Archive Result

19960413GRJHNLLLFC (1)

[Tara mantra prayer]

Good morning everybody. 0:01:32.1 Dutch translation Welcome for this two-days work what we are supposed to do. Dutch translation And basically what we are going to do is going to be done through the Buddhist background and a little Buddhist practice. So therefore, first and foremost, I would like to- those who you know, I would like to remind, those who you don’t know, we consider the motivation is the most important key point to make a difference in the life for the work what you do or its effect. 0:02:28.1 Dutch translation So the motivation will be at least, I just make a very brief one, just sort of you meditate for short period thinking, correcting your thoughts, whatever you’re going to spend time here for two days it is not only for my personal benefit but also for the benefit of all beings. And for the benefit of all beings I would like to achieve the highest possible position, spiritual position that a human can achieve and so for that purpose, I would like to learn the experience of the Buddha and I would like to put that into practice and such a thought could you please correct and meditate for a short period. 0:03:53.9 Dutch translation Thank you. Dutch translation

The subject what we are going to talk, actually there is one verse in the Tsongkhapa’s shortest Lamrim, line of experience. In Tsongkhapa’s shortest Lamrim, after the guru devotional practice, there’s one verse says human life is more precious than that of a wish-fulfilling jewel and it is, what do they say? 0:07:05.3 … na le la… It is a great occasion. It is like only opportunity or incident that we have found this type or it is only one time that we found such a life. Dutch translation It also says 0:08:05.9 nye ga jig la. This is a very difficult to find, easy to destroy, like that of lightning. Dutch translation By recognising this and trying to see the meaninglessness of the samsaric affairs, Dutch translation and I the yogi who had practiced this way, you are the liberator seekers should follow that footstep. 0:09:05.8 Dutch translation Actually, it is the number two, the second point of practice in the Lamrim. Dutch translation This will be basis on which we will be working. Dutch translation It is always important to base on your workshop or whatever you do based on the great masters’ work. Dutch translation In one of these translations here says, Dutch translation

Translator/Audience: ‘This working basis of a human form endowed with liberties is superior to a wish-granting gem. Moreover, such is only obtained this very one time. Difficult to acquire and easily lost, it passes in a flash like lightning in the sky. Considering how easily this can happen at any time and realising that all worldly activities are as immaterial as chaff, you must try to take advantage of its essential significance at all times, day and night. I, the yogi, have practiced in the same way.’

Rimpoche: There’s a different translation here. It says ‘Human life, found but this one time, more precious than the wish-fulfilling gem, so hard to to regain and so easily lost, is brief as a flash of lightning. Seeing this, discard worldly activity like husk of a grain and starve day and night to take life’s essence. I, the yogi, did this myself. You, all liberation seekers, should do likewise.’ Two different translations. So anyway, it is the same meaning. 0:12:41.4 Dutch translation

So this is the basis of what we are going to work. Dutch translation So what we are talking is it always should based on the great masters’ work, because that is the only [thing] I know. Dutch translation And those of you who know more than that should also- though you know more than that, you should try to stick to one of those works of great master because it makes not only it makes differences from the message point of view but it also makes difference from the lineage point of view, blessing point of view, supporting point of view, and above all, it cannot go wrong. 0:14:00.9 Dutch translation So when they say human life- whether you say human life or working base of human form, whatever you may say it, it is referring to human life. Dutch translation Unfortunately, we have a great number of different translators. Each one of them think way and how they translate is the best. [Laughter] Dutch translation And also everybody translates most important text like this. You just see two right? I at least seen ten different. 0:15:44.8 Dutch translation

And so the word in Tibetan is ‘tel den’. Dutch translation It is two words. Dutch translation ‘Tel’ gives one meaning. Dutch translation ‘Den’ is the base Dutch translation or foundation Dutch translation or life. Dutch translation So that’s why translators think differently. Dutch translation Now, word ‘tel’ alone gives you tremendous amount of information. 0:16:51.1 Dutch translation Such as having time, having opportunity, realising possibility of developing. Dutch translation So having a time, you may think ‘Oh yeah, those are the guru, old Tibetans in 13th and 14th century, they have nothing to do except sit in the cave’ so they have time. Dutch translation But we are in the 20th century, almost in 21st century, in Europe, we got lot of things to do. 0:18:18.0 Dutch translation But we still have the time. Dutch translation

