Here is a short and simple prayer/blessing from Tibetan Buddhism which can be done before meals. It’s a small but valuable way to bring the mind of Buddha-Dharma good thinking into our daily activities. (You can choose to do in English, in Tibetan, or translate into the language of your choice)

All of my Nyingma Teachers seem to do this same prayer. I cannot comment on other lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism. Maybe they do the same blessing and then maybe not.

Offering to the Triple Gem

The Excellent Teacher, the Precious Buddha;
The Excellent Protector, the Precious Dharma;
The Excellent Companion Guides, the Precious Sangha;
The Refuges, the Triple Gem, we make offerings.

With our associates, in all our successive lives,
May we not be separated from the Triple Gem;
By the power of continually making offerings to the Triple Gem,
May the blessings of the Triple Gem enter us.

Ton-pa La-med Sangye Rinpoche
Kyob-pa La-med Dam-cho Rinpoche
Dren-pa La-med Ge-dun Rinpoche
Kyab-ne Kon-chog Sum la Ch’od-pa Bul

Dag-sok Khor-che Tshe-rab Tham-ched Du
Kon-chog Sum-dang Nam-yang Mi-dral Zhing
Kon-chog Sum-po Gyun-du Ch’od-pe Thu
Kon-chog Sum-gyi Chin-lab Jug-par Shog

Blessing prior to meals. Can be done before eating at anytime in any place.

I was recently given the Summer of 1993 issue of “Foreign Affairs” Journal. The lead article by Samuel P. Huntington entitled “The Clash of Civilizations.”

Huntington’s thesis is that future major conflicts will be based on clashes based cultures, religions, and societies. He continues to explain that these wars of civilizations are more significant because they are not based on political idealogy but rather deep-seated self-defining traits and characteristics.

The next issue of “Foreign Affairs” had a whole collection of articles by numerous important writers disputing Huntington’s position.

That was 1993. Its now 2006 and we are facing huge clashes of guess what? Yep civilizations! (Personally, I think that he is right)

So even if we do not participate in the negative actions ourselves, we still must live within the world filled with such violence. So what can we do?

Teachings from my teachers of Buddhism have spoken of this risk. In fact, one of the key Promises (Samaya) of Vajrayana Buddhism is to avoid disparaging other religions and religious practices. This should be extended to other’s cultures and traditions, as well.

Within the 37-Practices of a Bodhisattva (#13), Thogme Zangpo writes:

Although we are not guilty of any offence and never have harmed anyone in our life
If someone deluded should threaten to kill us because he is crazed with a tormented mind,
Then mercifully wishing for him not to suffer further misfortune because of his state,
Selflessly take on the effects of his actions - the Sons of the Buddhas all practise this way.

This speaks of us fully accepting their acts in order to avoid causing them to suffer.

When negative thinking does arise, I am reminded to remember that it is the way of a Bodhisattva to destroy our internal foe.

I may reduce the negative actions around the world, I may not. However, at the least I can avoid contributing with my own negative thinking, words, and acts.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff

Just a short reminder.

Under traditional teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism, there are three ways to honor your teacher:

The first, is by offering material goods such as gifts, clothing, airplanes, and money.

The second, and of greater value, is to offer assistance and help your teacher.

The greatest way to honor your teacher is the third way: Doing the practices he has taught you!

Here is the interesting part. The third is less likely to be known by others. It is also the one that requires the greatest acceptance of our teacher's advice.

I have watched many of us getting close to a teacher and then focusing our attention on giving goods, giving money, and offering help....but doing little or no practice.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff

Two simultaneous religious driven activities are taking place in the world right now.

About three weeks ago, the Dalai Lama completed his teachings on the Kalachakra in India. As reported by many animal rights groups, he took this opportunity to denounce the use of tiger skins by Buddhist Practicitioners. He passionately spoke of the tragedy of killing endangered animals, most notably tigers. Tigers are being killed in India and the skins are being smuggled into Tibet to be sold for rugs, coats, and decorations.

Within a week, Tibetans throughout Tibet, Nepal, and India began destroying all animal fur, especially tiger skin, items. Monasteries held bonfires to destroy them. As the result, much of trade in skins has stopped. There is no market for illegal traders.*

Now in other parts of the world we see aggressive protests against cartoons that were published in some newspapers. The protests are not limited to protest and aggressive actions against the publisher. The protesters are destroying Embassies and businesses associated with the countries where the cartoons were published. Again this is based on a religious edict.

So we can look at both of these situations s being similar. However, they are very very different. The first one has only good intentions and has positive results. The second has negative intentions and has negative consequences.

I am not here to judge religious practices but I think I am going to stick with the practices of Buddhism.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff

*footnote: It was reported this last weekend that the Chinese have now outlawed the burning of skins in Tibet. Those caught doing so shall be arrested as being in collusion with the Dalai Lama. Nine have been arrest in one area on the first day. The government of China….get a life! I think that they should have more important problems to work with than Tibetans burning their tiger skins in order to support the survival of the species.

So Lama Osel from the Shechen Monastery and Shechen Brasil just arrived last night.
We had a wonderful day gong from a Tibetan restaurant to the LDS Temple Square, to the State Capital and to Costco.

I was reminded by Lama Osel that no matter what we are doing, we are always in an opportunity to practice by watching our mind and our actions.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff