Chapter 5 of “Finding the Way”
A Sufi story Ken: First off, no problem is too difficult to be solved by a theoretician. A man once said to himself, “What is the use of carrying out the observances of the order to which I’m attached, of respecting the adepts, of making donations, and of reading all those books?” A stranger who […]
Chapter 5 of “Guru, Deity, Protector”
Pride Ken: Let’s begin with any questions about the practice. No questions? Student: A case of clear directions. Ken: Oh dear, I’ll have to muddy it up next time. John? John: Is pride an attribute? Ken: Pride isn’t. Pride is usually regarded as an emotion. Why? John: I’m just trying to figure it in a […]
Chapter 5 of “Being Mahamudra”
Milarepa’s Song Ken: Milarepa’s Song was this exchange between Milarepa and Lady Paldarboom. This is part of a much longer story. You notice in the introductory paragraphs she said, “Dear teacher I have done nothing at all to prepare for this next life.” Lady Paldarboom came up from a wealthy family. Basically, she and a […]
Chapter 5 of “37 Practices in Four Parts”
Anger Ken: Is it going to be disastrous for anybody here? Okay. It always is in Los Angeles. [Laughter] If you get everybody to stay to the time that the program is actually scheduled to go, you’ve done a good job. The next five verses: I said lightheartedly just before our break that the next […]
Chapter 5 of “37 Practices of a Bodhisattva”
Student questions Ken: All suffering comes from wanting your own happiness.Complete awakening arises from the intention to help others.So, exchange completely your happinessFor the suffering of others—this is the practice of a bodhisattva. Even if someone, driven by desperate want,Steals, or make someone else steal, everything you own,Dedicate to him your body, your wealth, andAll […]
Chapter 5 of “Power and Presence”
Expanding the visual field in the primary practice Jeff: So, as I sat in the corner, listening to what a lot of you had to say in interviews yesterday, I thought it might be good to point out that the approach to primary practice we went over the other morning, it’s just one approach. We […]
Chapter 5 of “The Jewel in the Lotus”
Seeing more and more of what we are not Note: Students were not recorded. Ken: You do enough of the mantra, things will come. You do the mantra enough, things will come while you’re saying the mantra too. But you’re right, it does generate energy. Yes, it does generate energy, That’s one of the other […]
Chapter 5 of “Releasing Emotional Reactions”
Descriptions of life Ken: This morning I talked a little bit about compassion and emptiness. And I gave you the technique of working with a kind of five-step process, taking and sending, which actually leads to emptiness. Take in the pain; open to your reactions to the pain; touch happiness within yourself and send it […]
Chapter 4 of “Monsters under the Bed”
Stepping out of the six realms Ken: Okay. Though it may not seem like it, we’re actually following a progression in this retreat. The first step was to establish a basis of attention. The second is to use that base of attention to move into an awareness of the material that keeps us from being […]
Chapter 4 of “Four Immeasurables”
Compassion and experiencing heart break Ken: This is the fourth class on the four immeasurables. I believe the focus for practice over the last couple of weeks was compassion. Compassion being the wish that others not suffer, at least at one level. We’re working with the four lines: May I be free from suffering, harm, […]
Chapter 4 of “Ganges Mahamudra: Tilopa’s Pith Instructions to Naropa”
Open to both poles of experience Ken: Okay. January 26th, 2010. Ganges Mahamudra, part 4. There were a few questions which have come up, and you’re also welcome to offer or put forward questions this first section. In response to a question last week, one person said, “Well, okay, you got mahamudra, and then I […]
Chapter 4 of “Heart Sutra Workshop”
Resting and looking Ken: This morning I talked about two qualities in meditation, resting and looking. They’re intimately related, and they’re both very important. Resting doesn’t mean sitting still. It doesn’t mean holding a posture. It means resting. It’s fine to work hard at your practice and to push yourself very, very hard. But only […]
Chapter 4 of “Living Awake: Making Things Happen”
What do you do now? Ken: So this is the fourth section of Making Things Happen on February 3, 2008, and it is called What do you do now? It’s always like this, you know. You take everything apart, and you realize it is a complete mess but you can’t stay there; you’ve gotta do […]
Chapter 4 of “Living Awake: Money and Value”
A short review of the eightfold path Ken: All right. Our last section. We’re probably going to go a bit past four. Is that any problem for anybody? Student: No. Ken: Okay. I got a little lost in timing in there but things like that happen. Okay. Quick review. Problem. What generates the problem? We […]
Chapter 4 of “A Trackless Path I”
Ending a session of the primary practice Ken: August 22nd a.m. So any questions, practical points you want to touch on? Janet: When doing the primary practice, is it important to conclude a session with resting in the experience of the breath as you do with the four immeasurables? And if so, why? Ken: There […]
