Buddhist Teachings By Ven. Robina Courtin

The practice begins with a visualization, described in vivid detail. Next we add the sound of the mantra. Reflect that all beings want happiness equally. Additional stages of this visualization makes this practice a profound tool for transformation. 8:05 | Extracted from "Fireside Chat with Ven. Robina" at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.

Sensory consciousness and mental consciousnesses do different things. Unraveling them we see that the senses are rather limited. It is the mental consciousness that creates mental judgments and opinions. 6:58 | Extracted from "Buddhist Psychology Part 1 with Ven. Robina" on Lawudo Trek 2019. Full teaching here.

How can we learn to work with impermanence, or rapid change, which seems so difficult? Buddha taught that rapid change is normal. It is our clinging fear of change that actually causes our suffering. 12:55 | Extracted from "Fireside Chat with Ven. Robina" at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.

Our strong grasping that we exist independently, intrinsically from our own side, is actually completely mistaken. Ven. Robina breaks it down with precise definitions and relevant context. 10:23 | Extracted from "Subatomic (Dependent Arising is in the Details)" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching here.

Dependent Arising? Emptiness? Details? How do we utilize these concepts in our every day life? 11:43 | Extracted from "Subatomic (Dependent Arising is in the Details)" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching here.

Buddhism looks at anger with real precision. Consider how the angry mind seethes. It drives you crazy with depression and frustration. It distorts the way everything appears. 09:08 | Extracted from "Taste of Buddhism - Be Your Own Therapist with Ven. Robina Courtin" teachings given at Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Full teaching here.

All suffering comes from our non-virtues. So, the first level of practice is to work on my own actions, my body, speech and mind. 04:00 | Extracted from "Enlightenment and Peace Are They Possible" teaching given at Maitripa College April 18, 2020.  Full teaching here.

When it comes to activism, people think you need anger because it feels so noble. But anger exaggerates everything. It distorts complex situations. Anger makes you feel strong love this and strong hate for that. As an activist you would burn out very quickly.  17:57| Extracted from "Activism and Empathy" teaching given at Maitripa College April 17, 2020. Full teaching here.

In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha explained the inner workings of our own fear, anxiety and jealousy. 12:15 | Extracted from "Managing Your Mind in Difficult Times" teachings given at Maitripa College. Full teaching here.  

When we develop this skill, we see what’s happening in the mind. A focused awareness, along with mindfulness and alertness, create a strong and stable mind. 16:20| Extracted from "Managing Your Mind in Difficult Times" teachings given at Maitripa College. Full teaching here.

We can counteract our negative attitudes. Rejoice in your good conditions and recognize the virtue in any situation. This drowns out the heavy delusions and their suffering. 6:05 | Extracted from "How To Approach Our Fear of Missing Out" teachings given at Buddhist Society of Western Australia. Full teaching here.

Let’s look at the mechanics behind the natural law of cause and effect: karma. Everything we think, do, or say, is the process of programming ourselves, sowing seeds that will produce our future experiences. 12:57 | Extracted from teachings given at Buddhist Society of Victoria on Aug 18, 2018. Full teaching here.

14:38 | Extracted from teachings given at Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center August 18, 2017. Full teaching here.

The Buddha taught in ancient India when many great masters developed various disciplines of mental awareness. As we practice awareness in meditation, we observe how the sensory consciousness and cognitive process unfolds to the inner experiencer. This opens up a deeper familiarity with the mind, thus allowing us to step out of our self-imposed mundane storyline and imagine different ways of being. 16:36 | Extracted from "Taste of Buddhism - Be Your Own Therapist with Ven. Robina Courtin" teachings given at Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Full teaching here.

Everything that appears “out there” can be considered our own projection, or karmic appearance. That is, how we view the Covid-19 will largely depend on our attachments, our mental habits and expectations. One practice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recommends during this time of pandemic, is the Green Tara practice and mantra recitation. 12:22 | Extracted from “Buddhist perspective on how to think about the outbreak” teachings given at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.

One practice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recommends during this time of pandemic, is the Green Tara practice and mantra recitation. 6:39 | Extracted from “Buddhist perspective on how to think about the outbreak” teachings given at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.

On the deepest level, attachment and ego-grasping make us miserable. They leave us wanting and craving approval from the outside world. We believe we are nothing unless someone notices us, talks to us, praises us, etc. Look beneath one’s sadness and you might see some internalized anger projecting a broad feeling of hollow neediness. Look carefully at those dynamics and challenge these default thought patterns. Instead, consider your own, sublime potential. Identify with those amazing qualities and you are on the path! 9:24 | Extracted from "How To Approach Our Fear of Missing Out" teachings given at Buddhist Society of Western Australia. Full teaching here.

Mindfulness is merely the skill to place one’s attention without wavering. It is only one part of the whole package of skills we develop along the path. Buddhist psychology requires curiosity into thoughts, consciousness and the whole system of suffering and happiness. For that, we need to get the teachings on the mind. Then we can use mindfulness to verify those findings. 19:36 | Extracted from "How to love your problems January 2017" teachings given at Yeshe Norbu Mind Training Center. Full teaching here.

Following these instructions will purify how you relate to the world through your ability to speak. This brief ceremony protects us from creating an awful mess by saying fooling and harmful things. Practicing this profound aspect of Buddha’s perfect conduct imbues us with new abilities to always speak truthfully, skillfully and carefully. 12:16 | Extracted from "Deconstructing Emotions Retreat" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center January 29-31. Full teaching here.

Buddha taught this topic in a way that breaks through our usual attitudes about death. We have so much fear, regret and terror about death. We can overcome these by contemplating the certainty of death, that the time of death is uncertain and that at the time of death, nothing can be of benefit except for the imprints for ethical living. 11:28 | Extracted from "Deconstructing Emotions Retreat" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center January 29-31. Full teaching here.