Gyalton Rinpoche – Transforming challenges into opportunities

Gyalton Rinpoche 

“Transforming challenges into opportunities”

(A teaching on behalf of Palpung Centres Wales, Ireland , Spain , Finland and Karma Ling Birmingham)

 Saturday 23rd May 1.30pm – 3.30pm (Irl /UKtime)

by Zoom video conference

Rinpoche will teach in English and the session is open to everyone

  We are delighted to bring you the news that Gyalton Rinpoche will teach, in English, this Saturday afternoon.  Rinpoche’s teaching will be hosted by Palpung Ireland via the zoom platform.  The content will be general and of great benefit to everyone who wants to use this challenging  time in the best way possible. Wouldn’t we like to look back on this period in history and be able to say “I did my best to make these times meaningful” 

 There will be an opportunity  for you to ask personal questions  as part of this 2 hr session.

  You  can  register for this event  by sending an email, no later than Friday, to palpungirelandinfo@gmail.com  We will email you the meeting link and password .

Registration is free of charge. Anyone who wishes to send a donation may do so. All monies recieved will be offered to Rinpoche. 

Rinpoche’s  teaching on Saturday will be based on the inspiring message below that he sent about using these  challanging times as an opportunity . 

Gyalton Rinpoche’s message on which Saturday’s teaching will be based.

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  “Usually, we receive many different Dharma teachings, but we never have enough time to reflect on them. The present situation offers us an opportunity to do that and to apply whatever we have learned in our life. It is often said that we should see unfavourable circumstances as a spiritual teacher. If we are able to do that, it can be really beneficial and it can make a big difference in the progress of our inner development. This means not being overwhelmed by the present challenging situation, but instead transforming it to our own advantage to develop the qualities that are inherent in our very nature, such as loving kindness, compassion, and wisdom, through which we can genuinely help ourselves and others.  

We are all in this together, so we should sincerely develop loving kindness and compassion that encompasses all beings and sincerely dedicate our practice to liberate them all from the present difficult situation, turning this into a meaningful opportunity to develop ourselves as well. Usually we tend to always focus and rely on external conditions for our wellbeing and overlook the importance of inner development, which is essential for our genuine happiness. 

In these times, we all have a great opportunity to sincerely apply the teachings that we have received and genuinely develop inwardly to become a better person. In doing this, even a simple Dharma instruction that we have received has the power to transform us. In order to truly develop internally, connecting with ourselves is very important. If we are not able to do that, no matter how many instructions we receive, it is not going to be very transformative. With the present situation of self isolation, if we take it as an opportunity to connect with ourselves, it can have a meaningful outcome. However, if we see this difficult time as negative, then it will only have an adverse effect on our mental and physical wellbeing, as well as on our surroundings. 

Great spiritual masters emphasize the practice of isolation and solitude by going to the mountains or staying in retreat to connect with oneself, which is the stepping stone to inner development. If we are able to connect with ourselves, then we will also be able to connect with others in a more genuine way, because unless we are able to genuinely recognize what is truly meaningful and beneficial to ourselves, we won’t be able to genuinely benefit others, as we are all the same in searching for happiness and liberation. Therefore, if we are able to uplift our spirits, be positive in our outlook, and develop our inherent positive qualities, we can turn this difficult situation into something beneficial for ourselves and others.” 

  please stay safe by staying in your own homes to join the teaching

every good wish 

stay safe, stay well , stay kind

K Chodron 

on behalf of Palpung Ireland Community