A Lama Marut Video Podcast http://lamamarut.org All authentic spiritual traditions teach us the true means to achieve real and lasting happiness - the development of compassion, kindness, love, wisdom, gratitude, forgiveness, trust, and so on. In these always relevant and sometimes humorous video podcasts, Lama Marut speaks specifically from the Buddhist tradition but also calls upon his knowledge of comparative religions on how to integrate into one's daily life the principles which will bring us the genuine happiness we all seek. Feeder 1.5.10(880) http://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en Lama Sumati Marut podcast@aci-la.org cindy@aci-la.org Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:45:16 -0700 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:45:16 -0700 http://aci-la.org/VIDCAST/LM_vidcast1144.jpg A Lama Marut Video Podcast http://lamamarut.org 144 144 In these always relevant and sometimes humorous video podcasts, Lama Marut speaks specifically from the Buddhist tradition but also calls upon his knowledge of comparative religions on how to integrate into one's daily life the principles which will bring us the genuine happiness we all seek. Lama Sumati Marut All authentic spiritual traditions teach us the true means to achieve real and lasting happiness - Lama Marut speaks specifically from the Buddhist tradition on how to integrate into one's life the principles which will bring us the happiness we all seek. All authentic spiritual traditions teach us the true means to achieve real and lasting happiness -- the development of compassion, kindness, love, wisdom, gratitude, forgiveness, trust, and so on. In these always relevant and sometimes humorous video podcasts, Lama Marut speaks specifically from the Buddhist tradition but also calls upon his knowledge of comparative religions on how to integrate into one's daily life the principles which will bring us the genuine happiness we all seek. For Lama Marut’s audio podcast please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org Spirituality, Happiness, Buddhism, Meditation, Lama Marut, Monk, Peace clean Lama Marut's Podcasts podcast@aci-la.org no Learning to be a Spiritual Warrior http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut here discusses several of the qualities of a spiritual warrior – learning to live an ethical life so as to change your conception of the kind of person you are, and developing patience in the face of provocation.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:45:12 -0700 learning-to-be-a-spiritual-warrior-1 Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut here discusses several of the qualities of a spiritual warrior – learning to live an ethical life so as to change your conception of the kind of person you are, and developing patience in the face of provocation. This videocast is taken from a Lama Marut here discusses several of the qualities of a spiritual warrior – learning to live an ethical life so as to change your conception of the kind of person you are, and developing patience in the face of provocation. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Meditation and Wisdom http://lamamarut.org Learning how to meditate and developing wisdom about how the world is really working are, according to the Buddhist texts, altruistic and compassionate activities. If you want to change the world you have to understand that the only way to do it is to change yourself into a more selfless person.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:34:51 -0700 meditation-and-wisdom Lama Sumati Marut Learning how to meditate and developing wisdom about how the world is really working are, according to the Buddhist texts, altruistic and compassionate activities. If you want to change the world you have to understand that the only way to do it is to Learning how to meditate and developing wisdom about how the world is really working are, according to the Buddhist texts, altruistic and compassionate activities. If you want to change the world you have to understand that the only way to do it is to change yourself into a more selfless person. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Relax into the Insecurity http://lamamarut.org Real renunciation means giving up suffering and its causes. We can start by not continually putting our eggs in the wrong baskets and, realizing there is no certainty in secular things, relaxing about change itself.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 31 May 2009 23:36:19 -0700 relax-into-the-insecurity Lama Sumati Marut Real renunciation means giving up suffering and its causes. We can start by not continually putting our eggs in the wrong baskets and, realizing there is no certainty in secular things, relaxing about change itself. Real renunciation means giving up suffering and its causes. We can start by not continually putting our eggs in the wrong baskets and, realizing there is no certainty in secular things, relaxing about change itself. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Wake Up and Turn it Off http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut here urges us to stop being diverted (through watching television, for example, over four hours a day on average) and remember our real purpose and mission.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 26 May 2009 13:45:37 -0700 wake-up-and-turn-it-off Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut here urges us to stop being diverted (through watching television, for example, over four hours a day on average) and remember our real purpose and mission. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockp Lama Marut here urges us to stop being diverted (through watching television, for example, over four hours a day on average) and remember our real purpose and mission. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no What Goes Around, Comes Around http://lamamarut.org Why do things happen the way they do to us? Lama Marut here goes through specific correlations between karmic cause and effect and the general principles behind them, and then urges us to learn to take responsibility for everything that occurs in our lives.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 18 May 2009 08:36:14 -0700 what-goes-around-comes-around Lama Sumati Marut Why do things happen the way they do to us? Lama Marut here goes through specific correlations between karmic cause and effect and the general principles behind them, and then urges us to learn to take responsibility for everything that occurs in our liv Why do things happen the way they do to us? Lama Marut here goes through specific correlations between karmic cause and effect and the general principles behind them, and then urges us to learn to take responsibility for everything that occurs in our lives. This videocast is taken from a teaching given The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Chain of Pain http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut reviews the cause and effect “chain of pain.” It starts with the ignorant seeds we carry into this life from previous lives which then ripen and forces us to think of things ignorantly and react to them ignorantly – which causes us to create the causes for more suffering. We break the cycle through cultivating wisdom about where likeable and dislikeable things in our lives really come from.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 11 May 2009 23:31:21 -0700 the-chain-of-pain Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut reviews the cause and effect “chain of pain.” It starts with the ignorant seeds we carry into this life from previous lives which then ripen and forces us to think of things ignorantly and react to them ignorantly – which causes us to create Lama Marut reviews the cause and effect “chain of pain.” It starts with the ignorant seeds we carry into this life from previous lives which then ripen and forces us to think of things ignorantly and react to them ignorantly – which causes us to create the causes for more suffering. We break the cycle through cultivating wisdom about where likeable and dislikeable things in our lives really come from. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Learn to Float http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut here advises us to “relax into the insecurity” of life. Everything is changing and impermanent, and a little bit of wisdom about this goes a long way in aid of a happier life.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 03 May 2009 19:56:03 -0700 learn-to-float Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut here advises us to “relax into the insecurity” of life. Everything is changing and impermanent, and a little bit of wisdom about this goes a long way in aid of a happier life. Lama Marut here advises us to “relax into the insecurity” of life. Everything is changing and impermanent, and a little bit of wisdom about this goes a long way in aid of a happier life. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Working Hard for True Happiness http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut here advises us to work at least as hard for our spiritual goals as we do for our professional advancement, money, or relationships. He reviews the three obstacles that stand in our way: laziness, attraction to bad things, and low self-esteem.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Los Angeles in November of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:10:04 -0700 working-hard-for-true-happiness Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut here advises us to work at least as hard for our spiritual goals as we do for our professional advancement, money, or relationships. He reviews the three obstacles that stand in our way: laziness, attraction to bad things, and low self-esteem Lama Marut here advises us to work at least as hard for our spiritual goals as we do for our professional advancement, money, or relationships. He reviews the three obstacles that stand in our way: laziness, attraction to bad things, and low self-esteem. This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Los Angeles in November of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Karmic Correlations http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut here reviews the various kinds of karmic consequences of our actions, providing specific correlations between causes and effects.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:16:09 -0700 karmic-correlations Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut here reviews the various kinds of karmic consequences of our actions, providing specific correlations between causes and effects. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007. Lama Marut here reviews the various kinds of karmic consequences of our actions, providing specific correlations between causes and effects. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at The Waldorf School, Los Angeles, in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no CD’s and the 1st Arya Truth http://lamamarut.org The Buddha’s very first teaching is that life is suffering. When we are in the midst of a disaster, we know this. But it’s in between disasters that we have to remember that every good thing we obtain – ranging from our new CD or pair of shoes to our youth and health and every relationship -- we will lose. Truth happiness has to be found within, not in the ever-changing things outside of ourselves.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:08:16 -0700 cds-and-the-1st-arya-truth Lama Sumati Marut The Buddha’s very first teaching is that life is suffering. When we are in the midst of a disaster, we know this. But it’s in between disasters that we have to remember that every good thing we obtain – ranging from our new CD or pair of shoes to our The Buddha’s very first teaching is that life is suffering. When we are in the midst of a disaster, we know this. But it’s in between disasters that we have to remember that every good thing we obtain – ranging from our new CD or pair of shoes to our youth and health and every relationship -- we will lose. Truth happiness has to be found within, not in the ever-changing things outside of ourselves. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Truth is Paradoxical http://lamamarut.org A religious practitioner must have a high degree of tolerance for cognitive dissonance, for the truth often seems to us (ignorant ones) as paradoxical.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Los Angeles, in November 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:17:59 -0700 the-truth-is-paradoxical Lama Sumati Marut A religious practitioner must have a high degree of tolerance for cognitive dissonance, for the truth often seems to us (ignorant ones) as paradoxical. This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Los Angeles, in November 2007. A religious practitioner must have a high degree of tolerance for cognitive dissonance, for the truth often seems to us (ignorant ones) as paradoxical. This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Los Angeles, in November 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Working Hard (Happily) for Your Spiritual Goals http://lamamarut.org One of the biggest obstacles to a spiritual life is laziness. Lama Marut here relays advice on how to overcome the inertia that keeps us from working hard, and with “joyful effort,” for our spiritual goals.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles, December of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:21:40 -0700 working-hard-happily-for-your-spiritual-goals Lama Sumati Marut One of the biggest obstacles to a spiritual life is laziness. Lama Marut here relays advice on how to overcome the inertia that keeps us from working hard, and with “joyful effort,” for our spiritual goals. One of the biggest obstacles to a spiritual life is laziness. Lama Marut here relays advice on how to overcome the inertia that keeps us from working hard, and with “joyful effort,” for our spiritual goals. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles, December of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Eliminating An Irritating Person http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut reviews the three steps of breaking the cycle of responding with irritation to an irritating person.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:49:00 -0700 eliminating-an-irritating-person-1 Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut reviews the three steps of breaking the cycle of responding with irritation to an irritating person. This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org Lama Marut reviews the three steps of breaking the cycle of responding with irritation to an irritating person. This videocast is taken from a teaching given in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no A Daily Practice http://lamamarut.org What are the components of a good daily practice? Lama Marut reviews the basics, including meditation every morning, checking your morality all day long, doing something for others, and daily study of a sacred text.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:14:57 -0700 a-daily-practice Lama Sumati Marut What are the components of a good daily practice? Lama Marut reviews the basics, including meditation every morning, checking your morality all day long, doing something for others, and daily study of a sacred text. What are the components of a good daily practice? Lama Marut reviews the basics, including meditation every morning, checking your morality all day long, doing something for others, and daily study of a sacred text. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Re-Identity Yourself http://lamamarut.org A very important spiritual practice is to simply re-identify ourselves – as a kind, compassionate, happy person instead of a suffering schmuck. Additionally, when we encounter others we have a choice between two unconfirmable assumptions. The other person can be interpreted as ordinary or an extraordinary being trying to help you. Since we can’t confirm either choice, which one would be more useful?

