Portugal, 09 Feb 2016 - 14 Feb 2016

Tulku Lobsang offers consultations both in his capacity as a doctor of Tibetan Medicine and as a spiritual advisor. Consultations generally begin with a pulse reading, whereby the state of the organs and blood and life fluids is assessed. In this way, the presence or early manifestation of disease can be sensed. Tulku Lobsang will offer advice on countering imbalance with diet, exercise, breath or meditation techniques. One may also come with specific questions of a psychological or spiritual nature.

To feel and experience love is the most important thing in our life. This is how we become happy. Without love and happiness we are imprisoned in our problems, in our selfishness and in our suffering. We find the purpose in life when we feel love for ourselves and give love to our fellow beings. When we are able to let our love flow freely, then we will receive love from our environment and, in this way, experience happiness.

In this teaching, Tulku Lobsang shares methods for creating more space for happiness in our daily life. Too often we simply do not make the decision to be happy and so, do not make time for it. Then, we cannot see that happiness is already there. If we learn to cultivate happiness, then no matter what else changes in life, happiness is abundant. Because happiness is there, we just need to open the door and welcome it.

By connecting with love and removing obstacles to our love, we can open the door to happiness in this very moment. When love flows freely through us and to those around us, we can cultivate happiness right now. Everything in life happens within the power of now. Why is the now so powerful?

Because now is the result of the past, and now is the cause of the future. Therefore, you can, and need, to change just one thing, the now. You just change one simple moment—now—and you change your entire life. You open the door and welcome happiness.

Gang Gyok is an ancient practice of Tibetan yogic running techniques. It is the practice of the “fast feet.” However, because of the deep interconnectedness of the body and mind, this practice, like all Tibetan Tantrayana practices, works with all dimensions of mind, breath and body to achieve its amazing results.

We are able to generate energy in the body through the power of the mind. This energy can then be used for speed and power in running. We will become faster and less easily tired through the Gang Gyok practice, but we will also develop mindfulness, our inner warmth and overall vibrant health.

To prepare oneself for the actual Gang Gyok technique, we first do preliminary practices. These preliminaries address three important aspects that have large effects on our energy—our food, our breath and our mental power.

Practicing compassion is the highest method for awakening our mind. Compassion means completely opening our minds and hearts to others. The insights found in The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation are powerful keys for our opening and awakening.

Self-grasping causes separation and suffering. When we think too much about the self, we do not have room for others. Self-grasping closes our hearts and puts our minds to sleep, which causes great suffering for ourselves and others. Self-grasping is the king of negative emotions and this king needs to be eliminated.

The best way to slay self-grasping is with compassion. Compassion is the highest method for awakening our minds. Generating compassion greatly benefits us, for this is what opens us. When we become completely open to all who are suffering, to all sentient beings, we begin to understand the deep interdependence that connects us all. Only through practicing compassion can we begin to realize the true nature of existence.

In this retreat, Tulku Lobsang will explore the practice of compassion using the book The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation. This small book contains massive insights into practical ways we can expand our compassion, open our hearts, and awaken our minds. Its eight verses guide us to train our minds to shift from self-grasping toward love and connection. Then we find that we no longer need to defend this concept of self. Instead, we perceive the other as the greatest gift on the path to our enlightenment.
All beings give us the opportunity to practice compassion, and therefore they are the greatest treasure on our path. We must deeply say “thank you” to all beings for the opportunity to practice compassion, open our hearts, and awaken to our true nature.