Maitripa Rabjungma Community
THE FOUR PILLARS
The intention in creating this community is to serve sentient beings through Four Pillars.
Pillar #1. Ethics (Foundation)
The ethical foundation will create conducive conditions to overcome attachment, accumulate merit, develop shine, and live simply:
Three Rabjungma Vows
Eight Mahayana Precepts
Twelve Pledges of Aspiring Bodhicitta
Pillar #2. Spiritual Formation
Rabjungma Prayer Element
The Rabjungma Community will pray together six times a day. Each prayer session will be 10-15 minutes.
- Praises to the 21 Taras
- Recitation of The Heart Sutra.
Rabjungma Education Element
Most of the education element will be incorporated with the Maitripa College curriculum. Four key points:
- Buddhist philosophy
- Buddhist rituals
- Buddhist counseling methods
- Tibetan medicine
Rabjungma Meditation Element
The meditation element will be comprised of both group and individual meditation. All of the meditation practice will be done at the location where the rabjungma live. The four great ngondro practices:
- Refuge ngondro and shiné meditation
- Guru yoga ngondro and shiné meditation
- Vajrasattva ngondro and shiné meditation
- Mandala offering ngondro and shiné meditation
Pillar #3. Holistic Wellbeing
Psychological Wellbeing
(Seeing a Buddhist counselor)
Monthly counseling: There can be a tendency to use dharma practice to avoid facing unresolved emotional issues and psychological wounds, but bypassing even small painful things can block our spiritual evolution. Therefore, psychological wellbeing will be cultivated through counseling.
Physical Wellbeing
(Practicing physical yoga) ~To inspire honor and respect
- Elegantly worn robes
- Yoga practice
- Simple and healthy diet
Environmental Wellbeing
(Living simply)
Simple housing — all energy goes towards spiritual formation, not to construction. Initially each rabjungma will have her own simple tiny house with a shared bath and toilet. There will be a general meeting space & dining room, etc.
Genuine Sisterhood
The mindset we want to create is a willingness to compromise and take care of each other … so… the daily structure of study, practice, service, meditation, etc. will be clear from the beginning. This creates the cause for harmony.
Pillar #4. Transformation
The transformation will be the bodhisattva mentality: action, engaging, unconditionally able to benefit sentient beings.