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Snow Lion Publications PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851 607-273-8519


Orders: 800-950-0313

Volume 19, Number 4 FALL 2005


ISSN 1059-3691 BN:86605 3697 NEWSLETTER & CATALOG

Dalai Lama in Arizona Interview with


“I’ll use these three days to dis- Life, are liberally flavored with his
JEFFREY HOPKINS
cuss the potentials of our inner contagious good humor and inter-
world,” says the Dalai Lama. The
days is question are September 16-
esting forays.
His Holiness recollects his strug-
On the release of two new books
18, and the setting is a huge, hid- gles as a young boy to memorize
eously carpeted conference room various texts. Apparently he would YOGA TANTRA:
at a resort in Tucson. His Holi- be hit with a yellow whip when
ness is sitting on a dais in front of he failed to perform up to expecta-
Paths to Magical Feats
an unusual black tangka depict- tion. “The memorization of this text
ing a Buddha floating above what under the shadow of this yellow
ABSORPTION IN NO
appears to be an Arizona mountain. whip was not easy,” he recalls. EXTERNAL WORLD
of mind,” he adds. “It’s not about
Tall pink flowers lean out of vases In a discussion about severe closing your eyes and just becoming
arrayed across the stage, rather like drowsiness during meditation, he relaxed. If it were, the rabbits would Q: I have to confess I’m intrigued by
indiscrete desert flamingos. recommends that the practitioner be very good at it.” the subtitle, Magical Feats. I’m won-
Here, in the Marriott Starr Pass In response to a question about dering if you’ve ever seen a magical
Resort—a quasi 21st-century god-
“Sometimes people helping pets who have died, His feat—walking on water, finding trea-
realm—food appears and disap-
Holiness comments that the pat- sures, and so forth.
pears, the swimming pools are mistakenly think that terns in the bardo are the same for
mostly empty, and the views spec- Buddhism promotes JH: Actually, one of the feats is
humans and animals. He points knowing all treatises—which
tacular. Just about the only perfection people without emotion,” out that just as prayers by a teacher means understanding a treatise as
required of the attendees is patience, he says, “but Buddhism can have a beneficial outcome for soon as you read it. There was a calm abiding and special insight
and an immunity to hayfever.
promotes a very high level students, prayers by an owner can yogi in Dharamsala who was one according to theYoga Tantra exposi-
His Holiness, along with many
of emotion—empathy with have a positive effect on pets. of the yogis studied by Dr. Herb tion. And also on the magical feats
members of the audience, is react-
all sentient beings—not About relationships, he notes how Benson’s team—I served as liaison that are used in the process of accu-
ing to a potent allergen in the air. quickly so-called love can turn into in that study on heat yoga. This mulating merit in order to enhance
He sneezes—and suggests that the detachment.”
hatred. His comment: “If intimacy yogi was the most impressive of the path to enlightenment.
crowd will have to say “God bless is based on a genuine recognition of that impressive group. He had little
you” to him frequently. It’s a joke “walk around, wash the face, find an Q: Why would magical feats be an
the person and his qualities, that kind education, but it was easy for him to
of course, but the group of several expansive view toward the horizon— important accomplishment on the path
of love is much more stable and less understand extremely complicated
thousand complies loudly several and in the future eat less dinner.” For to enlightenment?
likely to slide toward hostility.” And material.
times throughout the weekend. In those who have “too many internal JH: They’re important because they
adds that a genuine recognition of
accord with the Dalai Lama’s usual processes,” he suggests a meditation Q: Why is The Great Exposition of can be used to the benefit of sen-
interdependence is key.
style, the teachings, a rich presenta- on counting the breath, from one to Secret Mantra—of which Yoga Tantra tient beings. For instance, pacifying
“Negative emotions are impul-
tion based on chapter 8 of Shantide- ten, and then back down from ten is a section—an important work? disease in an area, increasing your
sive; positive emotions are grounded
va’s Guide to the Bohdisattva’s Way of to one. “It relaxes the mind and pre- JH: Just as there’s Dzong-ka-ba’s own intelligence so that you can
upon a realistic way of seeing
vents distraction.” things and are complemented with Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path understand difficult points of doc-
“In meditation you’re trying to wisdom,” he observes. for the practice of the path in the trine, making it easier to achieve
(Above photo of the Dalai Lama in
attain a very alert and clear state “Sometimes people mistakenly Sutra systems in Geluk, for tantra realization, finding treasures in the
Tucson by Kathryn Wilde.)
think that Buddhism promotes there is Dzong-ka-ba ’s presentation ground, even deposits of gold or
people without emotion,” he says, of all four tantra sets in The Great oil—as His Holiness says—for the
“but Buddhism promotes a very high Exposition of Secret Mantra. sake of gaining wealth that can be of
level of emotion—empathy with all In Yoga Tantra, Dzong-ka-ba puts assistance to others. As for walking
a lot of emphasis on how to develop
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Ithaca, NY 14851
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Snow Lion Publications

sentient beings—not detachment.” ■ (Continued on page 5)

