Tomek Lehnert in Edinburgh
Our Edinburgh Buddhist group recently had the opportunity to host a great teacher of Diamond Way Buddism, Tomek Lehnert. Tomek was the right hand of Lama Ole Nydahl for 20 years while traveling with him around the world. He has been involved in setting up Karma Kagyu Buddhist centres in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, and Russia as well as Western and Eastern Europe. He’s also the author of the book about the Karmapa issue, Rogues In Robes.
Buddha statue in Bodh Gaya
Existence and non-existence are extremes,
Purity and impurity are extremes as well,
Thus, having relinquished both extremes,
The wise do not dwell even in the middle.
– Buddha Shakyamuni, King of Samādhi Sūtra
Shamar Rinpoche wearing the Red Crown
Shamar Rinpoche
From “A Change of Expression” (Editions Dzambhala, 1991)
Lama Ole Nydahl in Copenhagen 2009 (Photo: JR Petersen)
The six liberating actions are a motivational teaching for direct use in one’s life. As is generally known, Buddhism has a very practical aim and its view is exceedingly clear. No one gets enlightened from only hearing teachings. Lasting results come from real experiences and the changes they bring about. Because this is so important, Buddha gave much practical advice, which should never be seen as commandments but as help from a friend. Being neither a creator nor a judging god, he wants no followers nor students who are a flock of sheep. Instead he wants colleagues – mature people sharing his enlightenment and the massive responsibility it entails are his real goal.
H.H. 16th Karmapa
We are sure you’ll enjoy these wonderful pictures of H.H. the 16th Karmapa (click on the thumbnails to enlarge). You can see the goodness and compassion simply radiating from him.
3rd Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (1954-1992)
“Mind’s essence is emptiness possessing self-awareness of manifestations, referred to as all-pervading and unobstructed, i.e., emptiness and lucidity. Mind’s nature is the inseparability of emptiness and clarity. Through meditation practice, one comes to realize that there is no mind different than thoughts and that there are no thoughts different than the mind. One realizes that one either recognizes the mind or doesn’t, whereby both are the same mind. Differences pertain to realization. One needs to look at one’s mind in order to realize that it is in truth free of an apprehending subject and apprehended objects. Realization of the union of emptiness and clarity – which is freedom from subject and objects – is Mahamudra, the goal of all meditation practices. Words will not disclose Mahamudra. One needs to purify one’s negativities and obscurations that conceal one’s mind’s true nature and accumulate merit in order to realize Mahamudra.”
From the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul‘s instructions based on “Pointing Out the Dharmakaya” composed by the Ninth Karmapa, Wangchuk Dorje. Full text here.
This video is of the Q&A session held by H.H. 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje in Hong Kong in February 2011. Enjoy!
This letter of condolence for the people of Japan has been posted at Gyalwa Karmapa’s website.
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