And when they say you have time, what does that mean? Dutch translation They presenting the 18 different qualities in our life by one word ‘tel’. Dutch translation So you don’t blame the translators right? Because one word can give you that much. Dutch translation And none of the English words, as far as I know, can give you that 0:19:18.2 weight of human life. If it’s human life they cannot tell you there’s 18 different points here. Dutch translation Sometimes I even wonder, you know, when you have those prayers that we say, when you translate them into English, you say in Tibetan you finished the equivalent portion and sit 10 minutes and they’re still reading ‘blah, blah, blah, blah’ as fast as possible so probably that’s why.

Audience: I didn’t get that. [Laughter]

Rimpoche: I say when you do pujas or prayers and sometimes we do the translation of the English right? If I’m saying the Tibetan in myself, and same verse, I’ll finish it 10 minutes ago and when you look into the English translation readers, they’re still reading as fast as they could like ‘blah, blah, blah, blah’ but still they’re not finished. That’s why. 0:20:34.0 Dutch translation So that’s the difference of language. Dutch translation And we Tibetans are very proud of our language. Dutch translation Because it can sort of, observe, contact and express so much things by even a word. Dutch translation And it is great advantage for the literary experts, great disadvantage for lay people. Dutch translation So anyway, let's not go on that. Let’s go on ‘tel’. Dutch translation In normal Buddhism, the Buddha’s teachings will basically tell you as beings, not as human beings, as beings, we always engage ourself in the birth, death and rebirth. Without our own control. Dutch translation Basically we are born, we’re at infant stage, children, kids, children, young, youth, matured, old, death. That sort of automatically moves, we see. 0:23:47.1 Dutch translation

And when we don’t think about it and then it's a sort of normal, natural going, you know. Dutch translation When you think about it- why it’s going? Why? Who’s doing it? What’s happening? Dutch translation Who’s making it go? Dutch translation Why it’s happening? Dutch translation So if you think carefully, who’s controlling? Dutch translation So we don’t know. Dutch translation We say time is controlling. 0:25:12.2 Dutch translation We say it’s a natural process. Dutch translation So all sorts of little excuses, maybe true or whatever it is. Dutch translation It is true, it’s a natural process. Dutch translation It is true the time is controlling. Dutch translation But then it is not uniformity. 0:25:47.8 Dutch translation Some get sick, some die early, some live longer, some are healthier, you know all this different comes again. Dutch translation So then we try to blame our way of eating, way of living. It’s true, it contributes the condition. Dutch translation

My friends blame my way of eating that makes me become a diabetic Dutch translation because I ate so many ice creams as well as doughnuts. Dutch translation In 1987, I used to eat like 12-24 doughnuts a day. [Laughter] Dutch translation So it is obvious that you become diabetic. Dutch translation That provided the condition. Dutch translation But there are other people who eat more than 10 doughnuts a day but don’t become diabetic too. 0:27:46.2 Dutch translation Many people just live on the doughnuts, nothing else for years together. Dutch translation It is because the karma. Dutch translation I provide the condition Dutch translation by eating doughnuts Dutch translation and then karma of giving diabetic clicks with that Dutch translation and then you become diabetic. Dutch translation And that’s how karma works.

But then some people may not have the karmic system that strong so no matter how much condition you provide but don’t get click. 0:28:46.5 Dutch translation And that’s the controlling point and that is the issue. Dutch translation Some people have a healthy long life. Dutch translation Some people have a very active short life. Dutch translation So it is all controlling by our own karma. Not somebody else’s karma but our own karma. Dutch translation That very karma will push the process of the life and then will go to the dying and the death and then doesn’t end there. We still continue. 0:29:59.3 Dutch translation Up to here we know it, we see it, we don’t have to doubt. But we don’t know it, we don’t see it, after that we will continue. Dutch translation Buddha, when he talks about the karma and the future life, there is no way, to black and white, he can prove it. Dutch translation It's not that it doesn’t have proof but it is our own limitation. Dutch translation Because how we are limited to see between life, between birth and death, nothing beyond that. 0:31:14.1 Dutch translation

