Vaster Vision 2023

This page contains materials and recorded audio talks by Lama Shenpen for the 2023 year focus on Vaster Vision. Please scroll down for recordings and materials section.



Vaster Vision is one of the six areas of 'Living the Awakened Heart' training. It is a title for a broad area that covers topics such as karma, past and future lives, punya, adhisthana (blessing power), the qualities of Buddhas and their Buddha Realms, and the nature of the universe itself. It forms the cosmic context for the teachings of the Buddha and the Bodhisattva path and underlies the principles of the Mahayana Sutras.



'Knowing about the vaster vision revealed by Awakened beings is a way of deepening our motivation to penetrate to the very heart of reality.  Without this vision we might be content with some lesser goal and never realise our full potential to help others. For example, we might think that we had achieved the goal simply by being somewhat more open, clear and sensitive than we had been previously.  This would stop us seeking further and give us a false sense of security.  But the vaster vision protects us from complacency, suggesting there might be more to Awakening than we thought, prompting us to look deeper. .......The vaster vision provides suggestions to us that we can explore. ...It's not that we need to take it all on board and 'sign on the dotted line'.  Rather, by listening to the teachings coming down to us through the tradition, we are encouraged to explore possibilities and facets of our experience that our existing entrenched view of the world told us were unimportant.'

         - Lama Shenpen in 'Living the Awakened Heart'

This page will be added to throughout the year as and when Lama Shenpen records her reflections on a certain topic. Please note that these are, on the whole, unedited audio recordings that over time will hopefully be worked into a package of materials for students, with pointers and suggestions for how to make the best use of them. As one of the AHS principles is the spiral nature of learning we are happy to make all these recordings accessible for everyone, however it is likely that students who have not yet been through the 'Discovering the Heart of Buddhism' (DHB) course may find certain terms or references unfamiliar. Mandala Principle, one of the DHB coursebooks, is especially helpful for the theme of Vaster Vision. A short synopsis of Mandala Principle is given in the booklet 'Mahayana Sutra Principles' By Rigdzin Shikpo, which is also a very helpful resource for the materials on this theme of Vaster Vision. Lama Shenpen has made audio commentaries on the Mahayana Sutra Principles booklet and a link to these recordings is found on this page too.

Lama Shenpen writes:

'I will be making audio recordings throughout this year and they will be made available here for all AHS students. I notice as I try to think through the Vaster Vision and how to present it that I really need to be able to reference Mandala Principle at every turn. The recordings on the Mahayana Sutra Principles, Mandala Principle and Vaster Vision all feed into each other and it will take a while to decide how best to make them available generally as time goes on. Lama Tara and Lama Agnes will be looking into this and deciding in consultation with me what is the best way forward. In the meantime I hope those who want to access these recordings will enjoy and benefit from them'.

You will also find on this page a link to be able to submit questions to Lama Shenpen related to your study and reflection on the theme of Vaster Vision. Lama Shenpen may choose to answer questions in a written format, by further audio recording or in a live Q&A setting. Everyone registered to use this webpage resource will be notified of any live teaching session by Lama Shenpen.