The habits of happiness

Great video.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness.html

In truth, devotion, compassion and intelligence should come about naturally, but their natural arising is a bit difficult at the beginning. The Dzogchen texts mentions that on the 'exterior,' we should maintain a training in rigpa that is uncontrived, while on the 'interior' we sometimes start a session with a fabricated meditation. Whatever the case may be, you must definitely train in loving-kindness and compassion during the post-meditation. Since they are rooted in intelligence, love and compassion naturally and gradually blossom the more you genuinely train in rigpa.

Please understand that the compassion and devotion that arise from experiencing the awakened state are not what we conventionally know as compassion and devotion. It is together with true intelligence, the real knowledge of how to be free—that is why they can become true compassion and true devotion.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche

Tsoknyi Rinpoche Retreat Denmark

Fearless Simplicity: An Introduction to Dzogchen

April 1 - 7, 2010

Tsoknyi Rinpoche III

The teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection, invite students to experience a direct realization of the Nature of Mind. In this retreat, we will receive Dzogchen teachings from one of the most skilled and respected Tibetan lamas currently teaching in the West, Tsoknyi Rinpoche III, son of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and brother of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. Rinpoche is one of those rare teachers whose lighthearted, yet illuminating style appeals to all practitioners.

Location: Rangjung Yeshe Gomde, Knebel, Denmark

Translation: English

Time: For more information, please visit www.gomde.dk

Prerequisite: Open to all

Contact: programs@gomde.dk

New Dharma Center in CPH

Lama Yonten officially announced his plans, to open a new Dharma center in Copenhagen, this afternoon at his weekly teaching session. After the teaching session coming members of the board had a meeting to discuss the goals for the organization. The name of the organization will be Dharma Gate, the name was given by H.H. The Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley. The name resembles the center's unbiased attitude with regards to tradition.

The center's official homepage incl. biography of Lama Yonten.

http://www.dharmagate.dk  

More news about the center will be posted in the near future.

Comment: Jigme Khyenste Rinpoche is amazing Buddhist teacher, fluent in English

What is Buddhism?

Now as far as Buddhism in general is concerned, one can categorize it in many many ways. One way of categorizing it can be dividing it into Shravakayana Path and Mahayana Path. And if one wonders why Buddhism, meaning why did Buddhism excist? Why this path? It’s because all of us have something driving us, something pushing us, something that makes us do things, whatever it is. So sometimes we call it a wish to be happy, sometimes we call it wish not to be unhappy, but something common to all. And Buddha dharma is something that corresponds to that.

Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, read the whole article @ http://www.saunalahti.fi/dorje/english/jigme_teaching1.htm

Welcome

Welcome dear Blogger. On a rainy morning near Copenhagen I just had a good cup of coffe. It's one of those days where it's not really appealing to move outside, although I have to in a few hours. We are all moving around about doing our work and earning our living - but how many of us are doing it because we enjoy it? That means 8 hours of work every day, just to make the wheels go around. That's an awful lot of time in my eyes. 

Fortunately I'm a student and working freelance so I'm not bound to a day job - but I don't count on that situation as permanent, so I am making preparations so that I will have leasure in the future to live life as I choose. Getting time and freedom (economically and spiritually) will be a reaquring topic on this blog. I'd be happy that my fellow bloggers share your thoughts and ideas. 

Note: don't hope I'm giving the impression that I'm a lazy bastard. On the contrary, I want to work hard, but with what I choose and with what inspires me.

Nothing worthwhile comes without effort.

I'm off to the shower and then a 2 hour train ride to Odense for a meeting.

see you soon