Archive Result

Soundfile 20010526GRGRGLG01

Speaker Gelek Rimpoche

Location eg: New York

Topic e.g: nyur lam

Transcriber Carmela Huang

Date October 15, 2020

Ok welcome for here. I think what you call this workshop, retreat, or whatever we’re calling here. But we’re getting together here to get some, um, we get togehter here to talk something, to discuss something that is unavoidable for all of us with experience sooner or later. 0:00:49.1

That is about the death and dying and the likewise it is the relationship with the life and that’s the theme, uh, we would like to focus on. Actually, all day tomorrow and, um, whatever one hour, two hour tonight, and a half-day Sunday. And that will be our thing. But, um, it is interesting, when we are looking at our life, this is uncertainty of the life. It is changing and an impermanent. It is always there in our life. 0:02:06.1

I think one of the Dalai Lama, I think it’s seventh Dalai Lama, I think, I think it’s Seventh Dalai Lama, he has said, [Tibetan – sang dang…0:02:23.0]. What he was looking into it and he find, the, the, whether we call it that the future life or tomorrow, which is going to come first, one never knew. So he urges everyone, don’t work for tomorrow, but work for future life. And that is the, um, seventeenth century, no eighteenth century. So, that’s what he said. 0:03:15.6

No matter, whatever, when we look very carefully in our life, that impermanent thing, in our life is always, always there. Even though we are familiar or not familiar that we are changing minute to minute every moment to moment, hour to hour, is there someone outside, someone walked by, okay, so minute to minute, hour to hour, we change all the time. So, whether we realize that or not, but we all do realize our life is not a permanent. 0:04:19.9. I don’t think anybody had any question whether that life is permanent or not. No one ever have any doubt. So what does that mean to me? To me, I mean, each and every individual.

What does that mean to that individual? That means to the individual, sooner or later we are going. That’s that. So, though we, though we had planned [0:05:06.5] to live forever, but we are going. I believe here the clash between the material life and the spiritual life comes in. There’s a con.., there’s a.., there’s a really, there’s a clash there. 0:05:30.3. The material, normal material life will tell you, we have to plan at living for a long time, get a whatever. And, uh, so, so the plans are always worked as though you’re going to be another hundred years here. 0:05:53.6. More or less, many people plan it, you will see the, the next millennium. [Laughing] The chances are not probably not, but we do plan that. But the spiritual information tells us that’s not true. Don’t do that way. Don’t think that way. 0:06:23.7. That may be difference there. Many times, it goes together very well. There are occasions where it differs quite differently. So traditional Tibetan teachings tells us, dharma, from the Buddhist point…point of view it means the spiritual path or the religions way. 0:06:56.7. And a normal material every day people’s living is too separate one – they don’t get along well. A lot of Tibetan teachers will said that. Milarepa is a great example of that.

And a number of you may be think, well, today he is contradicting himself, and normally I will always emphasize how the material life and spiritual life can work together and it is complimenting each other, how each other can help, and this what I normally emphasize very much. But many…those of you who are used to it, they may think, well he is contradicting himself today. Yes, I am contradicting myself today, but sometimes you have to. Um, there are times, um, that the way of thinking is different. The spiritual person always has to think what is the best for the individual – yourself or ourself – for long run rather than what is best for today or tomorrow. 0:08:36.2.

And of course, material world you have to think what is the best for you for long run. But the long run is just ended there. It is not that far. Um, it is not that far. It is just few years down the road – five, six, seven, ten, fifteen, twenty at most. Thirty, forty – wow. If you are very young or something. So, that is the…the end is there. So that long run goal is ended there. It is funny. Um, a lot of people may think about that. A lot of people think about the legacy. 0:09:34.7 It is interesting. Yeah. Legacy. People think it is very important. Maybe. I have my doubts. The legacy is maybe important, but what does that mean to the individual? Probably nothing. Probably nothing. I’m sorry I’m talking something terrible that you don’t want to hear about it. Really. But probably it’s nothing. It has nothing to do with you when you go. Nothing. Your legacy. 0:10:29.4

