About Shang Rinpoche

Rinpoche’s spiritual pursuit began at a very young age and has spanned many years, in which he received lineages of all four major Vajrayana Buddhist schools—Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug—from numerous lineage holders and great yogis of our time in India, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Rinpoche has acquired all the necessary empowerments, transmissions, and teachings to become a fully qualified Vajrayana master. Furthermore, Rinpoche is a recognized tulku (reincarnate lama), authenticated by eminent lineage holders and distinguished masters of our time.
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2014年2月26日 星期三

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude


As soon as you open your eyes in the morning, the most important thing is to consider all the good things, people, speech, actions, opportunities, weather and surroundings that you’ll encounter that day. In short, first give praise to all people, tasks, places and things. This is the proper attitude for a good beginning that each day deserves. The extent to which an individual can be enthusiastic, optimistic and forward-thinking determines the power they have over their life. The attitude of successful people is necessarily dynamic, optimistic and confident. In particular, their proactive attitude becomes a captivating charm. When your positive energy comes through your smile and body language, making the other person feel they are important, you've already half won them over. Before you criticize someone you dislike, you need to first learn to compliment them, because this allows you to transform yourself. The best way of introducing yourself is with a smile; it serves as your business card. So please remember that before you leave the house each morning, even more important than arranging your clothes is to practice your smile.

Also remember that people who are able to achieve great things all share one characteristic: they don’t put much energy or thought into trivial matters. Remind yourself often that whenever you encounter any adversity, tell yourself: “Let it be!” and immediately shift your thinking pattern and logic. Confront and transform these challenges. Treat them just like we would treat coming into contact with the sunlight and air everyday: we never try to shy from them whenever there are mere changes in the temperature.

At the start of each day, when you’re ready to walk out the door, you need to say to yourself: “Today, no matter whether I meet with people or situations I don’t like, such as people who have hurt me, annoyed me, betrayed me, intentionally deceived me or something that most scares me, worries me, something I most want to avoid, I will embrace it all with open arms and an open mind, accept it all, forgive those who have harmed me and through the best means possible complete this task together.”


The formula for success in life lies in being able to accept any and all failures and challenges. Please don’t go around painstakingly pleasing others; instead, genuinely show kindness in liking and complimenting people. Also, don’t waste your time trying to imitate others; instead, quickly find your own style that suits you and allows you to be independent. You need to give yourself some time and space each day to be with yourself, observe yourself clearly and then let yourself go. Adjust your breathing, allow yourself a fresh start, and don’t overlook the positive power Right Thought will have in your life.

Laozi is considered a great philosopher for his profound insight that the “self” is the biggest downfall of humanity. If people can just let go of their identity, forget about their ego, and in the midst of a life full of chaos, naturally and genuinely attain a mind unmoved by either honor or disgrace, fearing neither gains nor losses, this defines a person of high capacity. Such a highly capable person’s approach to dealing with worldly affairs is unbiased and unselfish, with a noble bearing.

From  Shang Longrik Gyatso

2014年2月25日 星期二

The Acme of Perfection


If people don’t violate the logic of: “The guilty are always punished and the kind-hearted are always rewarded under the law of Heaven;” if we can abide calmly, at ease in the way of Nature; if we aren’t subjected to rules, yet uphold a moral standard; if we can calmly, lightly and unhurriedly deal with and face all matters large and insignificant, this kind of person’s conduct in the world has already reached perfection. Someone who is impervious to external and internal disturbances is unequaled and peerless. They are at home both in the arts and in showing kindness to others. Thus the saying “the benevolent have no enemies” points out that the most powerful force on Earth is compassion. The power of compassion can transform even the darkest corners of the world. The Buddha dedicated himself to being reborn life after life and reincarnated in a multitude of environments and surroundings. He only had one goal: to use his own light and warmth to disperse darkness and defeat adversity. The greatest force behind compassion, therefore, originates from being without any demands [for oneself] and yet genuinely helping others.

In this world, the height of Perfection, Truth and Beauty can be seen in compassion. The greatest strength of humankind is our ability to attune ourselves to the laws of nature while remaining unrestricted. Laozi talked about the Three Greats: the Dao, Heaven and Earth. Laws of nature are the truth realized by sages, and yet, only humanity can be both at one with the natural world, as well as surpass it. When the idea of “nature” is also thrown out, that is true transcendence of Nature. Although great heroes can capture the world; though those with a sharp tongue and quick mind can manipulate everything according to their desires; though society’s distinguished figures can gain recognition; though people who can see through mundane affairs can float carelessly on the tides of the world; for of all these, once the arrow of destiny finds them, they have no choice but to accept the play of impermanence. Before Alexander the Great left this world, he placed his hands and feet on the outside of his coffin and said to his subjects: “Even though I am great and mighty, I am certain to return to dust.”

The most important phrase in the Heart Sutra says: “There is no ignorance and no end of ignorance.” The key rests in ignorance, but ultimately it is about transcending ignorance. People anxiously run around chasing after fame and fortune or setting out on long and arduous journeys in search of the truth, even to the point of exhausting all their wisdom to arrive at truth, righteousness, and beauty. In the end, all we are seeking is peace of mind. Yet is it not more important to be able to let go even of the mind? 

This is from Shang Longrik Gyatso, would like to share with you.

2014年2月11日 星期二

Awareness and Thoughts


A student asked, “What is true awareness?” I replied, “When you are going to the bathroom, and you know you need to go; when having a meal and you know that you are eating; when driving and you are clear about when to go and stop; when you are angry and know immediately what has triggered you; when you are happy, you are very clear about why you are happy; when lose something or someone that you love, you know precisely why the loss is causing such pain; when others praise you, you are equally clear about why you are so excited.” In truth, we naturally reflect and meditate except we do not understand the link between awareness and the mind. Modern people should not limit awareness to the meditation cushion, or counting breaths while bringing the focus to the tip of the nose; these are only short intervals of awareness.

