happy tibetan new year of the wood snake! i have been practicing meditation for over a year now through the simple yet powerful teachings of Dza Kilung Rinpoche. every week we listen to rinpoche relect from parts of his book The Relaxed Mind [which is highly recommended] to get a feel for what his trying to tell us then we quietly meditate + sit together. i have always wanted to learn more about this practice i find my recent connection with buddhism profoundly spiritual + personal. the start of my journey is acknowledging the four noble truths, which include compassion + lovingkindness in the forefront to all with no judgment or negativity.
i love Rinpoche’s new year message:
When you see the change of one digit different from the year before, that’s when you can say Happy New Year! But a new year is much more than changing the digit. It is a significant reminder for all of us that we have the potential to see change in the world and life differently and engage with new opportunities. To think of something new, to do something you haven’t done before, or to start something you've been meaning to start.
Day after day, month after month, and year after year, what are we really doing? How do we regard this change? Is it a matter of just changing the time and calendar?
Each of these changes and opportunities has the potential to inspire us to open our mind and live in the present, to look around and feel things, and experience them in a new way. Sometimes you may not really be sure where to start to make changes in your life.
I really do feel, when we are finally able to take the time to reflect inward + know we are stronger than we think. that change is good, change is personal + there is no end to compassion.
year of the wood snake = represents a year of harmony, love, and wisdom
to learn more about rinpoche’s practice click here