There is interesting nineteenth century Tibetan poet called [Tib. 0:10:37.8] Gendun Chopal. His is very interesting point. He not only was quite popular in Tibet, but also quite popular in India at that time. And also..so.. he sort of wore the Indian bhikshu’s robe. I’m not sure whether he was monk at that time or not. He wore the monk’s robe and went to Sri Lanka that was Ceylon at that time…with three other Buddhists monks went to Ceylon. And he’s a very good Tibetan poet. 0:11:17.5. So whatever happened, and he happens to be the person who composed the national anthem for Sri Lanka today, was composed by that Tibetan guy, who sort of pretend to be Indian monk and went with three other monks, went to Ceylon and…um, he composed the Sri Lanka constitution…um, sorry, anthem, he did. 0:11:47.7.

So he wrote a little poetry and saying no one would like to go and everybody would like to look back, even your dad. Even you’re gone far away, but if you like to look back. And that’s why the some people will leave. 0:12:10.9 - 0:12:15.9 [Tibetan da nyang ga ye…] Since some will leave your children, your spiritual disciples, followers, and some will build institutions and learning centers and dharma centers and different monuments. 0:12:42.6. And all of them – done, because they wanted to look back. Then there is a guy who wrote, there is a guy who wrote, guy who wrote Tibetan dictionary. A Mongolian guy. Actually, this is the first Tibetan dictionary organized in alphabetical order was composed by a Mongolian guy in late 1920s. Because before that it was not organized so it’s very difficult to look up you know, so that was the first time so organized. So, um, um, you can come on this side over here maybe. Over here, okay, both of you. 0:13:54.5. Is Rinpoche here? Kangyang Rinpoche, no? Okay. He’s in Italy, okay. 0:14:03.7.

So, so he said [0:14:14.4 – 14:23.2 Tibetan cho nun ringyi…] and who said the person who need have dharma wealth or no have it in material wealth, the beggar who has nothing to live for, his legacy, but we add so much human food 0:14:45.4 in order to pad that I am living this little book 0:14:48.6. So that was this man wrote for the…actually for the dictionary. 0:14:57.9 Um, so, so I’m talking about the legacy. I’m not sure whether that’s..that is important for the individual or not. Probably not. Because…I tell you why – because…it may be helpful if you set up 0:15:18.4 and it may be service and helpful to a lot of people if you probably set up and do. And that maybe there. That one cannot deny. But that will be your contribution.

But as a far-seeing youth (?) 0:15:33.3 in the individual concern, once you’ve gone, you’ve gone from there and you have nothing to do. Nothing to look back. That’s the…that’s the most important point we have to remember. It’s bad news. And it’s sad thing because we always like to continue something what or another. 0:15:59.9. Even though – you know. The really…it’s very strange. When I first came in the United States, it’s about 10 years ago. Um, when we were talking about reincarnation, and the somehow people have no difficulty to understand or to accept...I don’t know if you really accept or not. But no problem to listen and talk and discuss and think about reincarnation. 0:16:35.6. Which gives me a very big shock. I said, whoa, what’s going on? What’s the matter? So I begin to realize actually people has quite good interest of reincarnation. That interest is rooted…rooted for the one live forever. They wanted to be forever and that’s that interest is rooted in that. Many of people. 0:17:13.8.

It’s funny you know? It’s a funny thing. When you look at the Dalai Lama institution…ruling the Tibet, it’s like 500 years old. One Dalai Lama after another Dalai Lama comes and uh…and… uh that’s what goes on. And that’s funny, right? But people may have interest in that way. Some people, too. Some people don’t. Anyway, that’s something very funny that we have to think about. 0:18:08.3.

