Show Notes
Speaker: Daisuke Inaba. Dai-san discusses his seva activities, the challenges they present, and his findings in working with challenges. He divides a period of service into beginning, middle, and end and offers methods for dealing with difficulties that arise at each stage. In the beginning, there is procrastination and distraction, which he overcomes by setting up a physical and mental environment supportive of service. In the middle, discursive thoughts arise, which he addresses with a breathing practice similar to shamatha. In the end, pride and arrogance "slowly and sneakily creep in", which he surmounts by dedicating the merit and appreciating the opportunity to serve. Dai-san offers this three-part method as a beneficial antidote to self-absorption and an aid to achieving happiness and confidence in seva.
More from Mangala Shri Bhuti - The Link
Speaker: Marjorieke Glaudemans. Marjorieke shares her experience of navigating life and Dharma practice by means of a personal koan, "Discern when you become ordinary", which Rinpoche requested of his students in a 2016 Shedra talk. Over the years, this koan has offered her clear instruction in how to stay connected to the emptiness view and how to understand the many ways she imprisons herself in ordinary, self-absorbed mind.
Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This LINK was originally given by Rinpoche on September 7, 2014 at Phuntsok Choling, in Ward, Colorado. Rinpoche describes the wisdom and skillful means of aging gracefully, and gives students specific advice for right conduct leading up to old age and death.
Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse-la begins with the importance of calling to mind the precious human life we have with all of its freedoms and advantages. He then reminds us how this may not be the case in the future unless we actively work to accumulate merit. On the path, we need to accumulate merit to gain wisdom. Our habitual tendencies and afflictive emotions are difficult to renounce without something to facilitate a change in attitude. Ultimately, taking responsibility for one's mind is a privilege. We can make the most of this opportunity by practicing the six paramitas and letting wisdom to guide the way.
Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This is the fifth and final talk given during a weekend program to students of Naropa University in November 2002. The program focus was the practice of meditation. The entire series re-aired over the summer of 2026.
Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. This is the fourth of five talks given during a weekend program to students of Naropa University in November 2002. The program focus was the practice of meditation. In this fourth talk, Rinpoche revisits the pith instructions on in-meditation and post-meditation practice, including the fruition, which is to "wake up".