Archive Result

Soundfile 19960828GRSR3P02

Speaker Gelek Rimpoche

Location

Topic 3 Principles of the Path

Transcriber xin yan

Date 24.01.2021

I would like to be helpful for all beings and for which one would love to obtain total enlightenment and method of obtaining enlightenment. One would like to listen and practice. (Hey. Nikki happens to be here. When did you get in Nikki?) So do generate pure thoughts. And that now with that pure thought, the method of obtaining enlightenment is the essence of the teachings of the Buddha which we talked last night. So not going to repeat again. So its sort of boil down to 3 most important points, okay? 3 most important points. Lets call it Buddhist 101, Buddhist 102 and Buddhist 103. These are the 3 most important points. (Thank you. I’ve been waiting for that, thank you.) So Buddhist 101, if you read the Three Principles of the Path, that book given to you everybody. (Did you get Nikki? Alright. Did you get one lady there? You, you, you, you.)

Alright. So Buddhist 101, if you look here, you not (What is it? Oh..) There is no way. So last night I talked homage to the venerable Gurus and I told you I'm going to jump 2 of the stanzas because it is just simply repeating the 3 Principles again. One will say I explained as well as I can, the other one it says listen with a clear mind. So each one of the verses refer to each one of the Three principles. 

So the real principle of Buddhist 101 it begins here. There is no way the verse of a stabilized mind by which addiction to the ocean of samsaric delights is calm. And as it is that this fixation that binds living beings to suffering. [0:02:44.4]

First, cultivate spirit of stabilized mind. Okay. Now this is the translator's choice of word. I would like to say first, cultivate mind of seeking freedom. So I would really like to use the first the principle. Or rather the Buddhist 101 is to have a strong, stabilize mind seeking freedom. Are you with me? 

Well I know Tony's shaking head. But I'm sort of more looking in the middle. Are you with me? You are? You want seek freedom? From what? From what? 

Audience: samsara

Rimpoche: what's wrong with samsara? 

*Audience laughs* 

Rimpoche: Sufferings. Alright. Okay. Here we go what did you say? 

Audience: only in samsara there's something wrong. 

Rimpoche: Well, why. I don't know. We never experienced nirvana so we have no idea something wrong there or not. So we don't know yet. So what do we know, we really know is one thing - there's something wrong in the samsara. Something wrong. Something definitely wrong. What we want we don't get it, what we don't want it we getting it all the time. Plenty of it. Right?

*Audience laughs*

Rimpoche: That's what wrong with it. Actually the Tibetan verse over here, if I remember correctly ‘nam tang yi jung…’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:04:36.2 to 0:04:46.7 ] So it is definitely important to have the motivation of seeking freedom. Absolutely true. There's something wrong with samsara. We have a problem after problem. If you solve one, you're bound to have another one. Right?

The friends of mine here who said "Well, let me clear this problem out then I will be there tomorrow morning." The tomorrow morning will probably take 2 more days. So because another problem will pop up. It is samsara. It is like the old man's beard, no matter how much you pluck, the Tibetans pluck, don't shave. No matter how much you pluck out, it gets more. And if you keep on shaving tonight, tomorrow morning you have to shave again. There's more in there continuously popping up. It is like wave of ocean, if you sit near the ocean and you say yourself "When that wave goes, I'll go home", the wave never go. Alright. Don't we have American saying the cow never come home or something, isn’t it? [0:06:04.2]

Audience: Till the cows come home

Rimpoche: Yes 'till the cows come home' There you go, thank you. Till the cows come home you can wait there and the waves will go on continuously - that's samsara. That very wave that we're getting is the wave of suffering. Unfortunately. And I know number of people, particularly number of yappies would not like to hear about the suffering at all. Really true. Never like to hear about suffering at all. 

I have a friend, I had a girlfriend in Texas, *Rimpoche chuckles* and she had a friend in the 1977, the guy give me a I forgot, bout 4000$ dollar cheque in 1977. Give it me, "Here you are, take this" I said "What's this for?". "That's for you, I'm giving you. I'm not giving you because you are Tibetan Buddhist Lama or something. I'm giving you, you're refuge from a communist or dictatorship or whatever.” So then I said: “Well, if you really care so much, why don't you come to India and look for those Tibetans.”

He said: “No. I don't want go India. Its full of suffering. I don't want to hear it.” That's what it is.

A number of people, I understand the yappies do not like to hear about suffering. Sufferings. But by not hearing suffering, you will not get cessation of suffering. Do we? No, certainly not. The sufferings are within us! No matter whatever we do, no matter how much we pretend that we will be free of suffering by putting up the makeup, lipsticks, white powders, making beautiful face, try to show the best face ever possible. I used to joke with somebody here. If you make the office burn??, (please recheck this sentence) [0:08:13.4 to 0:08:18.8] no matter how much you make it, the problems and the pains that we have will come in between the cracks of the makeup. You'll see it. You will see it in your eye. We have them. That's no denial for whatsoever. If you’re missing number of friends for couple of years you parted, and once you meet them, first you will be very happy and give hugs and all of these, and start tears are rolling. That tear may be tears of joy. However, its followed up by "how are you keeping, so what's new" and then you get all of them one after another. All these long talk of the tales of suffering which really produce melodrama of our life - its always because of that. That is our reality. That is what's wrong in samsara. That is the problem. [0:09:24.2]

And Buddha says: "Hey fellows. I went through this. Here is the way." That's what it is. That is all Buddhism is all about it. And here, we have great opportunity of the experience of the Buddha who shared with us, almost step by step, how we can walk, how we can think, what are obstacles that you are bound to face, how you tackle. It's here. If you don't take it now, when are you going to take it? You're not going to get that opportunity very often. Definitely. So anyway, so desire to be free from the samsara is the first requirement. And that you can develop with you if you show you can be free. You have to convince that yourself you can get free. How? It is simple. You look all these people, all these enlightened beings - whether it's Eastern tradition or the Western tradition, and each and every one of those the great beings, they really made it. If they made it, why can't we? What's wrong with me? Ask that question to yourself. What's wrong with me? Ask am I dumb? Stupid? Or what am I? And if you get illiterate? No. It's not. I'm intelligent, educated. Right? The answer each one of you give to yourself here. [0:11:50.2]

As I say last night, I'm not talking to group of Tibetan chauffeurs. I'm talking to an educated, intelligent people here. So ask that question to yourself. You will answer yourself “No, I'm educated, I know what I'm doing.” Don't we? Ya, you do. So therefore you can convince yourself - if these people have done that, what cant I do it? It is the only matter I did not have opportunity, I did not have chance, I did not have the facility. That is the only lacking for me, so far. Now I have all sorts of information, I at least know way in and out of that spiritual path, and if they make it, why can't I make it? 

Beside that, if you are following the footstep of the Buddha, you are bound to get where the Buddha reach. Because you are simply following the footstep, you're not jumping anywhere. The teachings that comes to you from the Buddha, from the Atisha, from the Tsongkapa is as stated ‘kan deng tsen........’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:13:27.9 to 0:13:44.7 ] So it is the essence of the teachings of the Buddha. It is not somebody made up, made up story, manufactured somewhere. It is not a lie somebody manufactured. It is the path accepted by the great Indian Saints and scholars.

‘Kin da che...’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:14:10.9 to 0:14:14.7] It is just the talk of some few stupid handful of people making some kind of cult system, its not. ‘Jin da sum….’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [ 0:14:24.8 to 0:14:32.4 ] It is experienced by the great many lineage masters and learnt sages have experienced. It is not have sleep, half wake delusion. ‘Kyo Ru……..’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:14:47.7 to 0:14:51.2 ] It is a path that leads the individual, it is the highway that leads you to the city of liberation. Its not some kind of crooked path where you take you to some wrong way. [0:15:06.9]

That is one of the most important statement made by Tenzin Gaytso Of seventeeth century Tibetan master. (please check the names in this sentence) [0:15:12.9 to 0:15:18.0] As a matter of fact, that very thing is available, this quotation what I quoted right now is available in the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. What day is it? () 

Audience: 10. Day 10.

Rimpoche: There you go, he has that. Perfect

*round of applause by the audience*

Rimpoche: Does anybody have Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand here? Alright. Who has that? Read that line, Day 10. So that is the criteria or the quality of this teaching. This teaching. That's why I keep saying it's unbroken lineage. I keep on saying its this is a living tradition. Living tradition ???? (please check this part) [0:16:09.8] the has delivered number of earlier passengers to the right point. And if we pay the fare, taxi fare…*Rimpoche chuckles* Yes. Hahahahha

I was talking that one of the last Tuesday and somebody said: "I didn't make the f**king reservation and pay the f**cking fee!"

*Rimpoche and audience laugh*

Remember that those of you who were there. *Audience laughs* Can you read the day 10. Day 10. Day 10. It works by day by day.

Someone in the audience: Kyabje Pabongka quoted the following praise from the writings of Genduen Taenzin Gyatso.

Rimpoche: There you go. 

Someone in the audience:

This is not false, invented Dharma, because it is the pith of authentic oral teachings,

This is not a foolish talk, because it comes from classical texts by the great champions.

This is not a shimmering mirage, because saintly scholars and adepts have experienced it.

This is not a perilous cliff, because it is the highway to the highest enlightenment.

(please recheck this paragraph, I adopted from the book I have: Liberation In The Palm of Your Hand by Pabongka Rinposhe – a Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment, edited by Trijang Rimpoche, translated by Micheal Richards) [0:16:52.7 to 0:17:20.0]

Rimpoche: Thank you. Alright. So here you go. That's what it is. So therefore when you have that, there's no reason why you cannot make it. The only your lack of enthusiasm. Do you hear me? It's the lack of enthusiasm. Lack of enthusiasm because you did not believe yourself or you did not convince yourself you can be free of those sufferings. You did not convinced that you can be free of mental, emotional, physical pain. I don't blame you. We suffered tremendously for generation after generation, life after life for millions of years. Therefore, we don't see it. [0:18:08.9]

However, there is light. Here's the light. Please wake up. Wake up! There's light. It is time. If you have the enthusiasm, there is a way. If you don't have the enthusiasm, there is no way. Because you don't even look for. Right? If the prisoner did not understand freedom outside the prison, the prisoner’s not going to look for freedom. It’s not so bad to be in the prison - somebody pays your bills, their medical expenses are free, the foods are free, lodgings are free and if you do not appreciate the freedom outside. There may not be so much of reason why you have to get out. Might as well remain in there. Right?

So likewise, if you do not appreciate the freedom, free of pain, if you do not understand that, you will not get desire, you not get enthusiasm, what for? Wherever you go there'll be suffering, whatever it may be there'll be some comfort, the samsaric is full of joy and full of misery, no doubt. You probably think it is whenever you go, it is same thing. Its not! And that's why, that's why even glimpse, remember in the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra (please recheck this word) [0:19:43.2 to 0:19:44.3] I now forget the word.... Does anybody have Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra (please recheck this word) [0:19:51.7 to 0:19:53.3] Alright, can you read the second line of 'lighting at somethin' you know, probably second verse or the third verse. Please read that. By one person, not by too many.

Someone in the audience:

Just as a flash lightning on a dark, cloudy night,

For an instant brightly illuminates all,

Likewise in this world, through the might of Buddha,

A wholesome thought rarely and briefly appears. (Please recheck this part – I used A Guide to Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Archaya Shantideva, translated to English by Stephen Batchelor as reference) [0:20:08.7 to 0:20:18.2]

Rimpoche: That’s right. Just like a flash of lights at the dark nights. We seen that, a number of people have seen that light - thanks to the 60s culture. Whatever the reason might be, really true. You have to acknowledge that. Whatever the main reason may be, whether it’s due to chemicals or it’s been that poise?????? (didn’t get the word after THAT) [0:20:45.3 to 0:20:46.5] Or whatever it is. But really, the 60s cultures have given the glimpse of something beyond what we have known, something beyond the world what we are know. That is the 60s culture. That is the lightning in the dark nights. [0:21:06.2]

So that indicates, that showed us, that’s really you know how that changed our culture. How much that change, how much that really bring openness in this society. How much they made us very liberal. Don't think liberal as a dirty word, not act as dirty word but real open, liberal, open mind, open our intelligence, how much it made. Only problem is if you really think or if you don't have any other way of experiencing that lightning at the night. If you don't have any other ways of doing it, then you may to totally depend on the chemical, which doesn't work. We all know that very well. [0:21:57.2]

So here, the Buddha have thrown Vajyarana at your lap. The lightning in the long, dark night. It is only one need to generate enthusiasm, that’s it. And as long as you don't have that enthusiastic feelings determining that you want to be free, then you get nowhere. You don't have any base, you don't have Buddhist 101. So Buddhist 101 you have to get the determination to be free. Okay? Let me read 2nd verse. Otherwise I'll be stuck, I get nowhere out.

By contemplating how difficulty a precious human life is to acquire by contemplating how difficulty a precious human life to acquire and how our life is not fixed. At this point, I would like to remind you look in the Lam Rim at this level, in the Lam Rim, they will introduced you 3 important points, in order to help you to determine to be free. 3 most important points. [0:23:36.2]

Point number 1 - embrace human life. Do not reject your life. Embrace. The life is precious, important, difficult to find. Life is precious, important, difficult to find. Are you with me? How come life is important? Is there anybody who think life is not important? Are you? Anybody? I don’t see any hands. I'm sure there’s somebody. Please be free, don’t feel shy, say it! This is the dharma world, there’s no politics involved, you don’t have to feel embarrassed. Just go ahead and say it. If you feel life is not important, anybody?

Audience: (audio unclear) [0:24:51.2 to 0:25:03.2]

Rimpoche: Robert, at this moment, I don’t care anybody. At this moment, we are at this level. At this moment, Buddhist 101, I only care for myself.

So at this moment, if anybody who think ‘my life is not important for me’ say it! I don’t get that, even you! Okay, good! That’s it. At this moment, we are training our mind, step by step. We’re not bothered right now about others. At this moment, I care for myself, I’m worrying bout myself, I’m responsible, I have to do, I have to find my way by me, and me alone. [0:25:53.3] so at this moment, is my life is important to me? It is. Though number of people will think ‘my life is useless. I can do no good. I blew it.’ You know ??? Rimpoche (didn’t get the name of the Rimpoche) [0:26:11.5] in the afternoon mentioned ‘There’s been no hesitation to commit suicide’ Remember that? It’s true. Number of people will feel that. They think you’re been driven to the corner, and you cannot get away anywhere and nothing but except by committing suicide is the only solution they think. [0:26:33.5]

Well, you’re wrong. Absolutely. Absolutely wrong! Your view, you only have tiny little view worse than racing horses. The racing horse, racing horses. You know they put these thing and the eye like this, you can see they have to go there. Your views are even narrow than that. Didn’t you realize it? Life is extremely precious. Tsongkhapa says: “Ta re den……..” (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:27:07.4 to 0:27:14.4] Anybody have that Tsongkhapa Short Lam Rim here? I’m sure many of you have it. Alright. Can you read that second verse? After the Guru devotional practice. [0:27:28.8]

Audience:

Precious human life, gained but once,

Has great potential, but is easily lost.

Rimpoche: Precious humans mind gain but once.... Well 3 or 4 ppl read together by heart so I hope everybody heard. But anyway, he said precious human life. That I think that you're reading the foundation of perfection rather than the Tsongkhapa's short Lam Rim. Okay. Lines I need it, thank you.

Audience: Precious human life.. 

Rimpoche: That's what I'm looking for. Precious human life. 

Audience: This working basis of a human form endowed with liberties is superior to a wish-granting gem.

Rimpoche: Can you repeat that again once? From the beginning. 

Audience:

This working basis of a human form endowed with liberties is superior to a wish-granting gem. (please recheck this verse adopted from the Rimpoche’s Lam Rim teaching transcript Volume II - Lines of Experience The abbreviated Points of the Graded Path, Lam rim bsdus don, by Je Tsongkhapa, page 150, para 10)  [0:28:25.7 to 0:28:32.6]

Rimpoche: Thank you, that’s enough. Thank you. So what is this light? It's working basis. If you don't have this light, you don't have any working basis at all. So that's why Tsongkhapa says it is more valuable than that of magic lamp. The wish full-filling jewel is a old story, It is known to us as a kid, magic lamp. You read the magic with Genie picks up boom comes up, right? If there is such a magic lamp, but our human body is more important than that, it base on which we can work. It is the base. If you don't have that, you have no base at all. [0:29:18.4]

What do you think for all these years, all this life that we've been running up and down, up and down all the time circling in the samsara from the highest level of samsaric God's place to the lowest level of hell realm, circling all the time. Why do you think we did that? Just because we're lack the basis of working the quality of the human life which has tremendous quality. Particularly this time, this particular life has all these great 18 qualities. 18 qualities. Of your own quality, 5 of which are the quality of time in which you have come in, and 8 of them is human nature and human quality. That makes 18 quality. I don't have time to go through what those 18s are, please read my Lam Rim book.

*Audience laughs*

*Rimpoche laughs*

Rimpoche: I have to make my publicity, don't I? I must blow my own horn. Okay. So read my Lam Rim or read Joyful Path or read Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand or read the Essential Nectar. And all of them will tell you same thing, same story, same points, same reason on their own way which you will convince you, which you will help you understand and to find the base. If you lose this basis, you're lost. You're lost. Really. You're lost. This is tremendous.

I make a joke like a childish story I tell you very often. We think multi-million dollar is something extremely important, right? Multi-million dollar? Or even a million dollar. We think very great important. What we do not realize is our life is more important than million dollar. I tell you childish story here. If somebody tells you: "If you let me cut your neck and I give you a million dollar - here it is." who will choose to cut your neck for the? Unless you're cuckoo. Really. If you're cuckoo, then you're cuckoo! That doesn't mean anything. Who going to choose million dollar over your dead body? Nobody. Right? It's childish way of thinking but it’s important to convince a very important message which we normally ignore and taking granted. And that will show you how important your life is. You have a multi-million dollar value in your own disposal. Make best use of it before you get lost. Lost? Sure. Bound to happen. Bound to happen. [0:33:08.5]

And here it says 'and how our lifespan is not fixed. 'Hen jo nyi……….' (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:33:22.0 to 0:33:34.4] So the most important thing here - why don't we seek liberation is we have the fantasy of life. Right? We have the fantasy of life and everybody, what do we call it in normally in normal American society - dream of life. Right? Dream. Your life dream. What you wanted to be? Whatever it might be - A millionaire or comfortable life, life with 2 houses, summer and winter or whatever, the weekend house and the city house, whatever it may be. Car? Or plane? Or whatever. So, we get some kind of what we call it dream of life. And we create that dream, and we work for that dream, don't we? Is there anybody who doesn't want to work for your dream? Except our real, true hippie friends.

If there is anybody else who have that, let me hear it. But we all have some kind of dream of life and that dream we fantasized that. And we fantasized that, we will not let that go. We will stick to it, we will hold on that. Don't we? Dream can be big, can be small, can be anything. But it's a dream and you hang on that. You will hear it all the spiritual masters right and left, from the new age Gurus to the traditional teachers 'let it go, let it go, let it go' and you probably say 'let it go what?' So let it go the hanging all on the dreams. The fantasies that we build up. The fantasies that we build up is our obstacle. It is true, Allen. [0:35:58.0]

The fantasy we build up - it is the fantasy is the obstacle. Obstacle of not seeking freedom, you cannot 100% let it go. You have some kind of holding some still 'I would like to be free but I would like to have this too and I would like to have that too, I would like to have this one together.' - all of them is the fantasy holding. I remember very funny Zang Ba????? (didn’t get this name) [0:36:24.8 to 0:36:26.9] story. One of the Zang Ba Kura??? (didn’t get this name) [0:36:28.3] came to Lhasa *Rimpoche laughs* Rimpoche's native place. One noble person came to central of Tibet and started praying in the presence of the ???? Shakyamuni image. (didn’t get the work before ) [0:36:45.0] So what he's praying is ‘Ta ta ta ........’  (didn’t get the full prayer Rimpoche said in Tibetan) [0:36:51.7 to 0:37:02.6]

*Rimpoche laughs*

*Audience laughs*

The native noble person came and came to see the central, the most important image of the Buddha in the central temple of Lhasa - which is supposed to be really the Buddha image was somehow supposed to be manufactured during the Buddha's lifetime bla bla bla. Anyway, went through the China and came up as a gift to the Queen of????? (didn’t get name of Queen) [0:37:43.0] and it is the most important image. So that person prayed 'I and my wife all may born in the centre of the pure land of western paradise.' And then this lady said: “Hey you're forgetting ??” (didn’t get the word after FORGETTING) [0:38:09.0] it's another companion. He said: “Oh ????” (didn’t get this phrase in Tibetan after OH) [0:38:13.0 to 0:38:15.4] He said: “That may also born at the corner somewhere, not at the centre.” There's another language joke but I cannot translate that, it's not going to be funny. Language joke. That's a dialect joke. It's not going to be funny. [0:38:34.6]

Anyway, that is the example shows you how the fantasy can hold. And one of the most important point Choda???? Rimpoche (didn’t get name of Rimpoche) [0:38:46.8] made this afternoon is saying - selfishness is extremely difficult to find. Remember? He said that. And self-cherishing or selfishness again your question, your question, remember? And that's the point where he has. Even in the future life, he's looking at he and his wife would be the center and the friend should be the corner. [0:39:18.4]

That shows how it works. Anyway, about fantasy. My main point is the fantasy. Fantasy in our life we always have strong, we build up the fantasy and then we work for it, we make ourself slave of that to materialize and you say, you cry, you scream you say: “I'm busy. I have this, I have that.” who really compelled you to do that? It is your own fantasy. That is the one who are pushing you. That is the whip you're getting it, that's the pinch you're feeling it. That's what it is. The fantasy is holding you. That's what it is. You get it? 

So, once you realized the life is impermanent, another important point Choda???? Rimpoche (didn’t get name of Rimpoche) [0:40:232.8] made in the afternoon today, is that impermanent should be a very important point to reduce or to bring tolerant or to reduce anger. Its absolutely true. It is impermanent that makes all the difference to us. Our delusional mind think that we are going to live forever. We never think we are going to die. We never think bout it. We don't want to talk about it. We all know we going to die. But we're looking down the way some years around, maybe 200 or 300, 500 years later it's going come. In that manner we look. That's what it is. That's why we cannot let it go the fantasy of life. [0:41:20.4]

The person who are going to die the next hour, on the eleventh hour on the death bed will also have the same idea that you're gonna live for long time. You know you don't have more than couple of weeks but you never think it's tomorrow or today. Even you go and see friends in the hospital, on the deathbed or eleventh hour, they will come and talk to you who's going to come and see me on next Sunday. And what he or she wanted. Don't we? We do that all the time. That indicates you how delusional mind we have and that delusional mind makes us think that we are quasy permanent???? You know quasy is Indian word? (please recheck the word QUASY in this sentence) [0:42:11.5 to 0:42:13.9] Quasy permanent. Alright? Thank you.

So when we cant think of dying, you cannot let go anything. And that’s why Buddha said: “Ji Tang Jie……..” (Rimpoche said a Tibetan phrase) [0:42:56.5 to 0:43:03.3] Now I don’t remember the word, see. But anyway, the essence is the imprints that you made, the elephant’s footprint is heavy, the biggest footprint. And out of mind, out of awareness, the most important awareness is awareness of impermanence. [0:43:32.6]

‘Ji Pang……….’(Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:43:32.7 to 0:43:37.3] I don’t remember the Tibetan exactly but that whats ‘……………’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:43:43.8 to 0:43:50.5] So anyway, the essence is that – when the animals walk in the mud, the biggest print what they leave in the mud is elephant because its big, right? Have big imprint. Likewise, the conscious awareness of impermanent and that ?? (didn’t get the word after THAT) [0:44:13.5] will make great impact on the individual to push to your spiritual path. Impermanent is the one, understanding of impermanent, realization of impermanent will make you let your fantasy go. Let the attachment to the fantasy go, seek freedom. The Buddhist 101 will be develop by awareness of impermanent and the death. Are you with me? Thank you.

‘Ten Za Re…….’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:44:52.1 to 0:44:59.0] So that way once you realize, we do realize but we don’t have realization. When we have realization that we are sooner or later going to die, sooner or later we have to leave everything and go. Go in such a way ‘Ge Pu Shi……..’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:45:21.7 to 0:45:24.6] So where you go, the Kings will leave their estate, the beggars will leave their egging bowls. And no matter whether you’re high or low, or rich or poor or man or woman or kids or no matter whatever you may be, by the time when you go, you go. You go with leave everything, you go. The earlier Tibetan teachers will tell you, your consciousness is will be pull out like hair, hair out of butter, PPRRRR it will go out. Whole butter will be left there, the hair will go. And then somebody will blow it. That’s how we’ll go, right. [0:46:13.1]

You not going to carry anything with you. Nothing. The certainly not life insurance. Its meant for somebody else. Right? So think back for a minute. Think back for a minute. Lets say, if that happens for me tonight, none of us have guarantee that will not happen tonight. No one can bet for it. We don’t have any guarantee for whatsoever that will not happen to me tonight. None of us. Can we? I don’t think so. We make lot of plan for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, year after that so and forth. Its all subject to change. Some of you friends used to tease me, by saying: “ever changing Jewel Heart schedule” *Audience laughs* and I thought its great honor when I hear that. *Audience laughs* Its great honor that we recognize changing. Really true. No one has guarantee that this will not happen for me this very moment. How many people die while smoking cigarette? They could not complete cigarette smoking. How many people die while talking? They could not complete sentence. How many great people even great masters die while they incomplete their writing book. So in the Tibetan tradition, Tibetan teachers when you read that collected works, you’ll see the number of them incomplete, this thing, that thing, that thing, this thing, that thing. That because of this great impermanent. Even to those great beings. [0:49:10.0]

Lets say if that come in face to face to me tonight, what do I have? What do I have to support myself? Those of you remember Bakula Rimpoche (please recheck name of Rimpoche mentioned here) [0:49:39.5] who came the Indian ambassador to Mongolia who came and visit and spend long time in Jewel Heart last time. And one day Bakula Rimpoche’s talking to me and he said: “Well, I haven’t prepared anything for myself for today.” Meaning he hasn’t done his own personal practice that day.

And I sort of know it but I said: “preparation for what?”

he said: “preparation for my route??

And I said: what route?

He said: oh, the future route. Future life.

So what do we have? Do we have anything that solidly/solely can show that I have this and that. No? We all have. Well, we haven’t done anything bad but also we did some practice here, we said mantras here, we try to be nice and kind and be helpful and that much we will all have. Beside tat, do we have anything else? We don’t. That’s our problem. So what do we do? In case that happens tonight, we do we do? It is not impossible. Remember Gelung La (please recheck the name of this person Rimpoche mentioned) [0:51:08.2] Was here this very point when we’re giving that Lama Chopa teaching and Mahamudra teaching that night till 11.30 at night, he was here, right? 12 night he’s gone. Remember? That’s possible. He has showed us it is possible. Right in front of our own nose. Right in our face. Right in John’s face (Please recheck this name Rimpoche mentioned) [0:51:39.0] John was sharing the room with him that night, he did not know Gelung La passed away, he sat there and said 400 ????? (didn’t catch this word Rimpoche said after 400) [0:51:52.5] and went to sleep. Tomorrow morning when he woke up, he still in same position. What he’s try to show me. *Audience laughs* [0:52:01.0]

That’s what I have been remember. So it is really shows, one way it’s a joke but in another way, it’s a true teaching of impermanence. A true gift to those of us who are been here, to show us this can happen. This can happen over an hour. What do we have? What do we have? Did you make your reservations? Did you have your confirmation numbers? Did you pay the hotel bills in advance? Did you buy the aeroplane ticket? No. No, we didn’t. We simply hope there’ll be some seat available. And so that we’ll be on the wait list, right? So what shall we do? Or find friend, friend who can give you a plane seat in the plane. Somebody who’s working in the airlines office. Get a ticket available, get confirmation.

By think again and again about the (How do I pronounce it) infallibility of karma and its fruit. Karma and its fruit, as well as about unsatisfactory nature of cyclic existence. Fantasies concerning the future life are reversed. ‘Len Che Mil Lu Chru De Me Nam……….’ (Rimpoche said a phrase in Tibetan) [0:54:12.1 to 0:54:19.6] So the karmic definity or about infallibility of karma and its fruit. Now before you reach to the karma and fruit from the refuge. I have to make a linkage here. The link will be if you take refuge, when you go and see a doctor, its like going to see a doctor, a good and famous doctor known Buddha. So you go and see Dr Buddha and have appointment. And Dr Buddha diagnose you have 2 problems – the temporary problem and chronic illnesses. The temporary problem that you have is you have too much anxiety and hay fever and headache. The chronic disease what you have within you is that negativities. [0:55:24.3]

Neurosis within you - that is the diagnosis already given by Dr Buddha. So the Dr Buddha will tell you: “Fine. You came to see me. You came here to seek my help. I’m happy to give it to you. But you need to recognize you have 2 problems. The chronic and the temporarily the symptoms appearing here.” So the Dr Buddha said: “I have sure for both. My Four Noble Truth is the reality of life. The symptoms that you’re facing as well as the chronic suffering is the my First Noble Truth. My second Noble Truth is truth that causes these symptoms. That is – karmic cause and the delusion cause. The delusional cause is the neurosis that really force us to create negative karma one after another – is the chronic cause. And both of them have way out. I have my way out that will be my fourth Noble Truth and by following my footstep, you will get to the third Noble Truth – the place of cessation. That is the diagnosis, prescription and the ?? of the Dr Buddha. (didn’t get the word after THE) [0:57:21.0] [0:57:21.3]

Think of that, meditate/. Tonight, tomorrow. And I did not have time to give you question and answer because the time is already after 10.15pm. So before I close down, I would like to once again remind you the Dr Buddha’s words – Four Noble Truth is the absolutely true reality of our life. What’s really happening, why and what can I do and what do I get. All of them are for questions answered by the Four Noble Truth. Think about it. This is your true dharma. This is your true path. As precious as it is, you have it in front of you. think about it, meditate, think. And that’s how you get it. With that, I have to close down tonight, close shop. Otherwise we’ll be cutting on the beautiful music that I heard last night. I missed the opportunity but I hope to join tonight and be able to see it. Beautiful singing and dancing and all these. Don’t want miss that tonight, and hopefully join with you.