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:04:50 -0700 reidentity-yourself Lama Sumati Marut A very important spiritual practice is to simply re-identify ourselves – as a kind, compassionate, happy person instead of a suffering schmuck. Additionally, when we encounter others we have a choice between two unconfirmable assumptions. A very important spiritual practice is to simply re-identify ourselves – as a kind, compassionate, happy person instead of a suffering schmuck. Additionally, when we encounter others we have a choice between two unconfirmable assumptions. The other person can be interpreted as ordinary or an extraordinary being trying to help you. Since we can’t confirm either choice, which one would be more useful? This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Three Problems of the Starbuck Cup http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut talks about how to be a good student by avoiding three typical problems: thinking you have nothing to learn, improper motivation, and having the teaching go in one ear and out the other.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:34:50 -0800 three-problems-of-the-starbuck-cup Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut talks about how to be a good student by avoiding three typical problems: thinking you have nothing to learn, improper motivation, and having the teaching go in one ear and out the other. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at Lama Marut talks about how to be a good student by avoiding three typical problems: thinking you have nothing to learn, improper motivation, and having the teaching go in one ear and out the other. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Practicing for Showtime http://lamamarut.org All our life is practice for death. At death we will lose everything, so practicing for it is a matter of detaching from the things and people we can’t keep.

This videocast is taken from from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:20:55 -0800 practicing-for-showtime Lama Sumati Marut All our life is practice for death. At death we will lose everything, so practicing for it is a matter of detaching from the things and people we can’t keep. This videocast is taken from from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts. All our life is practice for death. At death we will lose everything, so practicing for it is a matter of detaching from the things and people we can’t keep. This videocast is taken from from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Learning to Be a Spiritual Warrior http://lamamarut.org Stop playing footsies with samsara! Practice the bodhisattva’s way of life instead. Be a “saint in training” and train yourself in the perfection of giving -- especially in the form of the gift of love, protection from fear, and the gift of the dharma – and learn to live rationally instead of instinctually

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:23:44 -0800 learning-to-be-a-spiritual-warrior Lama Sumati Marut Stop playing footsies with samsara! Practice the bodhisattva’s way of life instead. Be a “saint in training” and train yourself in the perfection of giving -- especially in the form of the gift of love, protection from fear, and the gift of the dharma. Stop playing footsies with samsara! Practice the bodhisattva’s way of life instead. Be a “saint in training” and train yourself in the perfection of giving -- especially in the form of the gift of love, protection from fear, and the gift of the dharma – and learn to live rationally instead of instinctually This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center in Los Angeles in December of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Creator Gods in the Making http://lamamarut.org Because all things, without exception, are empty of self-nature, the world around us exists only as a projection. In this videocast, Lama Marut proves that things can’t exist “out there” at all. Because things are coming from us and not at us, we must be very careful about our karma, for it is karma that forces us to project the world we do.

This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:59:15 -0800 creator-gods-in-the-making Lama Sumati Marut Because all things, without exception, are empty of self-nature, the world around us exists only as a projection. In this videocast, Lama Marut proves that things can’t exist “out there” at all. Because all things, without exception, are empty of self. Because all things, without exception, are empty of self-nature, the world around us exists only as a projection. In this videocast, Lama Marut proves that things can’t exist “out there” at all. Because things are coming from us and not at us, we must be very careful about our karma, for it is karma that forces us to project the world we do. This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Happiness is Freedom http://lamamarut.org We are enchained by our things, our possessions, our plans. Freedom comes from living happily in the present and letting go of the attachments that are causing us to suffer – especially our present sense of who we think we are.

This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:05:39 -0800 happiness-is-freedom Lama Sumati Marut We are enchained by our things, our possessions, our plans. Freedom comes from living happily in the present and letting go of the attachments that are causing us to suffer – especially our present sense of who we think we are. We are enchained by our things, our possessions, our plans. Freedom comes from living happily in the present and letting go of the attachments that are causing us to suffer – especially our present sense of who we think we are. This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Slouching Towards Happiness http://lamamarut.org When religions talk about the need for "renunciation," what's meant is
renouncing pain and suffering. Religion should be fun, and should lead to the "funnest." Lama Marut here argues that good spiritual practitioners "slouching toward happiness." And higher levels of happiness require lower ones, beginning with contentment.

