Archive Result

Singing a prayer

Welcome here this evening. What we are supposed to do here is we’ll make something difference and have better effect in our life. And it’s easy for me to speak and may be not that difficult for Marion to translate. (in dutch) (audience laughing). What did you say? I said: this quite hard to translate. Oh, not at all. But the difficulty lies then you really want to make a difference, the difficulty is there. So, what earlier teachers had done, in India and Tibet, or I should say a little more than that, sorry. So what they have done in India and Tibet, is they have experimented and they gain experience and they share that experience with other people; so we call that ….(0:36:33). Ok is that learning, is it necessary? Yes, it is absolutely necessary, if you don’t learn that you won’t’ know what to do. Do we have to be scholar? No, but we must know what we have to do, what we do, what ,to do at least. And that’s why if you are looking in those important early Tibetan masters, when you are looking at their biography, their biographies are divided in 3 parts: category one is learning, the learning category is in both, both the scholar type of teachers and adapt type of teachers, both. And the learning category is the bottom line and the line it must. That doesn’t mean you have to be a scholar, but at least know what you are supposed to do. And at least need to know when you encounter with the problems how you handle it. And if that’s not there, then you don’t want what to do. The second point is analyzing and thinking. It’s a learning alone, if you just learn it and then, you do learn it and then old professors said learnt their subject right what they have professed, haha, teachers have to know their subject what they teach, otherwise how are you going to be teaching. But everybody is not professor, everybody is not teacher. So that’s why I’m saying scholarship is not absolutely necessary. However, if you don’t have the knowledge of what to do, then you really don’t know what to do. You are told to meditate, right? And you look at another person, at the right person and the left person and then the right person maybe sitting like this, and the left person maybe sitting like this and then you don’t know what to do. Now that’s not that big problem, you can do either one of that. Problem lies here, what are you going to think. So, you can look at people and copy it, but you cannot look in their mind and find you what they think. So, the learning is learning something is very important. Ok. I say important. And I did not say important for what. Important to help yourself and again I emphasize the purpose of all of you be here today is you are interested to helping yourself. Maybe able to help others, that’s why you are here, right? You are not here because there is a handsome man here. (people laughing), nor a beautiful girl. You didn’t come for that, for that you can go in some other areas. So, you didn’t come for that and you didn’t come here to become high, for that you can go to coffee shops, this is Netherlands. You don’t have to tell me anything, we know that, right? So, you came here to do find something to help yourself. Ok, so helping yourself means little bit better making your life. Am I right or wrong? Hey I’m asking you. Yeah you, you of course! Oh, you are shy, ohhh. Don’t be shy, that’s why you are here I know. You have been here many years, many of you, also you anyway. So, in order to help yourself and then that’s important, that’s what I mean important. So, that is in our daily life, so we had the first talk, right? And we talked about anger and attachment, if I remember correctly, am I right or wrong? Am I right? But again you know, when you look here, we have three sets of Buddhism in daily life and we have three sets of teaching transforming negativities. Right? And they are very much interconnected, interconnected because in our everyday life. How we think and what we think and how we act and what we do. That’s the main thing. The moment you begin to think how we think and what do we do and we begin to realize our thoughts are deluded, with a delusion. The delusion of anger, the delusion of attachment, I call negative emotions delusions anyway. So, and the particularly they all started by ego and that’s basically we have every day, the day we get up, the time we sit, sleep and we have that completely, constantly continuously happening in our life. And that is the one we are getting difficulties in our daily life, it’s spiritual life or material life, even that’s the hanging round. Ok. Now, whether you call it Buddhism in daily life or whether you call it spiritual practice, whether you call it transforming negativity, whether you call it Christianity in daily life, or whatever you are going to call it, the point is to help ourself, not leading ourself to the control of anger, hatred, attachment, jealousy, ignorance, fear, confusion. If you think honestly in your own life, whatever you do, as long as you are focused on helping yourself as long as you focus to express your own feeling, ideas, thoughts, as long as you begin to do right thing this is the question involved, whether you are following Christian tradition or Hindu-Muslim tradition or Jen-Buddhist tradition of you may be Atheist, whatever you may be, I think there is something going beyond idioms, going beyond those religions, what do you call those …(0:16)..or boundaries, right? Christian boundaries, Buddhist boundaries, this boundary, that boundary. Boundaries, even the point of Psychologies, Psychology thoughts and all of them, whatever you put. There is something beyond that, the human beings, we always go beyond that. There is something beyond that: whether it is Ladakhi, or Tibetan or Kashmiri, or Chinese or what Indian, whatever, there is something beyond the boundary called human beings. And that is to be a good human being. What does that mean? I’m a good human being for myself and I may be not a good human being for you. Hahaha, you know all these issues are there. So as long as our motivations are controlled by anger, attachment etc. those negative emotions, no matter how much we try do to good, but somehow we lose, we begin to lose. You know why? Our own personal, what you call it, personality and personal frustrations and personal push, control, ohm? Our agenda? People are holding up, and so they push you through, that comes out from you all without realizing by yourself. So, when you other side of it, then what you really are seeing are the errors coming, not sweet flower, sweet smell, sweet kisses, all that. Instead of that the arrows are coming, the weapons are coming, the attacks are coming, that’s exactly what happens, you may not realize. So not the other person to judge you whether you are good or bad, it’s not for you to judge whether you are good or bad, but generally people are observing, people are people, they know. So, people are observing, and they draw their conclusion. Even you yourself will know, you have to agree after a little while, you know it yourself, you may not admit it, but you know it, you be bad, hahaha. You realize you lost your temper and somebody else will tell you hey, you have used bad words. Or if it has gone beyond, and you would have hit with a wooden shoe. Do you still have that big wooden shoes, you have? Do you still use it? Ok. Hahaha. Don’t hit that on anybody. So, that’s we all have in our nature. We suddenly would like to hide something in deep inside. Many people do. And in order to hide that, then you build up so many layers of this and layers of that and layers of this and it covers you up. And why? You want to present yourself as something different from what you are. That’s why you make that little package, that beautiful package, beautiful wrapping paper, ribbons and flowers, but when you open it, you probably have dirty socks. (audience laughing). Hahaha. So, we all do that, and now when we like to have Buddhism in daily life or when we like to have a better person in daily life is not to do that. So, the good old truth, they always used to say be a good person, be honest, be straight forward, don’t manipulate other people. This is same word used by Buddha, Jesus, Prophet Mohammed, Mother Theresa, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, no one has something new to say, really they are all same old stuff (audience laughing) and nothing new to do. It’s within ourselves, we have to remind ourself, so why I am speaking here tonight, I try to remind myself and I’m trying to remind you self. So actually, the knowledge and information is within you, you know it and why are you not using it? Because of your motivation. Because of your attachment, because of your anger, because of your dissatisfaction in your life, because of jealousy, because you are ignorant. I’m sorry I’m not yelling it, is sounded like I was yelling it, haha, because we are ignorant. (Can I take my jacket of? What do you have underneath? Hahaha. That’s a good question. Would you like to see? Get if off.) So, we have to deal with those. In other words make sure we are not controlled by those. Right now we are absolutely controlled by those. So, we don’t call it we are controlled, we call it we have an addiction. It’s true when you have an addiction of any kind, when you know it, it’s not good for you, even then it’s difficult for you to stop. That’s what the addiction does because you want it, you want some kind of kick. There is something called “Samsaric indonesian spices”. So, even if you are burning your mouth you still like to eat more. (people laughing). So you enjoy eating, so you want eat more, you have difficulty to …. (0:30:20). hahaha, and …it’ difficult and then …….haha. But still you like it. Because there is something else that …..you, nicotin in the sigarette, same thing. I’m not comparing Indonesian spices with nicotin, but they do the same thing, hahaha. And that’s exactly anger, attachment, hatred do to us. So, we are almost like drunk and have no idea what we are doing, but when you realize much later, something you feel embarrassed about yourself; did I do that? Yeah? And that doesn’t come in your heart. It comes years later, and whatever damage was done, hurting other people, hurting yourself, all …(0:32:15)….and correcting that is called making yourself better. And correcting that is called the Dharma, let there be no misunderstanding, I would like to make very clear to you. We call it Buddhism. But if you really you look in the deep essence of that, it’s not really a religion at all, it’s the way how we make better our life. Why this is important. Because it is the cause, causal level. When we shape our future, when we shape our total, this is causal level, here we are. And that is definitively in our hand, not in anybody other’s hand, at all. If it was in Buddha’s hand, he would have made us perfect. Because Buddha is supposed to be compassionate. Why should he make me fat? Why should he make me a diabetic? If he did, he is not compassionate at all. That’s clearly, he did not make it. Nobody else did it, except myself. Because I overate, over drink, over eat sweet, too much, you know I used to eat sometimes donuts, 12 maybe 24 sometimes. And as a kid I used to sleep with the …..(hahah everybody laughing) sugar candy in mouth and then fall asleep and then the blanket stuck here…..(0:35:53), number of times, lots of times. So, I know I made myself diabetic. And I’m not going to blame Buddha for making me diabetic. Because I know he did not make it, I made it myself. Before I became diabetic, I had the control in my hand. If I ate the right food, if I do the right exercise, I would have controlled my diabetics, the doctor would agree with me, hahaha. But my addiction to my food made me not to do that. Keep on grabbing everything, no matter whatever size is going, (hahaha) and then when you have difficulties even if you wanted to do something you cannot do much. It’s just like that. Our future life right now is causal level. It’s up to me how much sugar I want to eat. When the circle started functioning, when the future life coming tomorrow comes today. Then I cannot do much. I did it, but I lose the control. This is exactly. So, I’m using myself as an example and so you know it. And you can make difference to yourself now. If you are tomorrow, what you have to do? You have to be really a good person. Doesn’t matter whether you are a Buddhist or whatever you are, doesn’t matter, even atheist. Who cares? Really doesn’t matter, whatever you are you know. And you, you are. Whatever your sexual orientation is, doesn’t matter, whatever you are, you are. And whatever religion you are following, doesn’t matter you are what you are. And if you are not following, you are atheist it’s ok, doesn’t matter; you are. But it makes difference if you are a good person or a bad person. It not only make difference to you, it makes difference to your companion. It makes difference to your family. It makes difference to your circle, and it makes difference to your city, town, village, whatever, you know? So, it’s a really responsibility of the individual or one individual makes difference to the total world, that is the reality today. Earlier we used to think if the King makes difference, if a King does something it will make difference to everybody. We know that it’s not true today, whatever the Dutch prince does, hahaha, anyway, but we know whatever I do, it makes difference to me and my circle. And whatever you do, it makes difference to you and your circle. So, your responsibility is not only to yourself but to all of you. See today it’s something very different than what we used to look. Today we know a moment of a butterfly in China makes difference in the United States. And we never knew that before, now we know it. But thTose spiritual guys, a fellow called Buddha and all that type of guys were telling us this for more than 2500 years. ,……..(0.44:04) 2500 years. We do listen to them, but they are continuously yapping and today the scientist are yapping together with them. And then it draws a little more attention from us. So we realize that I do not have only responsibility for me, but I’m responsible for you and we are all responsible for each other. Not only a responsibility, but we also almost depend on each other. You know that, right? If you smoke cigarette, not only you ….to yourself you are threatening other people’s health as well. Even if you go outside, even then your air breath brings that in, right? There was a great Tibetan teacher called ….Rimpoche (0:45:42), was one of the outstanding Tibetan teachers valuable in Tibet. So, in the late 90 he got very sick, and he made an appeal to Jewel Heart: can you help? Can you help? So, we found somebody who sponsored him to hospital in America, in Los Angeles, and he got terrible cancer, he could not survive, he died. And he doesn’t smoke, he had never smoked but every doctor said that smoke inhalation caused him cancer. So, it’s true, he worked under Chinese culture revolution, and you know how much Chinese smoke in one room? Hahaha. So, this is just one example I’m bringing. Just like that, everything makes difference to everybody. This is called interdependent nature. I depend on you; you depend on me. He depends on her, she depends on him, this is exactly, East depends on West, West depends on East, this side will not exist if not that side is valuable. This is the interdependent system. That is that Buddha guy was telling us 2500 years ago. And that’s why this guy keeps on telling hey, compassion, compassion, compassion. And the way he taught is of course old system, and he says everybody is your mother. And help and compassion to your mother, today we may not like our mothers very much, and in particularly if that it is mother in law, hahah, so it’s slightly different, but message does not change. The meaning remains same, way how we look it makes difference. We can look how much we depend on each other. So, here we are. And that’s why the compassion is important, caring is important, I must care for you, you must care for me. I …(0:50:04) your bag, you ….my bag, the second part is supposed to be a joke. But joke or not, but that’s the reality. So, it is no longer I, I, I, me, me, me, doesn’t function anymore. It is we, we, we. Think about that, all right? Am I supposed to have a break here? Till what time should I speak here? Till ten? Well as long as you don’t smoke inside it’s fine, hahaha. I’m just joking. So now, in order to make our life better, I have a couple of suggestions coming out of the Buddhist ideas. You have come here today; we’ve talked about negative emotions and we’ve talked last time and a little bit today and we’ve this transforming negativities and we also talked about the three principles of the path. So, I would like to suggest you keep yourself a very serious thought about these negative emotions that are controlling our life. Do you like to be controlled by your anger? Would you like to be an angry person? Do you like to be controlled by attachment? Do you like to be controlled by jealousy; do you like to be controlled by fear? Do you like to be confused all the time? Think about it. If you like it? You like it. Then do it, who cares. Though we say we have to care but will definitively let you go. You know why? Because we cannot stop you. Hahaha. Nobody can say anything to anybody, I mean you know that. Do if you don’t like it, would you consider to pass a resolution saying from today onwards, whether it’s this life, or lives or year, or month, or day, even in hour, I will not let myself be controlled by negative emotions. This will be your first power. If you can make that. But you are going to fail, no doubt about it, but don’t let it…..(0:56:06). Try again, and again, and again, three hundred times a day, whatever you have to do, do it and then when you do that you get a second power, the power of building habit up. I can’t read my own notes, if I did not write I’d have said something, …(inaudible)…….hahaha, ahh, so when you get used to it, you get a sort of habit built up and then you begin to say yes: I shall do this, I shall not to do this I shall not to do, I shall do this, I shall do this and you are making a motivation. And that is your third power. So, now forth and fifth will be a little bit of religious. Well in order to make sure that your motivation and whatever you are doing is true, you do need to have a little practice, meditational practice. The meditational practice includes not only a sitting meditation but the analyzing. Not only analytical and concentrated meditation, practical action. Practical action of generosity, morality, patience, enthusiasm, concentration, wisdom and that 6 additional forces will make your fourth power very strong. Ok? Fifth power: you pray. Just to make it today. You have got to pray just to make it today. Hahaha. We used to make this joke with Alfred all the time, right? So that is the fifth power. So, if you can hold these five powers within you, you will be doing perfect. Ok? So? But you are whatever you are. That’s what right from the beginning I’m saying. Whatever you are it doesn’t matter. You are you are, but what you need those powers. And if you have those powers with you, then you’re handling, you are handling your negative emotions carefully. And don’t’ think it’s difficult to do it. It’s not difficult to do it. But first pick up, learn all those. What you have heard today, is you got the knowledge, informational knowledge, then you analyze that informational knowledge within, by yourself and in your groups, whether you have a Monday or Saturday group, whatever you are, discuss within your groups. And debate and argue with your group leaders. I did not say obey the group leaders, I say argue with your group leaders. …..(1:02:41 inaudible because laughing) and …the idea and help each other, that’s called Sanga activity. But if you don’t involve with the Sanga activity you think you are superior than the Sanga. Perhaps you are blessing yourself. We have a saying in Tibet, you bless yourself your foot will give you initiation on your ….