Mangala Shri Bhuti - The Link

Speaker: Kelly Smith. Kelly Smith recounts how MSB's centers at Samten Ling, Phuntsok Choling, and Pema Osel developed, how Rinpoche shaped the culture of the Sangha, and what it means to be a practitioner of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage. It took the great, sustained effort of many people to build these centers. The culture that took root from these efforts reflects Rinpoche's intention for his students: through practice, renunciation and surrender, to accumulate the blessings of the lineage.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse Jampal Norbu explores our polarized political climate through the lens of Lojong mind training. How do these seeds of anxious thinking arise? Can we cut through catastrophic narratives? Are we prepared to deal with loss? Mind training gives us tools to steer ourselves out of whirlpools of thinking and shift our focus to equanimity and bodhicitta. In this way, we can be a practitioner first.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on February 8, 2015 from Phuntsok Choling in Ward, Colorado. It is the sixth in a series of talks given by Rinpoche called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Sherab", which is Tibetan for Wisdom.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on January 4, 2015 from Osel Ling in Crestone, Colorado. It is the fifth in a series of talks given by Rinpoche called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Trelyupa and Ngotsa Shepa", which are Tibetan for Conscientiousness and Propriety.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Fairness seems to be a contemporary ideal that does not clearly appear in the Dharma. It refers largely to what is reasonable or equal. But what arises is governed by karmic theory, the nature of the vast web of interdependence, not by fairness. Fairness is usually a view from the standpoint of self-importance. The fact that samsara is not fair calls us to examine when we are caught in attachment to our ideas of fairness and self-importance. We have a great future ahead of us as practitioners when we apply the Dharma to our sufferings in samsara, applying the views of karma, interdependence, emptiness, the Four Immeasurables, and so on. Being motivated by bodhicitta is a far better approach than being motivated by fairness.

Speaker: Sara Namgyel. Sara identifies the genuine heart of sadness as the key to generating bodhicitta, cultivating renunciation, taking refuge, and attaining enlightenment. The genuine heart of sadness (choshe) arises from our willingness accept all our feelings fully. Unlike depression or despair, which lead us to feel stuck, choshe motivates us to gain freedom from samsara. Accepting our feelings fully develops the fundamental quality of Dharmic warriorship: fearlessness in the face of fear. By cultivating the genuine heart of sadness, we foster renunciation, the desire to liberate ourselves from samsara, and the determination to take refuge in the Three Jewels and attain enlightenment.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on December 7, 2014 from Longchen Jigme Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado. It is the fourth in a series of talks given by Rinpoche called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Tupa", which is Tibetan for Hearing Wisdom.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on November 2, 2014 at Phuntsok Choling, in Ward, Colorado. It is the third in the series called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Jinpa" which is Tibetan for generosity. Rinpoche speaks of generosity as a "hook" for a happy, joyful and meaningful life.

Speaker: Fredi Kaufmann. Fredi reflects on how the relationship we cultivate with our experiences determines how much we suffer. When we reject experiences by ignoring them, assigning meaning to them, or trying to fix them, we contract, and suffering increases. When we open our heart in full acceptance of the present moment, suffering recedes. Shamatha practice cultivates our capacity to calmly abide with whatever arises.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse-la points out that last thing we usually do in difficult circumstances is to appreciate and respect them. We tend to respond in a dualistic framework to get rid of "the bad" and grasp onto "the good." As practitioner's of the Dharma, we have the opportunity to use adversity to work with our own mind. We can see beyond the consensus view using the lenses of emptiness and interdependence.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on October 5, 2014 at Phuntsok Choling, in Ward, Colorado. It is the second in the series called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Tsultrim" which is Tibetan for discipline. Rinpoche speaks about Buddhist ethics and delves into the topic of treating others as we would like to be treated as a way to cut through religious dogma and cultivate peace in our lives.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on April 6, 2014 at Phuntsok Choling in Ward, Colorado. It is the first in a series of talks given by Rinpoche called, "The Seven Riches of the Aryas", and it covers "Tepa", which is Tibetan for Faith. In this first talk, Rinpoche contrasts the differences between a life with and a life without devotion and faith. He examines how devotion supports one's life, bringing ease and happiness, and a sense of security and sanity and how the flow of intelligence and discernment happens through acceptance and faith in situations. He explains how fear and anxieties do not stick in the core of one's heart when devotion is present.

