Tibetan Buddhism: The Elegant Mind

"What Is Enlightenment? Is it for Me?"

Call it what you will: enlightenment, realization, awakening, illumination, profound maturity, sageness, bliss . . . noble and empowering . . . brilliant and humble . . . courageous and practical . . . the 'stuff' of poetry.

Cultivating the enlightening mind is, for those who venture in its direction with diligence and authenticity, an adventurous journey on the path toward that which is most profoundly -- and exquisitely -- down-to-earth. 

(Length: 11 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project (mwinwood@gmail.com) with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.

Kleshas: Like Highway Robbers . . .

Ignorance, Anger, Confusion, Greed, Jealousy, Arrogance, Cynical Doubt, Laziness, Wrong Views, Low Self Esteem, Fear.

In Buddhism these are known as Kleshas, mental hindrances that cloud our mind, setting the stage for unwholesome (i.e., self-centered) intentional actions.

They are stubborn -- sneaky, lurking -- like highway robbers, always ready to pounce . . . contaminating our perspectives while bringing about unfavorable moods and vulnerabilities.

But they are transient . . . just thoughts, and so . . . enter Lojong (Tibetan mind training).

(Length: 12 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project (mwinwood@gmail.com) with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.

Some Thoughts on Mindfulness Practice

We often cannot change our external environment. We certainly cannot change many (or most) of the people we encounter.

But Mindfulness practice can lead us to clearly 'see' -- and help us to genuinely understand -- what is happening in the present moment (i.e., as it is happening) rather than being confused and/or lost in our thoughts, opinions and reactions.

Through experiential mindfulness, we can insightfully change in remarkable ways.

And consider: once we are changed, everything changes.

(Length: 17 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project (mwinwood@gmail.com) with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.

Dharma in the ”Wild Place”

From a divine 17th century French Canadian cathedral . . .  to a young couple presenting Medicine Buddha-oriented offerings in the midst of northern Colorado's 'Rawah Wilderness' -- a tale of bountiful faith and practice touching distant times and realms.

(Length: 14 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project (mwinwood@gmail.com), with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach.

Turn Suffering Into Compassion -- A Tonglen Meditation

"Tonglen" is a Tibetan term that implies 'exchanging oneself with others’.

It refers to a meditation practice found in Himalayan/Mahayana Buddhism which allows the awakening of genuine compassion. "Tong" translates as 'giving or sending', and "len" as 'receiving or taking.'

Tonglen practice is experiential; it gradually wears away our habitually obsessive grasping at a false sense of self (e.g., stubborn ego fixation / relentless identification with the personality).

Through meditative visualization(s), Tonglen effectively reverses our familiar pattern of avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure. As this occurs, we finally liberate ourselves from the deeply rooted  -- and destructive -- prison of selfishness.

(Length: 45 minutes. Included herein: Tonglen discussion followed by a guided meditation which begins at approximately 20 minutes.)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project (mwinwood@gmail.com).

Trees, Indra’s Net and the Unfolding Archaeology of All that Is

Reflections on Buddhist Dharma, Indra’s Jewel Net and the Trees with which we share our planet . . . as metaphor for the vast intra-connectedness of phenomena, ideas and life.

Since all things are intimately -- and infinitely -- intertwined with one another, every action is echoed throughout time and space, creating a butterfly effect across the cosmos . . . and practically, within each moment of our experience(s).

Let your contemplative imagination take wing . . . 

(Length: 14 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood and presented here by Kathy Ambrose, both of the Chenrezig Project.  Accompanying music composed and performed by the renowned San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega, joined by the Turtle Island String Quartet.

Guided Meditation: Breath Contemplation / River of Metta

For your contemplation: Appreciative thoughts and kindness-empowering visualizations are shared in this gentle meditation.

As the River flows . . .  May all beings be happy -- May all beings be safe -- May all beings be well -- May all beings be peaceful and at ease.

Sit comfortably, focus, center . . . approach and enter your meditative mind.  Or simply listen. 

(Length: 28 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project.

A Dharma Crucible

It is auspicious awareness for Dharma practitioners to remain mindful of how each of our lifetime's event/moments present opportunities for empowering wisdom to arise and abide.

Then, as insights blossom, long-held perspectives and self-oriented attitudes, no longer useful or relevant, may transform in vastly unexpected ways.

Consider: the flourishing of these insights -- and how we engage with them -- depends on no one but ourselves.

(Length: 13 minutes)

Written and shared here by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. 

The Vibrational Resonance of Mantras

The inherently potent merging of Tibetan Buddhism-supported mind states, in concert with the vibrational qualities of Sanskrit sounds and syllables, provides a direct, enriching stimulus to the energies -- and results -- of our Dharma practice.

This has been understood and experienced by practitioners for centuries, who will recite teachings and prayers in their own Tibetan language but have preserved and practice their mantra recitations in Sanskrit, knowing a mantra's intrinsic 'merit' lies mainly in its vibrational qualities rather than in any psychological meaning that society, culture, civilization or humans have placed on it.

But initial 'mantra practice' challenges are not uncommon here in the West . . . 

(Length: 15 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, shared here by Kathy Ambrose with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. 

’Splendid’ Impermanence

Everything is changing, advancing . . . collectively and individually . . . moment-by-moment.

Until instinctive insights begin to manifest, reactions to impermanence set many of our challenges into motion, swirling into what Siddhartha termed afflictive mind-states (aka kleshas) of "dukkha" – ignorance-sourced confusions and complications leading to insecurity,  discontent, stress, anxiety . . . catchword “suffering”.

But with understanding comes appreciation and, once embraced, impermanence becomes profoundly fertile . . . vast and empowering . . . bringing forth perpetual opportunities . . . fluid, evolving, blossoming.

Impermanence -- it's the Greatest Show on Earth . . . fantastically alive . . . playing non-stop, both outside and inside your mind.

(Length: 12.5 minutes)

Written and presented by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.