But then still, there is some people called psychic and they will see something different here, few of them, we don’t all see it but few of them see it, few different spirits they talk to, bring messages and they do all sorts of things and they’re neither lying, they’re not lying either. Dutch translation So they’re not lying either. Dutch translation But they have some kind of exceptional capacity. Dutch translation And so does the science, material do get some exceptional to be able to see and figure out more than our normal five senses tells us. 0:32:34.4 Dutch translation

And hopefully, scientifically, they will prove it. They will see it. Dutch translation Buddha himself said 2500 years ago, due to the material and chemical and things put together, human beings will be able to do things, see things different. He said 2500 years ago. Dutch translation Not only that he had said that powers can gain- the human power can be gained by spiritual meditation, by material, chemical combination, by mantra practice- there’s one more- spiritual development and meditation, two separate. So four of them, he said, can get equal power. 0:33:59.9 Dutch translation

That because in reality, not because the chemical power equals to spiritual development Dutch translation but when they explore the reality, its truth is one so they can get further. Dutch translation It’s also true we know. Dutch translation Due to chemical experimenters during the 60s and 70s people begin to explore beyond our normal things. 0:35:16.9 Dutch translation No matter how much you say the drugs are bad and terrible and this and that, of course drugs are bad and terrible but also they showed ways too. I’m sorry, it’s Netherlands, you can talk. Dutch translation They’re opening a lot of the mind in the West is also the drugs helped and contributed. Dutch translation People become open. Dutch translation Because people had a glimpse beyond our normal phenomena. Dutch translation And unfortunately it is due to chemical powers so we can’t stay there, we get set back or whatever you call them- fall down or come back or trip is over or whatever you may call it but that’s because it’s a chemical power. 0:36:56.5 Dutch translation And you can’t be there all the time because the human body cannot take that much chemical too. Dutch translation

So anyway let’s not tell that to the judge 0:37:23.4 [?]. Dutch translation So what I’m trying to get in is so as much as we have seen through chemical effect, that much thing we can also see through spiritual too. Dutch translation The difference is spiritually seeing those things are lasting, chemically seeing are limited because of the chemical power. Simple as that. Dutch translation So the Buddha doesn't have those drugs so he can’t show it to the people. Dutch translation So he has to depend on his experience and he tell the people what’s happening, what can happen. Dutch translation

So what Buddha says- Buddha says the sun and moon can fall down, Dutch translation the high grounds can go under the water Dutch translation and the low level land can come up at high level, high dry level Dutch translation but Buddha will not tell lies. 0:39:30.2 Dutch translation So he has to say that much to convince the disciples. Dutch translation So because we have limitations Dutch translation so we have to rely on those people who are unlimited. Dutch translation So as a buddhist, we rely on Buddha’s statement. So I’ll talk to you from that angle.

And what Buddha said when you die, we don’t see the person anymore. 0:40:23.2 Dutch translation That’s because we lose the physical body. Dutch translation Because it decay. Dutch translation It’s like a rented apartment. Dutch translation When the water doesn’t work, electricity doesn’t work, there’s a hole in the ceiling and then you can’t stay in there, you got to get out. Dutch translation Well, in a way it is true. Dutch translation The water pipes are our veins 0:41:21.9 Dutch translation and the fluid running is the water. Dutch translation The digestive powers that we have heat and warmth is the central heat for the body. Dutch translation All those physical structures- the walls, Dutch translation the head is the roof. Dutch translation And if you hit here and make a hole it’s hard to live right? Dutch translation The circulation stops, it’s hard to live. 0:42:14.5 Dutch translation And when there’s no oxygen inside it’s hard to breathe so the air stops. Dutch translation

So that’s the apartment Dutch translation in which we live Dutch translation and when that doesn’t work what do we do? We get out. Dutch translation So in our normal life, it’s easy, we can change the address. Dutch translation But then you know, bigger picture, we will change the identity, we do not only change the address. Our address in the bigger picture is our identity. 0:43:11.9 Dutch translation So it’s a different house, it’s our different identity. Dutch translation Sounds, looks simple but not. Dutch translation The move, the movement is very funny. Dutch translation It’s difficult. Dutch translation People normally make it sound very simple and nice. Dutch translation It is nice, it is wonderful, death is beautiful, wonderful, it is natural and people sort of be little happy with that and hold on. Dutch translation

