Suffering is so pervasive and takes so many different forms in this world that we may feel there is little we can do to contribute to its relief in any meaningful way. In addition to sickness, old age and death,we have warfare, environmental woes and poverty. Our inner world, too, is afflicted constantly by the disturbing emotions. We may wish for some magic wand we could wave to transform all this misery and strife into a world of happiness and peace.

In our Feature Section, His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso remind us of the transformative power inherent in three simple practices we already possess: making aspiration prayers, dedicating the merit, and rejoicing in virtue. Far from being simple good-hearted or well-intentioned gestures, these practices are powerful skillful means for affecting positive change. When engaged in with sincerity, they lead us beyond our limited notions of self and other and awaken our wisdom and compassion. To our surprise, we find that we can work miracles: the actions of a loving heart mixed with wisdom are never lost. Their effect truly impacts our world. As His Holiness teaches here: All things have the nature of arising in interdependence. There is no phenomenon that does not come about in this way. Seeing how everything is inter-related, we should be aware of how we can help others. It is good to reflect on this.

A Prayer That These Words Be Swiftly Fulfilled
by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

Rejoicing in Virtue
by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Rejoicing means that in witnessing or hearing about wholesome activity, our minds are naturally happy and delighted. Just at the sight of a positive action, we are joyous.

The Importance of Dedication
by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
We have all engaged in wholesome activity. Whether this will bring about a vast result or not mainly depends upon dedicating the merit, and so an excellent dedication is very important.

TEACHINGS

Perspectives on Mindfulness: Seeing, Managing and Transforming Emotional Mind
by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
As a result of gaining greater understanding of our emotions, we develop more profound skills to monitor and transform them. We gain the ability to change the function that the emotions usually perform, which is to disturb our mind and perpetuate habitual patterns.

Meditation on Precious Human Birth
by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen
We have this precious opportunity right here in front of us, right now. We have the potential and all of the qualities necessary to obtain the states of liberation and omniscience.

Why We Need to Study Emptiness
by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Since emptiness is the nature of phenomena, we can make progress and realize emptiness through practice. If emptiness were not the actual true nature of phenomena, it would be an illusion and practice would bring no result.

The Heart of the Matter
by the Third Jamgon Kongtrul
(trans. by Karl Brunnhölzl)

ARTICLES

Pure Mind, Pure Land: Part 2 in a series
by Andrew Holecek
In this article we discover how to enter the Pure Lands, first investigating the approach of traditional Pure Land doctrine and then turning to the Tibetan Buddhist methods.

Contact with Compassion: An Interview with His Eminence the 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche
by Charlee Parkinson

REGULARS

The Lives of the Karmapas: The Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje
by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Illusions of Life & Death:
Euthanasia
by Andrew Holecek

WORKING WITH EMOTIONS: A (Not So) Civil War
by Howard Aposhyan

Teaching Schedule of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Bodhi Directory