2017 Fall
A Christmas Present from Rinpoche
Rinpoche sent this recorded message for one and all. (Please note: This is an mp3 recording.):
Christmas Mantras
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Everybody Pray—For Others and Oneself
Message from Rinpoche about praying for Ani Jill (and everyone, and oneself):
Everybody Pray—For Others and Oneself
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Now Looking Really Good
Rinpoche sent this message at the conclusion of Tashi Choling’s 2017 Vajrakilaya Retreat:
Now Looking Really Good
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Don’t Waste Your Precious Everything
In this teaching, Rinpoche urges everyone to come to the Vajrakilaya Retreat happening at Tashi Chöling and to focus and practice sincerely in general.
Don’t Waste Your Precious Everything
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The Retreat Is For You
In this teaching, Rinpoche says: “At Tashi Choling, your Vajrakilaya retreat is starting. That’s wonderful! Everybody come, everybody practice nicely, everybody help each other. That way it works!”
The Retreat Is For You
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On Pointing the Finger
Rinpoche gave the following teaching recently about learning to pay attention to our own faults:
On Pointing the Finger
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On the Passing of Longtime Student Latif Harris
Rinpoche gave the following teaching upon hearing of the passing of longtime student, Latif Harris:
On the Passing of Longtime Student Latif Harris
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Don’t Worry!
Rinpoche recently gave this teaching mostly in his own English:
Don’t Worry!
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Advice to a Longtime Student
Rinpoche recently gave this teaching: Advice to a Longtime Student.
Advice to a Longtime Student
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2017 Summer
Thank You for All the Work on the New Vajrasattva Statue
Rinpoche was shown some pictures of the latest round of cleaning on a new Vajrasattva statue that was donated to Orgyen Dorje Den, and he sends this message to everyone who has participated in the preparations.
Thank You for All the Work on the New Vajrasattva Statue
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On Becoming a Sponge (a.k.a. Doing the Preliminary Practices)
This teaching was taken from a video call with Rinpoche at the conclusion of the 2017 Ngondro Retreat at Tashi Choling.
On Becoming a Sponge (a.k.a. Doing the Preliminary Practices)
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On Supporting Ani Legshe and Ani Tsultrim
Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche heard that Ani Legshe and Ani Tsultrim are in need of assistance at this time. He has always praised them for their sincere faith and love of dharma, and now that they are needing more support, he expects all of us–their sangha family–to step up in whatever ways they need. As he says, “They are our real sangha, our real dharma sisters, these Anis!” He also has requested everyone to pray for them continuously.
On Supporting Ani Legshe and Ani Tsultrim
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Ojai Sangha Video Call
On July 16th, Rinpoche had a video call with the Ojai sangha. They had a series of questions.
Ojai Sangha Video Call
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On Practicing On The Upcoming Eclipse Day
There will be a total solar eclipse on August 21st, visible at least in part throughout much of North America. As eclipse days are said to be particularly powerful days for practice according to the Tibetan tradition (the positive or negative effects of our actions are said to be multiplied 10,000 times), we asked Rinpoche for advice on practicing on this occasion.
On Practicing On The Upcoming Eclipse Day
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Cleaning Day Excerpts Part 2: Afternoon Teachings
On June 25th, a group of students came to help with some deep cleaning at Rinpoche’s residence. The following are some excerpts from Rinpoche’s advice to the group when he met with them at the end of the day.
Cleaning Day Excerpts Part 2: Afternoon Teachings
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Cleaning Day Excerpts Part 1: Morning Teachings
On June 25th, a group of students came to help with some deep cleaning at Rinpoche’s residence. The following are some excerpts from Rinpoche’s advice to the group during the morning.
Cleaning Day Excerpts Part 1: Morning Teachings
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That’s Your Temple, You Guys
Having been in the Bay Area for a year and a half, Rinpoche was planning to return to Tashi Chöling in mid-July but decided to cancel the trip just a few days before he was scheduled to go, not wanting to make such a big push at that point. He sent this teaching:
That’s Your Temple, You Guys
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On Karma, Consequences, and Our Constant Killing
Rinpoche recently gave the following teaching on being aware and mindful about karma and the consequences of our actions:
On Karma, Consequences, and Our Constant Killing
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On the Bardo—We Are Going To Face It All
Rinpoche says: “The bardo retreat is very important! We are all in the bardo right now! Everything is a bardo, but we don’t want to accept it! We think that the bardo is somebody else’s experience, that the teachings are about somebody else’s phenomena. Give me a break! …There is only your bardo! Only your experience, your phenomena—what do you think the teachings are talking about?”
On the Bardo—We Are Going To Face It All
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Good Bardo!
In this teaching, Rinpoche expresses his delight that Les Collins is giving bardo teachings at Tashi Chöling and encourages everyone to come and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and contemplate the bardo.
Good Bardo!
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2017 Spring
Thanks and Advice at the Conclusion of Retreat
The following is taken from Rinpoche’s video call during the concluding ceremony of the Chimed Sok Tig longevity practice that followed this year’s Vajrasattva retreat at Tashi Choling:
Thanks and Advice at the Conclusion of Retreat
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On Rules and Discipline, Lineage, and Rinpoche’s Hope for the Future
In this teaching, Rinpoche says: “It is my hope for the future that we can not only maintain the centers and the practices, but improve them. How do we do that? By keeping harmony and pure discipline. That means each person.”
