Living Moment to Moment with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Program Description

From the Buddhist perspective, understanding our mind is key to understanding life and death. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche explains the nature of mind and how to use this understanding to rid ourselves of needless suffering and fear. His is a very practical and useful approach to concepts that often become bogged down in esoteric practice and tradition. He says, “The original state of our mind and consciousness is totally free and full of compassion. It’s like someone sitting on a heap of garbage piled on top of some land under which there is a tremendous treasure.” He points out that we live in a paradox; we want to live long but we don’t want to grow old. His gentle teaching guides us to the insights that lead us to a full appreciation of the importance of remembering to live well in each moment. In this way we live well and can release the fear of death and growing old.

Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is a prolific teacher and author. His teachings have been widely published in popular Buddhist journals. He is the author of Wild Awakening (Shambhala 2003), Penetrating Wisdom (Snow Lion 2006), Mind Beyond Death (Snow Lion 2007, and Rebel Buddha (Shambhala 2010). To learn more about the work of Dzogchen Ponlop go to www.nalandawest.org

Topics Explored in this Dialogue:

• How living moment to moment is the key to a well lived life
• How the Buddhist and modern physic’s view of reality are the same
• What does Buddhism mean by emptiness
• What is the key to mindfulness practice.
• Why is seeking perfection an obstacle in our path

Program Number: 3208             Host: Michael Toms              Interview Date: 7/21/2007