Fri, 30 May 2008
Stepping Stones
The Spring Retreat is now going on at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick. I was there last weeken and, barring accident, I'll be back tomorrow. The focus last weekend was on Tantric practice. Khenpo Tsultrim talked on the meaning of empowerment and Khenpo Choephel talked on the significance of tormas. Her'e a short excerpt from Khenpo Tsultrim's talk.
To develop bodhicitta you should be well trained in the four immeasurables, loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The practice of equanimity one should give up the self grasping mind. The practice of equanimity is regarding the happiness of others as equally important as your own. At the beginning, to practice with self grasping is a skilful means. But through this practice we are liberated from self grasping. The practice of the four immeasurables does not have to be a Mahayana practice, even Brahma practiced it. But bodhicitta cannot be developed without the immeasurables. To be enlightened you do not have to change your clothes, you only have to change your mind. Someone who transforms their mind is truly ordained. Saraha abandoned his monastic vows and took a consort and drank and said, "Today I am truly ordained."