There’s one lady, I did a workshop in New York for ‘Dead and Dying’. 0:44:19.1 Dutch translation 1700 people. Dutch translation And one lady push her way completely, one elder lady determined to push her [?] out and wanted to talk to me privately in between sometime. Dutch translation And what she told is she had read the Sogyal Rimpoche’s book on Tibetan living and dying. Dutch translation She said ‘Before I read that’, she said ‘I was very happy and contented about my life’ [Laughter] Dutch translation So she say ‘This book disturbed me so much’ 0:45:23.8 Dutch translation She said ‘I didn’t even sleep there after’, she said she had less sleep for months, all complain, complain. Dutch translation And she says ‘How you Tibetans could do that to me?’ Dutch translation I said I’m not the author. Dutch translation But she said ‘You Tibetans’. Dutch translation

So the point is some people like to believe that death is so easy, so simple and wonderful, it’s natural. That’s also true but sort of very romanticised idea and you like to live in that. 0:46:23.3 Dutch translation You can if you provide the cause for that, cause karma. Dutch translation But we don’t always have that. Dutch translation It can be terrible too. It is both stated by Buddha. Buddha said it can go well and wonderful and Buddha said, it is the Buddha who said... 0:47:11.8 [inaudible]. Dutch translation So what happens is not only the death itself much. Dutch translation But the question remains what happens then after? Dutch translation That’s the main point. Because nobody knows. Nobody has seen it.

There’s one scientist who also in that workshop, came here. He wrote the book- he’s very famous professor I forgot the name- but he wrote the book ‘Who dies?’. No, he wrote the book ‘How dies?’ 0:48:22.3 Dutch translation You know, when he talks from the medical point, how the apartment doesn't work, how the water stops, how the heat stops, how it falls past it’s terrible, you read that book. Dutch translation And what he told me, he told me I have yet to shake hand with somebody who had come back from death. Dutch translation He says ‘Until I have that, as a scientist, I’m not going to accept anything. Dutch translation But my deep conscious tells me there’s something else.’ Dutch translation And he said ‘I cannot swallow the idea day after person is gone. Dutch translation But I have no explanation. 0:49:56.9 Dutch translation Until I’ve been unable to explain, I’m not going to submit myself to my deep conscious.’ Dutch translation And that’s what he told me. Dutch translation

He said ‘Among all the religions, the Tibetan Buddhism tells me the most about this. Dutch translation But until I shake hands with somebody who come back, I will not accept it.’ Dutch translation ‘I will explore whatever I could’, he says. Dutch translation He says ‘I teach in Harvard, I teach in Stanford.’ 0:50:58.9 Dutch translation He says ‘But I’m not going to accept until I have proof.’ Dutch translation That’s scientific way of looking, it’s perfect to me. Dutch translation Not only he said ‘until I shake hand with somebody’, he said ‘not only that’, he said ‘whoever does exactly same thing, wherever it does, it should see the some result’. That’s what he said. That’s what his point is. 0:51:35.3 Dutch translation And when you have that, that’s proof. Dutch translation That’s what he said. Dutch translation And that’s what we don’t have it. Dutch translation True fact. Dutch translation

But what we’ll rely on the Buddha’s words. Dutch translation And we get a lot of incidents 0:52:12.1 Dutch translation such as memory of individuals, Dutch translation recollection of children, Dutch translation a personal experience of individual who remembers something but you don’t remember exactly and what had happened, where it happened, all this. Dutch translation And then of course you have those second people telling you whatever. Dutch translation So they’re all pointing to one direction, the direction what they’re pointing to is we just don’t end at the end of the death. 0:53:14.0 Dutch translation Person continues. Dutch translation

And where the person is going Dutch translation Buddha gives, what the Tibetan tradition get is 6 different realms. Dutch translation The Chinese tradition tells 10 different realms. Dutch translation But that difference is only way how you count. Dutch translation But basically it is two. Dutch translation The good ones, Dutch translation the bad ones. Dutch translation Simple as that. 0:54:17.2 Dutch translation The good ones are normally- the Buddha says the human life, Dutch translation there’s something called demi-god life/realm Dutch translation and there’s the samsaric god’s realm. Dutch translation That god is with a small g, not big capital g. Dutch translation So Buddha called, these are the good lives. 0:54:58.0 Dutch translation

