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Meditation and the Spiritual path - idea # 141
<o:p></o:p>from your Buddhism expert
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</o:p> Bliss and Openness pt. 22
What is Conventional bodhichitta?
Happy Gratitude-Monday!<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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We return to the classic passage: <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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“…one Dhar-ma, Bo-dhi-chit-ta, embodies all practices
of the development and completion stages...” <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>
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</o:p>Conventional Bodhichitta is all about compassion and love, <o:p></o:p>which are really two sides of the same coin. Compassion is the <o:p></o:p>choice to take-away another’s sufferings {in the most wonderful <o:p></o:p>way}. Love is the decision to lavish another with blessings {in the <o:p></o:p>most wonderful way}. <o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Why do I keep redundantly repeating the phrase, “in the most <o:p></o:p>wonderful way”?<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Because in every religion, on every continent there are only <o:p></o:p>two kinds of teachers: <o:p></o:p> - Love-givers <o:p></o:p>
- and Fear-mongers. <o:p></o:p>
Who could be a great example of a Love-giver: Saint Francis <o:p></o:p><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>
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. On the other hand, who could be a great example of a <o:p></o:p>Fear-monger; Torquemada of the Spanish Inquisition… not one <o:p></o:p>of your more lovable fellows. <o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Over the centuries the Torquemadas of the world have worked to <o:p></o:p>convince us that if we take-away another’s sufferings we could <o:p></o:p>be cheating them of the opportunity to “work out their own <o:p></o:p>karma.” Who taught that? Certainly not Avalokiteshvara!<o:p></o:p><o:p>
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The Torquemadas have also argued that if we are too giving or <o:p></o:p>even long to be too giving it could harm or “spoil” others. And yet, <o:p></o:p>you’ll never hear Kuan Yin teach that.<o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Hey, could you remember reading “The Monkey’s Paw” in Junior <o:p></o:p>High School? In this creepy tail by Edgar Allan Poe, every wish <o:p></o:p>made over a magical amulet came true, but in a consistently, <o:p></o:p>twisted and tragic manner. <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Like wise, the Fear-mongers of this world have convinced us that <o:p></o:p>if our compassion or love is unbridled, then only harm can come <o:p></o:p>from it. But guess what kids… Buddha NEVER taught that.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>And that is why I persist in using the phrase “…in the most wonderful way.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>
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How else could we have been insidiously infected by the <o:p></o:p>frightening lies of the Torquemadas? We’ll explore that tomorrow.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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We are exposed to Fear-inducing lies every day.<o:p></o:p>Could there be a way to replace those feelings with something much better? <o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Could there be a way to use one simple exercise to generate: <o:p></o:p> - a profound, physical calmness, <o:p></o:p>
- a dynamic, energetic centeredness <o:p></o:p>
- and a fun, mental resourcefulness? <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>You could find out, by going to: <o:p></o:p>http://www.lamajigme.com/Change-90.html <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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May you and yours be happy and healthy! <o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Om</st1:place>
Mani Padme Hum,
<o:p></o:p>Lama Jigme Gyatso - Tibetan-Buddhist: Monk, Teacher, Healer and Tantrika <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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Http://www.lamajigme.com/Beginning-Series.html <o:p></o:p><o:p>
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Change how you Feel in less then 90 seconds?<o:p></o:p>This month ONLY:
<o:p></o:p>http://www.lamajigme.com/Change-90 <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p>
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