Mind Gardening: becoming a mental botanist!

Venerable Robina Courtin leads a short - five minute - meditation on the breath. Venerable Robina gives an introduction to the correct physical posture to adopt followed by a brief, simple meditation aimed at increasing focus, awareness and alertness. Easily something you can do everyday. Introduction to the posture (0:25) Meditation instruction (5:29) The meditation practice - "4 or 5 quality minutes" (6:36)

Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her clear teaching, explaining the Buddhist approach to thinking and acting in terms we can understand. Through examples that are relevant to our lives, she presents multiple ways we can put these ideas into practice. Venerable Robina explains the beneficial actions of body, speech and mind we can adopt, and actions to avoid. She gives us ways to create positive new habits benefiting ourselves and those around us, and how to slowly - completely - rid ourselves of harmful, ancient, negative ones. Stolen Time: One Woman's Inspiring Story As An Innocent Condemned To Death, Sunny Jacobs: https://bit.ly/StolenTime_SunnyJacobs Q: I am caregiving for my father and my dog. I feel resentful for the demands that are placed on me. What can I do to keep going? (2:53) On "blessing the speech" practice (15:06) You can view Venerable Robina leading this practice here:    • Express Meditation with Ven. Robina C...   Q: I just heard it yesterday, that we can listen to the Teachings in 3 ways -- being a full pot so nothing goes in, being a dirty pot -- so all got polluted, or being a licking pot -- so it goes in and then it goes out again. I think on different days I can be any of those really :) (22:31) Q: In the evening I am determined to wake up early and meditate and practice and in the morning I slept again. (25:26) Q: My 21 year old daughter has a strong tendency toward anxiety and will often catastrophise and overthinks the future, causing her a lot of additional stresses. Alongside this, her anxiety extends to social situations as well.Do you have any advice… (31:43) Q: Would it be skilful to try and practise and master two traditions/lineages? I am currently mainly a practitioner of Soto Zen however am also inclined towards esoteric practises such as those in Vajrayana. (38:05) Q: I'm curious about the way 'Western' Buddhists should practice vs 'Eastern' Buddhists. From my reading, it seems Lama Yeshe didn't think westerners need to do all the intense rituals whilst Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaches very intense rituals for everyone (41:50) Q: How to work with my sister who drinks alcohol (and gets drunk) in the house we share together (48:49) Q: What guidance / recommendations do you have for daily practice? Is there essential daily rituals/ practice for a lay person? (57:42) Q: Can purification practice "lessen the load" of previous karmic imprints? (1:00:09) Q: Why does our mind ‘push-back' so intensely if we get too involved with it? (1:03:21) It doesn't occur to us to consciously say positive thoughts to counteract our negative thought habit (1:10:33) Q: I'm finding it difficult to deal with my internal feelings towards the reactions from others to my illness / disability / , and the loss of friendships etc . I'm finding this hard. What can I do ? Because it causes me to want to withdraw as it takes so much energy -as I struggle just to manage. (1:12:36) Q: Ven Robina, I'm doing a daily Vajrasattva purification practice most evenings with the four Rs. My ability to visualise Vajrasattva over my head is poor. Any ideas on how to build that visualisation skill? (1:22:10) Q: I'm a support person for a man with a degenerative disease. He knows I have a Buddhist practice and we often chat about Buddhism and he asks questions. I'm not a teacher and I don't want to evangelise so can you give me any ideas about resources I could point him towards or use together when I'm spending time with him? (1:22:35) Q: What to do about the climate change situation? (1:24:58) Q: I am a casual emergency relief teacher. In my capacity as a relief teacher I see many secondary students feeling the burning effects of digital media , because they are so overexposed to it,— ie:- many student' s stay on their games on their screens during class, They refuse to stop when asked. How can I give them some hope and enthusiasm? (How can I not get depressed!!? ) (1:29:46)

Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her clear teaching, explaining the Buddhist approach to thinking and acting in terms we can understand. Through examples that are relevant to our lives, she presents multiple ways we can put these ideas into practice. Venerable Robina explains the beneficial actions of body, speech and mind we can adopt, and actions to avoid. She gives us ways to create positive new habits benefiting ourselves and those around us, and how to slowly - completely - rid ourselves of harmful, ancient, negative ones. Q: I struggle to give loving kindness & forgiveness to my mum who lives with mental health challenges & anger what practice should I develop? (3:43) Q: Knowing I have not demonstrated compassion in these moments what can I do to reduce my agitation & karmic imprint and forgive myself for not being able to not react (12:46) Venerable Robina leading a short Vajrasattva purification practice:    • Venerable Robina Courtin Leads A Shor...   Teachings on Vajrasattva and the four opponent powers:    • There's no karma that can't be purified!   Q: My sister has been listening to your teachings on YouTube not being a Buddhist and being curious what would you suggest she should do to start a Buddhist practice (21:50) Q: How important is meditation in our daily practice, what recommendations do you have for a lay person's daily practice? (25:18) Q: Can Buddhism be learnt from books? Or should you have a teacher? How do you you find right teacher for you? (28:18) Q: I'm a performer and have been so inspired by Tina Turner- as an artist I always think that Art Practice is also a spiritual pursuit - (even though that may not be in the Sutras!) Tina practiced the mantra Nam Myho Renge Kyo' from the Ringchen practice. I looked this up but could not find the Lotus Sutra in the fpmt website- but found it on the Rigpa website. However because of my Gelugpa lineage I don't feel as connected- and a bit guilty looking elsewhere… (29:45) Q: When you go into meditation and you think it is not successful (because there are so many thoughts coming up)... (34:03) The real purpose of mediation is to become more familiar with your mind (48:00) We do need relaxation; however, this meditation is not for relaxation - it is about ALERTNESS! (51:48) Q: [Regret about not spending time on the cushion doing practice - But I do argue with my ego throughout my day] (54:29) Q: Do we have to wait 9 months for Lama Zopa's rebirth? (58:49) Q: Are we at a point where there can be a female reincarnation? (1:01:43) Q: How to maintain enthusiasm when obstacles arise and how to embrace it when the obstacles are gone! (1:03:50) Q: What to do when I'm in the classroom (as the teacher) and there is conflict and confrontation and I have to make a decision in the moment (1:08:31) "the deepest most subtle attachment of all and the hardest to recognise" - Worry about what people think (1:10:15) Q: My brother is a programmer and we were recently talking about AI. He told me that Google is experimenting with storing data on atoms. He tells me he believes they are making headway. If this happens AI will probably develop full consciousness. I thought about King of Prayers, on every atom is a Buddha field. Under these circumstances do you think from a Buddhist perspective that a conscience could enter an AI? It seems like a silly question but people really fear this. (1:12:17) A short meditation on the breath with introduction to the posture (1:16:18)

Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her clear teaching, explaining the Buddhist approach to thinking and acting in terms we can understand. Through examples that are relevant to our lives, she presents multiple ways we can put these ideas into practice. Venerable Robina explains the beneficial actions of body, speech and mind we can adopt, and actions to avoid. She gives us ways to create positive new habits benefiting ourselves and those around us, and how to slowly - completely - rid ourselves of harmful, ancient, negative ones. Q: Dealing with Nagas (2:51) Q: Correct approach to Guru devotion, having a "spiritual mentor" (7:01) Q: How do I question and explore respectfully, once I've taken on a spiritual mentor (13:37) Q: How can we maintain compassion and balance when we are interacting with the News [of other people's suffering] without being swamped or overcome by it? (18:16) Q: Ven. Robina, I have an increasing observational awareness of the stupid pointless [internal] chatter that goes on constantly during my day. I can't stop it or silence it, I jump on board and take the ride but I am aware of it. Is that a sign of progress or just ego telling me that I'm developing faster than I actually am? (24:52) Q: How do I present myself in my working life as a person on the Buddhist path? (28:10) Q: What to do if you are the kind of person who takes everything in and it stays in (not someone who is vomiting everything out the mouth!) (36:12)

Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her clear teaching, explaining the Buddhist approach to thinking and acting in terms we can understand. Through examples that are relevant to our lives, she presents multiple ways we can put these ideas into practice. Venerable Robina explains the beneficial actions of body, speech and mind we can adopt, and actions to avoid. She gives us ways to create positive new habits benefiting ourselves and those around us, and how to slowly - completely - rid ourselves of harmful, ancient, negative ones. Impermanence (1:49) To practice what? (6:50) The revolutionary shift in the mind (17:00) The unique approach of the Buddha (17:48) Get Wisdom!! (18:28) Causes of suffering: karma and delusions (24:46) The subtlest misconception (27:00) Receiving the cake making initiation (the benefit of a spiritual teacher) (32:00) Choose your guru very carefully, you're going to end up like them (34:37) Q: What about when someone says they are self taught? (36:06) Q: Could you please offer some tips on building and maintaining motivation in the early days of developing a daily meditation practice? (40:27) Q: If the best way to get there is with a teacher … then who taught Bach when he was playing so well at 5 years of age (47:22) Q: I understand intellectually how objects conventionally exist and the emptiness of objects, what I struggle with is to transfer that to situations, for example being criticised at work (49:06) The Ikea "I" (54:22) "One or many" logical argument (56:58) His Holiness Dalai Lama on dependant arising (1:04:14) Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the realisation of the emptiness of "I" (1:05:17) Dependant arising and Emptiness is the most delicious way to understand emptiness (on the Heart Sutra) (1:07:32) Emptiness on the "I" (1:09:33) Nihilistic Insanity (1:10:53) Q: Are you saying that the mind was not experiencing fear, but the body was … because the body was trying to survive altho the mind wasn't (1:20:08) How to apply dependant arising and wisdom in the supermarket aisle (1:22:04) Medicine Buddha Mantra (1:27:32)

