[…] properly, so that as a parent you’re a good parent. In your job you do a good job. In your relationships you’re there. So everything should be directed at learning how to function properly. And then at the end of the article he slips in the sentence, “Of course it’s good to remember that […]

[…] point, which is experiencing things. Ken: Mm-hmm. Joe: And finally I was struck with how much more energetic meditation is when I have a really firm and direct intention. When there is an assignment, so to speak, rather than just … Ken: Ah, I see. So you like meditation assignments? Joe: I find that […]

[…] being miserable at this retreat.” So, it did effectively address her jealousy. Putting other’s needs first as a remedy for pride Ken: Okay. Pride. Pride is a direct consequence of ignoring, and in particular, one’s ignoring how one is the same. So, the remedy that Gampopa prescribes here is putting yourself in the other […]

[…] But in this retreat when stepping out of those traditional forms, I considered it for quite a long time. And decided no, this is in a different direction. So that has to be left behind at this point. One of the future forms as you can tell from the prayers is they are different. […]

[…] I was teaching, I would tell people, “You’re trying to understand mahamudra,” which is the equivalent. It’s a form of practice in my own training. It’s about direct awareness. You can’t understand mahamudra, and understanding mahamudra actually doesn’t help you practice it. Being able to sit and be present with the totality of one’s […]

[…] think this. They think that. I can’t get anywhere, because they’re doing this, etc.” Alright? When you’re having a problem with someone and you’re speaking to them directly, what is the dominant pronoun that you use? Student: “You”? Ken: Yes. [Laughs] “If you would just understand what I really want, then everything would be […]

[…] us out of touch, or keep us separated from what’s actually going on, and the five whys is one way of getting at it. It’s a fairly direct way. So, I’m just giving you that. Now, if you’re in the role of supporting the person, then when they stop, you stop. You don’t ask […]

[…] do exactly what society wants you to do? So artists are the canary in the in the coal mine, you see. They always go in a different direction. So when it comes to spiritual practice, it’s not about being a good member of society. And I have to put in parentheses, and it’s not […]

[…] was to develop power by nourishing the power of the body with food. Nourishing the senses with dance and song and poetry. And nourishing the mind with direct experience. Student: Is this tsok? Ken: Yeah—power assembly. tshogs kyi ‘khor lo (pron tsok kye khor lo). Now the reason I’ve translated it as power assembly […]

[…] becomes the right thing, the appropriate thing for us to do. Follow? It can’t be just going through the motions. It’s not always possible to remedy something directly like that, and one of the traditional instructions is, when you feel like you’re regretting something or dealing with this kind of shame or whatever, is […]

[…] of Qigong stuff which does the same thing. A lot of people enjoy the buzz, and like to ride on the buzz. But from the perspective of direct awareness, mahamudra and dzochen—these kinds of things that we’re talking about—the purpose of these energy practices isn’t to generate the buzz or the bliss and ride […]

[…] if you’re having a conversation with a friend, just move into that and see what happens to the conversation. You may find it moves in an interesting direction. And just try it here and there, and experiment with it. Play with it. The purpose of Buddhist practice is to end suffering Ken: Now the […]

[…] But those two together comprise what we call active attention. Pattern functioning is the antithesis of that because there’s just a collapse. Intention is the ability to direct attention. So it operates at the higher level. In Mahayana Buddhism, the first kind of bodhicitta is intention, the intention to awake in order to help […]

[…] because they could see the suffering that was there, and what they’re doing was a response to the suffering. And it’s not really about understanding. It’s a direct response to the suffering. Roger: Weren’t they suffering themselves? Ken: Yes, but it’s not always the case that they’ve suffered themselves. You know, I don’t want […]

[…] of view, what difference would that make? Carolyn: I would feel really good about being able to stop arguing. Ken: It might move things in a different direction? Carolyn: Yeah. Ken: Yeah. It would make a difference, right? Carolyn: Yes. Ken: So these are the practical applications. Okay. Last questions, Chuck then Agnes. Chuck: […]