Speaker: Scott Gallagher. Scott explores what Rinpoche meant by two phrases he used in the 2022 Nyingma Summer Seminar: "thinking from the frame of mind of the Dharma" and "catching the beginning of the tail of liberation." In the face of major life transitions, Scott suggests that, for him, "thinking from the frame of mind of the Dharma" means cultivating self-reflection and perseverance, and taking inspiration from the great masters, who overcame the same kinds of challenges that we experience. And that "catching the beginning of the tail of liberation" calls for transforming habitual mind, deepening our understanding of both the relative and absolute truths, and remembering the suffering and futility of samsara.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. We can practice with whatever arises in our life, immediately. Even our busyness and especially our challenges in daily life are opportunites to look at life through the lens of the Dharma. We can "Make Good Art" with whatever arises. At the root of all suffering is self-importance. We don't grow in the Dharma or even experience genuine connection until we start to let go of this self-importance. Enthusiastically engaging in service to the sangha is a powerful context for releasing self-importance.

Speaker: Alex Rocha. Alex reflects on how a challenging situation led him to re-assess his progress on the path. Years of diligent practice may lead us to overestimate our attainments and allow pride to creep in. But a crisis that jolts us out of our complacency can force us to see how deeply we have really assimilated the teachings. We can regard such experiences either as obstacles or as opportunities to grow. Alex relates how he navigated this kind of experience to gain more humility and a deeper appreciation of shamatha, renunciation, taking refuge, and familiarization with the nature of mind.

Speaker: Nicholas Carter. Nick contemplates the importance of making the Dharma your own by meeting your own experience directly. To do so, it is necessary to overcome the habit of believing in a solid self; to cut through the ego's storytelling; and to engage in self-reflection, vigilant introspection, mindfulness and contemplation. These practices make it possible simply to be present with the body and one's actual experience, and in this way to cultivate humility, strength, resolve and courage.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Speaking from the 25th annual Nyingma Summer Seminar on the second weekend, covering the Mahayana vehicle, Dungse-la encourages not being a loyalist to the ego's narrative and impulses. By applying lojong mind training practice, we can have the tenacity to be with our own mind with the intention to be kind and compassionate. If instead we're focused on building a fortress around the heart, it will be very hard to see from a Dharmic perspective. Lojong gives us the ability to train in the face of difficulties, to not trust the ego, and see through its desire for immediate gratification for oneself.

Speaker: Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel. Elizabeth discusses the Hinayana vehicle on the first of three weekends at the 25th annual Nyingma Summer Seminar. She emphasizes the need for analysis which she translates as "to loosen or to set free". A flexible mind is needed to traverse the path of the three yana system. This path is based on having a realistic view of what it means to be alive. Having a sense of agency counteracts feeling we are living in a state of emergency all the time. In the Hinayana we have a choice to feel like a victim or own our suffering and karma. If we don't take that leap in the Hinayana we drag it with us into the other two yanas. This is not a path of vulnerability but a path of strength. Elizabeth spoke on vows and precepts, the three wisdoms, the nature of trust, karma and agency.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Speaking from the Illustrious Moon Children's Summer Camp, Dungse-la explores the relevance of Dharma for daily life, how samsara and its incessant change doesn't lend itself to being fixable. We always have the power to respond to what feels unfair or uncomfortable in life with kindness and compassion.

Speaker: Joey Waxman. Joey considers how the Buddhist path to enlightenment is supported by both emotion (heart) and reasoning (head). Above all, Buddhism values a kind and loving heart. There are no substitutes for compassion and devotion, which, when powerful enough, are sufficient to lead to realization. But reasoning can also support, clarify, strengthen, and stabilize an open heart. At the same time, the negative aspects of both emotions and reasoning can obstruct our progress: emotions are unreliable, while unclear reasoning can reinforce ignorance and bias. Vigilant introspection and mindfulness of the activities of our heart and head can enable us to balance their beneficial aspects and support our path to realization.