Venerable Robina Courtin discussed ways to apply Buddhist teachings to our everyday lives, to help us in our relationships, our work, our emotional lives, and in interpreting events we see going on in the world. 0:00 Everyday Buddhism 5:29 How do we do the job of being a Buddhist? 07:35 The way to apply impermanence in daily life 10:40 We suffer because we don't have the right view of reality 15:35 We have no idea that what goes on in our mind plays any role in our lives 18:20 It's our interpretations of the outside world that make us suffer 24:24 The First Level of Practice - Control your body and speech 27:02 The main energy of attachment is dissatisfaction 33:33 "There's nothing wrong with your heart dear, it's just your behaviour!" 35:03 Controlling our speech solves 90% of our problems 39:59 We create ourselves through our thoughts 43:30 Question: Is romantic love just attachment? 48:50 Question: Can we say people are attached to their suffering? 51:00 Question: Is it being phony to say nothing? 55:42 Question: Can you discuss attachment to reputation and the desire to be liked? 1:06:05 Question: Can we think of Putin as having a good heart but problematic behaviour? 1:11:16 Question: Would you explain the attachment to our and others' gender? 1:21:20 Question: Do you have a simple way to introduce Buddhism to children? 1:23:18 Final thoughts

Venerable Robina Courtin performs the Bodhisattva Vows Ceremony before viewing the video of the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment with His Holiness the Dalai Lama: https://youtu.be/Ti-L1BdhLw4

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches about taking the Bodhisattva vows before viewing the YouTube of the Avalokiteshavara Empowerment with His Holiness the Dalai Lama: https://youtu.be/Ti-L1BdhLw4

Venerable Robina performs the Refuge Ceremony before viewing the video of the Preliminaries to the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment with His Holiness the Dalai Lama: https://youtu.be/iUWH3PIjZQ8

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches about taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha and taking the 5 lay vows before viewing the YouTube of the Avalokiteshavara Empowerment with His Holiness the Dalai Lama: https://youtu.be/iUWH3PIjZQ8

On Christmas Eve 2021, Venerable Robina Courtin gave a free public talk: “Bringing the Dharma to Christmas Dinner”. In the tradition of Lama Yeshe's Christmas Dharma Teachings, Venerable Robina speaks about how you can make your Christmas beneficial for all sentient beings! The holiday period can bring with it a special sort of festive stress, as many of us juggle social commitments, family dynamics and capitalist expectations to spend, spend, spend! How to maintain presence of mind amidst these pressures? How to be kind and compassionate to those around us when their views and values differ from our own? And how to have a harmonious gathering with family and friends? *** Decide - "I'll be at Christmas for them!" (12:00) Q: What happens if you decide "to be there for them" and then something happens and you lose that motivation? (16:17) Q: If you have sought to create peace with an abuser who isn't aware that they are abusive and they are actively making war - is it wise to impliment an estrangement and how do you know if it is ego or wisdom to do so? (24:02) Q: I find I'm feeling really repugnant towards merry makers when there's so much devastation in the world (eg. my friend's parents' home town in Philippines has been devoted by typhoon in the past few days) and it's dragging down my husband and kids. What's your advice please? (30:52) Q: Since it is Christmas eve what would be a nice meditation or offering to do to benefit others? (33:54) Q: What to do about forgiveness of yourself when you have been the abuser? (41:39) Forgiveness can be misused (49:20) Q: How can I distance myself from how I feel when I perceive others to be criticising me so I can keep being positive (especially over the holidays) (50:58) Q: Venerable Robina, please let us know your favourite thing to do over Christmas and how do you spend the holidays (52:34) Q: When my daughter comes at Christmas, we can only go about a day without an argument. So instead of looking forward to it, I'm dreading it. How can I prepare? (54:51) Q: I'd like to learn more about the Buddha, can you suggest something I could read or things I could get to learn more? (58:24) The centre Venerable Robina refers to is - Thubten Norbu Ling: a Tibetan Buddhist center in Santa Fe, New Mexico - https://tnlsf.org Q: Will Venerable Robina be going to Kopan or running the Indian Tour or the Lawudo trek in the future? (1:01:03) More about the Lawudo Trek: https://lawudo-trek.org *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream.

