Tibetan Buddhism: The Elegant Mind

’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. 

The Waiting Room

Visualize a vast railroad terminal resembling New York City’s Grand Central Station, with newly dead people entering all the time, mulling around, eventually moving from the waiting room toward the track on which their departure train sits, ready to take them away on a sojourn through the Bardo of Becoming to their next destination.

And while we will all be there one day, the specific train for which each of us is ticketed differs, and the experiences of our journey upon it -- as well as the conditions resident within our destination -- are not randomly determined.

Rather, they are earned by Why and How we do the things we do in this life.

(Length: 10 minutes)

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

Lao Tzu and the Mahayana Path

The legendary Lao Tzu was living and teaching a harmonious way of being -- simple, modest and true -- traveling throughout China centuries before Siddhartha's birth.

Upon achieving enlightenment, Siddhartha Buddha refined, deepened and shared similar ways to all who were inclined to listen. Then, after his death, these teachings were assembled and gradually morphed into what we today know as Buddhism's Mahayana curriculum.

The teachings of Lao Tzu . . . 

The awakened Bodhisattva path . . . 

Both so ancient, yet so relevant today.

(Length: 13 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with accompanying music composed and performed by the SF-bay area musician Bobby Vega.

(Instant) Karma Redo?

Consider: How convenient would it be to have a 'Karma' Replay Command Center into which we could call when needed to replay an action or moment we had participated in? 

An at-the-ready 'redo' button for any occurrence that, upon reflection, we'd like to correct or fix the 'why' or 'how' we behaved with others . . . and thereby repairing or 're-contenting' the unwholesome karmic seed that had been planted in our mindstream.

Nice to have?  You bet.

Useful?  Sure thing.

Necessary?  Let's talk . . .

(Length: 12 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with accompanying music composed and performed by the SF-bay area musician Bobby Vega.

The Ongoing Process of MInd

"How does my mind work?"

It was a question posed to the 21st Century Bodhisattva at the conclusion of a teaching.

After pausing to collect her thoughts, the Bodhisattva smiled sofly and began to speak not only about the experiential mechanics of mind-flow, but of the path of progressive engagement that empowers one to begin to understand for themself.

(Length: 14 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with accompanying music composed and performed by the SF-bay area musician Bobby Vega.

Buddha(s) Far and Near . . .

The historians tell us Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, lived more than 2,500 years ago in Northern India. Having uncovered and freed the enlightened mind, it is said he taught the path of similar achievement to others for 45 years, until his death at the age of 80.

Precious work, done remarkably well; obviously the Buddha and his teachings have had a uniquely far-reaching impact.

But consider: While affirming and honoring Siddhartha's awakened accomplishments, perhaps Buddhas are a little more 'everyday' . . . ? 

(Length: 12 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with accompanying music composed and performed by the SF-bay area musician Bobby Vega.

Backstage at the Mind

Posed by a student to the 21st Century Bodhisattva at the conclusion of a teaching:

"There's this nagging question, What do I want? The truth is, it's slippery. How can I ever know what I truly want when everything is always changing . . . including my flip-flopping mind, the basis of my entire experience?"  

"Do you have any advice for me?"

After some moments of thought the Bodhisattva began to speak . . . 

(Length: 15 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, presented by Kathy Ambrose . . . with accompanying music composed and performed by the SF-bay area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach.

Within Dependent Origination, ’Perfect’ Never Occurs

Absolutely everything (i.e., anything) we can point to as 'this' or 'that' is occurring in a dynamically ever-changing manner . . . organic . . . on the fly . . . at times seemingly chaotic . . . the sum of its parts . . . perpetually compiling and re-compiling . . . including the profoundly complex occurrences we refer to as You and Me and Us.

All phenomena emanate from a myriad of causes . . . sounds, tastes, aromas, sights, thoughts, feelings . . . aggregated causes give rise to effects, which then evolve into the causes for new effects . . . on and on . . . ad infinitum.

The methodological science of this process of "dependent origination" resides deep in the heart of all Buddhist perspectives. 

(Length: 12 minutes)

Written and presented by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega -- special guests: the Turtle Island String Quartet.

The Buddhist Embrace

Reflection upon a foundational Diamond Sutra verse yields a clear and relevant message to those on the Mahayana path: Every sentient being is equally worthy of our attention, caring, cherishing, virtuous intentions and actions.

This understanding -- from which the great mind of equanimity, compassion's fertile ground, arises and abides -- is profoundly empowering. 

Feel free to allow your most inclusive visions to emerge and clarify, discover and embrace perspectives beyond your (no longer) comfortable mind boundaries, let your imagination soar . . .

Sentient beings come in all bodies, shapes, colors and sizes . . . and we are everywhere.

(Length: 10 minutes)

Written by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, presented by Kathy Ambrose; with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach.

Dharma Lab

This time of year can be difficult for many -- obligatory family gatherings, stress, pressure, stale relationships, contrived cheer, discomfort.

But consider: perhaps there's no more fertile setting for meaningful Dharma practice than within our own families.

Because while time shared with those with whom we're most familiar can be challenging, it just might present our greatest opportunities for wholesome growth, and the profound rewards that accompany it.

-- Herein, a tale in which a modern day Bodhisattva provides some thoughtful perspectives . . . 

(Length: 16 minutes)

Presented by Mark Winwood of the Chenrezig Project, with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach.