One For The Road

In Vajrayana Buddhism there is a concept that the lamas try to pass on to their students. That lama is willing to take birth lifetime after lifetime to be of benefit to sentient beings. And I have heard my lama state that she would return for only one being if that is what was required to end suffering.

In keeping with that attitude, we students of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo have certain efforts we try to make to train up in that Bodhisattva attitude. So it was with a heavy heart that John and I sat down to begin the Phoenix Variegated Jewels meeting without a single attendee present. We had set up the room (see photos)

and done our personal opening prayers (invoking the blessing of our teacher and the Palyul Lineage that she represents) and decided we should carry on with the meditation portion of the gathering to create the causes that others might come to future events.

Well much to our excitement - as we finished our short series of opening prayers, I heard a noise in the parking lot. I walked to the door to investigate, and sure enough there was a young man approaching the building. I told John, "we have a guest!" He thought I was being facetious (I suppose I have a history of trying to pull pranks or play practical jokes on him.) In walked a gentleman named Eric, and we officially had our first Phoenix Variegated Jewels attendee. We all introduced ourselves and spent a little time getting to know one another, and then we went ahead and repeated our opening prayers with Eric joining in. I gave a brief overview of the lineage, John read some of the instruction passages from Jetsunma's book Stabilizing the Mind and then we sat quietly together in meditation.

The trip to Phoenix from Sedona, for just one connection, was a resounding success in my mind. We will do more communication for the future events... but this is proof positive that it is time for our Phoenix contingent to expand!

See everyone next time (or the time after that, or perhaps the next time... come out, come out wherever you are!)

In peace,
Chris H.