Rinpoche had us writers watch this video today of Professor Donald S Lopez narrating the story of Devadatta. Whilst the Professor’s narration was very clear, I have to say that it was our discussion afterwards that really changed my perspective about Devadatta. Lesson #1: don’t be surprised when people are never happy with how well […]

This freaked me out because I’ve nearly died eight times now, and every time it’s happened in the exact same way this video describes (and I didn’t realise how closely it matched until I watched the video!). First, my hearing goes. There’s a loud ringing-buzzing sound in my ears and my hearing closes in, into […]

When I was growing up, I didn’t see a lot of my mother. We were well-off so she was always out gallivanting with friends, flying to different countries, buying different clothes, and just generally finding new ways to spend money. Was my mother a bad mother? No, not by a long shot. She was generous […]

treekisser: Accountability in Our Diets If you wouldn’t personally castrate an animal without anesthetic, if you wouldn’t work at a factory farm, if you wouldn’t take a baby away from his mother, if you wouldn’t brand someone’s skin, if you wouldn’t cut off beaks, toes or tails, if you wouldn’t deprive someone of light, if […]

Those who really want the Dharma to grow within themselves and to grow for others should never fear hard work, timing, difficulties, struggles, disappointments because it is for a good cause. Working for Dharma is not a prison or work, but it is purely spiritual practice. It is purely collection of merit and purification. Actually […]

I’ve been lacking it in recent times. Mind changing. Game changing. Integrity

If you say you don’t have money to help a animal shelter, why then do you have money to buy meat? – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

(Taken with my iPhone) Once a week, I get the immense honour of making like Atisha. Who is Atisha? Atisha was a scholar from Nalanda Monastery, who is credited with reviving the Buddhadharma in Tibet and writing A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. His teachings were passed from one great master on to another, […]

Never abandon your spiritual teacher no matter how many inner obstacles you need to overcome. – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche (Sent via a text)

I don’t see them [my students] as my slaves. I see them as people I am responsible for. If I am not here to teach them Dharma, then what am I here for? – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche