In the collection of Jigten Sumgön’s special instructions called the Single Realization (Gongchig) he teaches: “Buddhas are the very embodiment of bodhichitta.” In the time that I’ve gotten to know Garchen Rinpoche, it’s hard not to see how he directly embodies bodhichitta at all times. I think this is apparent to almost everyone. While there are many subtle aspects to bodhichitta, in essence it is the enlightened mind that embodies the wish and action to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings to also help them attain enlightenment and ultimate freedom from suffering. It’s amazing that Garchen Rinpoche, … Read more

In many ways, when it is dark at night, it is harder to see. Right now in the world, we could say there is a darkness of afflictive emotions spreading chaotically and causing destruction all around the planet. In such spiraling darkness, it becomes harder to see the light of our true highest potential in ourselves and others. At the same time, only when it is dark does the moon begin to truly shine. Only when it is dark can we begin to see the infinite waves of stars and galaxies sailing through the heavenly oceans. While darkness can obscure, … Read more

Like shooting stars, there are those among us who blaze brightly and shine as we fly across the brief sky of this lifetime. My sister Amy was one of these shooting stars, and I feel she still shines on with her love that transcends the boundaries of life and death, even though she is no longer physically with us. She passed away at the end of February held in love by her family, who had gathered around her. While there is a lot that I could say about her on multiple levels, I wanted to share one aspect of her … Read more

In a world that can use all types of healing, there are special meditation practices that allow us to focus our minds to do just that. Modern medicine is extremely important, lifesaving, and absolutely needed in this world today. Medical workers and researchers have and continue to do incredible things to save and improve the lives of beings all across the planet, embodying the spirit of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas with their compassionate wishes to help others. That being said, in addition to modern medicine, there are supplementary pathways available to us when we seek healing in our bodies and … Read more

Out here in the blissfully desolate windswept mountains of the southwest, the night skies shine with the storm-like luminosity of the moon and stars. Makes me think of wearing my shades even deep into the night, as I strum guitar strings pondering the strange elusive beauty of the dance of darkness and light. Still, for me there is something that glows much much brighter. Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to study with Garchen Rinpoche, even feigning a bit of practice on the side. I’m quite endlessly grateful that he has not only indulged my … Read more

What is a dakini? In the context of the visionary tradition of Dzogchen meditation that flourished in Tibet, a dakini (khandro) is a being that travels (dro) through space (kha), a space traveler or more poetically a sky dancer perhaps. Now, in the context of Dzogchen meditation teachings, dakinis generally refer to enlightened beings or their emanations, most often females. However, in many ways we are all dakinis, space travelers, skydancers. Physically, we might feel that we are not constantly moving. However, when we take a step back we find we are spinning with the earth’s rotation at over 1000 … Read more

Sound is powerful. The right combination of sounds in our ears brings us to tears of joy. The wrong combination of sounds can cause unimaginable pain. The ways we use sound can cause us to fall in love or descend into warfare and destruction. What is sound? Where does it come from? If we look deeply, there is not a single sound that we have ever heard that has ever appeared or been imagined outside of our minds in this life or in our memories and dreams. While in theory, there might of course be sounds outside of our minds. … Read more

If you heard that there was a movie about a secret primordial Buddha, an infinite secret universe of enlightened space travelers, an immortal enlightened sorcerer born from a lotus flower, an enlightened Tibetan queen, a young princess resurrected from death, enlightened time-traveling treasure hunters, and a special message from the heart of the universe that granted the attainment of the indestructible rainbow body, you might mention that you hope it has a good director. Perhaps, you would make the wish that such a movie focuses deeply on character development and doesn’t get too carried away with computer graphics. Maybe you … Read more

One of Garchen Rinpoche’s favorite quotes is from a Milarepa song that goes in part: Ema If there were no sentient beings, From where would Buddhas come? Without causes, effects cannot happen. By the force of the truth of relative reality, There is cyclic existence and the state of peace. The Sage taught the existence of all possibilities. Appearances that materially exist And the reality of their non-existent emptiness Are of one taste, inseparable in essence. Views of self and others do not really exist. Everything is truly a vast union. The wise who have such realization See not consciousness, … Read more