Then likewise (0:18:15.7) how long we last in life, that’s another very funny. We don’t last very long. No matter how long you live, and it is a very short life. It is a very very short life. We go very quick. Really. We do. So, sooner or later, we all going to face that. And then what happens? What is it? How do I experience? How do I know? There are a number of people who really doesn’t…uh…know they’re gone even they’re gone. 0:19:07.1. They don’t know they’re gone. Quite a lot of them round…hang around at least for a few days without knowing what had happened. 0:19:19.7

So, that is another problem. And actually, we’re going to talk and think almost unknown things. Almost looks like unknown things. But it’s not true. It’s a known thing. However, it’s almost look like unknown thing for us. The procedures…how we go through the death, what does that mean, how we go through, what happens, how do I know I am dying, what kind of signals can I proceed, and…uh…what happens to me? 0:20:22.4. And, what can I do? What can I do? At that time, what can I do to prepare and how can I handle myself, and what can I expect? (David! Hi! I did not know you were coming. Did you come driving or…? A lot of traffick? Ok…0:21:10.1). And also what happens to me and what do I experience here and what do I experience there? And…um… what can I do at that time. These are the things I intend to cover for tomorrow probably all of them. And whatever little left over we will do that day after tomorrow. 0:21:53.5.

And I’m not going to have any sort of meditational thing here. Because I…I wanted to make this..um, more or less, uh, informational and, uh, so you can…you can get the information and then you can think about it, you can analyze and then make yourself, make your, you make your own decision, what I’m going to do. 0:22:29.0. So, I mean that you don’t have to make within two days. You know what I mean. You may think I have to make decide today. No. So you can do that over the years [laughing]. And so, I was…I was going to do more that way rather than…you can very well do visualize meditative way. But I’m not intend to do it. And I wanted to make it’s more practical informational and…uh…and when you have the information, you can do the meditation by yourself. 0:23:17.8. So if you wanted meditative experience, you can do anytime. As a matter of fact, a number of…almost every Vajrayana practitioners do that almost every day. So…so, you can do that by yourself anytime. But it’s…I wanted to make this as a more informational or even discussion. And that’s what I’d like to do. 0:23:49.5

So, so, did I get [a set of the? 0:23:56.7] sort of team…what do you going to happen for next two days. 0:24:03.7. And then number of people have lot of thoughts and lot of questions who will like to deal that too. Um, don’t have to worry about it if the quest…you may thought that it’s not appropriate or it’s not relevant, don’t worry about it. When it is bothering you, it is relevant and it is important. If it’s...it is important to one person, it is important to all of us. So, so, don’t think…um, I’m making a fool of myself and I’m not…you know, don’t think about that. Just whatever question you have, whether it’s stupid or profound, whatever it may be, just to sort of bring it out and we…it’s not that I have answers for all your questions, but we can talk back and forth and see if we can figure out…and um…figure out what it is and also maybe figure out what to do. So that’s the…[hi, Debra 0:25:19.2]…so that’s what we hope to do. [Well, they’ve been probably keeping those two seats for you. 0:25:32.5]. So, that’s what I intend to do for the next day. Um, and then also…so, [can’t understand 0:25:47.3] I’m not going to talk only about the death and life. And life and death – they’re very much connected. Actually, as a matter of fact, it is not…uh…uh…prob…we can’t really talk about the death without talking about life. Uh, that’s a very funny thing, you know? 0:26:12.8.

I had this good life good death, whatever it is, two or three talks last couple of days since I came back from Europe. Last couple of days, I got two or three, and I…uh…two, right? Two, I had. So, it is funny…um, it’s also, you know…Death is separation. And life is...uh…is uh…union. So, without talking the union, you cannot even talk the separation. 0:26:58.8. Uh, so the…so, I think that’s…um…we have to do that too. That probably I can do today, more or less. Um…It’s interesting…One has to raise a question oneself, what is meant, what it means to be in life. I’d like to throw that question and I want you to think about it…what it means to me. It’s a funny…I ask that question a number of times…quite a number of times, and every time, quite different answers people give. And maybe people think, yeah of course, I am alive because I’m living, I’m walking and I’m working, I’m walking, I’m talking, and I’m eating, and I’m doing this and that…of course, I am alive. Yeah, true. Nobody is saying you’re not alive. But what does that mean to you? 0:28:00.0

What is it? So that is the question we have to think. How does that mean? [No, okay. 0:28:12.0]. So…And there’s this interesting, when you ask, ask, keep on talking to people, and then people begin to…to…many times, people begin to…to shift the identifying being alive is with the name, with the profession, and…um…all that type of thing. Of course I am alive, I’m John, I’m John, the driver. 0:28:53.7. So people do shift the gear between the profession, name, and…um…physical body. 0:29:08.7. So, I want you to think what it meant to me that I am in life.

