Archive Result

19960413GRJHNLLLFC (2)

‘Tel’. Dutch translation So that’s what it means- having time, having opportunity. Dutch translation So if you make yourself not to take the opportunity by becoming yuppie or junkie, Dutch translation that’s your choice. Dutch translation I guess that’s about it. We have to stop here. It’s lunchtime. 0:00:54.8 Dutch translation So we’ll continue after lunch and continuously talk if we have time and opportunity what we can do. Dutch translation From the Tibetan Buddhist point only. Dutch translation Because that’s only I know. Dutch translation You know why I’m saying that? I’ve said last night also, I’ve been saying that, you know why? Just before came down here, came to Europe, I went to Nebraska. Dutch translation In the university of Nebraska and Jewel Heart together, they have a public talk there. Dutch translation

And there’s one guy came up with a big question and stand in the middle of everybody on the microphone. He said ‘I’ll agree everything whatever you say but why do you contribute this to Buddha only? Because Jesus thought the same thing, Prophet Muhammad taught the same thing that he got 10 different names’ and he said ‘The books and everything and this and this’ and he said and he gave sort of a long 5 minutes question. 0:02:24.8 Dutch translation My answer is, I said ‘I don’t know because I only know the Tibetan Buddhist background, that’s only I know’. Dutch translation And that’s reason I keep on saying it, it’s still stuck somewhere. Dutch translation Ok, anyway, have nice lunch. Dutch translation And we’ll see you at 2. Thank you. Dutch translation

So any questions on ‘tel’?

Audience: Part one of the question is, what exactly is it that we incarnate since we have no real self? But we do have a consciousness and as far as she understood, this consciousness is composed of perceptions. So if she understands it correctly, if we die, then we have again perceptions. So that would mean that you again have a consciousness when you’re dying and if that is the case, does that mean that while dying, you also create karma?

Rimpoche: That’s the total question?

Audience: Kind of.

Rimpoche: Well there are three or four parts in that. The first is saying if there’s no self, how can we take rebirth. That’s first question. 0:06:48.4 Dutch translation Very good thinking, I mean extremely good thinking. Dutch translation When I first saw you a couple of years ago, maybe year or two ago I thought you will think very seriously and you did. Dutch translation Ok, when you say selfless and all this, I don’t think it’s not saying there’s no self. Dutch translation I think they’re talking about something- some perception of self. Dutch translation I don’t think they’re saying there’s no self. 0:08:04.8 Dutch translation And that’s why one of the most important- then if you tell me there is self, self is inherent existence then I have to say no. Dutch translation But the point is when you looking at the emptiness or self empty of being, Dutch translation and they said the most difficult part, the first and most difficult part is to find object of negation. Dutch translation So it is the most difficult, the difficult part is finding the object of negation. Dutch translation So if they’re simply saying there’s no self, then there’s no difficulty of finding the object of negation. 0:09:29.6 Dutch translation

So what’s happening is I think there’s perception, how we perceive individual existence, somehow there is the problem rather than self itself. Dutch translation Traditional Tibetan teachings will say self what you accept and self what you negate is two different things. Dutch translation Self what you accept is the self that comes from the previous life, living here and going into the future life. Dutch translation And self you negate is the self which you perceiving as inherent existence. 0:10:52.6 Dutch translation And at this point, it is very hard to make it really clear. Dutch translation So what I understand selfless doesn’t say there’s no self at all. Dutch translation

Having said that, some people may like to do a convoluted ‘ya, ya ok the selfish thought and self interest thought’ and if you think that way, that also they are not talking about it. Dutch translation So that’s why Buddha says it is very difficult for us to understand emptiness extremely. Dutch translation Because we don’t know what we are talking about- empty of what? 0:12:24.6 Dutch translation I believe that is the difficulty. Dutch translation So it is very important not to draw conclusion ahead. Dutch translation So there is a consciousness which continue. Dutch translation Not only that, that continuing consciousness is also impermanent. Dutch translation And that makes it even more difficult. Dutch translation