Practical Mindfulness Techniques


by HIS HOLINESS JIGDAL the Sutra and Tantra. The Sutric
DAGCHEN SAKYA teachings are known as the outer or
exoteric teachings, while the Tantric
Mindfulness Meditation teachings are referred to as the inner
Techniques or secret teachings. In the Sutra
Every day we have different mental (Mahayana) level of teachings, one
experiences. We are in a good mood must practice The Six Perfections
or a bad mood. We are happy or including generosity, moral behav-
unhappy. These thoughts are always ior, patience, diligence, meditation,
working on us. These experiences and wisdom. In Tantra (Vajrayana),
are natural, but it is important to the individual meditates on a par-
understand their nature. They arise, ticular deity.
abide, and cease, continually and Meditating on deities helps us
seemingly without end. to alleviate our physical suffer-
We must understand the origins ing. Our active minds cause us to
of our thoughts. To accomplish this, In Calm Abiding meditation, as we have mental discomfort. Impure
we should practice Calm Abiding observe our thoughts, the number
and Insight Meditation. As part of of thoughts decreases until we can Impure vision and
one’s meditation, posture should be naturally experience calm, abiding
peace and happiness. pure vision are very
considered. When we sit up straight,
our psychic channels open up and When we examine the mind, we much connected to
stabilize our mental state; it helps to notice that it has no color, shape our motivation.
straighten our mind, and improves or size. As much as we look, the
ITHACA, NY14851
PERMIT NO. 746

the breathing. Analyzing the func- “mind” or “I” cannot be found. The visions occur when we have cling-
U.S. POSTAGE
PRSRT STD

tion and nature of the mind, and conclusion is that the mind is empty ing or grasping or attachment to the
activities of Samsara. This clinging
PAID

observing how thoughts, emotions, of a singular or plural nature.


and feelings arise for a moment, and grasping acts like a burden,
cease, and then change into another Advanced Meditation Practices dragging us down, and it makes
thought or feeling is very beneficial We practice Buddhism through dif- our mind heavy. If we have a pure
for pacifying the mental sufferings. ferent levels of teachings including (Continued on page 17)
SNOW LION 1
NEWS

Opening the Door to Bön


by NYIMA DAKPA RINPOCHE
(The following is an excerpt from and commit to one’s practice with seeking only fame and reputation, he
Opening the Door to Bön.) the goal of achieving enlighten- will be unable to guide his students
ment. We call this “embodying the on the pathway to enlightenment.
Pure Attitude of the attitude of enlightenment.” Without perfect knowledge of
Enlightened Ones The teacher needs to have a Bön in general, and of his special
Both teacher and student need to positive motivation for giving the topic of expertise in particular, the
have the pure attitude of the enlight- teachings. He should teach in order teacher may not be able to properly
ened ones. It is important to look to benefit his students and all sen- interpret the meaning of the teach-
within and consider whether one tient beings. The teachings will ings. If students do not receive the
wishes to receive the teachings in not be effective if the teacher does teachings with the correct attitude
order to achieve worldly fame and not have this attitude. A quotation and understanding that are essential
reputation, gain higher rebirth in the from Drime Zijid, one of the largest for developing their practice, then
god realms due to fear of suffering biographies of Tönpa Shenrab, says they will not achieve realization.
in the three lower realms, or liberate “Without compassion and the right
oneself only from this cyclic exis- attitude to giving the teachings in The Tantric Way of Purifying
tence of suffering. Wishing to liber- order to benefit the disciples and One’s Views
ate only oneself (thegmen gyi kunlong) all sentient beings, it is rather like a The second important attitude is
is considered to be the lowest level donkey wearing a tiger skin to look the Tantric way of purifying one’s
of these incorrect attitudes. like a tiger.” views, which means to transform
If you have any of these wrong The three essential qualities of one’s ordinary and dualistic views
or negative attitudes, you must a teacher include having trust and and conceptions into a higher spiri-
transform and correct them first by devotion toward his own teacher tual vision.
thinking, for instance, that “in the and past lineage masters, having For instance, you transform the
short period of this lifetime, it is place where teachings are received
not worth benefiting only myself. from an ordinary classroom into a
It is essential for me to overcome You transform your complete and perfected mandala of
the suffering of this cyclic world in companions and class- the deities. You view the teacher as
order to attain enlightenment for mates from ordinary a pure form of Shen Lha Ökar, the
the benefit all sentient beings.” Buddha of Compassion, by mentally 144 pages • paper • #OPDOBO • regular price $15.95, now $12.76
It is important to understand
beings into deities and transforming him from an ordinary Available December 2005
that from the very beginning of goddesses, and believe person into an enlightened one who
one’s past lives until today, all sen- that they all have love, has manifested in a human body to Bön, the ancient pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, is still practiced
tient beings have somehow been compassion, and care guide all sentient beings. You trans- today, with a rapidly growing number of readers interested in the sha-
connected to you as your father or form your companions and class- manism and magic that are part of its complete path to liberation. Full of
mother. When they were your par- for all sentient beings. mates from ordinary beings into practical and explicit instructions, this handbook for Westerners details
ents, they took kind and loving care deities and goddesses, and believe the outer and inner fundamental Bön practices. This volume is part of a
of you—offering you the most deli- compassion for all sentient beings, that they all have love, compassion, first wave of Bön books that are finding an enthusiastic North American
cious food, covering you with the and having perfect knowledge of and care for all sentient beings. audience.
softest clothes — just as your present Bön. Without trust and devotion The purpose of transforming GESHE NYIMA DAKPA RINPOCHE is an experienced guide to this potent
parents likely do. Because you have to the lineage masters and his root your views into pure visions toward material. The founder of Bön centers throughout the West, with a main
been a child of all of these sentient teacher, he will not be blessed by his these objects is to realize the extraor- center in Los Angeles, he travels frequently in the USA to teach but is
beings, it is important to realize that teachers and past lamas. With these dinary nature of this experience. based in India.
you have a responsibility to lead qualities, he will have the bless- This gives you a special reason to
and liberate them from the suffering ing and power to help his students receive blessings and powers from
of this existing world. All sentient detach themselves from the suffer- the teacher (lama), the enlightened
beings dislike suffering, but each ing of samsara. ones (Sangye), the deities (yidam),
negative action of their body, mind, It is also important that the and the female manifestations of the
and speech cultivates more causes enlightened ones (khadro), in order
��������������
teacher have compassion and a
of suffering. Without realizing it, good attitude toward the teach- to develop your wisdom and stabil-
they follow the wrong path and ings. For example, the great hermit ity. This is the essence of the practice
thus experience endless suffering. Gongzod Ritöd Chenpo always did of purifying one’s view according to �����������������������������������������������������
They do not have the knowledge prayers and requested blessings the Tantric ways.
they need to practice the teachings,
��������������������������������������
by first repeating the name of his To achieve maximum benefit, the
so they cannot be liberated from this teacher, such as “Jetsun Trotsang practitioner must generate both the
condition without help. La” and “Jetsun Jangpa La.” Only motivation of the enlightened one
Therefore, it is essential to gen- then did he start the teachings. and the motivation of the secret
erate positive thoughts toward all If a teacher lacks compassion for Sang Ngag. Before receiving teach-
sentient beings by thinking that they sentient beings, he will not have ings, doing practices, and receiving
must be liberated and freed from all the ability to generate the good empowerment or oral transmission,
their negative karmas. To do this, will necessary to benefit students the student should start his practice
one needs to receive the teachings and others by his teachings. If he is each time with these motivations, so
that the benefits of the practice will
be multiplied.
Pure motivation provides the
“I strongly recommend this excellent guidebook for practi- student with good conditions for
tioners and for anyone else who would like a window into the teachings to take root and blos-
the view and practice of Bön. The practices of ngondro are som into enlightenment. If you lack
����������������������������������������������
pure motivation, then impure and
very important, because they provide the firm, stable founda- ������������������������������������������������������������������
deluded thoughts may destroy any
tion one needs for engaging in any of the higher practices of the good results of your practice. It is ��������������������������������
Bön Buddhist tradition, including dzogchen practice. Readers important to correct and purify any ������������������������������������������������
will benefit from the high level of clarity, depth and detail that improper attitudes and motives. ■ �����������������������������������
Geshe Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche offers regarding all aspects of �������������������������������������������
these wonderful and essential teachings.”
—TENZIN WANGYAL RINPOCHE
author of Healing with Form, Energy, and Light
An extraordinary recording of Tibetan bowls
performed by a master of this tradition
– Jonathan Goldman, author of Healing Sounds

Seven Metals features the beautiful harmonics


of 25 singing bowls. Acclaimed by bodywork
therapists, yoga teachers, and meditators.

A sound adventure for the spirit


– Don Campbell
author of The Mozart Effect

Available from Snow Lion


Seven Metals is 56 minutes of peace 800-950-0313

6 SNOW LION FALL ’05 NEWSLETTER

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