Joy: An Invitation to Lasting Happiness
Special Saka Dawa Teachings & Practices with Khandro Kunga Bum-ma
Shantideva Center is overjoyed to host Khandro-la (Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma) on the auspicious day of Saka Dawa, which commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. Khandro-la will offer teachings, Q&A, meditations, and a brief tsog on this day.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s recent passing has reminded us, we cannot rely on the outer world for stability and lasting happiness. All compounded phenomena are impermanent. Our physical body is getting older and will perish one day. Our teachers and friends will also pass away. The things that provide us some level of happiness on a daily basis, such as food and entertainment, can never satisfy us indefinitely. And even if we have some physical pleasure, we often suffer from depression, anxiety, jealousy and other painful states of mind.
Even though outer conditions cannot bring us the genuine happiness we seek, there exists great potential within us to find that lasting happiness. We just need to learn how to unlock it. If we investigate where happiness comes from, we will see that every experience is dependent on causes and conditions. Positive experiences come from positive causes and negative experiences come from negative causes. There is nothing existing that is not in the nature of dependent arising. We tend to create the causes of suffering out of habit, but it is definitely possible to create the causes of lasting happiness by developing our wisdom and compassion.
Recording of the Livestreams
Here is the playlist for Joy: An Invitation to Lasting Happiness – Khandro Kunga Bum-ma (2023)
Morning Session: Teachings and Q&A session.
Afternoon Session: Meditations on bodhicitta and impermanence. Puja with Tsog.
Additional Materials
If you are attending in-person and wish to follow the prayers, kindly download or print out the following texts and bring them with you to the Center:
About the Teacher
“People try spiritually to achieve realization. The true realization is to achieve a kind heart. Other than that, there is nothing really that is useful.” — Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma
Described as a living embodiment of the bodhisattva ideal, Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma is cherished for her humility, deep wisdom and compassion. While she was not educated within the traditional monastic system, she was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a realized practitioner and an oracle of the Tibetan people.
Khandro-la’s life story is not linear. It is filled with visions and prophecies that often extend beyond our understanding. As a young woman, she received a vision to leave her homeland of Tibet and head to Nepal. Upon arriving in Nepal, she met a man who told her that she must meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After great hardship, including extreme health challenges, she finally met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and began to serve in her current role as oracle and dharma teacher.
Khandro-la believes that the essence of life is to realize bodhicitta and emptiness. In turn, her sole focus is on helping beings achieve indestructible faith in these two. In the end, she says that If she cannot help people realize bodhicitta and emptiness, meeting with her is just a waste of time.
Click here for her autobiography in verse.
