Buddhist parents sometimes ask how best to apply the teachings when relating in their family life. In this short audio teaching, Phakchok Rinpoche shares some practical advice for Buddhist parents.
Just be kind! Phakchok Rinpoche observes that as he travels around the world, he finds that many of us have forgotten this basic skill. Basic, simple kindness seems to be disappearing. This simple kindness doesn’t belong to any religion or belief set. We can remind ourselves, again and again, to just be kind to each other. Rinpoche advises us to adopt this important motivational slogan as a regular mantra.
I am at the moment in Gomde New York. Hope you all are keeping well and that you are keeping up with your practice. I came across a short audio teaching on the bardos by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche earlier today and it sent a strong reminder for practicing.
Do we need to meditate? And if so, why? Is there a real benefit from meditation? In this video teaching, Phakchok Rinpoche answers with an emphatic “Yes!” If we actually practice mediation, Rinpoche observes, we go beyond the theory and gain experience. And then, we will feel the benefits ourselves.
We all can benefit from learning how to be sincere–to be genuine. Phakchok Rinpoche acknowledges that being genuine is very difficult. When we try to apply it in daily life, this can be challenging for us.We think we are sincere and genuine, but actually, if we examine, we often aren’t. Since we were very young, we’ve trained in a form of l\projecting a certain image, haven’t we
Improving ourselves, or making progress, while practicing the Buddhadharma should be a natural outcome. Phakchok Rinpoche observes that we practice correctly when our behavior and
Dharma means understanding the mind–our own mind– and how it functions. When we hear the word “Dharma” we can realize that we are engaging in a new process of examination. Instead of looking outward, we are turning the focus inward to investigate ourselves.
Hoping you all are happy and healthy. Here’s a short message on this Guru Rinpoche Day: When you know there’s nothing more important than the mind, then you can turn your mind towards the Dharma at that moment.
Belief in dharma practice is crucial. Yet, often we approach our practice in a half-hearted or not fully committed manner. Then, if we don’t believe in what we are practicing, we may not recognize our own experiences on the path. And if we don’t believe that the practice will bear results, then we may end up abandoning it altogether.
Phakchok Rinpoche presents one classic view of three levels of teaching as laid out in the Tibetan Buddhist perspective. Here, he explains that buddhas teach differently according to the capabilities and inclinations of their audience. Therefore, we see different levels of teaching depending upon the interest and the motivation of disciples. Rinpoche reminds us that we begin with the teachings that we can understand and digest.
Real kindness means that you aren’t looking for praise or thanks. We don’t attach strings to that kindness–we act kindly without expectation. Agenda-free kindness doesn’t look for something in return. And, on a spiritual level, this pure kindness doesn’t include calculations of how this will bring about enlightenment or accumulate merit for oneself. We need to let all that go. Instead, we can approach kindness very simply.
I would like to share this message with you all for today’s Guru Rinpoche Day: My son, you need to understand the dharma that I taught you. That is the easy part. The difficult part is the practice. And the more difficult part is to maintain the practice. Maintain means to carry on the practice whether you are in the mountain or in the city.
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