This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:51:38 -0800 slouching-towards-happiness Lama Sumati Marut When religions talk about the need for "renunciation," what's meant is renouncing pain and suffering. Religion should be fun, and should lead to the "funnest." Lama Marut here argues that good spiritual practitioners "slouching toward happiness." When religions talk about the need for "renunciation," what's meant is renouncing pain and suffering. Religion should be fun, and should lead to the "funnest." Lama Marut here argues that good spiritual practitioners "slouching toward happiness." And higher levels of happiness require lower ones, beginning with contentment. This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Filtering the World Through Our Subjective Apparatus http://lamamarut.org The appearance of things as if they existed apart from our perception of them is an illusion. Wisdom begins with honesty. We must admit that we are not and cannot be objective. Everything is filtered through our subjective perceptual apparatus, which in turn functions as it does because of our karma. By learning to treat others better, we change ourselves and therefore the world (as it exists for us) will also change.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center, Los Angeles, in December of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:13:26 -0800 filtering-the-world-through-our-subjective-apparat Lama Sumati Marut The appearance of things as if they existed apart from our perception of them is an illusion. Wisdom begins with honesty. We must admit that we are not and cannot be objective. Everything is filtered through our subjective perceptual apparatus, which The appearance of things as if they existed apart from our perception of them is an illusion. Wisdom begins with honesty. We must admit that we are not and cannot be objective. Everything is filtered through our subjective perceptual apparatus, which in turn functions as it does because of our karma. By learning to treat others better, we change ourselves and therefore the world (as it exists for us) will also change. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Mahasukha Center, Los Angeles, in December of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Abortion, Euthanasia, and the Impossibility of Living Without Killing http://lamamarut.org While the Buddhist text state that both abortion and euthanasia involve negative karma, the intention is critical. If one truly believes that a foetus is not a living being, for example, the karma of abortion is less serious than otherwise. Lama Marut here addresses some of the more difficult moral dilemmas of the modern age.

This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:54:22 -0800 abortion-euthanasia-and-the-impossibility-of-liv Lama Sumati Marut While the Buddhist text state that both abortion and euthanasia involve negative karma, the intention is critical. If one truly believes that a foetus is not a living being, for example, the karma of abortion is less serious than otherwise. While the Buddhist text state that both abortion and euthanasia involve negative karma, the intention is critical. If one truly believes that a foetus is not a living being, for example, the karma of abortion is less serious than otherwise. Lama Marut here addresses some of the more difficult moral dilemmas of the modern age. This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Specialists in Happiness http://lamamarut.org The authentic, time-tested spiritual traditions are the only real specialists in happiness. If you’re not getting happier practicing your spiritual life, you’re not doing it right.

This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:01:34 -0800 the-specialists-in-happiness Lama Sumati Marut The authentic, time-tested spiritual traditions are the only real specialists in happiness. If you’re not getting happier practicing your spiritual life, you’re not doing it right. The authentic, time-tested spiritual traditions are the only real specialists in happiness. If you’re not getting happier practicing your spiritual life, you’re not doing it right. This videocast is taken from the annual Windhover retreat in Rockport, Massachusetts, in August of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Road to Bliss http://lamamarut.org Consumer capitalism will not bring the happiness we are seeking in it. It is only the spiritual traditions that are teaching the true road to bliss: learning to live a life of compassion and altruism toward others. But in order to get to the goal, we must travel to the path step by step.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2008 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:07:59 -0800 the-road-to-bliss Lama Sumati Marut Consumer capitalism will not bring the happiness we are seeking in it. It is only the spiritual traditions that are teaching the true road to bliss: learning to live a life of compassion and altruism toward others. But in order to get to the goal Consumer capitalism will not bring the happiness we are seeking in it. It is only the spiritual traditions that are teaching the true road to bliss: learning to live a life of compassion and altruism toward others. But in order to get to the goal, we must travel to the path step by step. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2008 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Be Happy, Be Grateful http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut advises us here to cultivate gratitude in order to live a happier life. If we just pay attention a bit, we’ll see how much others are doing for us all the time. And feeling grateful is a very potent method for combating low self-esteem.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:32:27 -0800 be-happy-be-grateful Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut advises us here to cultivate gratitude in order to live a happier life. If we just pay attention a bit, we’ll see how much others are doing for us all the time. And feeling grateful is a very potent method for combating low self-esteem. Lama Marut advises us here to cultivate gratitude in order to live a happier life. If we just pay attention a bit, we’ll see how much others are doing for us all the time. And feeling grateful is a very potent method for combating low self-esteem. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Eliminating an Irritating Person http://lamamarut.org We can get rid of the irritating people in our lives. In this videocast, Lama Marut goes through the three steps for doing so: run away, just take it without retaliation, and finally, feel nothing but love and feel compassion for the (formally) irritating person.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:20:24 -0800 eliminating-an-irritating-person Lama Sumati Marut We can get rid of the irritating people in our lives. In this videocast, Lama Marut goes through the three steps for doing so: run away, just take it without retaliation, and finally, feel nothing but love and feel compassion for the (formally) irritat We can get rid of the irritating people in our lives. In this videocast, Lama Marut goes through the three steps for doing so: run away, just take it without retaliation, and finally, feel nothing but love and feel compassion for the (formally) irritating person. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Your Real Enemies http://lamamarut.org Your real enemies are not external. They are the “mental afflictions,” and disturbing your peace of mind is their very nature. In this videocast Lama Marut talks about the top three mental afflictions – ignorance, ignorant liking, and ignorant disliking.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2008 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:24:52 -0700 your-real-enemies Lama Sumati Marut Your real enemies are not external. They are the “mental afflictions,” and disturbing your peace of mind is their very nature. In this videocast Lama Marut talks about the top three mental afflictions – ignorance, ignorant liking, and ignorant dislikin Your real enemies are not external. They are the “mental afflictions,” and disturbing your peace of mind is their very nature. In this videocast Lama Marut talks about the top three mental afflictions – ignorance, ignorant liking, and ignorant disliking. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2008 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no “The Big ‘False Causality’” http://lamamarut.org While we embrace causality as the explanation for why things happen, the causality we believe in is false. The principal way we mistake false causality for the true causes of things is thinking that the way we achieve our own happiness is worrying about ourselves instead of turning attention to the needs of others.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2007 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:47:51 -0700 the-big-false-causality Lama Sumati Marut While we embrace causality as the explanation for why things happen, the causality we believe in is false. The principal way we mistake false causality for the true causes of things is thinking that the way we achieve our own happiness is worrying abou While we embrace causality as the explanation for why things happen, the causality we believe in is false. The principal way we mistake false causality for the true causes of things is thinking that the way we achieve our own happiness is worrying about ourselves instead of turning attention to the needs of others. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Rockport, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2007 as part of an annual retreat at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Things Exist Only When They Are Known http://lamamarut.org The great Buddhist philosophy Arya Nagarjuna proved that things aren’t “out there” waiting to be discovered. Things exist when they are known – and not until. And, conversely, we don’t exist until and unless we interact with the world. Subjects and objects exist only interdependently, which is one thing that’s meant by saying that things are “empty.”

