In this extraordinary series, Geshe Tashi gives us regular updates on the Coronavirus Pandemic amongst the Tibetan diaspora in India through the lens of Sera Mey Monastery, home to 6,000 monks. In response to emails asking after his welfare and requesting advice on Coronavirus and Buddhist practice, he generously shares his observations, thoughts and advice in his usual warm-hearted and accessible style.
The focus for today’s practice update is the body. Geshe Tashi, in his understated yet masterful way, guides us in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, focussing primarily on the body and feelings. Quoting Shantideva, he asks us to put this object of so much of our attention to good use, like we might make use of a boat, to carry us from suffering to the other shore.
He urges us to take our mindfulness practice deeper than the current fashion, tackling the undercurrents of anger and fear, and cultivating a love and compassion that can always be there for us.
Really, this is becoming an extraordinary teaching series, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with you all. Thank you so much for being a part of our community and helping to make these teachings happen.
Your Admin Team.
This morning Geshe la performed a Padmasambhava incense offering from the roof of his quarters, and sent photos for us all to see. We are delighted to share this beautiful early morning scene with you.
Below is a video of Geshe Tashi making the Padmasambhava incense offering from his roof. This is the offering Padmasambhava made to help protect Tibetans from a plague in the 7th century.
Dear Geshe la
Many, many thanks for helpful advice, once again and for sharing such peaceful scenes and soothing recitations.
I do hope this finds you and everyone in the monasteries well and time to rest too.
A nice surprise as thought there wouldn’t be a post for 2 days and find there are 2 to catch up on! Thank you so much for taking so much time and energy for us.
Love to all
Jane
Many many tasti delek Ghén là 🙂
Love so much these blogs, so relaxing, so useful, so inspiring.
Wonderful instructions too. Thank you so much _/\_
Sorry, is the name of fire puja ‘Divine Blue Water’?
Greetings from Italy. May health happiness peace prevail.
Dear Geshe La,
thank you for your kind messages and teachings in this difficult time! May you and all the monks at the monastery be well!
Best wishes from Vienna,
Excellent values are an evolved expression of being generated upon categorisation placing attributes lacking in excellence.
Academia today, suggests hierarchical standards upon social evolutionary traits persuade lesser more self-centred and selfish qualities. Qualities predicated upon competing; maintaining conditions necessary to ensure such structural standards.
If these structural values are in place only by the collective energy of the individual, then the nature to such self-centred and selfish values within themselves could not offer intelligence the scope of categorisation possible in value to evolve beyond.
Therefore, If the mentality of self-centredness and selfishness remedies not itself,
compassion and kindness are indeed fundamentally necessary for the excellence to our human evolution.
Thank you Dear Geshi-la, to write great words of you, maybe distracts little from how great your help has and will be for so many of us when taken in to our lives.
A child was buried in the last few days, the family could not attend the because of being quarantined.
With love in these very difficult but with love, times of great human spirit.
Aluhar amal
Wonderful teachings, thank you so much. Stay well, and continue to share your dharma knowledge that is so infused with practical advice. A precious combination.
Dear Geshe La,
Today, an extra treat for us all…to see the beauty of the early morning at the monastery and to listen to the recitation of your precious protection prayers. We could almost smell the incense…. Your cameraman did a good job!
Thankyou for reminding us to use this time to go deeper in our practice and thus equip the boat to ultimately ferry all beings from suffering.
With joyful thanks….
Thank you very much, your words are the most important things for me, so helpful during this times.
Thank you
Dear Geshe-la,
This comes as the biggest thank you from us all, vastly, that we can manage. As your blogs are bringing so vividly to mind, one of the ironies of these times is how friends from really very far away can be nearer and as present to us as friends just round the corner. Also, many many thanks, today particularly, for the reminder that while our body is just a vessel for going to and fro, our minds can go anywhere, with anyone, for anyone; so today we join together in expressing our delight in knowing how lucky we are not only to have had the richness of Dharma teaching from you over the years but, amazingly, are continuing to do so..
With much love and respect from all of us in the UK, and we surely know from many many many more.
Thank you so much, dear Khen Rinpoche Geshe-la, we had quite a big discussion in our last Bodhicharyavatara study group, about how much of our time we should spend taking care of the body. Your talk from the 3rd April is very helpful to clear away doubts.
Please keep safe and as happy as you are now. It is so comforting to hear your laughter. Thank you so much.
With a lot of gratitude, Ani Losang/Rita
These photos are so unbelievably beautiful. I had the feeling that my heart has been nourished with a sort of abundant motherly wisdom-kindness, a nourishment that is difficult to be experienced, nowadays maybe even more obviously. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
Dearest most precious Geshe la, I’ve finally got it together to add a reply. I’m so happy to hear and see you are well. Thank you so very much for sharing your wisdom and your amazing experience of Sera Mey, of India and the current situation for you all there. Your talks have been beneficial in so many ways and it was great to hear you promoting organic fruits and vegetables in your talk a few days ago, although worrying that the supply of fruit and veg might get difficult.
The photos of your offering are so beautiful and brought back so many precious memories of India and Nepal.
Thank you, thank you, thank you ???
Prayers and dedications for His Holiness Dalai Lama for you and all in your care, for all affected by the current crisis and for all sentient beings.
With much love
Your teaching and practice today began to uncover a depth untouched in the western therapeutic presentation of mindfulness.
It brings real joy to hear you teaching so simply yet so directly from the ancient texts.
This series promises to develop an invaluable understanding of our human potential, if we seriously and joyfully remember to follow your guidance.
Sang offering has always been very powerful , thank you for sharing the practice with us, and for all
your kindnesses over the years.
??thank you Geshe la