Then they have something called hell realm, Dutch translation which we are very familiar with in West too, Dutch translation and there’s something called hungry ghost realm Dutch translation and then there’s the animal realm Dutch translation which we see. Dutch translation So that’s how Buddha basically divided 6 realms. 0:55:30.5 Dutch translation Where we travel, Dutch translation presume identity, resume or presume or perceive identity, Dutch translation becoming citizens of the different realms. Dutch translation So according to the Buddha, these are the realms we travel around all the time. Dutch translation Sometimes up, Dutch translation maybe the peak of the samsaric joy Dutch translation, sometimes down Dutch translation the bottom of the hell realm’s misery Dutch translation then in between. Dutch translation

It’s like our life itself. 0:56:36.1 Dutch translation Sometimes high, joy, Dutch translation [sings] and sometimes [dry?] Dutch translation and miserable Dutch translation , don’t want to see anybody, you might close the window curtains Dutch translation , you don’t want answer the telephone, Dutch translation don’t want to open the door if somebody rings you. 0:57:14.6 Dutch translation Very similar. Dutch translation This is within the life we experience. Dutch translation Then the different life, we experience the same thing. Dutch translation

So Buddha basically identified that as suffering. Dutch translation So when he says I discovered the truth, and then people said ‘What did you discover?’, he said ‘Suffering’. Dutch translation That’s what we have. 0:58:00.6 Dutch translation Right? Dutch translation Or wrong? Dutch translation It’s right. Dutch translation So if you left it as it is, the process is like a mechanical system. You know when you see those clocks, when you wind them and then one clicks, the other pushes and time goes, right? Dutch translation Like that, just like that, our life goes. Dutch translation Sometimes the Western culture will also tell you that. Dutch translation

I was amazed to see a soap opera called ‘Days of our life’. 0:59:23.0 Dutch translation [Laughter] Not only the melodrama of people’s life they’re showing but even the signal itself, you know there’s two big point of- some kind of bottle thing where they have sand and they put upside down and the sand goes from the one to the other. Dutch translation This is exactly how our life is going. Dutch translation And if we leave it without observing, without doing something, it goes on. Dutch translation Like we do. Dutch translation The time goes. Dutch translation the clock ticks. Dutch translation Days change. Dutch translation Weeks change. Dutch translation Months change. Dutch translation Years change. Dutch translation You become older. Dutch translation Become grey hair. Dutch translation Wear glasses. Dutch translation Adds up, adds up and next we hold a stick Dutch translation and next time we fall down. [Laughter] 1:01:04.8 Dutch translation Then become another baby. Dutch translation

Whether it’s going to be little sweet human baby or another baby with little horns or hood on there. Dutch translation That’s what the Buddha says, you never know. During the process called death Dutch translation it’s like you caught in the wind Dutch translation like the feather of the bird caught in the wind. Wind carries, feather can do nothing. 1:01:56.7 Dutch translation Or that of the tree leaves during the autumn. Dutch translation Those storms come and they take the leaves. Dutch translation Collect a few of them together in some corner. Dutch translation Some period. Dutch translation And then another will take, you know. 1:02:28.4 Dutch translation They’re scattered all over. Dutch translation landed in the different areas. Dutch translation That’s why we don’t recognise each other. Dutch translation And that’s why we don’t remember. Dutch translation The shock Dutch translation cuts the process. Dutch translation And wherever you landed 1:03:02.9 Dutch translation and the next time when you’re landing the same area Dutch translation the time gap Dutch translation so you don’t remember. Dutch translation That’s exactly why. Dutch translation

And why- now this is interesting, look here. Why you don’t remember, why you have that shock, is because of our delusions. 1:03:43.6 Dutch translation This is because of our negative emotions. Dutch translation And negative emotions contribute for even in our usual life we know. Dutch translation If we are so upset, we forget things to do. Dutch translation Don’t we? Dutch translation We do. If we are so happy ‘di di di’, we will also forget things to do. Dutch translation The swing of the emotions, up or down contributes for the forgettingness. 1:04:41.5 Dutch translation It is clear to our life within ourself the days of our life is clear in there. Dutch translation And that is clear enough hint for us to see the big swing will make us forget. Dutch translation Lost memory. Dutch translation Right?