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:27:25 -0700 things-exist-only-when-they-are-known Lama Sumati Marut The great Buddhist philosophy Arya Nagarjuna proved that things aren’t “out there” waiting to be discovered. Things exist when they are known – and not until. And, conversely, we don’t exist until and unless we interact with the world. Subjects and obj The great Buddhist philosophy Arya Nagarjuna proved that things aren’t “out there” waiting to be discovered. Things exist when they are known – and not until. And, conversely, we don’t exist until and unless we interact with the world. Subjects and objects exist only interdependently, which is one thing that’s meant by saying that things are “empty.”This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Emptiness of the Cup, Part Two http://lamamarut.org Objects in the world have to be projections of wholes on the basis of parts. But that process of projection can’t exist the way it seems to either – we would never finish projecting even one cup. Projections themselves are projections! Wisdom starts with the sense that “something’s fishy here,” for ignorance depends on a false sense of certainty that things exist the way they seem.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:33:31 -0400 the-emptiness-of-the-cup-part-two Lama Sumati Marut Objects in the world have to be projections of wholes on the basis of parts. But that process of projection can’t exist the way it seems to either – we would never finish projecting even one cup. Projections themselves are projections! Wisdom starts Objects in the world have to be projections of wholes on the basis of parts. But that process of projection can’t exist the way it seems to either – we would never finish projecting even one cup. Projections themselves are projections! Wisdom starts with the sense that “something’s fishy here,” for ignorance depends on a false sense of certainty that things exist the way they seem. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Emptiness of the Cup, Part One http://lamamarut.org The world can be divided into subjects, objects, and the relationship between them. None of them has any self-existence; they are all empty. If objects like a cup existed the way they seemed to, they would be “out there,” on their own, with some kind of self-nature. If the cups existed like this, it would have to be singular or plural, one or many. If it were one thing, how could we see parts in the cup? And if it were many things, how could it be one cup? The cup actually can’t be “out there” at all!

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:04:26 -0700 the-emptiness-of-the-cup-part-one Lama Sumati Marut The world can be divided into subjects, objects, and the relationship between them. None of them has any self-existence; they are all empty. If objects like a cup existed the way they seemed to, they would be “out there,” on their own, with some kind of The world can be divided into subjects, objects, and the relationship between them. None of them has any self-existence; they are all empty. If objects like a cup existed the way they seemed to, they would be “out there,” on their own, with some kind of self-nature. If the cups existed like this, it would have to be singular or plural, one or many. If it were one thing, how could we see parts in the cup? And if it were many things, how could it be one cup? The cup actually can’t be “out there” at all!This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Overcoming the Blockage of Pride http://lamamarut.org One of the most powerful motivations to overcome our pride and take ourselves to a spiritual teacher is when we have a personal disaster, when it becomes clear that life is indeed suffering and that we actually need help. There is no refuge or protection from the realities of life other than a spiritual life, and this usually becomes clear only when the rug is pulled out from underneath us.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:50:22 -0700 overcoming-the-blockage-of-pride Lama Sumati Marut One of the most powerful motivations to overcome our pride and take ourselves to a spiritual teacher is when we have a personal disaster, when it becomes clear that life is indeed suffering and that we actually need help. There is no refuge or protection One of the most powerful motivations to overcome our pride and take ourselves to a spiritual teacher is when we have a personal disaster, when it becomes clear that life is indeed suffering and that we actually need help. There is no refuge or protection from the realities of life other than a spiritual life, and this usually becomes clear only when the rug is pulled out from underneath us.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Waking Up To Reality http://lamamarut.org Most modern people aren’t actually interested in what is real; we’re too busy with our entertainment and games. We’re addicted to our own unhappiness and ignorance and resist the very things that would overthrow them. To counter these tendencies we must train our minds and use our reasoning. If we do so, we will realize that everything is changeable and real happiness is potentially in our grasp.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:45:55 -0700 waking-up-to-reality Lama Marut Most modern people aren’t actually interested in what is real; we’re too busy with our entertainment and games. We’re addicted to our own unhappiness and ignorance and resist the very things that would overthrow them. To counter these tendencies we must Most modern people aren’t actually interested in what is real; we’re too busy with our entertainment and games. We’re addicted to our own unhappiness and ignorance and resist the very things that would overthrow them. To counter these tendencies we must train our minds and use our reasoning. If we do so, we will realize that everything is changeable and real happiness is potentially in our grasp. This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Recognizing Suffering in Order to Be Happy http://lamamarut.org Our experience of the world is only an interpretation, but why do I interpret the world the way I do? Interpretations are forced upon us by karma, by how we’ve treated others in the past, and because we have been selfish instead of compassionate we continue to suffer. Recognizing the suffering in our own lives is the precondition for compassion for others, but generally we are ignoring the truth of suffering and therefore can’t even begin a serious quest for the alternative.

This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:16:35 -0700 recognizing-suffering-in-order-to-be-happy Lama Sumati Marut Our experience of the world is only an interpretation, but why do I interpret the world the way I do? Interpretations are forced upon us by karma, by how we’ve treated others in the past, and because we have been selfish instead of compassionate we conti Our experience of the world is only an interpretation, but why do I interpret the world the way I do? Interpretations are forced upon us by karma, by how we’ve treated others in the past, and because we have been selfish instead of compassionate we continue to suffer. Recognizing the suffering in our own lives is the precondition for compassion for others, but generally we are ignoring the truth of suffering and therefore can’t even begin a serious quest for the alternative.This videocast is taken from classes taught in Los Angeles in the spring of 2008.Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Is There Anything Good About Suffering? http://lamamarut.org Are there any advantages to suffering? All experiences – bad and good – that have happened to us in the past were necessary to makes us the people we are now. We can begin to have a healthier attitude toward past and present suffering by cultivating acceptance, patience, and compassion for others.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, Los Angeles, in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:02:34 -0700 is-there-anything-good-about-suffering Lama Sumati Marut Are there any advantages to suffering? All experiences – bad and good – that have happened to us in the past were necessary to makes us the people we are now. We can begin to have a healthier attitude toward past and present suffering by cultivating acc Are there any advantages to suffering? All experiences – bad and good – that have happened to us in the past were necessary to makes us the people we are now. We can begin to have a healthier attitude toward past and present suffering by cultivating acceptance, patience, and compassion for others. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, Los Angeles, in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Resuscitating the God We Have Killed http://lamamarut.org We are living in a radically secular time and place, where nothing is special. Within a world where nothing is sacred, we must rediscover the possibility of the miraculous, especially in the form of our teachers. But we can only see what we have the goodness to see. A spiritual practice includes creating the karma that allows us to see that the sacred is potentially all around us all the time.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

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]]> Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:50:34 -0700 resuscitating-the-god-we-have-killed Lama Sumati Marut We are living in a radically secular time and place, where nothing is special. Within a world where nothing is sacred, we must rediscover the possibility of the miraculous, especially in the form of our teachers. But we can only see what we have the good We are living in a radically secular time and place, where nothing is special. Within a world where nothing is sacred, we must rediscover the possibility of the miraculous, especially in the form of our teachers. But we can only see what we have the goodness to see. A spiritual practice includes creating the karma that allows us to see that the sacred is potentially all around us all the time.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008.Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 7:37 Pride in Intelligence http://lamamarut.org While our intellect is a great gift, we must be careful to avoid pride in our intelligence which, like our money or good looks, we will inevitably lose sooner or later. Pride blocks us from learning in general, and in our spiritual life it is one of the worst of the mental afflictions and prevents us from making any progress.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:40:26 -0700 pride-in-intelligence Lama Sumati Marut While our intellect is a great gift, we must be careful to avoid pride in our intelligence which, like our money or good looks, we will inevitably lose sooner or later. Pride blocks us from learning in general, and in our spiritual life it is one of the While our intellect is a great gift, we must be careful to avoid pride in our intelligence which, like our money or good looks, we will inevitably lose sooner or later. Pride blocks us from learning in general, and in our spiritual life it is one of the worst of the mental afflictions and prevents us from making any progress. This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the spring of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 8:54 Freedom from Karma http://lamamarut.org Can we ever be freed from karma? In Eastern texts, “freedom” often means freedom from the illusion of a concrete entity we call “ourselves.” Karma is stored in our present conceptualisation of ourselves. If we could learn how to change our understanding of ourselves, we could completely change our whole karmic record. But we have to create the karma to have the possibility to totally recreate our karma!