So people give you interesting example like putting ice cubes together or mala string together on the strings, things like that type of modern, easy, examples but I’m not very sure if these examples are really correct or not. Some people say ‘Why it’s like putting ice cubes together?’ because there’s a continuation of sameness of water but still the ice cubes are separated. Or malas put together because there’s a string inside but that’s put one on top of another. That’s sort of example people give but I’m not sure whether they’re correct example or not. 0:14:07.7 Dutch translation But what I’m sure of it is the continuation of one consciousness yet separation within each. Dutch translation Like our life. 0:15:18.4 Dutch translation

If you look in our life, just look in 1996, from the 1st January till today, 13th of April, right? Dutch translation And if you look at this life and the person as yourself, Dutch translation the person of the January 1st 0:16:44.2 Dutch translation is not the person of 13th April Dutch translation and so does in between Dutch translation because person of 2nd January is not the person of 1st January. Dutch translation Yet it is the continuation, it is the same person. 0:17:12.4 Dutch translation But here what you change is the day’s been changed. Dutch translation And you say ‘I didn’t change, only the days change’ Dutch translation but that might not be true. Dutch translation The individuals might have changed. Dutch translation What you like on the 1st, you may not like on 13th. Dutch translation Or 10th, change your mind too. So but yet there is continuing. Dutch translation

So 0:18:00.3 Trungpa, Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche called that as continuation of discontinuity. Dutch translation And unfortunately, whatever he had experienced before, dealing with Western minds, whatever he dealt with and explored and everything, and I’m going through the same thing. Dutch translation Unfortunately, we didn’t get to talk much before he died. Dutch translation So I don’t have to relive and reexperience all this. Because first, I sort of really didn’t disagree, I didn’t agree with him many things, beginning. Dutch translation It’s a little strange. Dutch translation So I thought maybe it’s different between the 0:19:33.8 Gelugpas and the Nyingmapas or Gejupas or something… or something Dutch translation but what happens when you working with Western people and their mind and I begin to realise, begin to appreciate what he had done so much. Dutch translation By the time when I begin to appreciate, he’s gone. Dutch translation

So anyway, he calls that continuation of discontinuity. 0:20:17.7 Dutch translation And if you think those words, and it makes a lot of sense. Dutch translation That probably covers most of the question. Is there third point there I didn’t cover? Dutch translation

Audience: She first wants to rethink the question.

Rinpoche: That’s fine. Dutch translation Anything else? Anybody? Yes sir.

Audience: From this question you were talking about the self 0:21:21.2 [?] comes from ignorance?

Audience: So this self which has to be negated, is that the self that comes from ignorance?

Rinpoche: The problem is we don’t know which self it is. Dutch translation The delicate point is we cannot negate ourself. Dutch translation Yet we cannot accept the inherent self. Dutch translation So there’s no easy solution in between. If it’s easy solution, then everybody can talk and we can understand and everybody can see emptiness, we don’t and that is the reason why. 0:22:24.3 Dutch translation In our normal studies, whether it’s here in the West, Europe, with the Jewel Heart system or traditional old Tibetan great monasteries such as Debung or all this, what we do is we don’t deal that subject first, though everybody would like to know, but we don’t deal that first. Dutch translation

What happened is, you deal with the methods. 0:23:21.2 Dutch translation Method. Methods meaning such as methods of purification, such as methods to be rejoiced, such as methods of developing stages and all these methods we will deal, or love or compassion, these are all called methods. Dutch translation What happened is when the methods builds up, Dutch translation then self sort of level of the self individual changes. 0:24:16.0 Dutch translation And then the capacity of the individual- I’m not saying that we are not capacity, we will be- but the capacity of the individual will also change. Dutch translation Then individual, the blessings and the support of the enlightened beings and the lineage et cetera, will also work together. Dutch translation Then something happens and opens up. Dutch translation

In the case of historical, like Tsongkhapa, Dutch translation it is said that Tsongkhapa was reading a commentary on the Nagarjuna’s root text written by early Indian scholar called 0:25:31.2 Buddhapalita. Dutch translation The book is also called Buddhapalita, the person’s name is also called Buddhapalita. Dutch translation So while he was reading the 18th chapter 0:26:01.8 Dutch translation and he supposed to be understood, discovered the emptiness. Dutch translation So but that’s not his first reading Dutch translation it was stated he read 300 times or something. Dutch translation So it happens to be that moment and that period and that point. Dutch translation

So it is the wisdom, it is the emptiness, it is analytical, it is the great thinking plus the mystical points combine together and works, I believe. 0:26:55.3 Dutch translation So at this moment when we talk about which self is this, we can go on and discuss, we can analyse a lot but can we really get at what it is? This is maybe a little difficult because normally in the West you really want clear cut and cleanness, this is it, nothing more, nothing less, here it is, we really want that but this point is difficult to get. Dutch translation Even you get it Dutch translation , the level on which you get it on again differs. Dutch translation

Basically there’s five paths in the Buddhist normal teaches but there is Teravadan or Mahayana or even Vajrayana, five paths. Dutch translation It’s first one is called path of accumulation of merit Dutch translation , second path is called path of action Dutch translation , third path is called path of seeing Dutch translation and the fourth path is called path of meditation 0:28:50.7 Dutch translation and the fifth path is called path of no more learning. Dutch translation

So now the first path, path of accumulation of merit also category, also three categories Dutch translation - small, medium and big. [Laughter] Dutch translation No, no I’m not joking, it’s really called path of accumulation small, path of accumulation medium, path of accumulation big. Even the first one’s divided into three. The second path is also divided into four, four different levels, this is how you develop yourself. Four different levels. 0:29:49.6 Dutch translation It’s called heat, peak, patience and best. Dutch translation And then past of seeing is also divided in the preliminary, actual meditative [observation/absorption?] and aftermath. Dutch translation

Then the path of meditative level divided into nine. Dutch translation End of that is no more learning. Dutch translation So all this divisions are based in the capacity of observing emptiness. 0:31:25.1 Dutch translation So when we are talking about Lamrim or when you are talking about precious human life or embracing it, impermanent and daily dealings with life, and even we are talking about four noble truths and even we are talking about love, compassion and bodhimind, we are not even reach the first level. Dutch translation These are the more method points. Dutch translation So that’s why I say, it’s not easy to find it. Dutch translation And also even you find it, way and how you discover it makes big difference. 0:32:42.9 Dutch translation

I just said this just because to give you idea because in the West, people will simply say ‘I’d like to know what is that emptiness? Empty of what? I want in one sentence’. The answer is not going to be. Dutch translation Or I can also give you an interesting idea, not wrong information, of something called empty of independent, permanent existence. Dutch translation And that will give you some idea, it is not wrong but absolutely not correct either. 0:34:06.6 Dutch translation So I wanted to share that with you, sort of basically begin at independent, permanent self, free of it. Dutch translation So when you hear ‘selfless’, you can think that way. Dutch translation That way you have and idea of empty of what. Dutch translation Permanent, not permanent. Dutch translation

When I say no permanent, you’re getting the idea of changing. Dutch translation When I say no independent, you get the idea of dependent. 0:35:20.6 Dutch translation Dependent here means dependent on the terms and conditions and the parts and the parcels and components. Dutch translation Like five aggregates such as form, sound, smell, taste, touch, whatever. Dutch translation So things like that. Dutch translation Dependent. So when I say- so you don’t have to feel bad, it’s not beyond our reach, don’t think about that. We sort of begin with the level here, so independent, permanent, selfless. 0:36:36.9 Dutch translation It also gives you the idea of emptiness, some. Dutch translation Not absolutely clear. Dutch translation But you analyse, think. Dutch translation You have something to hold on, something to understand. Dutch translation Something to go in deeper. Dutch translation Get it? Dutch translation

But don’t think that’s it. 0:37:29.6 Dutch translation You cannot say emptiness means empty of self… whatever it is, you can’t say that, you know. Dutch translation You know, Indians normally complain, in India- I used to live in India- Indians normally complain, they say the Western scholars normally come and visit 3 days in India and become experts and write book. Dutch translation So I suppose you can’t do that on emptiness. Dutch translation Ok so, that also goes together, both questions anyway. I hope it benefits a number of people too. So it really shows, one way we talk, buddhahood, enlightened beings, it’s like a next chair. 0:38:45.4 Dutch translation

But on the other hand, we’re talking about way out there, you know. Dutch translation That’s the way it is. Dutch translation What to do? Anyway, let’s deal with our ‘tel’. Dutch translation ‘Tel’ is actually the first step of method. Dutch translation So you begin to know what we are talking about. Dutch translation You have no idea what you’re getting into it anyway. 0:39:42.8 Dutch translation But I believe it delivers good result. Dutch translation Even every level. Dutch translation Somebody else raised hand.