The memory is one of our positive mental faculties or whatever, emotional, or whatever it is. 1:05:41.4 Dutch translation And that’s weakness in that. Dutch translation Some people have a bigger, better memory, some people have a shorter, smaller and weaker memory. Dutch translation That because our mental capacity is not equal. Dutch translation And why our mental capacity is not equal because we have not trained our mind. Dutch translation So no training, no development. 1:06:34.1 Dutch translation Are you agree with me or you disagree with me? Dutch translation It’s true in our life. Dutch translation Within the life itself, we see that. Dutch translation

So exactly what’s happening in our life, if you put the bigger picture of life after life, it’s the same thing. Dutch translation The only thing we cannot imagine is becoming animal ourself. Dutch translation Or falling into hell realm Dutch translation , or taking rebirth in the samsaric gods realm. 1:07:29.7 Dutch translation These are beyond our imagine. Dutch translation Because you are not told. Dutch translation And we have not seen anybody you came back and shake hands with that person yet. Dutch translation So otherwise, it’s the reality. Dutch translation So that is our situation. 1:08:03.1 Dutch translation Now Buddha also says we can make a difference. Dutch translation Because our life, the life what we have, is a tremendous capacity. Dutch translation We have better capacity that animals. Dutch translation

That’s why one of the point when they go ‘tel’. Dutch translation We have time. Dutch translation We have opportunity. Dutch translation We have capability. Dutch translation Imagine if we are dog. 1:08:59.7 Dutch translation Or cat. Dutch translation No matter how much you tell me your cat is intelligent, Dutch translation your cat is not so intelligent as you are. Dutch translation If so, give the car key. Dutch translation Let the cat drive and go buy food and cook and bring it home. Dutch translation So this limitation. Dutch translation Otherwise, it is another being in there. Dutch translation Same as ourself, Dutch translation they born Dutch translation , they grow Dutch translation , they get sick Dutch translation , they die Dutch translation , they feel the pain Dutch translation , they feel the joy Dutch translation , both times they will simply say meow. Dutch translation That’s all they can say. 1:10:08.4 Dutch translation So the limitations, can you see it? Another being, same being, limitation. Dutch translation

And that’s why this life is important Dutch translation , precious Dutch translation , having opportunity Dutch translation , capability Dutch translation . So when Buddha said ‘tel’, it’s right. Dutch translation And you may tell me ‘Oh this is human quality’. Dutch translation Exactly. It is human quality I’m talking about. 1:10:52.8 Dutch translation We will appreciate the quality when we see the possibility that the next baby of ourself- not baby as children but ourself as baby- could be little kitten. Dutch translation How cute it might be. Dutch translation But I don’t like to be exactly- that’s what we have in mind, right? Dutch translation That’s not what exactly I have in mind, right? Dutch translation So that is possible, according to Buddha. Dutch translation Some people will say we’re human beings, we are going up, we are going better, we will only go better. 1:11:59.1 Dutch translation I wish it’s true. Dutch translation

But up and down in our life is usual. Dutch translation It’s not strange. Dutch translation Up and down in every part of our life. Dutch translation Our mood Dutch translation , 1:12:33.7 [?], relationship Dutch translation , work Dutch translation , everything Dutch translation . Everything, everything, every single part, even practice, meditation, all of them. 1:12:48.7 Zheng zhung is our usual way of life. Dutch translation Is there something strange in that? Dutch translation No. Dutch translation

You have, I have every single, each one of us will tell you with our own experience. 1:13:13.7 Dutch translation And why do you expect different in our bigger life? Dutch translation We can hope for 1997 is better than 1996, we all do. Dutch translation But nobody will expect 1997 doesn’t have zigzag. Dutch translation Right? We sort of taking granted, the elder that you become, it will tell you ‘Listen to the old man’, ok. Dutch translation That’s my old man tell. Dutch translation

So the difference between you are a cute kitten and yourself. Dutch translation Capability Dutch translation , intelligence Dutch translation , understanding Dutch translation . These are the qualities. Dutch translation This is what ‘tel’ means. 1:14:45.1 Dutch translation Then go another life even below that. Dutch translation The hungry ghost. Dutch translation Always hungry. Dutch translation Can’t eat food. Dutch translation Doesn’t go through here. Dutch translation There is a karmic knot Dutch translation on the throat. Dutch translation Even the food available, they can’t eat. Dutch translation And that’s why karma is not so kind always. Dutch translation So can’t do much. 1:15:36.3 Dutch translation You know what [?] the Dalai Lama describe the hungry ghost? Dutch translation Tor ris soon… He says they have a big stomach like mountain. Dutch translation

You know how much the mountain can take in, you not seen the sizes big mountain, you know they can take that much food in. Dutch translation But throat is choked. 1:16:09.5 Dutch translation There’s no way to go. Dutch translation So as a result, the limbs and body are thinner than straws. Dutch translation So when even nowadays, even when they draw ghost, they do that- they have a big body with the thin funny hands straw, some kind of human- even those brilliant Western artists who have no idea about the Eastern religion, sometimes they draw that, even the computers they draw this. It is the human inclination tells them. Dutch translation

They may have a better intelligence here and understanding and capability better than animal realms Dutch translation , but their sufferings are too intensified, they can’t think of anything else except getting some food. Dutch translation And when we are hungry, I mean in the West you people are like you never go hungry anyway. 1:17:57.3 Dutch translation The hunger is not known at least after the World War 2. Anyway, the hunger’s not known in the West. Dutch translation But when you starving, you can’t think anything else except food. Dutch translation So those hungry ghost people are- their priority is looking for food. Dutch translation And how to eat them in. Dutch translation How best way they can get through. Dutch translation So that’s their main job. Dutch translation So they spend 24 hours to figuring out 1:18:53.1 Dutch translation a) to get food Dutch translation , b) how to eat Dutch translation , c) how to digest Dutch translation .

So that’s why it’s called suffering. Dutch translation It is the karma. Dutch translation So when you look from that angle, we have time, we have opportunity. Dutch translation Likewise, the hell realm too. 1:19:29.9 Dutch translation Likewise up in the joy lands Dutch translation They’re so happy. Dutch translation They’re high in the trip. Dutch translation They won’t talk to you Dutch translation , they not going to answer your phone calls Dutch translation , they’re not going to open the door for you Dutch translation. So they’re sunk in there, sleeping on the cloud Dutch translation so they don’t have time.

They have no opportunity Dutch translation Opportunities are totally occupied by Dutch translation the joy sink. Dutch translation So that’s what the Buddha called ‘tel’. Dutch translation Can you see it? 1:20:35.8 Dutch translation And that exact same picture of the bigger picture what I drew is valuable in our life, in our human level too. Dutch translation Some people have too much suffering, they can’t think anything else. Dutch translation Can you imagine those kids who are starving in Sudan and all these African nations? Dutch translation Thinking of how to make difference in the- you know, like what we do. Dutch translation Not possible. Dutch translation And war in Bosnia. Dutch translation They can’t think that either. Dutch translation They don’t have opportunity. 1:22:04.2 Dutch translation

Then those rich, conservative yuppies- they won’t think either. Dutch translation They don’t have opportunity Dutch translation truly. We do. Dutch translation We are different. Dutch translation We are better off. Dutch translation It’s really true. Dutch translation We have the chance, we have the opportunity, we can make difference even for them. Dutch translation So that’s the quality what we have. Dutch translation So we should appreciate 1:22:55.4 Dutch translation embrace Dutch translation , don’t reject Dutch translation , don’t think ‘I’m hopeless’ Dutch translation , don’t think ‘I’m useless’ Dutch translation , don’t ever think ‘I blew it’ Dutch translation . That’s our life. Dutch translation It’s better. Dutch translation Better than yuppies, Dutch translation better than junkies, Dutch translation yeah, really. Can’t you see it? Dutch translation Better than suffering. Dutch translation Better than those too busy ones. Dutch translation So we have ‘tel’. Dutch translation Make best use of it. 1:23:43.5 Dutch translation