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:24:26 -0700 freedom-from-karma Lama Sumati Marut Can we ever be freed from karma? In Eastern texts, “freedom” often means freedom from the illusion of a concrete entity we call “ourselves.” Karma is stored in our present conceptualisation of ourselves. If we could learn how to change our understandin Can we ever be freed from karma? In Eastern texts, “freedom” often means freedom from the illusion of a concrete entity we call “ourselves.” Karma is stored in our present conceptualisation of ourselves. If we could learn how to change our understanding of ourselves, we could completely change our whole karmic record. But we have to create the karma to have the possibility to totally recreate our karma!This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 8:40 Disturbing Your Worldview http://lamamarut.org Does cigarette smoking cause lung cancer? Does exercise bring health and longevity? Does medicine cure disease? In this videocast, Lama Marut points out that a cause is something that brings about its effect all the time, for everyone. The real causes of things are karmic – how we have treated others in the past.

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in August, 2007.

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To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:33:50 -0700 disturbing-your-worldview Lama Sumati Marut Does cigarette smoking cause lung cancer? Does exercise bring health and longevity? Does medicine cure disease? In this videocast, Lama Marut points out that a cause is something that brings about its effect all the time, for everyone. The real cause Does cigarette smoking cause lung cancer? Does exercise bring health and longevity? Does medicine cure disease? In this videocast, Lama Marut points out that a cause is something that brings about its effect all the time, for everyone. The real causes of things are karmic – how we have treated others in the past.This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in August, 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no What if God was One of Us http://lamamarut.org There are enlightened beings all around us, trying to help us. But the way they help us is to teach us how to help ourselves. And so one of the most obvious manifestations of the divine in our lives is in the form of our teachers who are doing the work of the Buddhas. The enlightened ones can also come as our husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, or our children. Do we really know who the people close to us really are?

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachussets, in January, 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:33:36 -0700 what-if-god-was-one-of-us Lama Sumati Marut There are enlightened beings all around us, trying to help us. But the way they help us is to teach us how to help ourselves. And so one of the most obvious manifestations of the divine in our lives is in the form of our teachers who are doing the work There are enlightened beings all around us, trying to help us. But the way they help us is to teach us how to help ourselves. And so one of the most obvious manifestations of the divine in our lives is in the form of our teachers who are doing the work of the Buddhas. The enlightened ones can also come as our husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, or our children. Do we really know who the people close to us really are?This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachussets, in January, 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Committing Karmic Suicide http://lamamarut.org When we don’t have enough karma to get what we want without depriving others, we should commit “karmic suicide.” Instead of pushing the karmic envelope, let it ride; let others go first or have what you wanted. Sacrificing what you want creates the karma to have an abundance of it in the future.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:30:34 -0700 committing-karmic-suicide Lama Sumati Marut When we don’t have enough karma to get what we want without depriving others, we should commit “karmic suicide.” Instead of pushing the karmic envelope, let it ride; let others go first or have what you wanted. Sacrificing what you want creates the karm When we don’t have enough karma to get what we want without depriving others, we should commit “karmic suicide.” Instead of pushing the karmic envelope, let it ride; let others go first or have what you wanted. Sacrificing what you want creates the karma to have an abundance of it in the future.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 4:30 Being in the World But Not of It http://lamamarut.org The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to act properly in a messy, imperfect world. First and foremost, we must understand the real principles of causality – which is one element of what the Gita calls “karma yoga.” Everything is in the nexus of causality and change. There are no “things” in the world. Everything is just movement or process; everything is coming from karma.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:33:23 -0700 being-in-the-world-but-not-of-it Lama Sumati Marut The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to act properly in a messy, imperfect world. First and foremost, we must understand the real principles of causality – which is one element of what the Gita calls “karma yoga.” Everything is in the nexus of causality and The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to act properly in a messy, imperfect world. First and foremost, we must understand the real principles of causality – which is one element of what the Gita calls “karma yoga.” Everything is in the nexus of causality and change. There are no “things” in the world. Everything is just movement or process; everything is coming from karma.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 9:12 Selfless Action http://lamamarut.org Karma yoga in the Bhagavad Gita means, among other things, “selfless action” – learning how to act in the world without creating negative karmic consequences or repercussions. How do we do this? Primarily through selfless action – compassion action in the service of others. Taking the self-interest out of action defuses negative karmic fruits.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 25 May 2008 22:59:10 -0700 selfless-action Lama Sumati Marut Karma yoga in the Bhagavad Gita means, among other things, “selfless action” – learning how to act in the world without creating negative karmic consequences or repercussions. How do we do this? Primarily through selfless action – compassion action in t Karma yoga in the Bhagavad Gita means, among other things, “selfless action” – learning how to act in the world without creating negative karmic consequences or repercussions. How do we do this? Primarily through selfless action – compassion action in the service of others. Taking the self-interest out of action defuses negative karmic fruits.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 9:11 Enlightened Self-Interest http://lamamarut.org Doing something for others – preferably anonymously – everyday is one of the secrets of happiness. Helping others is actually the best thing we can do for ourselves. Altruistic behavioir is the cause of our own happiness and is therefore in our “enlightened” self-interest.

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 17 May 2008 23:09:32 -0700 enlightened-selfinterest Lama Sumati Marut Doing something for others – preferably anonymously – everyday is one of the secrets of happiness. Helping others is actually the best thing we can do for ourselves. Altruistic behavioir is the cause of our own happiness and is therefore in our “enlight Doing something for others – preferably anonymously – everyday is one of the secrets of happiness. Helping others is actually the best thing we can do for ourselves. Altruistic behavioir is the cause of our own happiness and is therefore in our “enlightened” self-interest. This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Smackdown With Anger http://lamamarut.org It is possible to eradicate anger entirely. But it’s not easy. We need to have a “smackdown with anger” to overcome it. Lama Marut here tells us how to do this in three steps: 1) at first, you’ll need to just “run away,” that is, get yourself out of the situation if you can’t restrain yourself from retaliating; 2) when you get stronger and are ready, when the provocation starts you just take it without responding to anger with anger; 3) after practicing for a long time, instead of getting angry when someone is angry with you, you love them and feel compassion towards them.

This videocast is taken from a public talk given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

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For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 10 May 2008 22:20:19 -0700 smackdown-with-anger Lama Sumati Marut It is possible to eradicate anger entirely. But it’s not easy. We need to have a “smackdown with anger” to overcome it. Lama Marut here tells us how to do this in three steps: 1) at first, you’ll need to just “run away,” that is, get yourself out of th It is possible to eradicate anger entirely. But it’s not easy. We need to have a “smackdown with anger” to overcome it. Lama Marut here tells us how to do this in three steps: 1) at first, you’ll need to just “run away,” that is, get yourself out of the situation if you can’t restrain yourself from retaliating; 2) when you get stronger and are ready, when the provocation starts you just take it without responding to anger with anger; 3) after practicing for a long time, instead of getting angry when someone is angry with you, you love them and feel compassion towards them. This videocast is taken from a public talk given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no The Ten Commandments of Karma Yoga http://lamamarut.org At the very foundation of what the Bhagavad Gita calls “karma yoga” is understanding the grossest level of karmic management: don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc. We must become masters of morality; we can’t practice more advanced forms of a spiritual life until we are firmly grounded in the basics. We must “yogify our karma”: restrain ourselves from hurting other beings and cleanse the bad karma we have already committed.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sun, 04 May 2008 16:30:37 -0700 the-ten-commandments-of-karma-yoga Lama Sumati Marut At the very foundation of what the Bhagavad Gita calls “karma yoga” is understanding the grossest level of karmic management: don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc. We must become masters of morality; we can’t practice more advanced forms o At the very foundation of what the Bhagavad Gita calls “karma yoga” is understanding the grossest level of karmic management: don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc. We must become masters of morality; we can’t practice more advanced forms of a spiritual life until we are firmly grounded in the basics. We must “yogify our karma”: restrain ourselves from hurting other beings and cleanse the bad karma we have already committed.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 12:49 Our Infinite Potential http://lamamarut.org Because things are “empty” of self-nature, both the perception of ourselves and that of the world around us are infinitely perfectible. Our sense of ourselves (that little inner voice we are forced to listen to) and of the world around us are both filtered through our subjectivity. What’s crucial is to learn what causes us to interpret our reality the way we do so that we can change it for the better.