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching about the Buddhist approach to developing compassion. WHY ENDLESS COMPASSION? Sometimes it feels like the world's problems are demanding so much of our attention that our compassion reserves will run dry. How can we develop strong, resilient compassion that allows us to help others? Venerable Robina says: “You don't harm others even slightly if you love, have compassion, generosity, forgiveness - it's not possible. It's the delusions that cause us pain and cause us to harm others. So when we deeply understand that, it's like we've got compassion for ourselves. That's what qualifies us to have compassion for others - and that doesn't just mean the victims, it means the people who do the harm. This is a really tough level of compassion but we can not have it until we know ourselves, until we know what causes us pain.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/EndlessCompassionNotes Sunny Jacob's book: https://bit.ly/StolenTime_SunnyJacobs Namgyalma mantra to put on your car, to bless all the beings as you drive: https://shop.fpmt.org/Namgyalma-Mantra-Car-Sticker-PDF_p_3294.html His Holiness Dalai Lama Avalokiteshvara Initiation, May 2020: Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUWH3PIjZQ8 Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti-L1BdhLw4 *** Q: If the Miami building was to fall, is it the karma of the people or the karma of the building? (0:49) Q: Is all the negativity in our minds the result of karma? (3:39) Q: If reincarnation is the only way we exist, why is there more of everything now? (9:06) Q: What is the antidote to attachment? [to being approved of] (12:09) Q: Still grieving, what to do? (16:14) Q: Is reframing our karmic appearances practicing Emptiness, and does practicing Emptiness help us realise Emptiness.. So, is realising Emptiness a process? Can we cultivate Emptiness in the same way we cultivate compassion? (17:25) Q: I have lost everything I have loved in my life and I have lost my health. Can I find peace or a happy place in this horrible time in my life, if yes how? (22:06) Q: What is initiation? (26:59) On taking Refuge (33:44) Refuge commitments and vows (47:04) Q: if you kill a mosquito after taking a vow, is it worse than if you haven't taken the vow? (57:37) Q: I had to kill the rats in our roof as they were running rampant, destroying stuff. Can we do Vajrasattva practice to repent and also renew my vow again? (1:02:34) Q: After today we just retake the vows every morning 1st thing open our eyes? (1:04:13) Q: So many insects get squished when we drive a car. If we know animals die when we drive a car should we not drive a car? (1:04:49) Q: I would like to take the empowerment. However I am wondering how to reconcile the past faith in God. I am wondering if I can still have the faith in saints and God as well as taking Buddha as my empowerment? (1:11:00) Q: Is there a line between killing due to dislike/disgust as opposed to killing for the wellbeing of other beings? For example, I recently had a flea infestation in my apartment. I'm allergic to flea bites and it was causing my foster cat a lot of distress. I chose not to flea bomb due to toxins that would affect the cat however I used diatomaceous earth which is non-toxic for myself and the cat however kills fleas by dehydration. In this situation what is the best course of action? (1:17:18)

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching about the Buddhist approach to developing compassion. WHY ENDLESS COMPASSION? Sometimes it feels like the world's problems are demanding so much of our attention that our compassion reserves will run dry. How can we develop strong, resilient compassion that allows us to help others? Venerable Robina says: “You don't harm others even slightly if you love, have compassion, generosity, forgiveness - it's not possible. It's the delusions that cause us pain and cause us to harm others. So when we deeply understand that, it's like we've got compassion for ourselves. That's what qualifies us to have compassion for others - and that doesn't just mean the victims, it means the people who do the harm. This is a really tough level of compassion but we can not have it until we know ourselves, until we know what causes us pain.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/EndlessCompassionNotes *** What drives *our* actions that harm others? (7:07) It is the very *having* of anger is where the suffering is (10:45) When we can see this within ourselves... (15:00) Anger is a mental breakdown [klesha = affliction = mental illness] (24:24) The Four Noble Truths (28:15) Compassion for ourselves (30:06) Look at "deserving". What does "deserving" have to with anger and attachment? (34:48) What is attachment? (47:35) Q: Can I change my anger into compassion and *then* take action? (56:20) Q: Does "survivor guilt" come from compassion? (57:34) Q: If “junior school” is being ethical and not harming, and “university” is the compassion wing, is “high school?” working on our own minds? (1:01:48) Q: What is the difference between the anger of the man who kicks his dog and Roger the meditators experience where Rinpoche said "the dirt has to come out" (1:04:15) Q: Apparent randomness of events and karma (1:06:17) Q: All of these things that are happening - good or bad - our job as practitioners is to bring it all into the path? (1:12:21) Q: Does purification practice like Vajrasattva get rid of the seed of transmute it? (1:14:04)

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching about the Buddhist approach to developing compassion. WHY ENDLESS COMPASSION? Sometimes it feels like the world's problems are demanding so much of our attention that our compassion reserves will run dry. How can we develop strong, resilient compassion that allows us to help others? Venerable Robina says: “You don't harm others even slightly if you love, have compassion, generosity, forgiveness - it's not possible. It's the delusions that cause us pain and cause us to harm others. So when we deeply understand that, it's like we've got compassion for ourselves. That's what qualifies us to have compassion for others - and that doesn't just mean the victims, it means the people who do the harm. This is a really tough level of compassion but we can not have it until we know ourselves, until we know what causes us pain.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/EndlessCompassionNotes *** Even if you're drowning, you might as well stay perky...(6:58) Q: How to recognise authentic compassion, compassion with wisdom? (7:36) Practices to develop compassion (14:55) Q: If removing the dirt from the water (as a metaphor for overcoming delusions) is possible - what is "the water"? (39:15) Q: How to apply equanimity to ourselves? Should we look at our afflictions with equanimity? (46:05) Q: How does talking about others destroy our equanimity? Is it because we can do it with anger. Is there ever a time that talking about others is okay and in line with our equanimity? (53:22) Q: It's difficult to fathom how one person is able to hold all beings with genuine love. If we forget about a stranger's headache in 1 minute - does a Bodhisattva keep thinking about it? Can we think about 7.5 billion peoples' headaches all at once? It seems like too big a job for a single person - how is that level of concern experienced by a Bodhisattva? (1:00:00) Q: I don't understand the suffering of change. (1:03:03) Q: What is the mudra when offering the mandala? (1:09:43) Q: Is it so: that which my mind labels as pleasure is actually a delusion and a kind of poison (1:12:24) Q: Could you please talk more about the connection between the mind and the body? Is this something that we can only experience/ observe through meditation? (1:22:32)

In this series of teachings, Venerable Robina Courtin teaches about the Buddhist approach to developing compassion. WHY ENDLESS COMPASSION? Sometimes it feels like the world's problems are demanding so much of our attention that our compassion reserves will run dry. How can we develop strong, resilient compassion that allows us to help others? Venerable Robina says: “You don't harm others even slightly if you love, have compassion, generosity, forgiveness - it's not possible. It's the delusions that cause us pain and cause us to harm others. So when we deeply understand that, it's like we've got compassion for ourselves. That's what qualifies us to have compassion for others - and that doesn't just mean the victims, it means the people who do the harm. This is a really tough level of compassion but we can not have it until we know ourselves, until we know what causes us pain.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/EndlessCompassionNotes Links mentioned in video: Lama Yeshe - Mahamudra: https://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop Lama Zopa Rinpoche - How to Face Death Without Fear: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear Bronnie Ware - Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: https://bit.ly/Top5RegretsOfTheDying *** The nuts and bolts of Buddhist practice (8:24) Why do we get drained when working with others and are seeing their suffering? It's *not* from compassion (15:00) Understanding attachment (19:13) The key to success! (25:11) The bottom line is: (33:06) Compassion is not enough, we need wisdom (35:58) Q: What is the definition of "brain", "mind" and "consciousness"? (45:19) Q: What about attachment to thinking "I'm right. My view is right"? (52:16) Q: How do we practice in the present and still plan for the future? (57:48) Q: Sir David Attenborough has said that we have 18 years left now to turn around what we are doing to wreck this planet we live on ..and then there will be no turning back from the inevitable destruction of all life on this planet and human being will become extinct...I just want to hear ven. Robinas thoughts on this fact (1:00:48) Q: Where is the line between being compassionate and being a doormat? (1:06:19) Q: Maybe when they (some Yoguis) say that we are not the mind they mean that we are not our ego. So how to recognize the Self and the ego? (1:11:18) Q: What is Universal Mind in relation to our personal Mind. How is it connected? (1:12:40) Q: I have been bullied in the past and at the same time told I am way too nice. So how to get around this? so we give up attachment to being seen to be 'a good little greek girl' but be good, help others and kind, say your truth and get on with it, by being brave/courageous and not being attached to being seen as say a 'good little greek girl' - identify my own attachment to being a 'good little greek girl' is this on the right track? (1:15:45)

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching on Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, How to Face Death Without Fear (https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​). How to Face Death Without Fear is a collection of Rinpoche's teachings on how to think about death and reincarnation, how to help our loved ones at the time of death (including our pets) and how to prepare for our own death. Venerable Robina edited the collection, and as she explains in the preface: "Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one's or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche's actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/DeathWithoutFearNotes Links related to video: How to Face Death Without Fear book: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​ Mantras for Animals playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/MantrasForAnimals​ ***

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching on Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, How to Face Death Without Fear (https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​). How to Face Death Without Fear is a collection of Rinpoche's teachings on how to think about death and reincarnation, how to help our loved ones at the time of death (including our pets) and how to prepare for our own death. Venerable Robina edited the collection, and as she explains in the preface: "Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one's or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche's actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/DeathWithoutFearNotes Links related to video: How to Face Death Without Fear book: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​ Mantras for Animals playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/MantrasForAnimals​ ***

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching on Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, How to Face Death Without Fear (https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​). How to Face Death Without Fear is a collection of Rinpoche's teachings on how to think about death and reincarnation, how to help our loved ones at the time of death (including our pets) and how to prepare for our own death. Venerable Robina edited the collection, and as she explains in the preface: "Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one's or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche's actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.” Course notes: https://bit.ly/DeathWithoutFearNotes Links related to video: How to Face Death Without Fear book: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​ Mantras for Animals playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/MantrasForAnimals​ ***

Venerable Robina Courtin continues teaching on Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, How to Face Death Without Fear (https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear). How to Face Death Without Fear is a collection of Rinpoche's teachings on how to think about death and reincarnation, how to help our loved ones at the time of death (including our pets) and how to prepare for our own death. Venerable Robina edited the collection, and as she explains in the preface: "Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one's or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche's actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.” Links related to video: How to Face Death Without Fear book: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear The Undead, by Dick Teresi: https://bit.ly/TheUndead_Book The Tibetan Art of Parenting, by Anne Hubbell Maiden, Edie Farwell: http://bit.ly/TibetanArtOfParentingBook Death, Intermediate State, and Rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism By Lati Rinpoche and Jeffrey Hopkins: http://bit.ly/DeathIntermediateStateRebirthBook Mind of Clear Light : Advice on Living Well and Dying Consciously. His Holiness the Dalai Lama , Edited by Jeffrey Hopkins: http://bit.ly/MindOfClearLightBook Prayer to be reborn in the land of bliss by Lama Tsongkhapa: http://bit.ly/LandOfBlissPrayer Mantras for Animals playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/MantrasForAnimals ***

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on Lama Zopa Rinpoche's book, How to Face Death Without Fear (https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​). How to Face Death Without Fear is a collection of Rinpoche's teachings on how to think about death and reincarnation, how to help our loved ones at the time of death (including our pets) and how to prepare for our own death. Venerable Robina edited the collection, and as she explains in the preface: "Because for most of us death is a difficult thing to come to terms with—our loved one's or our own—working out which practices to do can be daunting. Therefore Rinpoche's actual advice, the things to do—contained in parts 3, 4, and 5, the heart of the book—have been identified as eighty-seven distinct practices, numbered and structured chronologically to help us know what to do when.” Links related to video: How to Face Death Without Fear book: https://bit.ly/KLZR_DeathWithoutFear​ Heart Spoon prayer by Pabongka Rinpoche: https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/hea...​ Prayer to be reborn in the land of bliss by Lama Tsongkhapa: http://bit.ly/LandOfBlissPrayer​ Mantras for Animals playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/MantrasForAnimals​ *** Death is not fearful (9:36​) The bottom line is to help the person who is dying become peaceful (18:39​) Death is definite...Imagine you have a flight at the end of the day (30:20​) Wake up call! Heart spoon (46:24​) What does it mean to not waste your life? What does it mean to live a good life? The view of karma; self creation (54:00​) Q: "You say "dying in a Pure Land ... be in bliss." But aa I am on the Bodhisattva path how do you prevent this or return to Samarsa? I want to RETURN and free all sentient beings from samsara and ONLY then can I rest in peace! " (1:00:12​) How to create a conducive environment for a dying person (1:11:23​)

Before you walk in to your Christmas breakfast/lunch/dinner/drinks - STOP! Sit for 7 minutes and 5 seconds. Fill yourself up with everything you need to make this the Best Christmas Ever for you and all the people you connect with! Then: walk in with courage and confidence - you've got this!

Christmas Eve public talk from Venerable Robina Courtin: “How to bring the Dharma to Christmas Dinner”! The festive season can often be experienced as stressful and hectic, with increased family and social commitments and the pressure to spend, spend, spend! In this public talk, Venerable Robina discusses ways we can apply a Buddhist perspective to find peace and create harmony amidst the Christmas mayhem. This Christmas Eve talk was inspired by Lama Yeshe's “Silent Mind, Holy Mind” teachings at Kopan Monastery in 1971, about Christmas and Buddhist practice. You can read some of these teachings on the FPMT website here: https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/christmas-dharma.

