Charlotte Rotterdam opens the event with an invitation to sit together, to feel the Earth, release any tension and connect with the motivation for the time together. Then she unveils the topic for this gathering, opening it with a personal story of a deep solitary retreat experience in relation to the turmoil of the world. … More Lama Live! with Charlotte Rotterdam
The event opens with raising Bodhicitta and setting our motivation to listen in order to benefit all beings, followed by prayer requests for those in need. Lopon Charlotte and Pieter then respond to and answer questions from participants. While answering questions, Pieter and Lopon Charlotte teach on quotes from the 11th century master, Machig Labdron … More Lama Live! with Charlotte Rotterdam and Pieter Oosthuizen
Machig Labdrön, the founder of Chöd, taught there is no view we can’t cut through, no perspective we can’t let go of. Charlotte Z. Rotterdam shares three verses by Machig that we can carry with us in our daily lives.
Click here to read the article on Lion’s Roar https://www.lionsroar.com/cutting-through-views-three-practice-verses-by-machig-labdron/ … More Cutting Through Views: Three Practice Verses by Machig Labdrön
In May 2020, I had the fortune of engaging in one month of solitary retreat, supported by a grant from the Hemera Foundation. I spent a portion of my time reading, studying and contemplating the writings of Machig Labdrön, the great 11th century Tibetan yogini. I chose “slogans” or pith instructions to bring into my … More “Look in the Way of Not Looking:” Reflections from Retreat
There is such a vast array of emotions circulating through us in these strange times. I hear about sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, fear. I also hear about gratitude, a sense of connectedness, inspiration, even joy. Within my own heart-mind there’s a swirl of emotions that move from calm to excitedness, spaciousness to tightness. One thing seems … More Awakened Heart: Reflections on these Times
It’s easy to feel compassion for those closest to us, our loved ones or those who have been generous to us. Our care arises almost of its own accord. On the other end of the spectrum is the goal of feeling love and compassion for our enemies; this is the lofty aim of many traditions … More Everyday Compassion: Minding the Stranger
There’s something hauntingly inspiring about the charnel ground image for me, the place where that which we continuously avoid and cover up is finally revealed, exposed, laid bare. With its half-rotting corpses, partially chewed limbs and sun-bleached bones, the charnel ground is without pretense, raw, unabashed in its display of impermanence. In early Buddhist teachings, … More Jewel of the Charnel Ground
There’s a certain time of day when I get the nibbles – usually late afternoon but sometimes at night, right before bed. I open kitchen cabinets, the fridge, the chip drawer scanning what might satisfy me. But there’s something insatiable in my being. In reality I’m not really hungry, I’m not really looking for food. … More Enough Already! Hungry Ghosts & the Practice of Savoring
I’ve always thought of Pride as one of the Seven Deadly Sins, right up there with Lust, Gluttony and Avarice. In the Buddhist tradition, pride is one of the five poisons, accompanied by a similar entourage of desire, jealousy, anger and ignorance. Pride, of course, evokes the image of a puffed-out chest, an overly confident … More Vajra Pride: Awakening Primordial Self-Esteem
The Buddhist teachings on mindfulness invite us to become fully present in each moment, yet I realize how much of my time is spent anticipating some future event. Sometimes it’s with excitement for an upcoming trip, or just a night out; sometimes it is a bit more anxious, like teaching a new class or meeting … More Looking Forward to Now
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