Every moment brings different external conditions into the river of life. Perhaps you are not a good scavenger fish but, at the very least, you should be clear about what these new conditions are. When you look above, sometimes you will see azure blue sky, sometimes it will be overcast, sometimes there are white clouds of different shapes, sometimes millions of stars glistening in the clear night sky. If we use the sky above as a metaphor for our mind, you should be able to see clearly but most people are limited by what they can see, unable to fathom the expanse of the sky. It is the same with people’s mind. For instance, we go through daily life presuming a fair understanding of the familiar people, places, situations, etc. However, we find it hard to swallow sudden changes or new situation arising e.g. loss of loved one, bad news, job loss, and mishaps on the road. Even though life goes on and time has not stopped, people have a hard time accepting sudden changes that occur without warning. In moments like these, most people lose their grip on awareness and become lost in confusion. This is, in fact, a failing of the conscious mind.

Bewilderment stems from four kinds of fault: not knowing where our mind is; not understanding our mind; not recognizing the mind’s coming, staying, and going; and lastly, not being able to settle the mind in every single moment. As mentioned in the Sutras, anyone who can resolve these four shortcomings of the mind is already on the road to liberation. Habits are the basis of mankind’s ignorance: people are inclined to think for self-benefits; people habitually head towards safety; people also often revert to their preferred modes of interactions with others. Very rarely do people reflect and inspect their mind, “Why did I do this in this way? While I am doing this? Where is this moment?” This is also an error of the mind. Similarly, people are not inclined to repeat the same tasks; people are not used to being constantly criticized or poor; people find it hard to live without romantic love; people are unaccustomed to having all their possessions suddenly vanish; people are also unaccustomed to having their beliefs and expectations clash. But people are definitely inclined to repeatedly rationalize their errors. Just as Shakyamuni Buddha alluded in a metaphor in the Sutras, this is the same mindset as those who have received the death sentence or criminals convicted repeatedly of the same crime.

Simply put, life hinges on the breath. By extension, awareness training can start with the breath and gradually we will be able to know where the mind is, its colour, size, shape, pliancy, and even the plethora of conscious thoughts therein. So, inspect and take good care of your breath. Paying attention to your breathing is of utmost importance. Let us not forget that our mind is not just hanging at the tip of our nose but it is also in our every breath.

From Shang Longrik Gyatso, would like to offer this piece of advice to fellow practitioners and students.

2014年2月8日 星期六

Generosity, a kiss to another with your true heart

Generosity, a kiss to another with your true heart

In the time of Jesus Christ, anyone who contracted leprosy would be segregated from the crowds. Unintimidated by the prospect of his holy body’s contamination by the disease, Jesus took the initiative to approach these people. In the same manner, Buddha Sakyamuni did not hesitate [in one of his previous incarnations] to sacrifice his own body to feed a starving, dying tiger. All religions are full of deeply moving stories about this kind of Bodhisattva activity.

Buddha once explained a few key points on the practice of alms giving (generosity) to Sumati, a young girl. They included ridding oneself of an irreverent attitude, giving with a joyful mind, and not expecting anything in return. In fact, the Buddha also pointed out that no deed of alms giving is more wondrous and noble than the giving of alms which surpasses the Four Notions (from the Diamond Sutra, the Four Notions are: the notion of self, of people, of sentient beings and of lifespan).

In the past, while tolling the bell, a novice monk showed tremendous respect and focus by visualizing the Buddha with every strike, while totally free of any distracting thoughts. Inspired by this monk’s actions, three zen practitioners simultaneously attained enlightenment during their daily meditation practice. The life of Kandata - a murderer, arsonist, and master thief with numerous robberies to his credit - was the definition of evil. However, he once inadvertently spared the life of a spider. Due to that moment of pure benevolence and generosity, though he descended into hell at the time of death, the spider manifested as a steel cord which dropped down into hell to save him. No matter the outcome of this story, it shows that through a single act of generosity, one is provided with a lifeline to survival. The wife of the ancient Indian King Prasenajit unflinchingly broke her Buddhist vows in order to protect the life of a cook. It was her compassionate mind that eventually saved his life. This is truly a demonstration of a mahayana bodhisattva’s noble conduct.

On the seemingly endless path of spiritual practice, the suffering of beings provides us with ample opportunity to practice the giving of alms. We should face these situations with an open and selfless mind, just like Sumati who, being only eight years of age, was even paid homage by the Teacher of Seven Buddhas and Bodhisattva of Supreme Wisdom, Manjushri. The ultimate act of alms giving is free from the Four Notions, lays aside all thought of personal status, and is rid of recognition and differentiation (elaborated as the Threefold Object-Domains). Only then is it a true, unbiased and supremely great act.

These are some thoughts from , Shang Longrik Gyatso Rinpoche.



Melbourne Dharma Talks Proudly Presents: An Afternoon with Shang Longrik Gyatso Rinpoche.

This talk will cover the most fundamental of life’s issues: finding happiness and mental well-being.
We all want to escape being negatively influenced by events outside of us and beyond our control. Rinpoche will give tips on how to live in the world without being influenced by it, how to turn inward, tame our own minds and hurdle the mental stumbling blocks that keep us from being who we know we can be.
Rinpoche, a lineage holder in many great Buddhist schools, speaks from a lifetime of accumulated traditional wisdom and practice.  The talk will conclude with a period of Q&A.