Vince Lombardi, Eat Your Heart Out

Now this is a pep talk, for the only game really worth playing. My teacher, Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo, was so pleased by the event of sending the nine young Mongolian women for Buddhist study in India (see previous post), and felt moved to write the following, which she has allowed me to share with you:

To the Dear Respected Ladies,

I am so happy and pleased that you each have the opportunity to study the precious Dharma. And proudly joyful that you have the virtue and merit to wish to do so.

There is no life more noble than this. Everything we gain in a material way vanishes at the time of death, or before, as fortunes can and do wax and wane. But the extraordinary benefit of practicing Dharma will never lessen. At the time of death the habit of Dharma and gathered merit will ripen into an auspicious rebirth.

I hope you all study well and take the Dharma into your very hearts.

His Holiness Penor Rinpoche is a true living Buddha. You should place your confidence in Him, as he will guide you perfectly in your journey to enlightenment. We are so fortunate to have him!

I will pray every day for your success as you reach for the stars. I am so happy that the great nation of Mongolia moves 9 steps closer to the root of its blessings.

In the Dharma,
Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

We will translate this into Mongolian and send nine copies to them in India.

By the way, Ani Alana has created a new blog/site dedicated to documenting some of Jetsunma's unfolding story as the first Western woman to be enthroned as a tulku, or reincarnate lama, in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It's called An American Dakini Story. Check it out.

You can also watch lots of Jetsunma's teaching and other clips over at YouTube. Zendette requested me to link this ages ago, and I spaced.

As long as we're on the subject, I might as well give you a preview of Jetsunma's teachings going multi-lingual! Here is the cover of the very-soon-to-be-published Mongolian translation of Jetsunma's wonderful book on meditation, Stabilizing the Mind (the English-language version of which is available here, and tons of other downloadable/orderable goodies are here):