(1:03:46). If you are a fat person like me, hahaha, you can’t ….. my shoe on. …….So, I think that’s why the Sanga leaders are here, that’s why group leaders are here, that’s why Jewel Heart is here, the Jewel Heart has no other purpose except to do this. Jewel Heart is not se up for doing……cooperation, or political party, economic clubs but simply facilitate this to the people. And take advantage. Opportunities are little rare, yeah, and I also like to say here too. One of the best ways to help yourself is going through what the tradition calls Lam-rim studies, and I call that …(1:06:24) freedom, we change a little bit, a sort of little bit easy made; it’s called …..(1:06:30). And those of you who have been in three principal part till but you know. It almost works the same way. And these are we are studying in Jewel Heart throughout the year. And whenever I come here, once a year or whatever, I try to give a teaching on that. Try to. And if I do that teaching to most of you, if you take that teaching, if you do this, we will build a lineage, relationship. So, what happens is, the forces, backbones of one individual development ….is , otherwise it will be simply like one of the evening classes by University, by any Professor. So, you know, you can learn the information, you can meditate, think but in order to develop within you, you need the other forces, too. For example, this guru devotion of practice called the fundamental bases. It’s not necessarily devotion, it’s the relationship, the connection, the connection was built in teachings. Connection is not built in the individual through private interviews, connections are not built on the dining table and certainly not in the bathroom or bedroom, hahaha. Honestly speaking, the teaching relation is extremely important. So, normally, the organizer should ask me, rather than I ask them. So, this year I asked Marianne Sutter to organize a Lam-rim teaching next year. And I requested here don’t let this building will limit people to come in. So, I’m telling you now a year ahead, sometime next year, day is not fixed yet but I hope they will decide before I leave. So whether it is going to be in April or May. ( It doesn’t matter, it’s outside, don’t’ bother, this one?) So, I hope it will be 10 days, but organizer are telling me it’s impossible, hahaha, because people have to work, so let’s hope whatever ten days or 7 days, minimum 7 days. You know when you look at yesterday, or day before, the three principles, with the translation, how much is really….? (1:12:59). So, we did half of the principle one and the rest of them we went through…….So it tells us that we need time. Even necessary you have to break, I’ll be happy to break, one week in the summer and one week in the winter, or whatever, I’ll be happy to do that and I think we’ll have to do that. I like to speak about this now so you will know, you can plan your time. So again, to conclude it’s ourself, in our own hand, whatever we’d like to make our life and lives day after, it is totally in our hands, nobody else’s. And I not only believe they are not in Buddha’s hand, but I do know that it is in nobody others hand. A simple reason is cause and result. And the human responsibility and that will simply tell you that it is what it is. And then when we talk about the cause we don’t have to think about very strict religious idea of cause. Actually true nice person, honest person, straightforward person, compassionate in life and caring in the principles and that will do. It's simple, always simple is better. I don’t think I have any more to say. Do you have questions? Still have 15 minutes. Yes, lady over here? “You talked about anger and getting rid of it and it so easy to say but if there is anger inside, we try to hide it, you talked about that stuff, but I try to be kind so that gives me the feeling I am acting, that’s not true. Somehow, so we should go on acting?” Very good idea, hahaha, you know this American President Ronald Reagan, spent 8 years acting and became a good President, hahaha. They call it good President. But many people disagree with that, even I can see here. So, it’s not the acting, honestly. I think there is a difference here. Thank you. Any other questions? Yes? What do you do when somebody close to you dies? (from 1:19:13 to 1:19:43 cannot hear anything for a while, perhaps Rimpoche thinking?) Our total virtue, past, present, future, whatever he have, positive Kharma created, totally dedicate for the benefit of departing soul, without any hope of return, without any attachment of all those negative emotions, simply dedicate. It is sad indeed, however it’s also important let the person go. Because we cannot hold back, we cannot bring back, if we can, we all can try but we cannot. It’s important to give whatever gift we can give, that’s the positive Kharmas, and it’s also important to let individual go. It’s also important to continue the celebration of your life, living. Ok? ABC, 123, simple, easy and that is what is necessary. So then can we close the shop? Where is Mr. …. Can you close the shop? Ahaha, ok thank you. Can we have a dedication?

Singing