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:33:18 -0700 our-infinite-potential Lama Sumati Marut Because things are “empty” of self-nature, both the perception of ourselves and that of the world around us are infinitely perfectible. Our sense of ourselves (that little inner voice we are forced to listen to) and of the world around us are both filter Because things are “empty” of self-nature, both the perception of ourselves and that of the world around us are infinitely perfectible. Our sense of ourselves (that little inner voice we are forced to listen to) and of the world around us are both filtered through our subjectivity. What’s crucial is to learn what causes us to interpret our reality the way we do so that we can change it for the better.This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Finding Your Teacher http://lamamarut.org What qualities should you look for in a spiritual teacher? Lama Marut reviews the list: You should have a strong attraction to them and they should be happy (since that’s what you want them to teach you!). They should be ethical, good at meditation, and intellectually know the nature of reality. Their spiritual qualities should exceed yours, they should be happily working hard to teach you, and they should know the spiritual texts that they are teaching. They should have a deep realization of ultimate reality, be a master instructor, teach because they love you, and not get discouraged and give up on you.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:13:13 -0700 finding-your-teacher Lama Sumati Marut What qualities should you look for in a spiritual teacher? Lama Marut reviews the list: You should have a strong attraction to them and they should be happy (since that’s what you want them to teach you!). They should be ethical, good at meditation, an What qualities should you look for in a spiritual teacher? Lama Marut reviews the list: You should have a strong attraction to them and they should be happy (since that’s what you want them to teach you!). They should be ethical, good at meditation, and intellectually know the nature of reality. Their spiritual qualities should exceed yours, they should be happily working hard to teach you, and they should know the spiritual texts that they are teaching. They should have a deep realization of ultimate reality, be a master instructor, teach because they love you, and not get discouraged and give up on you.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 11:01 What Forgiving Is and Isn’t http://lamamarut.org We cannot be happy while carrying grudges and resentments about what others have done to us in the past. We must forgive them – unilaterally and pre-emptively. In order to do this, we have to understand what forgiveness is and isn’t. It isn’t just forgetting, it isn’t about whether the offender deserves it or has apologized, it isn’t an act of weakness or capitulation, and it isn’t for their sake. Forgiveness is for us; it is in our own self-interest, for without it we’ll never be happy.

This videocast is taken from a public talk given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:56:41 -0700 what-forgiving-is-and-isnt Lama Sumati Marut We cannot be happy while carrying grudges and resentments about what others have done to us in the past. We must forgive them – unilaterally and pre-emptively. In order to do this, we have to understand what forgiveness is and isn’t. It isn’t just forg We cannot be happy while carrying grudges and resentments about what others have done to us in the past. We must forgive them – unilaterally and pre-emptively. In order to do this, we have to understand what forgiveness is and isn’t. It isn’t just forgetting, it isn’t about whether the offender deserves it or has apologized, it isn’t an act of weakness or capitulation, and it isn’t for their sake. Forgiveness is for us; it is in our own self-interest, for without it we’ll never be happy. This videocast is taken from a public talk given at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Reaching Ecstasy http://lamamarut.org Many people in the Western world seem to have forgotten that true goal of every spiritual tradition is the highest happiness – bliss or ecstasy. Every authentic spiritual path leads to this goal, and on the way to that goal the practitioner should be getting happier and happier. Non-spiritual paths like consumer capitalism do not bring happiness, and the proof of that is that we all got everything the materialistic worldview promised. Instead of happiness, our prosperity just brought more depression.

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:53:55 -0700 reaching-ecstasy Lama Sumati Marut Many people in the Western world seem to have forgotten that true goal of every spiritual tradition is the highest happiness – bliss or ecstasy. Every authentic spiritual path leads to this goal, and on the way to that goal the practitioner should be get Many people in the Western world seem to have forgotten that true goal of every spiritual tradition is the highest happiness – bliss or ecstasy. Every authentic spiritual path leads to this goal, and on the way to that goal the practitioner should be getting happier and happier. Non-spiritual paths like consumer capitalism do not bring happiness, and the proof of that is that we all got everything the materialistic worldview promised. Instead of happiness, our prosperity just brought more depression.This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 11:06 Is It a Pen or a Chew Toy? http://lamamarut.org Reality can be divided into how things appear and how things really are. Things exist “deceptively” in that they appear differently from how they really are. It seems that things are “out there,” independently and objectively. But actually they are “empty.” Things do exist, but only as projections coming from us due to how we’ve treated others in the past. Humans see a cylinder as pen while a dog might see it as a chew toy due to different karma. Because things are ultimately empty of self-nature, everything is perfectible.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:51:17 -0700 is-it-a-pen-or-a-chew-toy Lama Sumati Marut Reality can be divided into how things appear and how things really are. Things exist “deceptively” in that they appear differently from how they really are. It seems that things are “out there,” independently and objectively. But actually they are “em Reality can be divided into how things appear and how things really are. Things exist “deceptively” in that they appear differently from how they really are. It seems that things are “out there,” independently and objectively. But actually they are “empty.” Things do exist, but only as projections coming from us due to how we’ve treated others in the past. Humans see a cylinder as pen while a dog might see it as a chew toy due to different karma. Because things are ultimately empty of self-nature, everything is perfectible.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 10:20 What is the Real ‘Secret’? http://lamamarut.org The real secret to obtaining true happiness is not just wanting it. We have to create the causes for it. Being happy is not a trivial goal. It is the precondition to being able to be compassionate toward others. And the only way to be happy is to worry about someone else’s happiness, and not obsess all the time about our own selfish desires.

This videocast is taken from a public talk at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:26:06 +1100 what-is-the-real-secret Lama Sumati Marut The real secret to obtaining true happiness is not just wanting it. We have to create the causes for it. Being happy is not a trivial goal. It is the precondition to being able to be compassionate toward others. And the only way to be happy is to worr The real secret to obtaining true happiness is not just wanting it. We have to create the causes for it. Being happy is not a trivial goal. It is the precondition to being able to be compassionate toward others. And the only way to be happy is to worry about someone else’s happiness, and not obsess all the time about our own selfish desires.This videocast is taken from a public talk at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no Taking Advantage of Your Miraculous Life http://lamamarut.org We are living miraculous lives, but what are we doing with them? We are mostly taking them for granted instead of taking full advantage of our amazing opportunity. We have are living the lives that millions of traditional practitioners have prayed for, and should not just sleep walk through it.

