Description

July 22-29, 2022 Summer Retreat Session 1 Overcoming Fear

A Domo Geshe Rinpoche Recorded Program.

12 MP3s

Rinpoche challenges us to examine the filters we use to interact with our world. We will be safely working with different kinds of fear and how to overcome it as we go toward the fearless state of the awakened mind. The Vajrasattva, Buddha of Purification Empowerment was bestowed.

7-22-2022 Day 1 The Obstacle of Fear

Rinpoche started with the Three points of what we will be covering this week. She then began teaching about fear. Life is full of obsticals. Fear is a difficult obstacle where we create a filter that we see the world as an aggressor. The seed of fear must be eliminated, not just feel better or in healing process.  Vajrasattva purification is the tool to remove fear. 

7-24-2022 Day 3 

A. Low lying fear

Rinpoche discusses how craving and grasping lead to mental stimulation and then low lying fear. We have been fooled, and need to be offended by this poor training by western society. 

B. Vajrasattva Sadhana commentary 

Rinpoche gives line by line commentary on the sadhana with more emphasis on the purification elements. 

 7-25-2022 Day 4

 A. Fear or Phobia

Rinpoche discusses the difference between fear and phobias. She leads a group discussion of why would the subconscious mind want to do this? 

B. Concern tinged with anxiety

Rinpoche discusses two more definitions of fear. Fear as terrified reverence toward Deity. Fear as  concern for someone or something tinged with anxiety — usually someone is a child, spouse, pet or and something is money or status.  

7-26-2022 Day 5

A. What is fear?

Refuge commentary on “from now on”. Rinpoche continues her commentary by reviewing more dictionary definitions of What is fear? 1. The chance of something unpleasant happening. 2. Being exposed to a toxic subject. 3. Fear response from withdrawal from drugs. 4. Doubt or uncertainty concerning a matter or decision. 5. General anxiety disorder / stress / depression.   

B. Fear and Trauma

Rinpoche continues the discussion on “What is fear?” with 6. A lack of courage. Rinpoche discusses life force fear and low lying fear as a broken sense of safety due to using it for entertainment. She discusses how we can heal trauma and even generational trauma passed on from our parents using this practice. 

7-27-2022 Day 6 

A. Lama Chonyi on agriculture and food in Tibet prior to 1959 (request from her directly) 

B. Lack of Courage

Rinpoche continues her commentary on what is fear with 6. Lack of courage including self doubt 7. State of diffidence, 8. Social anxiety disorder, 9. Imagined fear or threat (exaggerated fear), 10. Loss of enthusiasm. She encouraged us to keep going on practice, not get bored, and to stop looking at is it working or how are we doing.  

7-28-2022 Day 7 

A. Emotional difficulties and pleasing others

Rinpoche discusses altruistic determination to avoid living a superficial life and deepening identity with purification and meditation. She continues her commentary on  What is fear? 11. Emotional difficulty or psychological disorder. 12. Behavior intended to please.  

B. Fear in physical body and mental functions

Rinpoche discusses the effect of fear on the physical body and the mental functions. She advises naming the fight or flight reactions as just sensations. She also discusses the five basic fears, and the three types of trauma.   

7-29-2022 Day 8 

 A. Suffering is in the mind

Refuge commentary on “Not”. Rinpoche discusses what the Buddha said about fear – that all suffering and fear is from the mind. We can use our will power and determination to change the energetic reactivity and subdue our minds. 

 B. Healing Fear

Rinpoche reads SSR Nov 16 on fear of death, and Nov 29 on heal fear with refuge. How dharma and will power can help us soothe our overactive limbic system to heal reactivity and fear.