Author: Luna Kadampa

Kadampa Buddhism started in India with Buddha Shakyamuni and Venerable Atisha and then spread to the roof of the world, snowy Tibet. Now it is here, in the rest of the world. A good friend wrote something to me recently that I find pretty significant, and I wonder if any of you have anything to add?: “A current and valid question in wider Buddhist circles is how these lineages (and the traditions that emerge from them) continue in this world when their identifiable lineage holders pass on (or resign due to transgressions, as has been evident in many of the…

There is nothing like sitting up a mountain in clear skies to help us remember the endless space of emptiness that pervades all things; but we can do it anywhere. Up this mountain I am cat-sitting for three cats, two of them old and doddery, who need to eat a teaspoon of food every half hour or so and meow surprisingly loudly to remind me. They also yowl in the middle of the night — what do they want? More food, maybe, comfort probably. They feel a bit lost, disoriented. You pick them up and they start purring. They are…

Happy New Year Everyone! Quick note: For any of you who may be seeing this blog for the first time, I occasionally write a reminder that it does not express the official views of the New Kadampa Tradition and never has. The articles share only my own experiences and understandings as a trainee. I am happy if this blog inspires you to seek out a Kadampa teacher and New Kadampa Tradition Center, if you are interested, or if it simply helps you a bit with your own spiritual path, whatever that may be 😍😇😊 I’m not actually up a mountain…

The moment I stepped foot in the stunning IKRC temple last June, pictured here, I felt very peaceful — the blessings palpable. As no one was around, I decided on impulse to do a thought experiment: could I make myself miserable and develop delusions while sitting in this Pure Land on earth? I gave it a good go – I tried to think of several depressing and annoying things — but my mind didn’t shift. Blessings have this power – it’s one reason why people have such a good time at the International Festivals. Mahamudra: the union of great bliss…

Modern Buddhism or Kadampa Buddhism is the presentation of Je Tsongkhapa’s Kadam Dharma for the people of the modern world. But what’s so different about the people of the modern world? On one level, not much, because living beings have always suffered from the same delusions. However, our karma and culture are different. We like things that are easy. We like things that are swift. We like things that will produce results with almost no effort. We like profundity that’s very simple for us to understand. I was thinking about how Kadampa teachers regularly give teachings on emptiness to…

Faith is what makes our intellectual knowledge of Buddhism come alive — it lets us put this knowledge into practice and get results. Faith is a naturally positive mind — with faith, we don’t need a good motivation, in itself it makes our mind peaceful, calm, and virtuous. And also with faith, we don’t need to wait – some inspiration comes immediately. Which brings me to who and what exactly do I develop faith in? I’m going to tell you what I do based on my experiences in this tradition, but please remember that this article and all the articles…

We can all have experiences that are transcendent, which, according to the dictionary, means “beyond ordinary or common experience”. I don’t mind admitting that I like science fiction, and over this Thanksgiving break, cat-sitting up a splendid mountain, I had some time to watch a series called The Wheel of Time. In it, perfectly ordinary people come to realize that they are in possession of the “one power”, with which they are able to overwhelm the enemy hordes they have been running away from for months. But whatever force they manifest by channeling the one power could never hold a…

Naimah Hassan lived an inspiring life and faced her final illness and death with strength. Amongst many things, she is a beautiful example of the power of Dharma and the significance of sharing it with others. I am very glad to have been her friend. I am going to share her life with you through the words of Steve and Kadam Holly, and with this last teaching that she gave from her nursing home bed. By Steve Epstein Every Tuesday night for many years Naimah Hassan taught a class she called “Reality Check” at Kadampa Meditation Center NYC. Naimah…

 A house mate was telling me today how concerned he is about his younger brother, aged 22 – why? Because he is suffering from anxiety, along with a surprising number of his friends. A couple of weeks ago a mother told me that her child is also suffering from chronic anxiety, aged 15, as are many of his schoolmates, even in their affluent area. And yesterday another mother shared that her young daughter was already experiencing anxiety and, again, she is not alone, her friends are too: “What is going on? They are only 8!” (This child at least…

The seventh way to foster resilience is to find a way to laugh at our own adversity. To see the absurdity and true nature of samsara and to take it less seriously or feel less threatened by it. “Samsara makes me laugh,” as Shariputra says. Carrying on from this article, Not an ordinary death. Use humor ““Humor can be very helpful during times of serious stress”, Charney said, pointing to research he and Southwick did with Vietnam prisoners of war.” I’ve spent a lot of time this past year or so with my parents, meeting numerous nurses, doctors, carers, and…