Luce Leonard

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The Dalai Lama and authentic spiritual masters. We are on the path to enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Photo: The Dalai Lama To my right is Yahne Le Toumelin, Matthieu Ricard’s mother.

UN has been willfully deaf, dumb and blind to the cries of the Tibetan people languishing under the brutal Chinese regime for so long. Yet a Tibetan hoping against hope ignited himself alive in front of this zombie building few weeks ago to stir the little left sanity and conscience of the member nations to realign and straighten their crooked moral compass for Tibet.
One must be very careful when seeking a Buddhist teacher. It is not the fact of sitting on a throne that makes a person capable of guiding disciples to enlightenment. There is a difference between a teacher who is capable of reincarnating from one life to the next and one who is completely incapable of doing so. The question is: “Do we want to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings?” If the answer is yes, we will seek out a teacher who possesses all the qualities of an enlightened being. Omniscience is one of them.
Once your own attitude toward others is more affectionate, more warm-hearted, more respectful and friendly — others' response is usually similar. So therefore, a friendly atmosphere must be created by ourselves. It is quite illogical to remain extremely self-centred and not care about others, and in the meantime expect a friendly atmosphere. Via Dalai Lama
𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Andy Burnham to congratulate him on his assumption of the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. “Today, the world is passing through a very difficult and uncertain time,” he wrote. “Historically, your country has played a leadership role in international affairs, and it is my hope that even as you work for the development of your own nation, you will also work closely with other countries to resolve the problems before us — both urgent and long-term — with a firm belief in the oneness of humanity and a shared desire for peace and happiness. “As you may be aware, we Tibetans have long enjoyed a historic and unique relationship with your country. During my several visits there, I have deeply appreciated the warmth extended to me by people from all walks of life, as well as their support for my efforts to promote human values, nonviolence, and interfaith harmony.” His Holiness concluded, “I wish you every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the British people, and in contributing to the creation of a more peaceful and compassionate world for us all.
Wildfires don't carry passports. When the United States faces catastrophic fires, Canada has repeatedly sent firefighters, aircraft, equipment, and crews to help protect American communities through decades of mutual aid agreements. When Canada burns, our firefighters battle impossible conditions, often risking their own lives for weeks at a time. That's why the recent rhetoric is so disappointing. Instead of asking, "How can we help?", Donald Trump chose blame. Instead of recognizing that wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense, they threatened tariffs and accused Canada of negligence while our firefighters were still on the front lines. Good neighbours don't weaponize disasters. They send water bombers. They send firefighters. They send support. Canada has always understood that when a forest burns, the flames don't stop at a border—and neither should compassion. Leadership isn't measured by how loudly you complain. It's measured by how quickly you show up when your neighbour needs you.
Freda Bedi (1911–1977) was an English-Indian social worker, writer, and Buddhist nun. An Oxford scholar, she defied racial and cultural norms by marrying a Sikh nationalist. After relocating to India, she fought for Indian independence—landing in jail for her activism—and later became the first Western woman ordained in Tibetan Buddhism.A timeline of her remarkable life highlights her diverse roles and achievements:1911: Born Freda Marie Houlston in Derby, England.Early 1930s: Attended Oxford University, where she won scholarships and met her future husband, Baba Pyare Lal Bedi, a direct descendant of the founder of Sikhism.1934: Relocated to India, fully embracing the country's culture and joining the struggle for independence from British rule. She was jailed for civil disobedience during World War II at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi.1947: Moved with her family to Kashmir, where she remained politically and socially active. The couple had four children, including the renowned Bollywood actor Kabir Bedi.1959: Following the Chinese annexation of Tibet, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Bedi to aid the tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees pouring into India.1960: Established the Young Lamas Home School to educate young Tibetan spiritual masters. This introduced her to high-ranking Tibetan lamas, including the 14th Dalai Lama.1966: Ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun (Gelongma Karma Kechog Palmo), becoming the first Western woman to receive the full Tibetan ordination.1977: Passed away after a lifetime dedicated to social service, Tibetan refugee welfare, and spreading Buddhism to the West.
Canada is on fire. Nearly 850 blazes. Thousands evacuated, whole First Nations communities pulled out with whatever fits in a ute. Toronto had the worst air on the planet Wednesday. Detroit took the title Thursday and Friday. So what did the President of the United States do for his closest ally and largest trading partner? Water bombers? No. Firefighters, like the two countries have swapped for 40 years? No. He sent an invoice. He's billing Canada for smoke. The same man who calls coal "clean and beautiful." The same man trying to run pipelines through his own national forests while lecturing Canada on "Forest Management." The same administration that just spent months quietly dismantling the government labs that research wildfire smoke. He is literally tariffing the sky. And the Supreme Court already took away the power he'd need to do it.
On 25 April 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima turned six years old. Barely a month later, he became the world’s youngest political prisoner. He has been missing for 27 years. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is the Panchen Lama, the second-highest authority in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. To many Tibetan people, he is a figure who commands deep respect and reverence. To the Chinese government, which has occupied Tibet since invading it in 1950, the young Panchen Lama was a potential threat to their rule.
Lamp offerings and a multitude of other offerings in abundance to celebrate the most sacred day of the Tibetan year: Chokhor Duchen. On the 4th day of the 6th month, the Buddha set the Wheel of Dharma in motion for the first time at Sarnath, near Varanasi. His first teaching was that of the Four Noble Truths: the first, the truth of suffering; the second, the origin of suffering; the third, the cessation of suffering; and the fourth, the path leading to the cessation—the “Noble Eightfold Path”—which leads beings to liberation from the cycle of rebirths. This sacred day also celebrates the birthday of our most Precious and Compassionate Guide and Teacher, Tsetrul Pema Wangyal Rinpoche. We all wish him a wonderful birthday, a very long life and excellent health, and the fulfillment of all his aspirations and enlightened activities 🙏🏻🙏🏻 🙏🏻With infinite gratitude to our Perfect Masters, their Precious Parents Kyabje Kangyour Rinpoche and Amala, and their precious family 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🎂🎊☸️
MANTRA OF THE TSE DO SUTRA The Sublime Discourse of the Greater Vehicle entitled b”Life and Pristine Awareness” We recite this prayer for the long life of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche Om namo bhagavate aparimita ayur gyana su-binish tsi-ta tedzo-radzaya tatha gataya arhaté samyak -sambuddhayate teyata om punye punye mahapunye aparimita punye aparimita punya gyana sambharo pat-si-te Om sarva sanskara parishuddha dharmate gagana samudgate sobhava-bishuddhe maha na ya pariware soha