Audience: When we have so many opportunities and capacities, why are we so attractive to negativity? Dutch translation

Rinpoche: I have a very simple answer for that. 0:40:18.4 Dutch translation We’re addicted. Like people who smoke cigarettes all the time Dutch translation and have got sick Dutch translation keep on coughing Dutch translation and still they smoke cigarette. Dutch translation You see that right? The person knows, the doctor knows, family knows, everybody will say ‘Cigarette’s bad, don’t smoke, terrible’, he’s still going, still with cigarette in hands. Dutch translation So the addiction is there. Dutch translation We are addicted to the negative emotions. Dutch translation

How many times we tell to ourself ‘I am not going to get angry’? 0:41:16.0 Dutch translation ‘I’m not going to get jealous’ Dutch translation ‘I’m not going to be attached’ Dutch translation How many times we tell ourself? Dutch translation And everytime we find doing the opposite. Dutch translation Everytime we realise we got angry, we are jealous, we are attached. Dutch translation So simply this is addiction. 0:41:49.4 Dutch translation Can we work against addiction? Dutch translation Yes you can. Dutch translation You tell someone not to smoke cigarette Dutch translation and if that person has will, Dutch translation they can do it. Dutch translation

But I must tell you my life story too. Dutch translation When I was recognised as incarnate lama and sent to the monastery, at the age of four or five, now I realise it’s even at 3. Dutch translation You know, my brother, from Tibet sent me a photo of me, baby, with a monk’s robe. 0:42:55.4 Dutch translation And with nanny. Dutch translation Grabbing the- what do we call it?- torma, it’s a sweet one, sweet potato and puts a lot of sugar on top. Dutch translation Not only grab but mouth completely full. Dutch translation So that picture showed that I was a little over three. Dutch translation So since then they put me in the monastery. Dutch translation So I have no idea of not so much of anything else. 0:44:02.9 Dutch translation

So the curiosity in the mind, always wondered ‘what else?’. Dutch translation So always wanted to know ‘What else there? What else there?’ you know, ‘What else there?’ Dutch translation So think some kind of fantastic, heavenly feeling somewhere. Dutch translation So by the age of twenty, between nineteen and twenty, I’ve been kick out, no, sort of between 18 and 19 now, no 19 and 20, I’ve been kick out of Tibet. Dutch translation Then came in India and still remain as a monk for few more years, 4, 5 years. Dutch translation Then I’ve always, you know, like teenage rebelled. 0:45:24.4 Dutch translation Because you are sort of forced in the monastery, you’re forced to sit there, you’re forced to do all this. Dutch translation

So I always wondered ‘What else?’ Dutch translation So I became a lay person, broke my vows, became a lay person by age of 24, 25- teenager rebelled a little too late. Dutch translation So hoping to find something heavenly feeling behind the cigarette. Dutch translation Behind the alcohol. 0:46:22.6 Dutch translation So I became addicted for cigarette. Dutch translation I smoked for 13 years. Dutch translation And terrible, strong Indian cigarette called Panama. Dutch translation If I smoke, the 0:46:59.8 [?] would have been ok. Dutch translation And the Panama is a terrible one. Dutch translation

So much so that by 10 years time I begin to realise I’m smoking three and a half packets a day which could be like 20 in the packet. Dutch translation Normally everybody 0:47:48.1 [?] Dutch translation And when the people will call you ‘Rimpoche, this and this, you feel very shy but… [?]. Dutch translation Then I have to cut one day. Dutch translation And I did cut one day, straightaway. Dutch translation The main thing is why I have to cut, but by that time I’m already teaching because those my teachers gradually got me back and get into teachings and then my teachers like 0:48:34.1 [Trijang?] Rimpoche and Ling Rimpoche, these are the two teachers you see over here and these are the two most important people that brought me gradually back. You know they never scold me. Dutch translation They never told me ‘You’re wrong, you’re bad, you’re terrible’, never. Dutch translation A number of times they sort of seriously or semi-seriously asked me ‘Did you find some kind of thing that you’re looking for?’. [Laughter] Dutch translation That’s about it. Dutch translation But then gradually they made me come back and do things. 0:49:30.7 Dutch translation

