Longchenpa Rabjam talks about the mandala of reality, the mandala of the deities themselves that are – and I love to use this phrase that comes from a Guru Rinpoche text – they (meaning the deities in general) are like the rays of the sun, distinct and yet the same. They are not inventions of the mind, but the expression of the very nature of the universe. The very nature of the universe is love, joy, compassion, equalness, benevolence, wisdom – the energy and power that’s necessary to establish all of that in this world.
When I was younger in the dharma, the only ways these things were expressed were that all the deities and forms were just inventions of the mind, for the purposes of the meditation. They were like tricks, upaya. Sometimes they’d say, “Oh it’s just skillful means.”
It’s all rubbish, I mean not at all. There actually is such a thing as love and compassion – we all know that. There’s such a thing as love and compassion. And if there is such a thing as love and compassion, you can actually encounter it face to face abhimukhi. You really can. And it’s not going to be an easy meet as it were, but that doesn’t matter. And you’re going to feel reduced to non-ego by meeting real compassion.
Friday, April 1, 2022: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm UK time. Join the Longchen Foundation for a public viewing on Zoom of the second talk of Rigdzin Shikpo’s Heart of Buddha 2015 teaching on Mandalas and Longchen Rabjam’s Notions of Mandalas.
The Zoom session will begin with 10 minutes of formless meditation, followed by the streaming of Rigdzin Shikpo’s teaching together with Q & A – somewhat around an hour and 10 minutes total. Attendees are welcome to remain after for some discussion and reflection.
Here is the Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 893 2214 5627)
If you plan to attend this teaching, please support the work of the Longchen Foundation by donating £10 or so to the General Fund.
Questions? Please contact Andrew at andrewjmunro@gmail.com.
