- Intermezzo: Following in The Footsteps of the First KarmapaOur first session of the international New Year, 2025 was dedicated to commemorating the parinirvāṇa anniversary of the First Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, shared a beautiful verse on Facebook, on January 3rd. While it is difficult, if not impossible, to capture the profoundness and beauty of HisContinue reading “Intermezzo: Following in The Footsteps of the First Karmapa”
- Mirroring Ourselves: Finding Outer and Inner Refuge – 37 Practices – Session 6What is our destination? How to progress along the path? And who are our companions? In his commentary to the seventh verse of Ngulchu Tokmé’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, Acharya Lhakpa explained these to be the three jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. We go for refuge to them in an outer sense as a way to find their qualities within.
- A Poisonous Tree and a Waxing Moon – 37 Practices – Session 5As beginning practitioners, once we distance ourselves from negative friends, what do we need in order to develop our positive qualities like hearing, reflecting, and meditating, as well as loving-kindness and compassion?
- Embracing Impermanence – 37 Practices – Session 4The verse itself, Acharya Lhakpa noted, is very clear and not difficult to understand. The most challenging part is how to bring it into practice. What is the true meaning of “letting go of this life,” and how can we internalize this verse?
- Leaving our homeland and samsaric distractions behind – 37 Practices – Session 3Bodhisattvas strive to liberate themselves and others from samsara. To do this, they keep to solitary places. What does it truly mean to “keep to solitary places”?