I have very funny way of looking at it. Uh…which you may think it is funny. Or maybe it is stupid. 0:29:33.4. I look at life – at being alive – as a union. The union between the physical identify, which is our body, and “me” – let’s call that mind, it is a big questionable, you know? I have to said this because…you know…what I did for the last couple of years, uh, I emphasized…I sort of pay more attention for people to get the message rather than theoretically correct. But the sometimes, people do get the message, but then theoretically goes wrong. 0:30:29.3. So, which is…uh, very difficult. So I want you to emphasize that here…here today.

So, we call it…let’s call it “mind.” But it may not be really the mind. And I think there is something beside mind and the body…there’s something called “me,” “somebody.” Don’t think of a soul, okay? Don’t! [laughing]. But, um, ok, you know you cover up that, saying, oh, it’s consciousness and something, you know? And we do all that sort of a thing. However, there’s definitely…uh…someone who holds the mind and the body together. 0:31:24.5

Ok, though I…I…I said very strongly, don’t think of a soul, but I have no idea. I know nothing about the Judaic-Christian tradition, so I know nothing about the soul. Just because being a Buddhist, I said, don’t think of “soul”, but…I don’t know anything about it. But according to the…to the Buddha’s point of view, there’s a something, which is sort of a continuation of something called “self.” 0:32:06.9. Even then, you know, this is wrong. Even then, I said “self,” right? And then…then, I said there’s an “I.” So, then the…then the…then the problem comes…you know…there’s a…there’s a great Buddhist scholar called Nagarjuna. And there’s a great Hindu scholar, the Shankaracharyas…I mean that’s continuation Shankaracharya but at Nagarjuna’s time six hundred years after Buddha. There’s a biggest debate between these two is whether there is a something called atma or not atma. So the Nagarjuna follows saying there is no atma and Shankaraycharya says there’s atma. So, not…it’s not for me to make judgment or…or make anything…decide in there, but however…however, I don’t want to deny the Nagarjuna’s viewpoint nor….0:33:01.3…so, so, if I present it in such a way…I’m saying “self” and “I” and all this…and it may become “atma,” you know, a permanent “atma.” So, I want you to know all this. And normally I don’t talk about those because I want you to have better to have understanding of it. 0:33:22.9.

But, uh…after my recent visit to…visit to Holland and when they translation comes out and then it comes out something different…and…uh…so, so, you being to realize what’s happening, you know? So, there’s no “atma.” There’s no this thing. But there’s still something. So, let’s called it temporarily “mind” because we will know…we will be understand better. 0:34:02.8. Let’s call it…let it be mind, okay? So, let it be mind.

So, so, the union of the mind and the physical body together is the…I look that as the life. 0:34:21.2. Um…what happens? You know the…the physical body is our..that physical gene that we have, right? The genes comes through from the parents to ourself and then goes through our children. And so, this is the journey…one journey of the genes going…one way. From the parents to children and grandchildren and so and forth, this is one journey of gene. 0:34:53.9.

Many people think this is my continuation. This is my continuation. It’s not. It’s not. It’s definitely not. According to the Buddha, according to what we understand, our children is not ourself. It is part of my body or whatever. Part of it. It’s come out of my body and it’s all this. It’s extremely close, no doubt about it. But it’s not “me” continuing. What is really continuing is that physical gene maybe continuing. But not “me” continuing. So…I am sure nobody worries here, but there are people who think their children is my future. And its continuation that of that is my continuation, which is definitely not. 0:35:56.2

Why not? Is because...uh, that our self, the “mind” let’s call it, the “mind” travels the other way around. The physical gene goes this way; the mental gene goes the other way. And then when they crisscross together, when they get crisscross together, when they joins, we call that life. But then they go in different direction. It does not continuously go through the genes. Not. It is the separately. So that’s why I say that is separation and life is union. The separation of the physical identify - the body – and the mind, separation. That is called “gene”…uh death. 0:36:50.0.

