause and Effect. This simply states that everything which an individual being experiences is derived through action from motivation. Motivation is thus the root of both action and experince. From this understanding are derived the Buddhist theories of consciousness and rebirth. The first holds that , because cause gives rise to effect which in turn becomes the cause of further effect, consciousness must be continual. It flows on and on, gathering experiences and impressions from one moment to the next. At the point of physical death, it follows that a being's consciousness contains an imprint of all these past expeiences and impressions, and the actions which preceded them. This is known as karma, which means 'action'. It is thus consciousness, with its attendant karma, which then becomes 'reborn' in a new body- animal, human or divine. So, to give a simple example, a person who has spent his or her life mistreating animals could quite easily be reborn in the next life as a dog belonging to someone who is unkind to animals. Similarly, meritorious conduct in this life will assist in a favorable rebirth in the next. Buddhists further believe that because the basic nature of consciousness is nuetral, it is possible to escape from the unending cycle of birth, suffering, death and rebirth that life inevitably entails, but only when all negative karma has been eliminated along with all worldly attachments. When this point is reached, the consciousness in question is believed to attain first liberation and then ultimately Buddhahood. However, according to Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition, a being that achieves Buddhahood, although freed from Samsara, the 'wheel of suffering' as the phenomenon of existence is known, will continue to return to work for the benefit of all other sentient beings until such time as each one is similarly liberated. Now in my own case, I am held to be the reincarnation of each of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas of Tibet ( the first having been born in 1351 A.D.), who are in turn considered to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig, Bohhisattva of Compassion, holder of the White Lotus. Thus I am believed also to be a manifestation of Chenrezig, in fact the seventy-fourth in a lineage that can be traced back to a Brahmin boy who lived in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni. I am often asked whether I truly believe this. The answer is not simple to give. But as a fifty-six year old, when I consider my experiences during this present life, and given my Buddhist beliefs, I have no difficulty accepting that I am spiritually connected both to the thirteen previous Dalai Lamas, to Chenrezig and to the Buddha himself." ( I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Through my eyes ( Please see my spinning for you!.) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! I worked on the outside of the studio in the morning and then continued to scythe and bring mulch up to the Grove. I got a lot done! I found a great big hornet's nest on the path up to the Grove. Hornets are actually rather good natured and I was able to take some pictures which I will bring to us soon. They just fly around you as you stand there going about their work. I'm glad they are there. I accidently cleared in front of one in the Grove while scything and tried to cover it up again. They must have moved the nest and now it is much more impressive! You'll notice the slight change in the address as usual; the website file was once again getting big. I got in late; it's quite late now so I'll put this up now so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)