20 May 2013 No Comments

Ringu Tulku to Visit Again

Ringu Tulku will visit again;  Thank you to all.

Ven. Ringu Tulku’s Public talk on April 27th, a few weeks ago, focused on his new book, Confusion Arises as Wisdom. It all happened at Phillips Theological Seminary and was sponsored by yours truly, Bodhicharya Oklahoma, Osage Monastery of Peace and PTS.

We are pleased that so many attended from areas around Oklahoma. We are looking forward to future visits from Ringu Tulku and other Lamas and would like to plan a retreat event; with multiple teachings. Rinpoche addressed the Bodhicharya Sangha on April 28th and as requested, shared his life changing experiences with his own teachers that furthered his own dharma path. We are grateful to Rinpoche and Bodhicharya North America for making this possible and for all of you for your support of Buddhism in Oklahoma.

Please note events happening in Oklahoma and and Arkansas that enhance your experience of Tibetan Buddhism and do pay attention to the increasing buddhist education available to people, no matter what their goal. Whether it be an education in the logic and compassion of reality or to develop a personal practice, Oklahoma increasingly has what people need to explore the buddhist path toward a true autonomous identity of wisdom. Check out who you are studying with. This is your job.

It can possibly be said that “discovery” of Buddhism in Oklahoma illustrates the personal responsibility of the path itself. Dig a little and the rewards are great. Keep at it and the rewards keep giving. Bodhicharya Oklahoma has existed since 2001.

Thank you, jr

by jackie in Practice

20 May 2013 No Comments

Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas

Stay informed:  Tulsa is an easy drive to U of Arkansas. Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee has been an honored guest of Bodhicharya Oklahoma. Much is offered here. Save the link.

Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas

TCIA was founded in 2006 by Professor Sidney Burris, Professor of English and Director of the Fulbright College Honors Program and the Religious Studies Program at the University of Arkansas, and Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee, an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk, holder of the advanced geshe lharampa and geshe ngarampa degrees, and instructor at the University of Arkansas. The Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

by jackie in Practice

28 Mar 2013 Comments Off

Giving Up Labeling as “Reality”

by jackie in Practice

15 Mar 2013 2 Comments

Why Do Clouds Appear White?

by jackie in Practice

01 Mar 2013 Comments Off

Classes Resume

Weekly Wednesday 6:30pm class resumes Feb 27th at Fellowship Congregational Church;  2900 S. Harvard, Tulsa 94137.

Thank you to all who have attended the more informal group sessions since July during my absence for family illness issues. All’s well and we now resume. Our focus will be the Chenresig Practice using Ringu Tulku’s wonderful book offered to us by www.rigultrust.org for purchase.  It is about 30+ American dollars, beautifully done and a once in a lifetime purchase that will serve you well.  Please do go to the web site and take a look. Everything you need to know or learn about a practice can be found in the deeply taught instructions is here. Color photos are high quality and the practice is included in the back. If you buy one single book to establish a short daily practice that includes all you need to grow in meditation skills and insight, this could be the book. I had the text before it was published in this gorgeous format.

Going back to it now as a polished publication, I see it embodies all the Buddhist teachings in a “how to do” format for me personally. It fits easily in a purse but the print is large. Including the practice it’s about 150 pages. We will practice the two line variation chant in class. It is a beautiful chant and as many Tibetan chants do, has what I’m going to describe here as a syncopated rhythm, that takes three notes and carries the practice through the refuge, bodhichitta, visualization instructions, optional 7 Branch and 6 Realm, and required Dedication and aspiration. It’s all there. Re-reading Ringu Tulku’s commentary again and again and again takes one more deeply into one’s understanding of the practice words. When this understanding goes very deep, it becomes part of one’s being; and this is the meaning of Realization.  When the meaning has become how one is without thinking about it.

(This was supposed to be posted on Tuesday, sorry for the delay. –Tom)

by jackie in Practice

30 Jul 2012 Comments Off

Colorado Movie Massacre

What is the mechanism through which we can Cope with news like the Colorado Movie Massacre? What is the Buddhist mechanism to cope? How do we make sense of this horrific event, the mental illness, the aftermath, the loss of people we love and need?

Buddhism would not be around today if it had not addressed this from 2500 years ago until the appearance of all the books in bookstores available to read and all the teachers available to us today teaching the authentic path.

Samsara: The cycle of suffering we all experience due to event, reaction, and repetition. Saying what samsara is; it is not enough. Reading about “samsara” in a book is not enough. Suffering is real. Hands on. Painful. When it’s happening to us, it is horrific. So what is enough? The answer is transforming from thinking “I know this” to “perhaps there is a better way, let me analyze, examine and reflect and then meditate.” More →

by jackie in Practice