So it’s separate. It hooked up together somewhere probably at the time of the conception, right? Called conception. And this will raise lots of other questions, but that’s the different story. When life begins and so and forth and all that…all that question. Um. It’s a sort of…uh…really bothered so much in the whole society, um, that’s the different story. 0:37:31.2.

But they hooked up together at that time. The time where the…where the…the sperm and the egg joined together and…uh… at that time…at that [can’t understand 0:37:52.0] time, the consciousness in a diff…actually is a bardo[wa?]. Let’s call that bardo period. The bardo person is looking for physical identity. Looking everywhere. Running every part, every possible place. They’re running everywhere because they can run because they have mental body. The bardo people doesn’t have physical body. They have a mental body. So the mental body makes them capable to travel anywhere they want to. We know that ourself when we think about anything, we don’t have to put too much efforts. We can think and we can think about it. 0:38:40.1.

What I meant is we are sitting in Manhattan here, but we can think about a talk show or Beijing or New Delhi, whatever. And we can think about and we can even get an idea or even a picture we can see of whatever the picture you have – Tokyo or Delhi or Beijing or whatever – without any efforts. 0:39:06.6.

Can’t we? So, when are not in life, when we are in the mental body, so we don’t have the problem of dragging the big, fat physical thing. You don’t have to. You don’t depend on airplane. You don’t. The moment you think you get there. That is the mental body’s qua…I don’t know, quality or…not really necessarily a quality, but…that’s what mental body function. 0:39:46.3. That’s the difference between the physical body and the mental body. At the bardo level, you have mental body. You don’t have physical body. 0:39:57.0.

The question comes, you may have shape or not shape. [Can’t understand - 0:40:00.7] forget it. So, in a one way, we can forget it because it’s not very much concerned. But on the other hand, when we’re talking about it, might have to talk. The bardo…the bardo person has in heaven [?? not sure if “in heaven” is correct - 0:40:00.7] appearance. Um…something look like whatever it may be. Um…Not necessarily it’s tangible. Not necessarily you can catch it. So you try to catch it, it disappears. It’s gone. Anyway, so…that’s not the point. The point is being a mental body does not need any effort to travel from any place to anywhere. 0:41:02.1.

This is the same thing not only for the bardo, those people who are born as formless. They do the same thing. It is funny. After many years of this study that I did – this one. And, uh, one day, one of my teacher, who went to Dharamsala and came down to Delhi – I was in Delhi at that time. So he sort of suddenly came like at three in morning or something. So we got up and made room and made him sit and made a full place for him to sit in there – the living room. 0:41:51.1. And then he’s flying to South India and he had to change the air ticket or something, so I was busy talking on telephone trying to change his air ticket. And suddenly he said..He’s Rinpoche…I said, “yes, sir?” “yes, Ge?” The teacher, right? Yes. So he said, he said…suddenly, “where does the bardo of formless person formed?” All of a suddenly…middle of talking to Indian bureaucrats talking about his plane ticket. 0:42:24.3

And I’m holding on the telephone. And I sort of looked up and my eyes sort of went up. He said, “Oh, look at you! You looking up. So what is up there you can see in the ceiling?” [laughing 0:42:38.6]. So, he said, “Right over there…right over the individual person died. At that moment, at that spot, the formless bardo has started.” 0:42:56.2. That’s what he said. That’s formless bardo. Those no form bardo [not sure if correct 0:43:00.3]and human bardo and all this…this no big problem. But formless is a problem. All of a suddenly middle of thing, you know? So, anyway, so…That indicates…indicates…indicates the bardo person and the person who is in a life…the moment the separation took place, the bardo comes in. 0:43:27.9. That person become a bardo wah…bardo person.

So the bardo, the moment you become a bardo person, you don’t have those physical limitations. Physically limitations because you are disconnected with the physical body that you have. 0:43:52.7. So, when you don’t have those physical imitations, the moment you think, whatever you think, you get there. If you think Milan, Italy, or you just get there. Uh…Yeah, really. Or if you think Zurich in Switzerland, you get there. Or you can…if you think space up there somewhere…up there or side there or whatever, wherever…a moon or Mars or anywhere, you get there. That is the significant of physical body-less…body physical…physical-less body. Can we say that? Is it terrible English? Huh? 0:44:45.6. It is terrible English. Ok, thank you. Alright. Then what? Formless body. 0:44:53.9. Is that ok? The moment you say “body,” it’s give you…some kind of…anyway.

Ok, let’s call that formless form. 0:45:04.2. Formless form. So…so…so, you don’t have those limitations. So you really travel tremendous amount of area because of your mind. So you sort of…you…the purpose of your running around is to find another physical identity. That’s what you are doing. Though you may not know. But you are doing that. With that. And you got opportunity. So then that was the time you are…you are limited. 0:45:44.4

And you’re no longer fly out…you no longer get out…You’re stuck. And that is the beginning of the…the union of physical and mental gene. It’s not mental gene, but let’s call it mental gene for the time being to make ourselves clear. And that is the beginning of life. 0:46:08.7. And since then, what really happens at that time actually? Actually, what happens is…tiny little gene, right? A tiny little piece of extremely subtle…extremely subtle little piece of semen and extremely small piece of egg combine together forms a very strong…we call that “indestructible drop” according to the Vajrayana. Indestructible drop. You cannot destroy. It remains with you until you die. So that’s the indestructible drop. Then that indestructible drop has provided basis for the mental consciousness to be with that. 0:47:12.8

And that is the seed through which all our physical thing grow. Beyond that, you know, there are a lot of levels…um…from the Buddhist teaching, Buddhist tradition. Not tradition…From the Buddha’s teaching point of view, they give you so many levels. There are a number of [naramnavok, dharamtavok, korokorok 0:47:37.4] you know…all different names, which they give you, which is of course…uh…now we don’t have to even talk about it. The doctors know very well and they give you the pictures and everything. So that is how it begins. 0:47:55.6. And from that time onwards ‘til we die, we have this union. The real essence is the physical gene, which from both parents comes in. 0:48:12.0.

And mental gene combined together. Which you may think, “Where does it stay?” And I think it travels in your body throughout different time, different level. For example, when you are in very heavy sleep, it goes to the navel level. And you don’t have dream or anything. Very heavy sleep. And…uh…then it’s…uh…when it travels at throat level, it was the time you have dreams and all this. And it travels throughout the body. Um…within its own little channel they work through. They work through. 0:48:57.7. Yet, this is the main thing where we receive all the [dirine? 0:49:05.3] information and everything. All our physical thing outside…they touch through the body. Forms through the eye, sound through the ear, smell through nose, taste through tongue, and all so and forth. All of them are…are relaying and relay within individual and…uh…that individual feels and tastes and smell acknowledges. 0:49:41.0.

So the rest of them, somehow what we call that? It’s covered. 0:49:53.4. It is touch. It is covered. Whenever you touch, you have a feeling. That means that inside the body has a covered…connected and covered. And the moment you lose the sensation, like the diabetics lose sensation on the fingers and toes and all that. And the moment you lose this sensation and…uh…it is disconnecting. So then portion of your physical body…that’s what’s happening. 0:50:28.5. So it does no longer covered. It is unable to cover, so that’s why it withdraw. 0:50:35.8

So, actually, dying process is truly the feelings and acknowledging that mental gene has any outside physical thing withdrawing it. Actually withdrawing it. And that’s…that’s why people lose the heat of…withdraw. All of those actually…what I…what I’m see is covered. The word in Tibetan is chuh-buh [0:51:12.6]. It’s pervasive. That’s it. It is pervasive throughout, but the how they become pervasive is not that is there somehow is connected and it’s get information. Because there’s a tiny little drop can’t be everywhere. Where it been pervasive is. They get the information and receive the information and that is the…uh…that’s the…that’s the how it is. 0:51:43.4.

