Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County

“In the three lower realms and even in the three higher ones there is not an instant of absolute happiness. I will avoid the root cause of my samsaric existence and practice the excellent path of peace to Enlightenment.”  From The Preliminary Practices of the Incomparable Drikung Kagyu                 

“To all holy Lamas, I bow down! These days, I don’t care for riches. I’m not into acquisitions,

So I’m not miserable trying to get things at first, And I’m not stressed out trying to protect things in the middle, And I’m not wretched trying to hold on to things in the end.

Ownership is no fun: I’m happy without!

These days, I don’t care for relations. I’m not into emotional games,

So I’m not miserable with possession at first, And I’m not stressed out by arguments in the middle, And I’m not wretched from separation in the end,

Emotional games are no fun: I’m happy without!

These days, I don’t care for pride. I’m not into celebrity,

So I’m not miserable trying to get famous at first, And I’m not stressed out trying to keep in the spotlight in the middle, And I’m not wretched from fear of losing the attention in the end.

Celebrity is no fun: I’m happy without.

These days, I don’t care for countries. I’m not attached to one place over another,

So I’m not miserable with narrow chauvinism at first, And I’m not stressed out with patriotic fever in the middle, And I’m not wretched from defending the homeland in the end.

Attachment is no fun: I’m happy without!

 From “What’s a King?” Milarepa, Songs on the Spot, p.81-82 Translated by Nicole Riggs, Dharma Cloud, Eugene, Oregon, 2003

“So we need to discuss suffering, but human nature is not to want to talk about it. But, spiritually we have to discuss what suffering is. The first noble truth talks about suffering. Until we understand clearly the nature of suffering, we don’t see that we can’t be free from suffering no matter how much we wish. So there is something here to study and meditate on… Humans have the opportunity to think about suffering and its causes and conditions.  So there is a small chance to become free of suffering “             

Yogi Lama Gursam, “Compassion” August, 2007 Susquehanna Yoga Center,Talks online at lamagursam.org

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Enjoy this guide to the Four Ways of Turning the Mind  provided to us by our friend John Wenz from Milarepa Meditation from an ongoing series of  teachings inspired by our retreats with Lama Gursam.

3. Karma

“The fruit of one’s positive karma is happiness; suffering is the fruit of negative karma. The inexorable karmic causation is the mode of abiding of all dharmas. Henceforth, practice the Dharma by distinguishing between what should be practiced and what should be given up.”   From The Preliminary Practices of the Incomparable Drikung Kagyu

“Buddhism teaches about karma. All karma is created from mental intention. These intentions are expressed as emotions.”   Yogi Lama Gursam, “Love Your Enemy” August 11, 2006 Susquehanna Yoga Center,Talks Online at LamaGursam.org

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Enjoy this guide to the Four Ways of Turning the Mind  provided to us by our friend John Wenz from Milarepa Meditation from an ongoing series of  teachings inspired by our retreats with Lama Gursam.

2. Impermanence

“The nature of all phenomena is impermanence: death is a certainty for all who are born. Death can descend any time like a drop of morning dew on a blade of grass. Quick! It is time to make effort for the essence of Dharma.” From The Preliminary Practices of the Incomparable Drikung Kagyu

“For the practitioner we not only need to understand how precious life is, but that life is impermanent. Everything changes. The purpose of meditating upon impermanence is to serve as an antidote for laziness. It also serves as an antidote to attachment. When we are free of attachment, our minds become strong and free. The teaching on impermanence is the essence of the dharma. It frees us from attachment, anger, and hatred. Impermanence counters grasping. We grasp at conceptual thoughts because we do not see them as impermanent. So there is a strong connection between appreciating impermanence and meditation.“ Yogi Lama Gursam, October, 20, 2006 at Dave and Rebecca’s Home in “Precious Human Birth” Talks Online at LamaGursam.org

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Enjoy this guide to the Four Ways of Turning the Mind  provided to us by our friend John Wenz from Milarepa Meditation from an ongoing series of  teachings inspired by our retreats with Lama Gursam.

1. This Precious Human Life

 “Oh! This kind of leisure and endowment is supremely difficult to obtain. When we obtain this body, which is easily lost, do not waste it meaninglessly but rather use it to attain the ultimate liberation-joyous result.” From The Preliminary Practices of the Incomparable Drikung Kagyu

“We must develop positive thoughts on a personal and a global level…Buddhism believes we all have potential of enlightenment. We all can be free of Samsara, negative emotions and afflictive emotions – therefore life is precious.“

Yogi Lama Gursam, May 2010 at Makefield Friends Meeting, Makefield, PA for Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County

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The Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County meets every Monday evening from 7 -9 pm in the Yardley Friends Meeting House located at 65 North Main Street, Yardley, PA. Beginning at 7pm we sit for two 20-minute periods with a brief walking meditation in between, but you may sit straight through. Enjoy our quiet space and readings from Buddhist sources as well. Discussion begins at 8pm with tea.  No preparation is necessary and all are welcome.