the second benefit

Remember, in order to pass on these precious teachings of liberation, realized beings manifest a type of body that is suitable to our level.  Our teacher is an emanation of a realized being.  They come to us in a form that we can relate to, make friends with, talk to openly and candidly.  So, take your time to find a teacher that you resonate with - they could be a famous teacher or they could be your next door neighbor or child or partner.   They can come in any form.  The perfect emanation is out there waiting for you to recognize him/her :)

Enthusiasm for a Teacher

Generating enthusiasm for relying on and serving a spiritual teacher

With the guidance and blessings of a spiritual guide, we will reach the ultimate goal of Yoga faster - the state of Zung jug - a tantric term for Ultimate Union.  How quickly we move towards this goal depends on our ability to rely on a spiritual teacher.

The great philosopher-yogi Nagarjuna said:

Someone who falls from a high mountain peak

May not wish to, but he'll drop nonetheless.

Someone who receives a guru's kind teachings

May not wish freedom, yet he will be freed.

Just like a person falling off a cliff cannot reverse the motion of his body, so too, someone serving a spiritual teacher cannot help but experience freedom. If we fail to rely on a teacher, we may not make progress. 

Lamrim: Round 2

Dear Loves,

If you were not following the blog when it started in July, 2010, please check out the first entry for an overview of what Lamrim is all about:

http://reemayoga.blogspot.com/2010/07/lamrim-big-picture.html

There's been a bit of a hiatus since the very last entry in the fall of 2010.  The incredible teacher, Geshe Michael Roach, conducted two Lamrim retreats in Phoenix over the last couple months.  The teachings were recorded and are available for free on line.  Please, please, please take the time to listen.  And, if you can, attend his next set of teachings in Phoenix in April, 2011.

Geshe Michael's Lamrim teachings can be found at:

http://aciphx.org/downloads - scroll down to the section entitled: "The Deepest Meditation: A Course on How to See the Ultimate"

Lamrim 2nd time around

The first time around with the lamrim my least favorite meditations were those where we contemplated lower rebirths and the hell realms.  I wanted anything but to think of being reborn in hell! Of course, developing renunciation inspires one to never do or think anything harmful to avoid future suffering, but, still it was unpleasant to think of hell realms and suffeing so much. 

Confession

I have a confession to make.  I haven't been keeping up with my lamrim meditations.  After my 10 day retreat, I got busy with other activities and work, and although I did other meditations, I did not keep up with these specific lamrim meditations.

Retreat Reflections

Well, the ten day silent, solitary retreat is over. It was amazing.

Ten days alone with my mind...oooohhhhh....I have to say I learned so much.

Retreat

What is covered in this blog is a lot to learn!  How do you absorb it all?  If you are overwhelmed, no worries.  It is almost impossible to realize these teachings without going into a retreat.  For over 1,000 years, the way these teachings were realized has been by going into deep silent, solitary retreat.   This is exactly what my teacher advised me to do after going through the Lamrim once as we did through these blogs.