How to Recognize a Qualified Teacher

In her teaching “Experience the Equality of All Beings,” Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo dismantles the misconception that compassion is a fleeting emotional display, defining true bodhicitta instead as an intentional habit forged through steady spiritual practice. Rather than resting on polite sentimentality, genuine equality is rooted in Buddhist philosophy: every sentient creature—from an amoeba or insect to a predatory shark or human being—shares the identical, fully complete, and unalterable Buddha nature. Across beginningless lifetimes in samsara, every mindstream has accumulated karmic seeds for every realm and disposition; what manifests today is merely which seeds met the right catalysts to ripen, like pulls on a cosmic slot machine. Jetsunma directs practitioners into a ruthless, personal contemplation: look upon all forms of life—as well as the specific individuals who trigger our deepest disgust or aversion—and recognize that the exact same nature, vulnerabilities, and latent tendencies exist within oneself. By confronting the truth of "I could have been that," ego pride and the illusion of human supremacy dissolve. With only one "self" set against countless displays of that very same nature in suffering beings, dedicating one's life, merit, and practice toward the liberation of all lives becomes the only logical path forward.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Most of our day involves one habit after another. Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo teaches us how to make compassion a stronger and stronger habit, so we will experience happiness, and eventually liberation.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

 You must have a qualified teacher to practice Vajrayana Buddhism. Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo clarifies the qualities to look for and how to avoid making a mistake.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo encourages us to unravel the many concepts we have, because they stand between us and having pure view.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo takes us on a journey through samsara, emphasizing the light (Guru) that guides our path.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo explains the many ways it's important to have patience and courage as we begin a path to change our habits.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Buddhism often gets a bad rap for talking about suffering. Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo explains why it is totally unfounded.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo takes the concept of perception and describes just what it is like for us in samsara.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

Devotion is often thought of as a "feeling". Actually, in Buddhism, it is based on logic. Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo explains how if we wait for the "feeling" we will still be waiting when we die, without having achieved any result.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org

The Buddha taught many paths to reach enlightenment. They build on each other, and each one is perfect for a certain karma. Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo explains these paths and how each one is a pure path by itself, as well as linking to the next.Support the showFor more resources, teachings and practices, visit www.tara.org