Each Person Watch Yourself: On Rules and Discipline, Lineage, and Rinpoche’s Hope for the Future
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On Maintaining Our Precious Vajrasattva and Vajrakilaya Practices
Regarding the Vajrasattva Retreat currently underway at Tashi Choling, Rinpoche sends his thanks in this teaching and requests that we always maintain this practice, as well as our yearly Vajrakilaya Retreat. He says: “Whether you are new or old, if you are in the position of leaders, then you do need to pay attention to these things because they are the important things! Therefore, I say to maintain these practices.”
On Maintaining Our Precious Vajrasattva and Vajrakilaya Practices
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The 2017 Vajrasattva Retreat: Chow Down Time
With only a few days left in this year’s Vajrasattva retreat, Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche sent the following message encouraging everyone to come and “chow down” on the their opportunity to practice:
The 2017 Vajrasattva Retreat: Chow Down Time
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On Opportunities to Learn at the 2017 Vajrasattva Retreat
Rinpoche spied on the setup for the Vajrasattva retreat via a video call to Tashi Chöling two days before the retreat started, and the following are some of the comments and advice he gave to those who were gathered at the temple, working on various aspects of preparation.
On Opportunities to Learn at the 2017 Vajrasattva Retreat
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On Group Practice and the Blessing of Sangha
In this teaching, Rinpoche says: “When you practice as a group, the practice is particularly strong. There is a special blessing or power in group practice.”
On Group Practice and the Blessing of Sangha
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To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 3
Conclusion: Part 3 of the spontaneous teachings given on April 9th, 2017:
To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 3
To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 2
Continued: Part 2 of the spontaneous teachings given on April 9th, 2017:
To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 2
To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 1
Spontaneous instruction given to students visiting on April 9th, 2017, who made the aspiration at that time that these precious reminders be made available to all in order to be of the greatest benefit:
To Refresh Our Understanding: Part 1
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On Spring 2017 Tormapalooza
On April 19th, in preparation for the upcoming retreats, students gathered at Tashi Chöling to make tormas—an event that is becoming our biannual “Tormapalooza.” Some short videos of it were sent to Rinpoche, and the following are some comments he made as he watched:
On Spring 2017 Tormapalooza
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More on Dharma Classes
Rinpoche offers more advice on dharma classes being offered by students such as Ila Reitz and others:
More on Dharma Classes
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On Our Own Faults
Rinpoche gave this teaching on recognizing and getting rid of our own faults:
On Our Own Faults
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On Dharma Classes
Rinpoche saw a recent video of people at O.D.D. having class with Ila, and he had this to say:
On Dharma Classes
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On a Spiritual Heir
In addition to his teachings and advice about taking care of the dharma centers in the future (sent out as the previous teaching in this series), Rinpoche also spoke on the question of who will be his spiritual heir when he passes:
On a Spiritual Heir
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On Maintaining the Dharma Centers
Re-watching a video of the sang (smoke offering purification practice) that was performed at Tashi Chöling on Losar (Tibetan New Year on February 27th), Rinpoche gave the following teaching:
On Maintaining the Dharma Centers
2017 Winter
On New Year (Losar), Part 2
Part 2 of Rinpoche’s Losar February 27, 2017, video call teaching to Tashi Chöling sangha:
On New Year (Losar), Part 2
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On New Year (Losar), Part 1
On Losar Day, February 27, 2017, Rinpoche made a video call to Tashi Chöling from Half Moon Bay, and here is what he said:
On New Year (Losar), Part 1
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New Year (Losar) Eve Video Call to Six Centers
On February 26th, the day before Tibetan New Year (Losar), Ven. Gyatrul Rinpoche did a multiple-user video call with six dharma centers—those in Bozeman, Montana; Portland, Oregon; Alameda, California; Ojai, California; Austin, Texas; and Ensenada, Mexico. The following is the teaching he gave as he looked in on each group.
New Year (Losar) Eve Video Call to Six Centers
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On New Year (Losar)
Rinpoche sent the following New Year (Losar) message:
On New Year (Losar)
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On the Tibetan Alphabet
Upon seeing some students studying Tibetan, Rinpoche became very pleased and excited and gave this teaching:
On the Tibetan Alphabet
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On Saying Sorry
Rinpoche had this to say about people who say they are “Sorry!
On Saying Sorry
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On Buddhanature, Part 2 of Ojai Teachings
Part 2 of Rinpoche’s advice to the Ojai sangha when he video-called them in December as they were gathered for their weekly ngondro practice:
On Buddhanature, Part 2 of Ojai Teachings
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On Deity Practice, Part 1 of Ojai Teachings
Rinpoche’s advice to the Ojai sangha when he video-called them in December as they were gathered for their weekly ngondro practice:
On Deity Practice, Part 1 of Ojai Teachings
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On Work at the Dharma Center
Rinpoche heard news of students helping with the shrine renovation project at Orgyen Dorje Den and gave this teaching on work at the dharma center:
On Work at the Dharma Center
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On Helping to Build the New Vajrasattva Shrine at O.D.D.
When Rinpoche paid a surprise visit to Orgyen Dorje Den on December 17th to see how things were progressing on their new Vajrasattva Shrine, he was very pleased and gave this teaching:
On Helping to Build the New Vajrasattva Shrine at O.D.D.
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New Year’s Message
Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche’s New Year’s Advice to All:
New Year’s Message