There’s all different type of eating, different type of things. Dutch translation And also the time is right. Dutch translation Can you imagine 60, 70 years ago, even 100, what do we have spiritual path in the West? Dutch translation The great tradition from the Judeo-Christian tradition, the old, great tradition has gone down. Dutch translation I had a Christian-Buddhist dialogue in Cleveland few years ago Dutch translation with couple of ministers 1:25:05.0 Dutch translation and one is bigger than the minister of the [?]. No, not bishop, lower than bishop. Something in between. The person is probably becoming bishop or something. Whatever it is. Dutch translation

So his question is ‘Why so many Jewish and Catholic people are looking for Buddhism?’ Dutch translation And then I said, ‘I don’t know’ but somehow the conversation came down and what I told him is there is a tremendous amount of corruption in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The corruptions have taken place. Dutch translation Then he asked me, ‘Don’t you have a corruption in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and monasteries?’, I said ‘Yes, tremendous amount of corruption.’ Dutch translation And then he said ‘Then why difference?’ Dutch translation I said the corruption is there at the same time, the sincerity and honesty of practice continued and what I’ve noticed is the corruption’s become so powerful and so that the real, genuine Christian practitioners- Judeo-Christian practitioners- are put aside, the corrupted ministers and corrupted people are taking over the whole church, I told him.

1:27:16.6 Dutch translation There are about 800 to 1000 people attending. Dutch translation That’s in Cleveland. Dutch translation And then he told me ‘You can get away with this’. Dutch translation He says ‘I can’t, tomorrow they will call me in the office and say ‘Why, why you said that?’’ Dutch translation He said ‘I have to do my explanation’. Dutch translation So it’s true to certain extent. Dutch translation It’s not that Judeo-Christian is worse and Buddhism is better, 1:28:27.6 Dutch translation But as far as I’m concerned, the Tibetan tradition, is living tradition Dutch translation and Judeo-Christian tradition, you don’t make sense during their lifetime. This is joke. [Laughter]

Audience: I don’t get it.

Rimpoche: Mother Teresa is not yet Saint Teresa. Dutch translation Hopefully she will become saint when she dies. Dutch translation So anyway, this is joke, I’m sorry. Dutch translation But what I meant is the spiritual development in life 1:29:47.9 Dutch translation and you share that with people. Dutch translation People gain. Dutch translation They share with others. Dutch translation So that’s what I mean by living tradition. Dutch translation That’s only difference I think. Dutch translation But again, I don’t mean there’s no developed person in Judeo-Christian tradition Dutch translation and I’m sure there is a lot. 1:30:29.8 Dutch translation And I’m sure they will help. Dutch translation But as such, my main point is, as such, 100 years or no, maybe that’s too far, maybe 50, 60, 70 years ago, this is very rare. Dutch translation

And today you have every spiritual traditions Dutch translation available Dutch translation in the West. Dutch translation Judeo-Christian of course, Dutch translation Hindu-Buddhist, Dutch translation Muslim tradition, Dutch translation Sikhs Dutch translation , you can name it, Jains. Dutch translation Everybody open their shop. Dutch translation They don’t close at 6 o’clock. 1:31:44.3 Dutch translation So this is opportunity. Dutch translation

Earlier when the Tibetans are searching for Buddhism, Dutch translation they have to sacrifice life after life, Dutch translation not by fighting a war, Dutch translation but trying to get over to India, Dutch translation try to learn, Dutch translation try to develop, Dutch translation try to bring it back, Dutch translation including the rulers and kings, their lives are gone, wasted. Dutch translation For that. Dutch translation

In Nijmegen today it’s all in yellow page. Dutch translation The Jewel Heart shop is open. 1:32:51.1 Dutch translation Maitreya shop is open. Dutch translation Geshe [Kunchog’s?] shop is open. Dutch translation And I’m sure there is 1:33:06.6 [Dharma, Dato...?] I mean even from the Tibetan rigpa and all of them are open. Dutch translation That’s only from Tibetan Buddhism. Dutch translation And then how many Hindu shops are open? Dutch translation And how many churches are open? Dutch translation And how many synagogues are open? Dutch translation

So it’s opportunity. Dutch translation Each one of them tell you they’re all aware. Dutch translation The goal is to make the individual better, Dutch translation kinder, Dutch translation and make difference in your life. Dutch translation Meaning not only the living period, but in that swaying period, or stormy period, what you call the death. Dutch translation