The works that I have to do is Dharma-oriented. Dutch translation They will talk to Dalai Lama and say ‘Oh give him this job and let him do this and that’ and sort of, you know, 0:49:48.3 next way and long way and put you back. Dutch translation So that is how I get back. Then one day I have to go, one day I have to go with one of the big lamas, the head of all [Degungka?] tradition and His Holiness [Jawa Degumba?] Dutch translation Jawa Degumba, head of Degumba- just like Karmapa type of thing. Dutch translation Karmapa’s the head of 0:50:39.4 [Kamagaji?], Degumba’s the head of [Degumbaji?]. Dutch translation

He need to go to Ladakh, Dutch translation and he had just came from Tibet. Dutch translation And he did not really have much opportunity for study in Tibet because by the time in 1959 we been kicked out, he’s probably 10 or 11 years old. Dutch translation So when he need to go to Ladakh as the big 0:51:27.0 Jawa Degumba Dutch translation So he said Labrang and family, he asked me to go with him Dutch translation and visiting all monastery after monastery, place after place, where you have to give different teachings, where you have to compose things to hang on the monastery walls and do all these things, they ask me to go accompany him to assist him. 0:52:02.9 Dutch translation

So people in Ladakh, if you smoke, they think it’s terrible, it’s the worst thing- you are a criminal. It is sort of outcasted, only the Muslims smoke in Ladakh. Dutch translation So it’s their culture. Dutch translation So I have to stay in Ladakh at least 3-4 months. Dutch translation So I said, ‘Ok that’s the end of the cigarette, I’ll stop.’ Dutch translation And at first I thought I’ll finish the packet Dutch translation and second I said well if I want to finish the packet then I want another one. Dutch translation So if you cut, you cut now. 0:53:20.5 Dutch translation And often you don’t want to finish that one single cigarette what you’re smoking. Dutch translation Put it down. Dutch translation So then you nevermind. Dutch translation

Then first few minutes and hours, it’s very hard. Dutch translation You always want it. Dutch translation But I keep on thinking, ok I went through with 15 or 20 mins or half an hour or one hour with difficulties, why do I want to waste that achievement of 1 hour for a matter of just one little pop? Dutch translation That idea continued and at the stake of what you’re going to pop up in the cigarette, it’s going to become 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, day, week, month. 0:54:42.3 Dutch translation

So this side is very heavy of what you going to blow, is heavier and heavier. Dutch translation This side is becoming meaningless. Dutch translation And that’s how you cut addictions. My example, I’m not saying I’m proud about it but when you make your mind, you cut it. Dutch translation That’s way I believe how you cut your addictions too. Dutch translation That addiction, that’s the way you cut addiction of anger, attachment, it’s simple right? Dutch translation But it’s not simple. Dutch translation This is external addiction. 0:56:07.3 Dutch translation

The internal addiction’s even worse. Dutch translation You know, William [Brose?], the famous American poet, old guy called William [Brose?] Dutch translation called me two years ago Dutch translation and asked me ‘If I die, what will happen my addictions?’ Dutch translation He’s talking about the marijuana and all this, you know, I don’t know what else. Dutch translation So then he said ‘Why?’, I said ‘Nothing, nothing will happen’. Dutch translation and he said ‘Why?’, Dutch translation I said because it’s the body. Dutch translation You’re going to leave your body here, Dutch translation you’re not going to take your body in your future life so don’t worry about it. 0:57:40.1 Dutch translation

Then I said ‘But your temper’- he’s known for angry, anger, temper- and so ‘your temper, your anger, that you have to watch, that will make big difference’ Dutch translation Actually the day before I came here, this time, that was Friday, Saturday. Saturday again William [Brose?] called 0:58:15.2 [my place?] because Allan Ginsberg was there so he talked to Allan and then he talked to me. He said ‘Two years ago, you said don’t worry about my addictions, body addictions, but worry about anger, I’m trying my best and I’m not making much progress’. [Laughter] Dutch translation And he said especially he had a stroke so he was more angry with himself. Dutch translation So that’s it. Internal addiction is more harder to deal than that of external addictions. Dutch translation

