Lam Rim with Lama Zopa Rinpoche

See all of the pictures here:
http://blacksamba.com/pictures/lzrlamrim/lzrlamrim.html

I went back to Vajrapani Institute for another retreat. I was asked to come down and record for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Rene's teachings. I spent a week there, with a lot of nuns, monks and retreaters from around the world. Many locals from the Santa Cruz area came out of the woodwork. A lot of the people there were teachers, including Ven. Robina, who showed up for several sessions.

The mp3s from this retreat are available. I recorded almost every session. If you want them, you can email me and I'll send the CDs. You would just send a donation directly to Vajrapani.

I stayed in the Lama Yeshe Grove, in a tent. It was in this grove that Lama Yeshe gave his first teachings, before there were any buildings at Vajrapani. I had a view of his stupa from my tent. Since I just got back from 2 retreats, I hadn't planned on going down there. But I can't believe the experience I had while there. It was unbelievable.

I hung out with all of these nuns. Very interesting. Many of them act in pretty selfish, questionable, unstable ways. I even had a bit of a run in with one of them, and I told her flat out that after all these years of teachings, you'd think they'd be a little bit more friendly! I really had to work a program around this.  But after working with that experience and applying some principles, I was able to see past their personalities. I looked deeper. And I saw people walking a spiritual path. And I actually made some friends. I heard some fantastic stories, and asked for instructions on several topics, including how to properly do mala mantras, the nature of guru devotion, and more. It was lovely.

Ven. Rene came out of a year long retreat to conduct Lam Rim for Lama Zopa during the days. Lama Zopa came at night to give teachings. So our days were from 0700 to 11pm and later. I missed a couple of the early 7-8am sessions out of pure exaustion. The focus of the retreat was Bodhicitta and Emptiness, the last stages of the Great Scope of the Lam Rim. In other words, the highest skills of spiritual realization. This was a great place to pick up where the last retreat with Ven. Robina left off. She focused more on the first two stages. So we got pretty deep into these topics.

Ven. Rene is an excellent teacher. He is mild mannered, quiet, caring and just a pleasant person to be around. He got heavy into Guru Yoga practise, Emptiness, Bodhicitta and Lam Rim Summary topics. This enhanced and reinforced Lama Zopa Rinpoche's evening teachings. Rene went back into personal retreat right after this.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught on the 3 Principles of the Path, Dependent Arising, the suffering of all beings and Bodhicitta, the Sutra for Daily Practise (how to apply the dharma in a busy life), and the Heart Sutra (emptiness). He was profound, adorable, funny, penetrating. He told stories, made us laugh and taught very, very well. Many of us find him really hard to understand. Some of the people who came up with Lama Yeshe feel that LZR isn't the one they connect with, as he used to be in the background for all those years. Some feel that he isn't thier 'heart' teacher. But that's fine. He is the real deal.

By real deal, I mean that Lama Zopa Rinpoche is a bodhisattva. Not kidding. He gives of himself completely. Truely, an enlightened being. It almost doesn't matter if you can't understand every word. He communicates in ways that are beyond words. My impression is that he's deeply psychic. I can only say this from my own perception, but I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Lama Zope Rinpoche is one of the great living Spiritual Masters.

So my week went well, and I understand a whole bunch of stuff on a much deeper level than before. I'm extremely grateful to Elaine at Vajrapani for having me come down there to experience these amazing teachings. Thanks to Joan  for being a friend to me while down there and processing the teachings until the wee hours. And to Lee Anne for taking me to Santa Cruz for a meeting!

I can't believe how much I've learned this summer. And it's not over yet. I have Medicine Buddha initiations next week, soon a meeting with Yangse Rinpoche, and then we're off to hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Vancouver B.C. What a summer. Unbelievable.

may you be free of suffering, and the root of suffering

-d