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20050624GRAASR21T11

I think it is so wonderful for us [how] we can engage in that beautiful entertainment and suddenly we can switch over and do [/to] a serious spiritual [teaching] without anything. That is a very good thing… great! Thank you so much.

Now, as our usual schedule, we begin with questions:

Q. Rimpoche, in the West, there are self-made millionaires who say ‘the poor are poor because of their own choices’ and therefore see charity to the poor as unnecessary. After the Tsunami, I heard some Sri Lankan Buddhists say, with the same dispassion, that the victims died because it was their karma. Could you discuss the similarities or differences between these two views?

GR. Well, I don’t believe… There are very few people who like to choose to be poor. I don’t think the poor choose to be poor. The poor have difficulties, circumstances, conditions, and karmic conditions, and country’s conditions, economic conditions- all of them, really, make it become difficult to be able to meet two ends together.

The Tsunami thing… unfortunately I also heard that remark. If you recall, Larry King [was] interviewing the former Presidents Bush and Clinton about the Tsunami thing, and Larry King was asking why this is happening, why the good God is looking the other way around, and all of those questions. To answer that, president Clinton suggested: why don’t you ask the Sri Lankans and [those in] the affected areas. Ask their Buddhist leaders: what do they say, how do they teach, what [do] they explain to their people.

I think within the next two or three days, Larry King had a number of religious leaders [on his program], including a Sri Lankan monk who had a temple in New York (where President Clinton and Hilary visited and invited the monk to be a part of the interview), and he kept on saying ‘it’s the karma of those people.’ He kept on saying ‘everybody donate generosity.’ So… he must be a great monk, and I have no comments to be said about it.

It’s definitely karma, no doubt. But people have asked me the same questions. There are a number of newspaper people, small radio people around [who] called me a number of times, and [to] all of them I have been saying “It is the First Noble Truth that Buddha said: The Truth of Suffering,” and [that] that [/the Tsunami] was exactly a vivid example of the First Noble Truth, the Truth of Suffering. And I said it [was a result of] karma, not only karma of those people who personally lost their lives, but also the karma that all of us commonly- we all watched this, we all went through the pains, misery, and suffering- went through. It is not only the karma [of] those in the affected area, people who are living in that area, but all of us, it is common, karmic result. No doubt about it. But to me, it is The First Noble Truth, the Truth of Suffering. That’s what I think and that’s what I can say.

Q. How are you karmically affected if you are involved in some form with assisted suicide or abortion?

GR. I think these are two different things. I don’t think Dr. Kovorkian… I don’t think anybody can think Dr. Kovorkian is great. He may [be of] help to some people, but it’s very difficult to say that. Assisting suicide, sometimes, because of the family situation, because of the wishes and requests of the [soon-to-be] passing loved one, and how painful and difficult it might be, some people might have to indulge in that. It is a completely different situation. I can feel it, and see it.

On the one hand, it’s your lifelong companion who wants [you] to help [them] to go through this and you are unable to convince the person [not to], unable to do anything. And also you know when it’s [/they are] depending on you, you cannot let it[/them] down. And even forgetting about the consequences that you face legally and all of them- just forget about all of this. Even then, the pain of going through [this] is tremendous.

From the little knowledge that I have- I have very little- from the Buddha’s teaching, that will also tell me [that] assisting the ending of a life, even though it is the wish of the departing person, when you are [the one] executing it or doing it, I believe you do get karma. Not only [do you get] the karma of killing, but also the karma of killing a human being. I believe that you do get that. (9:12) That is really a very painful situation.

About abortion- it is a very big issue that divides society. Everybody has their own ideas about it. Personally, I am Pro-Choice. I am Pro-Choice not because I think there is no negative for abortion- yes, definitely, there is negativity in abortion. But I think no one ever says ‘abortion is great.’ Abortion has become very similar [to the issue of assisted suicide]- I mean not so serious as assisted suicide- but I have seen people going through it. It is not easy. People go through it with a great deal of difficulty. Not only when you are going through it, but even after. All of those are there. Therefore, no one really thinks it’s great to do. It’s sort of, again, a situation where you can’t help it. It’s sort of [when someone is at a] helpless point. And that’s my true opinion about that.

Yes, I am Pro-Choice, because a woman also has the right to choose what to do with their bodies. I don’t think anybody says [this], but I certainly do not say ‘it’s a great thing to do.’ Certainly not. But it is [something that] can’t help it [/be helped]- a situation like this. But all of them have one good news. That is: no matter whatever the negativity might be, it’s purifiable. Purifiable because it is impermanent and because karma is dependent upon the conditions. So, the good news is: it’s purifiable. (12:45)

Q. If we have limited time, what is the one thing we can start our day with to bring Tara into our lives?

GR. Just remember Tara and say ‘Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha.’ Although very limited, even that is a good way of connecting. From the Buddhist point of view I will say: look at Tara’s body as Sangha, and speech as Dharma, and mind as Buddha. Having all Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha within the Tara, remembering that way. This is the simple way. Then, if you have a little time, a little bit, like five minutes, or two minutes, or three minutes, or something, [do] this little short practice at the back of the Tara, of the Tara photo postcard. That is a very simple way of doing it. You can do that. Even if you don’t have time to be able to do that, then you just remember Tara and saying her mantra alone will do.

With this question, I’d like to take the opportunity to be able to explain a little bit since now we have worked here for five or six or seven days, whatever. (15:29) Everybody [has] worked so hard. What [do] we hope to gain out of this? We hope to gain something good, nice, little solid dharma within everybody. The solid dharma, to me, is actually, not so much I’m [/me] looking at your saying prayers and things like that. But solid practice, to me, is looking in your daily life and when you have all these different choices that come…

#1: Generating compassion, as bodhimind, as motivation. Not only [as] motivation for activities, but even motivation for living.

#2: Whenever you have the choice, always choose compassion, choose love… compassion… and help [others], rather than hatred, hurt, harming. Carrying the kindness within your mind all the time, [no] matter what you’re dealing with, [when] dealing with yourself, [when] dealing with others. Always remember the kindness of others. Atisha - one of the [/his] great [pieces of] advice to the Tibetans- is

(quotes Tib)

Don’t think ‘I have been great, I’ve done great.’ Think about the others: how great they have been, how kind they have been. Be respectful to everybody, including your slaves and servants and all of those.

That was Atisha’s advice.

Buddha’s advice in general: If you are practicing Mahayana Buddhism, try to be helpful. And if you cannot do that, don’t harm others. So, if you could make that much [of a] change within you, that alone will be extremely helpful.

If you want to go a little bit beyond that, and you want to do something, and you do know whatever you need- help, support- you have the Sangha community, or the chapters in your area. In each chapter that we have, we really have great teachers, great senior students- a very modest way of calling [/referring to] themselves- and many of them are capable of helping others at a variety of different levels. Some of them, not only me, but [there are] a number of other great teachers. There are, within our Sangha, there are… today’s Western teachers who have been taking teachings from Kyabje Trijang Rimpoche, Ling Rimpoche, ? Rimpoche, ? Rimpoche 20:06, and all these great spiritual masters that passed away decades ago. They have also spent time with me [for] decades, with sincere study and all that.

So you do have a very strong Sangha support system. You should always go with an open-mind and ask your dharma coordinators, chapter teachers, and so forth. Then if you need to go beyond that, then you can contact in the office, Hartmut, Kathleen, and the program people. Beyond that, there are quite a number of senior people available here, they talk and they reply and all those. Many times, the program people reply straightforward[ly] and when they are unable to [help because they have] too much [of a] work load, they will refer you to the person they know can reply. Beyond that, they’ll ask me. So you do have a support system, even though you are living all by yourself somewhere, even then you do have a support system, so please try to utilize that.

Whatever the level of information or assistance you need. Occasionally, the practice retreats will be overnight at different chapter levels- beside the courses. We have all of them. Compare [this] with what used to be available! We have come a long way. We have a good support system for the service of the members. You have to utilize that- it’ll be helpful to you.

I wanted to take that opportunity to say that. (23:05)

Q. How can we keep our practice in mind during our workday in jobs that require a lot of mental or physical effort?

GR. Good question. Instructions will tell you keep in mind of [/your] practice [/your practice in mind]. Practically, it’s not possible. The earlier Tibetan masters, what they said is: you have [a] practice period and [a special designated place] where you do [it]. Especially the keeping of the bodhimind influence is very important. Influence- that does not mean you have to meditate all the time. And though the instructions- you may read the books- it may say that, but it’s not practically possible. Have the influence of compassion and bodhimind available. You need to do what you need to do.

Also, not only doing what you need to do, [but] doing it sincerely and well and for the benefit of people- whatever you are doing. Unless you have a job in the slaughterhouse or something- in that case I can’t say. Or if you are working for [a company that develops] B-2 bombers or something like that. It’s almost similar. But other than that, whatever you have been doing, [do so] with a sincere mind, whether you are working in the production lines or whatever. Whatever you are making, make it useful, good quality, to benefit people who are using it later. With this mind, when you go and work sincerely, it is very helpful [because]:

you have earned your wage

you have accumulated positive karma

you have not wasted your time

you have taken advantage of your knowledge of dharma

and I could go on to 5, 6, 7- but that’s enough. (25:30)

Q. The next question has to do with facing unethical issues at work: What do you do if your boss asks you to lie? Or if you work for a company that makes war machines or you face other issues that you find to be unethical? What do you do?

GR. It’s a very important question. Basically, you know a lie is not right. If you have to lie like a used car dealer, that is sort of… a light lie. I’m sorry, some people may not like it. It is sort of a light lie. But if you really lie- you know, the big things- and if it’s really tru[ly] a lie, then they are horrible. Like the Downing Street documents- what is the British Prime Minister?- or report or whatever, type of thing. If it’s true, it’s terrible. It is really a big lie. So many lives [were affected by it]. It’s very hard. (27:46)

I do not know how to advise here. I don’t want to say it. We all know it’s not right. I don’t want to say: ‘Don’t follow your boss’s idea,’ Then you may get fired, and I’m not [/ I don’t want to be] responsible. (Laughs) That’s a joke. [Use] Your own personal intuition and wisdom and understanding- whatever you can apply. Perhaps you have to do that. I do not know what to advise you.

From a karmic point of view, lying is not right. For sure. I don’t know whether you can really flatly refuse your boss, who will really squeeze (28:55) you afterwards… and there might not be one boss alone, there may be a whole machine behind… so I don’t know what to tell you. Sorry about that. (29:04)

Honestly, I don’t know how to tell you. I don’t want you to lose your job because of what I said, if you take it literally. But at the same time I don’t want to say you can lie. Sorry, I can’t answer that question.(29:25)

Of course, it’s very practical. I wish I could advise. Strictly from the dharma point of view, you don’t want to lie. You don’t want to lie. Even if you have to quit, you quit. Strictly a dharma point of view.

But then, on the other hand, you have a responsibility of [/for] yourself and family and the people who depend on your income and all this. It’s very difficult for me to say.

So, use your intelligence. I don’t want you to take it easily, lightly [just] because negativities can be purifiable. I don’t want you to take that easily, saying ‘yeah, yeah, you can lie here and purify later.’ Some people do that. But I don’t want you to because it’s not good. (30:42)

About these four sets of mandala offerings: (31:27)

There are a number of different Tara 4 mandala offerings. I am going to explain it to you, but I might not be able to demonstrate them to you.

As it comes from the Buddhist practice, [first]:

Take Refuge,

Generate Bodhimind,

[Say the] Four Immeasurables.

The instructions, the books will tell us: have that done from the bottom of your heart. Not just saying the words, but from the bottom of your heart. Totally engaging in this.

Then simply generating Tara, or 21 Taras, or just one Tara, White or Green, whatever it may be.

The advice here is (quotes Tib)(32:56): so you are

Praising Tara in whatever way you know- [whatever is] available in English- and praise Tara, remembering the meaning, message of Tara’s hand gestures and all of them. And remember that Tara, which you have generated in front of you, you have little OM, AH, HUM and light radiates from that letter HUM, inviting wisdom beings, including guru, Buddha, yidams, bodhisattvas, dharma protectors, dakas, dakinis, and all of them are invited. They all become one Tara.

Then offer to Tara, either Tara’s special 7 Limbs or our usual 7 Limbs. 7 Limb offerings will be made.

[Now] the Mandala Offering:

You know mandala offering- you’ve been taking courses. You know there are two courses of mandalas [being offered at this retreat]: mandala drawing and [how to make a] mandala offering- both are called mandalas.

Mandala, the word mandala in Sanskrit means ‘center.’

When you are learning the drawing… and actually the drawing teachings you have done is [/have gone] very well. I understand a couple of people now- perhaps independently-can do the fire puja drawings. [Some are now] been capable of doing that and more on top of that. You also have the prosperity fire puja drawings as well. (35:15)

(GR speaks to Sonam in Tib.)

They both are pacifying, which is a usual addition to the retreat. The fire puja and the prosperity puja- both are capable [/okay to do] independently, Sonam thinks, people who have learned them, they can do independently. (35:44)

I think we’ll have our first demonstration tomorrow. After this, we have a Vajrayogini fire puja for those who have done the retreat. It is going to be immediately after, but I don’t know with the heat how you are going to manage. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, so we are going to do that. They are going to be demonstrating tomorrow, so we’ll know. (36:18)

[In reference to the center of a mandala drawing:] That is the center of existence. The center of the mandala or center of fire mandala basis or whatever. And that was that mandala. (36:39)

The other mandala- the offering mandala- is symbolic of universal existence. So people do that for accumulation of merit and purification, both. A number of people in Jewel Heart have a Mandala practice that they do.

[To continue with practice:]

You offer long, or at least short, mandala offering here.

Then you generate the mandala mantra mala at the heart of Tara. At the heart of Tara [you visualize] a little TAM, then [visualize] OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA with [/encircling] this, and then you say:

OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA

a number of times.

And then again: praise Tara three times. Some short praise, like:

?(37:46)

or whatever. A short praise.

Then say this 21 Tara Praises twice, and, if possible, at the end of that, you know, [say] the benefit also. If not, at least [say the] 21 Tara Praises, twice. And follow that with whatever you have to pray [for]- auspicious prayers, thinking of offering flowers to Tara by throwing flowers, [etc.]. (38:38)

The second time, repeat it again: there’s no need for invocation. Begin with the 7 Limbed Prayer, followed by mandala offerings, and [then pray for] whatever you have to pray [for], and then say the 21 Tara Praises three times. (39:08)

[Back to] The first time: you may not have to say the 21 Praises, just pray. Then [say the] 7 Limbed Prayer and all of them, and then for the first time say the 21 Praises of Tara twice.

Then, the third one. Again, start with the 7 branch offerings, and mandala offering, and prayer, and Praise of Tara three times- [thinking of] whatever you have to pray for this.

Fourth time, it is almost the same way. Repeat it, except the Praise to Tara will be [said] seven times. Seven times. (40:16)

Finally, if you have invited [Tara and the Wisdom Beings], you have to dissolve [them].

Then, purify. Whatever the mistakes or things that we have omitted by saying the 100-syllable mantra of the Lotus family (which means Padmasattvasamaya rather than Vajrasattvasamaya (40:51))- two or three times.

And then say Praise of Tara like the First Dalai Lama’s Praise or any one of those praises available in English.

Finally pray that I and all mother sentient beings may remain under the protection of Tara forever.

Then, dedicate it.

That will be the shortest way of the four mandala offerings ritual. (41:27) You can individually perform… I think we [will] begin to perform this in the centers collectively, and then you can go into the individuals [/do it individually, for those] who [would] like to do [the practice] by themselves.

I don’t think I’ll have much time to talk to you about the 1000 light offerings. But all these offerings are very similar. The basic idea is:

invite the Wisdom Tara, [after having] also generated [her in front of you] by yourself

and then bless whatever you are offering, [in] whatever way you know how to bless ( basically if you are generating it is always the little OM that melts into the offering you may be [making]).

In this case [it is] 1000 wonderful lights.

invite Tara [to accept the] 7 Limbs offering at the time of offering, you know, [when you say] ‘[offerings] actually arranged and mentally created.’ At that time you lay 1000 lights, or candle lights, or electrical lights- they are all okay.

Traditionally, in Tibet, it is butterlamps. (43:21) Even inTibet, when I was there, this argument came. Debate, not argument. This question was raised. It began with the Indian production of ghee- which is not really butter, it is a sort of liquid, ghee. Ghee, they call it. [The question was] Whether ghee can be used as a lamp offering or not. And, on top of that, candlelight came in. [The question arose whether] Candles can be used or not. Then, electricity came, and [the question arose whether] electricity can be used or not. All these discussions came. The final decision was made by Kyabje Trijang Rimpoche and Ling Rimpoche together, jointly, saying electricity is okay, ghee is okay, candlelight is okay. That was that decsion, and therefore, I don’t think we have to worry about it. (44:30)

But- if you can make it a more difficult and expensive thing, and [use] that much [more] physical labor, and that much efforts you put in, that much expenses you indulge [in], [then] that much [more] merit is always accumulated. That is the common system, the common karmic system. The more it becomes easy, just to switch it on, just to switch on the 1000 lights [, the less merit will be earned in the] karmic [system] (45:05). No doubt about that. But it is a 1000 light offering, but it is just [the] switch[ing] on [of] lights. So, [only] that much karma is going to be generated.

But again, if you can mentally create a tremendous amount [of lights], that is also a pure way of doing it. It will be very far-reaching.

What else? I don’t think I have much, except the [chanting of the] 21 Tara Praise [in Tibetan].

(46.15)

(Clapping)

(Chanting x 3) (57:22)