So how difficulty the external addictions that you- difficult to deal with it right? We know. 0:59:42.6 Dutch translation So the internal is even more difficult. Dutch translation But that doesn’t mean we give up. Dutch translation No matter how many times we fell down Dutch translation , everytime we fell down, we have to make sure we get up. Dutch translation And if you give up and lie down in the street when you fell down then you lie down and the cars will come and run over you and even the cows will walk over you. Dutch translation But make sure we get up. Dutch translation So that we can stand on, you know. Dutch translation I believe this is our level, how we’re going to work. 1:00:36.5 Dutch translation The opportunity help us to do that. Dutch translation And also give you the method. Dutch translation So I’m sorry, I’ve been telling useless story of my own for long time, so that’s the answer to your question anyway. Dutch translation It was important question and I hope it help. Dutch translation Any other questions? Dutch translation Sir?

Audience: If I understand correctly, the question is reincarnation is one of the main points, one of the starting points for Buddhism. So, if you die, you leave your human body behind. Now his question is, a very long time ago, in history of the Earth, there were no human beings yet. There have been animals or other beings but that which incarnates and reincarnates, did that already exist at that time?

Rimpoche: I’m sure those dinosaurs must be ourselves. [Laughter] 1:02:37.5 Dutch translation We must have been dinosaurs before, you know. Dutch translation The point what he raised, I don’t think the reincarnate is a Buddhist point. Dutch translation But what meant is buddhists discussed that a lot. Dutch translation And I don’t think Buddhism’s built on the idea of incarnation either. Dutch translation Buddhism is built on taking refuge on Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Dutch translation But reincarnation is something that we deal by ourself all the time. 1:03:47.7 Dutch translation But very little known to us. Dutch translation

As I’ve been telling you earlier, a number of scientists, scientifically they see something happening, truly. I don’t know if they see life after life but they see some between previous life and now, they quite clearly see some connection. Dutch translation Until they find scientific explanation, they’re not going to say it. Dutch translation So the reality of life in my belief, it is same for everybody. Dutch translation It doesn’t have difference between East and West, black and white or yellow. I better put myself in yellow. 1:05:06.9 Dutch translation A being. Dutch translation Even between humans and non-humans. Dutch translation Animals or spirits or whatever. Dutch translation

It is interesting that you raised this question. Dutch translation Buddha was asked once, ‘Is there beginning of consciousness?’ Dutch translation and also the same thing they asked ‘Is there beginning of samsara?’ Dutch translation and his answer was ‘No’. Dutch translation So 1:06:16.6 ta yu ma… so Buddha says no beginning but there is end of individual samsara. Dutch translation So what does that mean? When they say no beginning? Dutch translation So no new being, right? If there is new being there has to be beginning. Dutch translation There’s no new being. So therefore, beings like us and we’re there right from the beginning.

Audience: But there is no beginning.

Rimpoche: Yeah, that means we’re there right from the beginning, whenever, whatever it is.

Audience: But there was no beginning.

Rimpoche: No beginning so therefore, there will be, whenever, whatever it is. 1:07:20.0 Dutch translation Oh this is expression, sorry. Don’t take literally. Beginning means when we’re there. That’s what it is. It’s an expression. So what happens is, whatever number we have, or whatever it is, it is still back and forth and round and circling and that’s what it is since there’s no new being. Dutch translation So is there end of existence of beings? No. Dutch translation Is there end of samsara? Yes. Dutch translation So what’s happening is, what Buddha says is the people who are in the samsara, uncontrolled, lack of freedom, taking rebirth one after another, can remove themselves from this block into free. 1:08:48.8 Dutch translation So that’s how it works, according to Buddha. I have no idea. Dutch translation Yeah, really that’s what they say. Dutch translation

