White Tibetan monastics Los Angeles (10/5)

There's an amusing anti-Dalai Lama sect of Buddhism in Los Angeles. It seems impossible. Could anyone not love the puppy eyes and playful laugh of the Laughing Monk, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso?

Yes, lots. The New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) movement is not mad at him lately from the States. It's mad at him from old Tibet and it's been going on a while. See the Dorje Shugden controversy.

As the "pope" of at least one sect of Vajrayana Buddhism, the Dalai Lama has incurred the anger of the other colored hats in Tibet/China. The Dalai Lama blames them for worship of an entity, the result of which was invasion by China and the loss of His throne as "pope-king," the spiritual and temporal leader of the massive former Tibetan Empire (the land area of which amounts to 25% of modern China).

What they do is very bad. Suck my tongue, Boy.

The NKT founder, His Holiness Kelsang Gyatso (1931-2022), was a nice monk we got to see, whom followers are sure was fully enlightened and for decades never got angry. They deny anything they did or anything (Dorje Shugden) they worshiped brought on the Chinese onslaught and loss of Tibet as a sovereign nation.

The NKT used to have a nice nunnery/monastery near Dodger Stadium, which is in Chavez Ravine to the west of DTLA, close to Glassell Park. They have their main center in Hollywood on Franklin. But there may now be a satellite temple in Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Catalina Island.

• One criticism we have of this feelgood sect (possible "cult") in Los Angeles is its capitalist (spiritual materialism) inclination with its tendency to angle its message as if spirituality were an ordinary Western consumer item to buy.

NKT's new Occidental (white) leader is going to give a talk at A Noise Within Playhouse ("Peace is Possible," a public talk with Buddhist monk Gen Rigpa Kelsang on Oct. 5, 2024) on the eastern edge of Pasadena on Foothill, next to the 10 Freeway.

• Kadampa Meditation Center Los Angeles - Home (meditateinla.org)

"Peace is Possible," Oct. 5, 2024

Each one of us has the potential to experience true peace, happiness, and fulfillment in our life. Yet, in a world of distraction and stimulation, societal chaos and conflict, many people are struggling with their mental health and feel spiritually lost, without purpose or meaning.

In this inspiring talk, Gen Rigpa will share practical tools for generating peace, both within our own hearts and also as a contribution to peace in society at large. Everyone is welcome. Learn:

• The true causes of inner peace
• How to create both inner and outer peace
• Why meditation is good for everyone.

Ticket Prices: Zone 1- $35 ($28 through Sept. 25th) | Zone 2 & 3- $25 ($20 through Sept. 25th). Special 20% discount extended through Sept. 25th! See seating chart below for zone details. Seating assigned within zone in order of purchase. Seat will be assigned after registration. To sit next to someone, please inform at time of purchase. Each ticket includes free admission to the new Monday night Pasadena Meditation Class on Oct. 14th at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena. Peace is Possible - Public Talk

• NKT monk Gen Rigpa Kelsan (meditateinla.org); CC Liu, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Prince Harry meditates daily: Mindfulness

BD Dipen (BuddhistDoor.net, 2/1/19) via cosmopolitan.com; Erika Belair; Ven. Nyanaponika on Satipatthana (Buddhist Dictionary); CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Prince Harry, right, with Buddhist monk Kelsang Sonam, left (from cosmopolitan.com)

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Britain’s Prince Harry tells Buddhist monk about daily meditation practice

+1: Princess Meghan (thesun.co.uk)

Meeting well-wishers during a royal visit to Birkenhead in Merseyside, England, on January 14, 2019, Britain’s Prince Harry reportedly shared with 69-year-old Buddhist lama Kelsang Sonam that he meditates every day.

Following their conversation, Kelsang Sonam presented the prince a copy of the book Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness by the Tibetan [renegade anti-Dalai Lama separatist Vajrayana] Dharma teacher Kelsang Gyatso.

New Kadampa Tradition book

Prince Harry and his wife, American former actress and humanitarian [Princess] Meghan Markle, visited a community café and supermarket called Number 7 selling discounted food for low-income families, operated by Feeding Birkenhead, a coalition of organizations “working together to eliminate hunger” in the local community.

During the visit, the couple had the chance to sit with some of the organization’s staff and customers, which is when the prince and Kelsang Sonam spoke.

That's my son, and I'm so glad he meditates with his lovely wife Meghan (Princess Di)

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The Daily Mail tabloid’s correspondent Rebecca English tweeted about their conversation: “Random fact of the day: a 69-year-old Buddhist monk named Kelsang Sonam, who gave Harry a copy of a book titled Eight Steps to Happiness, said the prince told him he meditates every day” (Rebecca English on Twitter).

Prince Andrew does not meditate.

[Black California actress turned Princess] Markle might have introduced her husband to meditation.

Prior to marrying the redheaded prince, she practiced meditation daily, and the practice continued as she made the [stressful] transition to royal life.

Years before her royal engagement, Light Watkins (beginmeditating.com), an American "Vedic meditation" [$$] teacher, taught her Buddhist mindfulness practice,* which she quickly adopted into her daily wellbeing routine. More

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  COMMENT: Erika Belair points out that the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) is a well-known separatist sect with only one leader who is not recognized by any other Buddhist group, transmission, or teacher [particularly not the current Dalai Lama]. NKT is hostile toward the Dalai Lama and frequently demonstrates against him and has allegedly even threatened his life. NKT is doing an ancient Tibetan practice which the Dalai Lama has prohibited, claiming it can lead to physical and mental harm [and is alleged the cause of China's invasion and occupation of Tibet]. For details of that practice, type "Shugden" into a search engine. [Tibet's "pope," the 14th Dalai Lama, likely regards this dharmapala or wrathful deity/protector as a "demon" as did the 5th Dalai Lama.] For details of the sect and the damage they have allegedly caused people, search "New Kadampa." I hope Harry will be warned, as they also like money donations. OK, they are not the only ones but...

*Mindfulness Practice

The Four Foundations or Fourfold Setting Up of Mindfulness

Ven. Nyanatiloka (Anton Gueth), edited for Wisdom Quarterly by Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells, Buddhist Dictionary: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines (palikanon.com

The Four "Foundations of Mindfulness" (lit., "awareness of mindfulness," sati-upatthāna), are the systematic contemplation of:

1. body (form, materiality)
2. feeling (sensation)
3. mind (mentality)
4. mind-objects. More

Buddhist Mindfulness Practice

Ven. Nyanatiloka (Anton Gueth), edited for Wisdom Quarterly by Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells, Buddhist Dictionary: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines (palikanon.com)

Mindfulness meditation accepts all, sees all, comes to know all. (Vedic? sporteluxe.com)

Before Harry: Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness (Meghan Markle/besthealthmag.ca)

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The Four Foundations or Fourfold Setting Up of Mindfulness

[See PART 1] The Four "Foundations of Mindfulness" (lit., "awareness of mindfulness," sati-upatthāna), are systematic contemplations of:

1. body (form, materiality)
2. feeling (sensation)
3. mind (mentality)
4. mind-objects.

1st human depictions of the Buddha: Gandhara

For sati ("mindfulness, wakefulness, vigilance, bare-awareness [free of evaluation and reactivity]," figuratively, striving-for-insight-into).

Two sutras give a detailed treatment of this subject, so important for the practice of Buddhist meditation/mental cultivation. The two Satipatthāna Sutras (DN 22 and MN 10) proclaim these weighty words as they begin and again when they close:

"The one and only way [or the direct way] that leads to the attainment of purity [of view], to the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, to the end of pain and grief, to the entering of the right path, and to the realization of nirvana is the Four Foundations of Mindfulness."

After these ominous introductory words, aasking the question, "What are these four?," it is said that the meditator dwells in contemplation of the body, feelings [sensations], the mind, and mind-objects "ardent, clearly conscious and mindful, after setting aside worldly greed and grief."

Bliss becomes joy.

These four systematic contemplations, in reality, are not taken merely as separate exercises. On the contrary, in many cases, particularly for arriving at the blissful meditative absorptions (jhanas), the four are inseparably associated with one another.

Meditation is the greatest thing!

So the Satipathāna Sutra forms an illustration of the way these four contemplations relate to the Five Aggregates Clung to as Self (khandha) simultaneously come to be realized.

This finally leads to insight and enlightenment (awakening) by directly realizing the impersonal nature of all things and all forms of existence. More

• Introduction to Meditation (The Tig)
• Prince Harry tells Buddhist monk he meditates ‘every day’ during visit to Merseyside with Meghan Markle (The Sun)
• Does Prince Harry Meditate? The Duke Of Sussex Just Revealed His Wellness Routine (Bustle)
• Prince Harry Has a Cute New Hobby and I'd Bet Literal Money It's Inspired by Meghan Markle (Cosmopolitan)
• Meghan Markle Is Using This Centuries-Old Stress Relieving Tool to Prepare for Her Wedding (InStyle)
• Related news from BuddhistDoor Global
• American Actress and British-royal-to-be Meghan Markle Reportedly Combats Stress with Meditation
• Bill Gates Takes Up Meditation to Improve FocusUgandan Buddhist Monk Offers Mindfulness Meditation as an Antidote for Violent Crime in Jamaica
• Study Suggest Buddhist Meditators Can Learn and “Perfect” Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences
• Related features from Buddhistdoor Global
• Contemplative Practices: Helping Children Enjoy Meditation
• The Daily Practice of a Modern Chinese Buddhist Nun: Facing the Discomfort
• The Revival of Meditation in China: A Seven-day Retreat at Yuquan Monastery

Tibet Reopens to Tourists

Photo purporting to depict anti-Dalai Lama protest in Germany, according to China's official Xinhua news agency.

BEIJING – China has reopened Tibet to foreign tourists, state media said Sunday, almost two months after imposing a ban ahead of politically sensitive anniversaries.

• Slideshow: Tibet
• Video: Tibetan exiles claim video shows "torture" (AFP)
• Video: Researchers allege China-based computer spying (AP)

A group of 11 German travelers arrived in the regional capital of Lhasa late Saturday, the Xinhua News Agency said. The group was on a six-day tour, which would take them to a number of "key scenic spots" before leaving for Nepal, Xinhua said.

China requires foreigners to obtain special permission to visit Tibet and routinely bars them from all Tibetan areas of the country during sensitive periods to keep news of unrest from leaking out. More>>