You are welcome to join us on Zoom every Monday night at 7:30pm Melbourne, Australia time (AEST/AEDT) as we engage with this Vajrasattva Practice!! Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81983188531?pwd=Uk1KLzBuYTcrMndWTTR0RjRjcWVPdz09 Meeting ID: 819 8318 8531 Passcode: 362338 *** Venerable Robina Courtin (https://www.robinacourtin.com) leads a short (22 minute) Vajrasattva practice including the Four Opponent Powers and the the 100 syllable Vajrasattva Mantra. You can do this practice at the end of each day just by playing the audio and following the instruction. How good is that? Begin by taking refuge, play through the audio following the visualisation and instruction and perform your own dedication after the audio ends with "be delighted, totally rejoice!!". You can also read Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche's advice on Vajrasattva practice.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality...with mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) Chapter 9 "Now seek the self and find Mahamudra" (4:26) Now let's meditate on Mahamudra: The mindfulness fish... (18:09) Ego is like a thief (22:30) The label cannot be the parts (26:09) Identifying the nuclear energy of ego...(29:51) "Learn to like a problem like you like ice-cream" (35:27) The mindfulness fish captures egos concept! (43:52) Seeing the truth annihilates the lie (48:59) When you cut the root, you end fear (59:59) Q: How do you know if you are a reincarnation of someone? (1:01:40) Q: Is realisation of emptiness synonymous with nirvana? (1:03:13) Q: What is non duality (1:05:11) Q: What is the personality- is it just a bundle of tendencies . Lama Zopa and Lama Yeshe seem so different in nature. (1:06:07) Q: How do I work with the process of recognising my delusions and applying the teachings? [Paraphrasing the question] (1:10:50) Q: Buddhas will manifest in the aspect (with respect to personality or style) that is most beneficial for the beings that they have a strong karmic connection with, correct? (1:16:24) Q: How do you know what your yidam is? (1:20:46) Q: If there is no inherent self, how then does karma manifest to us personally from past lives whether good or bad? Wouldn't that karma be attached to something that has continuity? Wouldn't that karma stop at the cessation of that person's existence? (1:22:22) Q: Am I accurate in assuming that developing the wisdom wing is what helps change conditioning and eventually karma? Are karma and conditioning interdependent? (1:25:03) Q: How are Sutra and Tantra different in the focus on realizing emptiness? How important is this realisation on each Path? (1:29:59) Q: What do we do when we think we know what our main delusion is? (1:31:38) Q: Would it be better to focus on pureland rebirth or human? (1:32:28) Q: What is it about Tantra that makes it faster and more effective? (1:35:59) Q: Is there an ending of this process – death, birth, endeavour for enlightenment, become a buddha – are there endless beings that will need to do this so it is endless? And when did this start or has happened always? (1:44:19) Q: Is there an indicator to let us know we're ready to practice Tantra, or can we start anytime? (1:49:34) Recitation of the root text: Highway of the Conquerors - The Mahamudra Root Text of the Precious Genden Oral Tradition (1:51:35) *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy (and all those beings who have recently died) into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on meditation: “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) The use of the word "emptiness" - Empty of *what*? (0:26) When the penny drops... (6:42) The emptiness of something is *not* the nothingness of something (10:20) On the Heart Sutra... (11:05) Q: In science once you understand logically a topic, the penny drops. Why is it not the same in Buddhist science? Emptiness is logically easy to understand, why does this emptiness penny not drop that easily, even though we understand intellectually? (21:55) Q: Would "Reality" be a word that the Buddha would use for that which truly exists? (23:25) Q: So then the I does exist in in some subtle way that it seems like it exists. And the “I “ exists upon the mind calling it the “I”?(23:54) Q: Can't the fact that everything is made of the same elements - just in different combinations = also explain emptiness, since it's all the same thing anyway? (26:03) Q: Can the emptiness of pink be a label for the absence of any other colour? The absence of red, etc. (27:06) Q: Is it like looking at one of those optical illusion paintings where when you stare at it for long enough a picture of a form is within the patterns? (28:12) Q: Can you elaborate on the role of intention… is intention what we often confuse to be the “I” in so far as it often runs the show. (28:54) We don't even *need* an "I" that runs the show - an analysis (29:27) Q: The only person who can cognize the absence of tea is the person who expects to find tea. I get that. But what if the person looking for the I expects NOT to find the I. How then, can the absence of the I be cognized. (35:58) Q: Am I correct in this? I exist exactly where there is no I...[with question clarification] (36:34) Q: What directs the intention? Is it karma or habit? If so, what creates a new habit? (40:29) The real meaning of the word "karma" (41:27) Q: What is the role of the ego in relation to intention, is it merely labeled as well? (41:51) Q: Does that mean that intention will be driven purely by virtue once we remove the habitual delusions and karmic imprint (44:56) Q: If we realise the emptiness of “I”, and the “I” is a dependent arising, do we also realise our interconnection with every other sentient being? Is this synonymous with “oneness”, “one consciousness” and having a non-conceptual experience of this? (45:24) Q: Pardon ignorance, what is the role of emptiness in Buddhism? (50:52) Q: As a relative beginner to Buddhist practice how often should I meditate and what type of meditation is best? (52:04) *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy (and all those beings who have recently died) into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on meditation: “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) Lama Yeshe's famous teaching style is fully present in this book, according to the book's editor, Ven. Robina Courtin: “His words are not only experiential but also direct, funny, deceptively simple, and incredibly encouraging—enlightenment seems possible.” (from the FPMT website http://bit.ly/Mahamudra1) 9 round breathing meditation (5:28) How our mind shapes our physical world (13:22) The two truths: conventional and ultimate truth (21:30) "There's nothing wrong with your heart dear, it's just your behaviour!"(24:59) It's bad enough that things appear to us as self-existent...the killer is that we believe it! (34:55) Generally, there are three levels of Dependant Arising (38:23) Most of the time we are not even getting things accurate *conventionally* (41:23) Defining what *is* existent (43:13) Grasping at a fantasy "I"; an analysis (46:49) How to avoid falling into "the abyss of the great mistake!" (59:02) Getting on the right track; the two truths go together, they don't contradict.(1:01:16) *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy and all those beings who have recently died into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on meditation: “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) Lama Yeshe's famous teaching style is fully present in this book, according to the book's editor, Ven. Robina Courtin: “His words are not only experiential but also direct, funny, deceptively simple, and incredibly encouraging—enlightenment seems possible.” (from the FPMT website http://bit.ly/Mahamudra1) Q: The best way to view our mind habits.....is to focus on it? ie viewing a child with love or annoyance...and see the mind habits behind this? (1:13) Q: Does the guru have to be a "lama" .. can it be a venerable? (5:45) Q: When Lama Tsong Khapa saw the Light Buddha Manjushri - did he then describe what he saw and an artist then drew an image of this? And is this how we know what Green Tara, Medicine Buddha and all the Light Buddhas look like? (7:12) Q: I see such new level of lack of morality and fear in society now and I feel and see this everywhere I look...this has really unsettled me and I am asking your opinion on how to not get so upset about all the horrible pervasive anger /misery in the world. (8:07) Q: I have ‘restless leg syndrome' (inability to sit for long). My question is on the authenticity of practising Calm Abiding while walking (maybe slowly & mindfully)? (10:55) How to "Meditate on your mind" (25:08) Letting go (of anger) (48:12) Q: I found it difficult to not label it. (1:03:10) Q: I get lost in the words "watch" the mind. Am I only interested in the vision that I see when my eyes are shut (the tv screen) or am I "watching" or listening to the conversation that comes up as well? (1:03:47) Q: What are the antidotes to excited energy and sluggishness when they appear? (1:04:47) Q: Where should one start if in an acute emotional/psychological state? (1:08:20) Q: It felt (mahamudra meditation) like I was in a bathroom with a wall mirror on each side and you look in the mirror and see your image reflected endlessly (1:10:15) Q: In regards to the story of the sherpa monk, couldn't the monk have purified his karma by the buddhist practice without having died at that time when he went back home? Also wouldn't the decision to allow him to die by not getting the doctor for the monk cause bad karma because of the decision leading to his death even though it was done with a compassionate mind? (1:11:19) Venerable Robina reading Lama Yeshe's teaching about emptiness (Chapter 8 from the Mahamudra book: https://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) (1:15:21) *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy and (all those beings who have recently died) into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on meditation: “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) Lama Yeshe's famous teaching style is fully present in this book, according to the book's editor, Ven. Robina Courtin: “His words are not only experiential but also direct, funny, deceptively simple, and incredibly encouraging—enlightenment seems possible.” (from the FPMT website http://bit.ly/Mahamudra1) Meditation posture (21:04) 9 round breathing mediation (27:04) Links to books referred to: The Undead, Dick Teresi - http://bit.ly/TheUndead_Book The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition Of Mahamudra, His Holiness 14th Dalai, Alexander Berzin - http://bit.ly/GelugKagyuMahamudra *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy (and all those beings who have recently died) into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.