So what’s happening is uplifting, development, so meaning picking ourself up from this block of slaves or whatever, you know. Picking ourselves up- when I say slaves don’t think of medieval European slaves, but I’m thinking you know, uncontrolled, lack of freedom for your own whatever it is, delusions or whatever it is. So picking them up and becoming a middle group and from the middle group, picking it up better group and from the better group its getting into the bodhisattva group, from there getting into the no more learning, enlightened group. So when your talking about life, we’re talking about every existence that’s called non-enlightened, enlightened, the human beings, animals, insects and from heaven to hell, everything we’re talking. 1:10:28.1 Dutch translation

It’s a funny idea, no more newborn. Dutch translation But that’s got to be, if there’s no beginning. Dutch translation And if there’s a beginning, then there’s a new one, you say ‘Hi, I begin here’. Dutch translation So that’s sort of automatically, how it works. Dutch translation So the numbers are limited. Dutch translation Whatever it is. Dutch translation So who goes where Dutch translation Is this. Dutch translation Oh, that’s my reading anyway. Dutch translation I can’t say my reading, that’s Buddha’s reading, sorry. Dutch translation That’s what I was told anyway. Dutch translation

So seeking freedom we call it, taking essence of life, don’t waste opportunity. 1:12:26.6 Dutch translation Because when your circling round in the life and certain areas you don’t have capability. Dutch translation If you become a dog or cat or something, you can’t even say ‘Om mani padme hum’ unless you are somebody else’s dog. I have a friend who says- did I tell that last week? Ok that’s good. Dutch translation [Laughter] That’s what it is. Dutch translation So opportunity here means we can think, analyse, we can even see, at least we been taught by the experienced people, where this uncontrolled, huge stream of tiny pushing, moving from the infant to kid, kid to young, young to matured to old and elder to old and dying and rebirth. Where is this coming from? Uncontrolled ones coming from negative emotions, we are told. 1:13:53.2 Dutch translation

Not only we are told, in our life we also begin to realise we are completely under control whether you are too happy or too sad or something, you can’t do many things. Dutch translation You forget everything. Dutch translation We not make decision not to do it. Dutch translation But we forgot. Dutch translation Either you are too high Dutch translation or too sad. Dutch translation That tells us how life is functioning. Dutch translation That tells us how the negative emotions take over. 1:15:15.6 Dutch translation So that way, get some idea how your [?] that way some idea we got how negative emotions cause the sufferings, at least even our own personal experience we can see it. Dutch translation

So when we say there’s an opportunity take it, meaning don’t be lazy. Dutch translation You hear all this different spiritual teachers talking, say ‘Don’t be lazy’. Dutch translation Didn’t you hear that? Yeah. Yeah, that’s right. ‘Don’t be lazy’ here means do something, whatever you could. 1:16:22.5 Dutch translation Because if you just sit, the time will go. Dutch translation The red carpet will be pulled under your leg. Dutch translation You don’t realise till you hit your bottom. Dutch translation So that’s what it is. Dutch translation And what to do? Oh, I’m supposed to stop here. 15 minutes to go out and get fresh air and indulge in your usual addiction. [Laughter] Dutch translation

Happy to answer, really. Dutch translation Sir, yeah?

Audience: He is wondering how a Dutch man or Dutch woman or any Western person behaves who has the state of mind of a hungry ghost, that is a person in situation that is plenty of food, yet having the state of mind of a hungry ghost.

Rimpoche: I don’t get it. You mean Dutch people don’t get hungry at all?

Audience: He thinks that, well actually he has always thought that, food or material things are just needs of being and if they are not there, that they can be replaced, for instance, by kindness.

Audience: The first thing is his statement. The statement is that in a country like Holland, where there is plenty of food, that someone with a state of mind of a hungry ghost will not be looking for food all the time but will probably be looking for other things, which he can’t get. After this statement, the question is if this statement is true, how will such a person behave? How will he manifest, in his or her behaviour?

Rimpoche: So the Dutch people don’t get hungry at all? That still stand there. 1:20:41.9 Dutch translation But you can’t eat Dutch translation even there’s a lot of food? Dutch translation There’s a beautiful cake, fruit bowl.