Allen, please. Come up here. [0:57:21.3]

(Allen speaks/reads a poem but poor audio) [0:59:32.3 to 1:00:24.1]

Allen: Don’t get angry with me….?

Rimpoche: How wonderful and appropriate. Beautiful poem. Thank you. and also I would like to make a couple of announces [1:00:42.4]

(no audio) [1:00:42.4 to 1:00:54.2]

Make couple of announces. Do we have announcement? You don’t. okay. Erm. Those of who are doing practice we did last night, its my personal practice ??? Rimpoche may do (please recheck this part) [1:01:10.1 to 1:01:10.6] as a personal practice. I made that a number of times clear. As far as these, we do have lot of …….(audio distrupted) [1:01:29.2 to 1:01:32.9]

Huh? Distraction, controversy, unnecessary things regarding the protector, particularly regarding the Dorje Shugden. And I repeated number of times. I received Dorje Shugden initiation from his Holiness ???? Rimpoche (didn’t get name of Rimpoche mentioned here) [1:01:53.2] in 1952 in Lhasa. Actually Choda Rimpoche (please reconfirm name of Choda Rimpoche here) [1:01:59.5] were together at the same time, right. We have to wait for whole day to get that initiation anyway. So anyway. Whole day! And there’s dance something. It was scheduled to be early morning and we had to wait till 9 something or 10 at night. So that’s not uncommon. If you have to wait 20 minutes, don’t complain me about being Tibetan time. *Audience laughs* we waited whole day. So anyway, as its being my personal practice, we’ve been doing it and a number of other people in Jewel Heart also received this initiation and doing it. And even last year before ???? Geshe Rimpoche (please recheck name of Rimpoche mentioned here) [1:02:50.2] give that initiation to couple of people, and I made announcement – I said His Holiness Dalai Lama has objection to that. I made it fully clear to everybody. And Dalai Lama said that objection in 1977 and talked to me personally in Ashoka Hotel over almost 6 hours. Call me early in the morning about 10 o’clock, few of us. He tried to keep on explaining he has a schedule we have to get out of the room, wait there. Somebody else goes, some VIP come, goes away then calls back where ?????? (didn’t get name of person mentioned here ) [1:03:28.9] talk, somebody else pops up and we have to get out and goes on and finally he has to give lecture in New Delhi University.

The university. We all went to the lecture. After the lecture, goes back to his room and again talking. Anyway, that’s the long talk he had in 1977, I guess. In Ashoka hotel, since then he told us at that time, you can personally practice, cannot do it in groups or associations or big monasteries or anything. By following his advise, though I personally do practice Dorje Shugden, and I did not introduce Dorje Shugden as a protector in whole Jewel Heart. Just as as mark of respect to His Holiness’s words, yet individual practice I do. So that I made clear to number of times. And also you know these days there’s a lot of those things going on, going back and forth, and back and forth and criticizing and counter-criticizing. I’m sure number of you all read on internet countless statement after statement. And as far as myself in concern, I am practitioner of Dorje Shugden, sometimes I do a missed practice, monthly practice I will miss because of being crazy and busy bod?? (didn’t get the word after BUSY) [1:05:04.4] but I never had mind of not doing it. And I did mention that to His Holiness through his representative in New York, only even last month. And so it’s sort of ???? (didn’t get the word after SORT OF) [1:05:24.0] so we don’t do practices together in as a Jewel Heart as a large group but those who have individual commitments – we do it individually. Not as a general Jewel Heart but we do it.

So we did a theme last night. So tonight we’re going to do??? (didn’t get this word) [1:05:44.1] and happens to the empty tonight. Those who like could go and do there but and that not as Jewel Heart practice. It is individual. So let that be clear because I’m also getting number of phone calls and pressures??? (didn’t get this word) [1:06:02.0] and gazillions of letters from right and left, pushing right and left. So our principles as far as I’m concern - if you like to follow, you follow. If you don’t like to follow, you don’t have to follow at all. I have to make my point state: I’m personally practitioner, not as whole Jewel Heart but individually yes, we have that. And that’s my stand. And it was mentioned to His Holiness also and I love to make that once again clear. We made that in Vajyarayana weekend and we also made in other weekends but this is a larger group so would like to make that clear to you. And that’s for your information only if you care to know. But mostly you don’t, what you really do is get yourself free. Make yourself be position of Buddhist 101, let us hope to push you to Buddhist 102 and if possible 103 before the week is over. With that I’d like to say Good Night. Thank you. [1:07:07.8]

(Rimpoche said a mantra in Tibetan) [1:07:09.3 to 1:07:13.8]