Venerable Robina Courtin teaches on "Mahamudra: How to Discover Our True Nature.", a book of Lama Yeshe's teachings edited by Venerable Robina. The original teachings by Lama Yeshe were given in Bendigo, Australia in 1981; hosted by Atisha Centre. Lama Yeshe tells us that mahamudra is “the universal reality of emptiness, of nonduality” and its unique characteristic is its emphasis on meditation: “With mahamudra meditation there is no doctrine, no theology, no philosophy, no God, no Buddha. Mahamudra is only experience.” (http://bit.ly/MahamudraFPMTShop) Lama Yeshe's famous teaching style is fully present in this book, according to the book's editor, Ven. Robina Courtin: “His words are not only experiential but also direct, funny, deceptively simple, and incredibly encouraging—enlightenment seems possible.” (from the FPMT website http://bit.ly/Mahamudra1) Questions: Q: Since there's no concept of atman/soul in Buddhism, what is that part that "gets good at music" from previous lives experience? (48:35) Q: If the eye consciousness only cognates shape and colour…. can you clarify what the other sense organs cognize….. tongue - ear - etc (49:29) Q: What's the difference from a karmic connection to exaggerating someone's qualities? (51:49) Q: What in Buddhism causes the mirror (mind) to change from dusty or cracked (projected outwards) to shiny and photoshopped the next? (54:04) Q: How is it best to counter our negative views of individuals from past lives? I assume channeling compassion in their direction? (56:34) *** May anyone who sees, hears, thinks of, remembers or has anything to do with even a moment of these teachings, create the causes for enlightenment within their mindstream. The merit created through the uploading and accessing, viewing, listening to or remembering of these teachings is dedicated to the long life and continued teaching of all teachers of the Mahayana, to the immediate rebirth of Judy and (all those beings who have recently died) into Amitabha's pure realm, to the benefit of the people whose names were added to the dedication list during the weekend course and to all beings in all the six realms.