Test What I Said, verses How High should I Jump?

Lord Buddha said "Test everything I said for yourself, don't just accept it at face value, if it works for you, then use it."

Traditional Tibetan Buddhism teaches "if your lama says "jump!" you should only ask "how high?" as you leap.

Which is the path to truth?

One sounds real to me, the other sounds like a cult. We all have to ask questions of ourselves because we can not give up our spiritual sovereignty, not really.

Giving up spiritual sovereignty is an illusion. We come and go alone depending on the kindness of others always. Wanting things to be easy is the reason fundamentalism exists. It's easy. One knows who is responsible and what all the rules are, or at least who to ask.

Do whatever your lama says is Buddhist fundamentalism, it's old school but not necessarily good school. For those who have taken truly mistaken paths, and can not love nor listen to others, the path of placing the lama first is a good, tried and true path, such as for Milarapa...

But really we do know, we just have to be patient enough to inquire and wait for the answers to appear. A highly qualified guru makes the light and dark spots clearer, and the path quicker.

Any where there is enough great food, the leaders should eat last, not first, so as to make sure everyone is provided for.

Dedication of Merit Requested - Memorial Manja Services for Taktser Rinpoche

The Buddhist community is saddened at the loss of Taktser Rinpoche, who died recently. Taktser Rinpoche was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s elder brother and the husband of H.H. J.D. Sakya’s younger sister, Kuyang-la.

Sakya Monastery of Seattle invited the Tibetan community and Monastery friends and members to attend memorial manja services for Taktser Rinpoche on the following days:

Friday, October 3rd at 8:00PM
A manja will be sponsored by Tsegen-la (sister of H.H.J.D. Sakya)

Sunday, October 5th at 11:00AM after Chenrezi practice
A manja will be sponsored by Sakya Phuntsok Phodrang

Friday, October 24th at 8:00PM.
A manja will be sponsored by Tsegen-la, Chime Sakya Gyatso (sisters of H.H. J.D. Sakya), and her husband Mantho Gyatso.

For those not in the Seattle area, dedication of merit is requested on those days, Friday, October 3rd, 5th, and 24th, 2008 for the swift return of Taktser Rinpoche, and to increase the field of merit for all who live.