This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:24:06 +1100 taking-advantage-of-your-miraculous-life Lama Sumati Marut We are living miraculous lives, but what are we doing with them? We are mostly taking them for granted instead of taking full advantage of our amazing opportunity. We have are living the lives that millions of traditional practitioners have prayed for We are living miraculous lives, but what are we doing with them? We are mostly taking them for granted instead of taking full advantage of our amazing opportunity. We have are living the lives that millions of traditional practitioners have prayed for, and should not just sleep walk through it.This videocast is taken from a series of teachings given at Rockport, Massachusetts, in January, 2007. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 11:51 The Religious Teacher, Part 2 http://lamamarut.org Can we prove that our spiritual teacher or guru is an Enlightened Being? Do we really know for sure, somehow, that our teacher is not a Buddha? Our preconceptions about what an Enlightened Being should look like prevent us from seeing our teacher for who he or she really is. The process of “guru yoga” is learning to be the teacher. If you see the teacher as perfect, you will become that.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008.

Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org

To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: : http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org

For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org

]]> Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:09:42 -0700 the-religious-teacher-part-2 Lama Sumati Marut Can we prove that our spiritual teacher or guru is an Enlightened Being? Do we really know for sure, somehow, that our teacher is not a Buddha? Our preconceptions about what an Enlightened Being should look like prevent us from seeing our teacher for wh Can we prove that our spiritual teacher or guru is an Enlightened Being? Do we really know for sure, somehow, that our teacher is not a Buddha? Our preconceptions about what an Enlightened Being should look like prevent us from seeing our teacher for who he or she really is. The process of “guru yoga” is learning to be the teacher. If you see the teacher as perfect, you will become that. This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008. Write to us at: podcast@aci-la.org To subscribe to Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: : http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html Visit Lama Marut's Blog at: http://www.lamamarut.org For complete audio teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org no 7:13 True Happiness and the Fact of Suffering http://lamamarut.org The spiritual path is meant to lead to “freedom,” liberation from suffering and unhappiness. But until we are enlightened, we don’t really know what true happiness would feel like. We are entrenched in suffering, no matter how materially comfortable our lives are. Recognizing our own unhappiness is a necessary precondition for starting on the path. We have to first get serious about the fact of suffering if we are going to be liberated from it.

This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:09:24 -0700 true-happiness-and-the-fact-of-suffering Lama Sumati Marut The spiritual path is meant to lead to “freedom,” liberation from suffering and unhappiness. But until we are enlightened, we don’t really know what true happiness would feel like. We are entrenched in suffering, no matter how materially comfortable ou The spiritual path is meant to lead to “freedom,” liberation from suffering and unhappiness. But until we are enlightened, we don’t really know what true happiness would feel like. We are entrenched in suffering, no matter how materially comfortable our lives are. Recognizing our own unhappiness is a necessary precondition for starting on the path. We have to first get serious about the fact of suffering if we are going to be liberated from it.This videocast is taken from a course taught for Diamond Mountain University in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no Why Consumer Capitalism Won’t Make You Happy http://lamamarut.org The purpose of a spiritual path is to lead the practitioner to happiness. The authentic and time-tested traditions work – they deliver the goods. But the false religion of consumer capitalism cannot bring the happiness we seek in it, and we are living proof of that. We got everything the ideology promised and were not made happy as a result.

This videocast is taken from a public talk at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:48:36 -0700 why-consumer-capitalism-wont-make-you-happy Lama Sumati Marut The purpose of a spiritual path is to lead the practitioner to happiness. The authentic and time-tested traditions work – they deliver the goods. But the false religion of consumer capitalism cannot bring the happiness we seek in it, and we are living p The purpose of a spiritual path is to lead the practitioner to happiness. The authentic and time-tested traditions work – they deliver the goods. But the false religion of consumer capitalism cannot bring the happiness we seek in it, and we are living proof of that. We got everything the ideology promised and were not made happy as a result.This videocast is taken from a public talk at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles in December of 2007.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no The Religious Teacher, Part 1 http://lamamarut.org God can be understood to be a transcendent figure, outside of us, or as very close, right here in our lives. In the Bhagavad Gita, God is presented as Krishna, the guru and close friend of His devotee, Arjuna. We too can have an intimate relationship with the divine in the form of our religious teacher, but we must first must recognize the guru as our personal portal to the sacred and surrender ourselves to Him or Her.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:36:17 -0700 the-religious-teacher-part-1 Lama Sumati Marut God can be understood to be a transcendent figure, outside of us, or as very close, right here in our lives. In the Bhagavad Gita, God is presented as Krishna, the guru and close friend of His devotee, Arjuna. We too can have an intimate relationship wi God can be understood to be a transcendent figure, outside of us, or as very close, right here in our lives. In the Bhagavad Gita, God is presented as Krishna, the guru and close friend of His devotee, Arjuna. We too can have an intimate relationship with the divine in the form of our religious teacher, but we must first must recognize the guru as our personal portal to the sacred and surrender ourselves to Him or Her.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the winter of 2008.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no 8:35 The Laws of Karma, Part 2 http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut discusses the three worldviews we use to explain how and why things happen to us in life. #1. Things happen for no reason. #2. God is micromanaging the Universe. Or #3. Everything is in the web of causality. We conveniently mix and match these worldviews to explain our circumstances, but a true believer of worldview #3 takes responsibility for everything that is happening in their world.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:23:44 -0700 the-laws-of-karma-part-2 Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut discusses the three worldviews we use to explain how and why things happen to us in life. #1. Things happen for no reason. #2. God is micromanaging the Universe. Or #3. Everything is in the web of causality. We conveniently mix and match thes Lama Marut discusses the three worldviews we use to explain how and why things happen to us in life. #1. Things happen for no reason. #2. God is micromanaging the Universe. Or #3. Everything is in the web of causality. We conveniently mix and match these worldviews to explain our circumstances, but a true believer of worldview #3 takes responsibility for everything that is happening in their world.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no 11:56 The Laws of Karma, Part 1 http://lamamarut.org The Bhagavad Gita states, “No action in this world goes for naught, or brings about a contrary result.” Actions of selflessness and altruism toward others can bring nothing other than goodness to you, and actions of selfishness and harm to others can bring nothing other than harm. Although these laws do not always seem evident, if we fail to assume the basic principles of karma our whole moral code begins to crumble.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:37:18 -0700 the-laws-of-karma-part-1 Lama Sumati Marut The Bhagavad Gita states, “No action in this world goes for naught, or brings about a contrary result.” Actions of selflessness and altruism toward others can bring nothing other than goodness to you, and actions of selfishness and harm to others can brin The Bhagavad Gita states, “No action in this world goes for naught, or brings about a contrary result.” Actions of selflessness and altruism toward others can bring nothing other than goodness to you, and actions of selfishness and harm to others can bring nothing other than harm. Although these laws do not always seem evident, if we fail to assume the basic principles of karma our whole moral code begins to crumble.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no 9:53 Obstacles to Working Hard for Happiness, Part 2 http://lamamarut.org Lama Marut continues the delineation of the main obstacles to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness. “Attraction to things that are bad” or bad habits means, among other things, watching TV instead of spending time more profitably. And feeling discouraged, low self-esteem, or depression – which has increased in proportion to our own affluence and is due to thinking about ourselves all the time – is another major obstacle to our spiritual progress.

