“Something so simple, such as listening to a dharma teaching, can shape a great difference in the entire universe. Dharma has so many different meanings, so it takes a Guru to point to yours.”
The essence of dharma is in the wisdom of experiencing emptiness. Of realizing the interdependent origination or dependent arising. Dependent arising means that nothing truly exists by its self. Everything is dependent upon another thing to exist. And things are only as real as the conditions allow it to be. This concept is one that we must never take for granted because even our own life is dependent upon so many conditions.
When you make a decision, it is based upon the current conditions. What is important is your motivation due to karmic conditioning. So we must become comfortable with our karma. Don’t always be so concerned thinking about and comparing yourself to other people’s conditions. We all may be equal beings, but our skills are not identical, and neither is motivation, capability, merits, and so many other things.
But we can create things, and we can recreate things. You can recreate your life and recreate your views. All of us are seekers, and so everybody wants to see results, but can you enjoy the experience of it? Can you be present here, there and now? To have a particular outcome, we need the “now,” the present moment, so pay attention. Enjoy the experience. Sometimes we don’t take the time to enjoy or to appreciate it because everything is so convenient, ready-made, and easy.
The most outstanding teacher is the one who can teach through sharing experiences and by offering the wisdom that can inspire others. To benefit all sentient beings is not to spoon-feed them but rather to be there as a traveling companion to them.
Your Guru is your wisdom companion.
You can read from books, or you can watch YouTube or Facebook videos to gather information, but do you want to collect the general knowledge, or do you want the personalized understanding from someone who knows you? Your Guru knows you. You and the Guru must have a kind of mutual understanding and mental intimacy. On a beginner’s foundational level, you will have a student-teacher relationship. On a deeper level, in the Guru-disciple relationship, when your eyes meet, you know what each other needs in their hearts.
Find a Guru who will lead you to enlightenment, not just to a nice dinner or pleasant enjoyment. Find one that does not cause outer obstacles for you and one who does not care about name, fame, honor, and praise but works to benefit sentient beings.
Once you have found that Guru, serve him/her well because your Guru is directing you to grow from the foundational level. When you don’t need spoon-feeding anymore, you must support him/her. That way, you will grow together. And practice well.
Dharma Teaching by Singha Rinpoche and Edited by Sandeep Nath
8 Nov 2020
Sacred Mirror
The Sacred Mirror represents consciousness and the element of space. Clear, pure and bright, the mirror reflects all phenomena objectively without bias, thereby reminding us to practice objectivity and to rise above our judgmental minds. On a more subtle level, it reflects the Buddha’s core teaching of emptiness – that nothing exists on its own side without a dependent arising cause.
Pinnacle of the mirror
The pinnacle of the mirror, formed by the white crescent moon, flaming red sun and an orange flame of fire, represents the completion stage of Vajrayana practice.
Light Rays
The light rays radiating from the Sacred Mirror represent the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings, fanning out to the furthest reaches of the universe.
Full Moon Disc
The moon disc represents Bodhicitta, the aspiration to become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.
Blue Lotus
Divinely fragrant, blue lotuses bloomed only in the Buddha’s time. By incorporating it into the temple’s logo, it is symbolic of the ever-present Buddha in Thekchen Choling. Moreover, a lotus flower represents purity, perfection, compassion and renunciation, similar to how the beautiful lotus remains untainted even though it had arisen out from the muddy waters.
Nine Precious Jewels
These nine precious jewels represent the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, yidam or mind-seal deity, Dharma protector, the sky, earth, and the human realm.
Two Dragons
The two dragons represent continuity and harmony and create the cause for the temple to enjoy the strong support of members and benefactors for Dharma to flourish.
Golden Khata
The flowing golden khata represents the auspicious increase of all Dharma activities.
The Seven Gems of the Chakravartin or a Wheel-Turning King
1. The precious horse represented by a unicorn’s horn
2. The precious elephant represented by its tusks
3. The precious queen represented by round golden earrings
4. The precious minister represented by square golden earrings
5. The precious general represented by a pair of crossed swords
6. The precious jewel represented by the triple-eyed gem
7. The precious Dharma wheel represented by a branch of coral