Audience: Where? [Laughter]

Rimpoche: In BMD, yesterday, Carli and I went for lunch and we saw on the road, we saw there’s a beautiful, fresh cheesecake poured with freshly cut strawberries and fruit and huge chunk of some kind of thing they put in there and it’s there but I can’t eat. I like it to eat, I like it, I look round, I went three times round. 1:21:59.4 Dutch translation There may be plenty to feed, some of the hungry ghosts are extremely rich. Dutch translation But somehow they cannot consume the food. Dutch translation But then basic principle, the hungry ghosts are not human beings. Dutch translation Certainly they are not Dutchmen. [Laughter] Dutch translation They’re not flying Dutchmen either. Dutch translation

So what happens, you know, at our level, right this moment, we happen to be a human being. Dutch translation And that of Dutch. 1:23:32.4 Dutch translation Yeah, really. It happens to be- what we say in Tibetan? Shatamaza? meaning on top of the leaf, there’s butter too. So not only a human being but also Dutch person. Dutch translation So that’s a fortune. Dutch translation Our karmic result. Dutch translation Why I say Dutch more than anybody else? Dutch translation Because tremendous amount of beautiful social service. Dutch translation Who else had it? Dutch translation Even in the United States, the world’s richest country or whatever it is. Dutch translation And if you are unemployed and getting social security, there’s some limit of 7 weeks or something and if you don’t get it within that, they’ll throw you off. Dutch translation

So it’s very fortunate, clean, 1:25:22.3 Dutch translation wonderful environment, Dutch translation not so many people are neither too rich Dutch translation and not too poor Dutch translation so average, reasonable, kind, Dutch translation good social service, Dutch translation healthy atmosphere, Dutch translation lot of bicycles. Dutch translation Yeah, really, true, this is beautiful, you know, and green, like- I was expecting the leaves will be on the street. But little too late, I don’t know, whatever, but normally it’s very green. 1:26:13.7 Dutch translation And a lot of flowers, Dutch translation tulips, Dutch translation crocuses, Dutch translation hyacinths, Dutch translation daffodils, you know, you name it. All of them are here. Dutch translation So if that’s not fortune, what is fortune? Dutch translation Yeah. So again, it calls for appreciation. Dutch translation That’s what it is. So what happened the question? So yeah, the hungry ghost we cannot compare as Dutch, you know, no way. Dutch translation And when the Dutchman thinks about the hungry ghost, you don’t think your own environment. Dutch translation Because in your environment, you don’t exist hungry ghost, as a Dutch person. 1:27:33.6 Dutch translation Think about India, Somalia. Dutch translation And all those.

Audience: His question is why can’t he view it more abstract? Why can’t he replace food by something else?

Rimpoche: No, no, no. The point of major suffering for hungry ghost is hunger. Dutch translation And it’s not that they don’t have desire for others, Dutch translation but most pressing is hunger. Dutch translation Similarly, when you talk about the hot and cold hell, the hot hell is the suffering’s the heat and cold hell the suffering’s the cold.

That doesn’t mean they don’t have other sufferings but they’re the major points. 1:28:57.1 Dutch translation And certainly they do have different desires they can’t get it, Dutch translation I’m sure they think about it day and night. Dutch translation And I’m sure they lose sleep over that for number of days. Dutch translation I’m not saying that they don’t have those problems. Dutch translation I hope that answers your question, did we really get through communicated or not? I’m not sure. Dutch translation

Audience: What his question still is, what he as a Dutch man can learn from this.

Rimpoche: That is a different question Dutch translation than what we been talking earlier. Dutch translation As a Dutch man, you will see the possibility of where you are going in future. Dutch translation So if you go in this category there’s this problem, if you go in this category there’s this problem, if you go in that category there’s this problem. Dutch translation So as a Dutch man what you learn is you learn not to go there. Dutch translation Actually people who are used to it better conditioned when they get into the worst condition they suffer more. 1:31:08.5 Dutch translation

Ok, again, don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that Dutch people have no suffering, no I don’t mean that. Don’t misunderstand. Dutch translation But that’s what you learn. Dutch translation So try not to take rebirth in those. Dutch translation And what causes, what is the cause of taking rebirth as hungry ghost? Dutch translation According to the Buddha, it is the strongest 1:32:01.8 [misoneist?]. Dutch translation So what you have to be doing is be generosity, be generous, sorry. Dutch translation Generosity is the antidote of the [misoneist?]. Dutch translation And the generosity of idea, knowledge, sharing, development, food, clothes, whatever. Dutch translation