This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:31:17 -0700 obstacles-to-working-hard-for-happiness-part-2 Lama Sumati Marut Lama Marut continues the delineation of the main obstacles to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness. “Attraction to things that are bad” or bad habits means, among other things, watching TV instead of spending time more profitably. And Lama Marut continues the delineation of the main obstacles to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness. “Attraction to things that are bad” or bad habits means, among other things, watching TV instead of spending time more profitably. And feeling discouraged, low self-esteem, or depression – which has increased in proportion to our own affluence and is due to thinking about ourselves all the time – is another major obstacle to our spiritual progress.This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007. For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no 9:32 The Gita’s Three Yogas and Buddhism http://lamamarut.org The Bhagavad Gita is linked to the early texts of the Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions by its emphasis on the three “yogas” of devotion, compassionate action, wisdom, and devotion or bhakti. In Buddhism, the pan-Indian devotional movement found expression not only in the notion also found in Hinduism that the divine is imminent, familiar, and appears all around us, but also in the figure of the bodhisattva whose compassion for other beings is so overwhelming that he or she would do practically anything to get enlightened in order to help them. “Karma yoga” in the Gita means selfless action, action done without regard to “what’s in it for me,” reverberating with the Buddhist emphasis on compassion and loving-kindness. And the “yoga of wisdom” teaches us that there is a reality beyond that of mere appearances, a concept found in many, if not all, of the world’s religions.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:
http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:
http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:48:45 -0800 the-gitas-three-yogas-and-buddhism Lama Sumati Marut The Bhagavad Gita is linked to the early texts of the Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions by its emphasis on the three “yogas” of devotion, compassionate action, wisdom, and devotion or bhakti. In Buddhism, the pan-Indian devotional movement found express The Bhagavad Gita is linked to the early texts of the Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions by its emphasis on the three “yogas” of devotion, compassionate action, wisdom, and devotion or bhakti. In Buddhism, the pan-Indian devotional movement found expression not only in the notion also found in Hinduism that the divine is imminent, familiar, and appears all around us, but also in the figure of the bodhisattva whose compassion for other beings is so overwhelming that he or she would do practically anything to get enlightened in order to help them. “Karma yoga” in the Gita means selfless action, action done without regard to “what’s in it for me,” reverberating with the Buddhist emphasis on compassion and loving-kindness. And the “yoga of wisdom” teaches us that there is a reality beyond that of mere appearances, a concept found in many, if not all, of the world’s religions.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to: http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html. For other teachings, please go to: http://www.aci-la.org and http://www.lamamarut.org no 11:33 The Three Spiritual Practices http://lamamarut.org In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the classic texts in the history of religions, Lord Krishna teaches us three different but interrelated spiritual practices: the discipline of one’s actions (karma yoga), of wisdom (jnyana yoga), and of devotion (bhakti yoga). In this brief introduction to the text, Lama Marut reviews what each of these “yogas” entail and how we can begin to develop them in our own lives.

This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:10:43 -0800 the-three-spiritual-practices Lama Sumati Marut In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the classic texts in the history of religions, Lord Krishna teaches us three different but interrelated spiritual practices: the discipline of one’s actions (karma yoga), of wisdom (jnyana yoga), and of devotion (bhakti yoga) In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the classic texts in the history of religions, Lord Krishna teaches us three different but interrelated spiritual practices: the discipline of one’s actions (karma yoga), of wisdom (jnyana yoga), and of devotion (bhakti yoga). In this brief introduction to the text, Lama Marut reviews what each of these “yogas” entail and how we can begin to develop them in our own lives.This videocast is taken from a Diamond Mountain University course on the Bhagavad Gita taught in Tucson, Arizona, in the fall of 2007. For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org no 11:36 Obstacles to Working Hard for Happiness http://lamamarut.org Why aren’t we doing the things in life we know are the most important? What’s preventing us from developing the “joyful effort” we need to progress in our spiritual lives? The main obstacle to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness is laziness. Laziness can mean “just not feeling like it” – always procrastinating and putting off what we know we should do. But laziness can also involve keeping so busy with unimportant things that we don’t have the time and energy to dedicate to our spiritual lives. We must learn to “get unbusy” with things that don’t really matter in order to joyfully work hard for the things that do.

This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:04:19 -0800 obstacles-to-working-hard-for-happiness Lama Sumati Marut Why aren’t we doing the things in life we know are the most important? What’s preventing us from developing the “joyful effort” we need to progress in our spiritual lives? The main obstacle to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness is laz Why aren’t we doing the things in life we know are the most important? What’s preventing us from developing the “joyful effort” we need to progress in our spiritual lives? The main obstacle to working hard, happily, for real and lasting happiness is laziness. Laziness can mean “just not feeling like it” – always procrastinating and putting off what we know we should do. But laziness can also involve keeping so busy with unimportant things that we don’t have the time and energy to dedicate to our spiritual lives. We must learn to “get unbusy” with things that don’t really matter in order to joyfully work hard for the things that do. This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007. For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org no 10:09 Running With Scissors http://lamamarut.org We can’t achieve the happiness we all are seeking if we continue to create the causes for suffering. We have to let go of the scissors with which we are cutting ourselves; we have to renounce the idea that our happiness (or unhappiness) comes from any place other than ourselves. No one can make us happy, and no one can make us unhappy. Our problems derive from our true and only enemies, the three main “mental afflictions” of desire, aversion and the ignorance that underlies them.

This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:29:37 -0800 running-with-scissors Lama Sumati Marut We can’t achieve the happiness we all are seeking if we continue to create the causes for suffering. We have to let go of the scissors with which we are cutting ourselves; we have to renounce the idea that our happiness (or unhappiness) comes from any We can’t achieve the happiness we all are seeking if we continue to create the causes for suffering. We have to let go of the scissors with which we are cutting ourselves; we have to renounce the idea that our happiness (or unhappiness) comes from any place other than ourselves. No one can make us happy, and no one can make us unhappy. Our problems derive from our true and only enemies, the three main “mental afflictions” of desire, aversion and the ignorance that underlies them. This videocast is taken from a Tibetan Heart Yoga Teacher Training course held in Tucson, Arizona, in September of 2007. For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org no 11:28 Learning to be Happy, Part 2 http://lamamarut.org “Problems” do not objectively exist. They are just interpretations of events. In order to be happy we have to learn how to concentrate on the many good things in life, realize that happiness can not come from outside of us but only from within, and learn to live contentedly in the present.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at a public talk in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2006.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Sun, 19 Aug 2007 06:27:50 -0700 learning-to-be-happy-part-2 Lama Sumati Marut “Problems” do not objectively exist. They are just interpretations of events. In order to be happy we have to learn how to concentrate on the many good things in life, realize that happiness can not come from outside of us but only from within, and lear “Problems” do not objectively exist. They are just interpretations of events. In order to be happy we have to learn how to concentrate on the many good things in life, realize that happiness can not come from outside of us but only from within, and learn to live contentedly in the present.This videocast is taken from a teaching given at a public talk in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2006.For Lama Marut’s audio podcasts please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org no 9:50 Learning to be Happy, Part 1 http://lamamarut.org In this inaugural videocast, Lama Marut points out that our deepest desire, the only motivator of everything we do, is to be happy. But we often mistake true happiness for something ephemeral and superficial. True happiness cannot be found in money, relationships, professional advancement, or vacations to exotic places. It must be found within and must be cultivated through an authentic spiritual practice.

This videocast is taken from a teaching given at a public talk in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2006.

For Lama Marut’s audio podcast please go to:

http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.html

For other teachings, please go to:

http://www.aci-la.org

and

http://www.lamamarut.org

]]> Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:38:03 -0700 learning-to-be-happy Lama Sumati Marut In this inaugural videocast, Lama Marut points out that our deepest desire, the only motivator of everything we do, is to be happy. But we often mistake true happiness for something ephemeral and superficial. True happiness cannot be found in money, In this inaugural videocast, Lama Marut points out that our deepest desire, the only motivator of everything we do, is to be happy. But we often mistake true happiness for something ephemeral and superficial. True happiness cannot be found in money, relationships, professional advancement, or vacations to exotic places. It must be found within and must be cultivated through an authentic spiritual practice. This videocast is taken from a teaching given at a public talk in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2006.For Lama Marut’s audio podcast please go to:http://aci-la.org/mg-podcasts.htmlFor other teachings, please go to:http://www.aci-la.organdhttp://www.lamamarut.org no 9:22