Closing 2022 with Bodhicitta

Sacred Spaces

Pilgrimage to sacred places is a wonderful practice in Buddhism. There is a resonance, a heartbeat still reverberating on the ground where Buddha became enlightened and taught. As we unite with fellow pilgrims, we feel the unity of a worldwide Sangha. Witnessing all the varied kinds of Buddhists joining in prayer and circumambulation is like the dream of world peace arising.

Sitting in our homes, reading the great philosophers and teachers, we can forget that their struggles and practice is like our own. Their extraordinary commitment hits home and we become inspired to follow in their footsteps when we visit their caves and monastic cells. We feel how austere and lonely a cave is, yet full with the joy of meditation it becomes.

A lesser known pilgrimage site is the cave of great Indian philosopher Asanga from the 4th century. Here an extraordinary story of compassion unfolds. After 12 years of retreat, he was discouraged and left his cave, thinking he was not capable of enlightenment. Along the side of the road he saw an old and very sick dog with a terrible wounds. He leaned over to clean the wounds and saw that they were filled with maggots. The only way to clean them without causing pain was to lift each maggot with his tongue. As his tongue was about to touch the wound, the dog transformed into Maitraya, his revered deity. Great compassion opened the final stage of realization! Read the full story here.

HH Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche making offerings to a golden Tara at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodegaya, where the Buddha became enlightened.

Acharya Yeshe Makes Pilgrimage to Asanga's Cave

To reach Asanga's cave you have to climb 2000 steps. How great Acharya Yeshe was able to make it! This is the shrine built in Asanga's practice area.

1600 Bats Rescued in Texas during Cold Snap

Mary Warwick, the wildlife director at the Houston Humane Society, was out doing holiday shopping when the freezing winds reminded her that she hadn't heard how the bats were doing in the unusually cold temperatures for the region. So she drove to the bridge where over 100 bats looked to be dead as they lay frozen on the ground.

But during her 40-minute drive home, Warwick said they began to come back to life, chirping and moving around in a box where she collected them and placed them on her heated passenger seat for warmth. She put the bats in incubators and returned to the bridge twice a day to collect more. Read the full story from NPR

Beginning the New Year w/ Wholehearted Love

All the teachings of the Buddha can be subsumed into their root: recognizing the kindness of others and returning it.

-Lord Jigten Sumgon

9-10 Qi Gong with Carol Bailey

10-12 Meditation Retreat with Khenmo Drolma

Sunday Jan 1, 9-12 EST Online Immeasurable Kindness, Compassion, Equanimity and Joy

Begin the new year with kindness. Our Sunday Dharma offerings will be extended into a mini retreat. Start with Qigong at 9am taught by Carol Bailey or join in at 10 am to contemplate the potential of your heart/mind to hold and express love, compassion, joy and equinamity.

Khenmo will present both the relative and the absolute nature of these aspects of ourselves. Although familiar as altruism, with deep examination, they become the path to a boundless heart/mind. Registration

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Vajra Dakini's retreats, study programs and weekly meditation as well as Khenmo's food and shelter arise interdependetly with our donations. We are so grateful for your kind support.

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