Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
“
| — | Franz Kafka (via wantedart) |
Feeding Your Demons
~Tsultrim Allione
Interviewed on To The Best Of Our KnowledgeAt the age of 22 on the full moon of January 1970 in Bodhgaya, India, she was ordained as Karma Tsultrim Chodron by the 16th Karmapa Rigpai Dorje, with the four main reincarnate tulkus: H.E. Tai Situ, H.E. Jamgon Kongtul, H.E. Gyaltsap Rinpoche, and H.E. Sharmar Rinpoche as her witnesses. She was the first American ordained by H.H. Karmapa and he became her root Lama.
Most recently, Tsultrim has become inspired to collect the lineage of Machig Labdron, an 11th century yogini who started the Chod lineage in Tibet. As a long-time Chod practitioner, Tsultrim has studied the teachings of Machig Labdron for decades and has taught the practice all over the world. Chod teaches a method of facing directly our worst fears and offering that which we hold most dear, to that which we fear the most. We offer our body because it is that which is most dear to us, and invite that which frightens us most.
In conjunction with Tsultrim’s deep connection with Machig Labdron and her dedication to preserving these teachings, she led a pilgrimage to Nepal and Tibet in May 2007. The purpose of pilgrimage is to connect with sacred places and especially the places where teachers have practiced and lived. At the heart of the pilgrimage was a visit to Zangri Khangmar in Tibet, the place where Machig Labdron lived from the age of 37 to 99 and where she passed away. At this location, Tsultrim was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdron by the resident Lama, Karma Dorje Rinpoche, who is the 7th incarnation of the brother of the 8th Karmapa, Mikyo Dorje.
In regards to the recognition Tsultrim has recently said, “I think [the recognition] is to make this new phase of collecting Machig’s lineage more empowered. Recognition allows more energy to flow, and Machig’s blessings can manifest more fully. It’s a kind of mirroring from the outside validating our heartfelt intention to reinvigorate and spread Machig’s lineage in the West. It also felt very natural. We will keep doing what we have been doing already, but the recognition creates an auspicious interdependence for the teachings.”
Right now you have the opportunity
Look for the essence of mind— that is meaningful.
When you look at mind, there’s nothing to be seen.
In this very not seeing, you see the definitive meaning- Machig Labdron
When you cut everything away, what’s left?
