Chapter 1 of “Guru, Deity, Protector”
Intention of Vajrayana practice Ken: Last year, many of you were here, and we spent a few days here, working with a Vajrayana method, creation stage practice, in the context of Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezi, this thangka or painting, that John so kindly brought for us. The embodiment of awakened compassion. And for a few people from […]
Chapter 1 of “The Unfettered Mind”
Introduction: ability, principle and technique Ken: In 1989, I’d been in Los Angeles for a few years and a friend of mine had given me a book called The Unfettered Mind, which is a translation of three short texts. I think actually all three are letters from a Rinzai Zen master named Takuan to two […]
Chapter 2 of “Anything is Possible”
Is reality the same as our experience? Ken: Thank you all for coming back, Bill and I had no idea how many of you would return. Bill: I see three people who aren’t here. Ken: You have such sharp eyes. Bill: So, we were answering some questions when we left and there was one question—was […]
Chapter 1 of “37 Practices in Four Parts”
The structure of the retreat [Comments about logistics] Ken: So, the focus this weekend is the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. How many of you are aspiring bodhisattvas? [Laughter] Is the operative word there aspiring or bodhisattva at this point? I never know what the word ancient means. Can anybody tell me what the word […]
Chapter 1 of “The Jewel in the Lotus”
Sutrayana Note: Students were not recorded Ken: Once upon a time there was a merchant named Abdul Malik. He was known as the Good Man of Khorasan because from his immense fortune, he used to give to charity and hold feasts for the poor. But one day it occurred to him that he was simply […]
Chapter 1 of “37 Practices of a Bodhisattva”
Background to the 37 Practices text Ken: If it’s okay with you, I’m going to give a certain amount of background to the text. Not a lot because frankly, I don’t know a lot, but there are a few bits and pieces that I’ve learned from various sources. Tokmé Zongpo lived in the 13th and […]
Chapter 1 of “Learning Mahamudra”
A course on mahamudra Ken: Tonight, we will begin a six week course on mahamudra. A couple of practical points. First, we have a very wide range of experience in the room, from people who are really just beginning a meditation practice, to people who’ve been working with this, and other kinds of meditation, for […]
Chapter 1 of “Chö: Cutting Through Demonic Obsessions”
The basic principles of meditation practice Ken: We’re going to begin with a period of meditation. How many of you have more than 20 years practice? Okay. 10 plus? More than five? Okay. Less than one? Meditation in today’s world is a very general term and can refer to anything from complex visualizations in the […]