That’s what. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I believe that’s is what it mean in life. Okay? 0:51:58.5. So that’s what it mean in life. So that connection…um…should…can…[? 0:52:12.2]. There’s hundred and million different way of disconnecting it. There’s a much more way of disconnecting rather than connecting it. 0:52:26.6. That’s why our life is very fragile. It is wonderful, no doubt about it. Because it is wonderful…wonderful to be in life. And particularly the life that has a great spiritual information is much more valuable and much more useful because we can make different through…through our journey, whatever it is. 0:53:03.7. And if you cannot make the difference in our journey, then we will be…be traveler that never reach to their destination. 0:53:22.7.

Did it make sense? We will be the patient who never gets better. Sick all the time. So…so when I say we have to…we can make a difference is we can make a difference at that journey. 0:53:49.9. We can reach…make ourselves reach to the destination. We can cure ourself from the illness of negative addictions. That is even more important and valuable than that of normal people we see out there. 0:54:26.4. So there is no doubt…tremendous value and wonderfulness in our life. But it also very temporary…very fragile. Very fragile. 0:54:44.1.

We [in]tend [0:55:03.4] to take everything in our life granted. But that’s not true. That’s not true. It’s true today; it’s true tomorrow; it was true yesterday. But, one day, it will not be true. Then, question comes, “What are we going to do? What do I do?” If you care about yourself then, “What do I do at that time?” 0:55:46.0. Yeah, of course, you can think, yeah, I can embalm my body or whatever that’s…freeze my body. People do that. And people raise that question very often, “I can put my body frozen?” And, uh, then, uh, and then, uh, then I can do something and they may find cure somewhere, whatever the disease I have and then I will revive. And people raise that question very often. And I do believe you can do that. I’m telling you it will be done. It will be done. Anything…anything spiritually it can be done, it will be able to do by the scientific methods. 0:56:28.7. I’m telling you it will be done. However, person when you wake up, that being in there might not be you. That is the question. Yeah, really. It is…uh…we can laugh right now, but…but if someone really think, when I woke, I will woke up again and they might not be you. Even though…now believe me this…Even though that being who woke up will know lot of your secret, lot of things that you do, they knew it. Even though, it might not be you. 0:57:17.3.

This is an extremely important point we have to pay attention today. 0:57:30.3. Because we’re…this cloning business. We probably clone ourself just to harvest organs. So there rise a lot of ethical question. Is that you? The individual “me” had been reproduced? Or, is there another living being? Another consciousness coming in? The chances are, 99.9%...I can’t…I don’t want to say 100%. But the chances are 99.9% another consciousness…another living being. 0:58:39.0. So, so that’s…I raise this question becomes it’s become ethical issue. It is same thing. Frozen body may wake up [with it 0:59:04.6]…consciousness in there. The chances are probably 99.9% they’ll wake up. But who is the really person in there will be big question. Although they know lot of your secret. 0:59:28.4

It might not be that individual who we think it is though they know you’re name, they’ll identify with you, with your name. Name is also label. It doesn’t stuck…that’s…it…we identify with name, but name is giving. Somebody call that something, right? And then that becomes that. 0:59:55.4. Actually, these are the signs of not inherent existence. That’s what it is. That’s why you can label it. Label can stick there. So, while I don’t know what I’m talking that today, but… I just related in this. And I would like to focus this weekend and what’s going to happen to me, what do I do? do? 1:00:32.2. What little I know. And, that’s what I wanted to do. I suppose I’m going to stop here unless you have any questions in here. Anybody have any questions…for anything? Yes? You. 1:00:54.0

[question inaudible]

Thank you for your question. I think it is a very important question. You going to kick me out of my job, aren’t you? 1:02:47.5. Oh…You know why? If I don’t accept reincarnation, I’ll lose my job. I’m supposed to be reincarnated lama. So…That’s why…[laughing]. 1:03:10.2. That is joke. But the question you really raised is very genuine question. It’s really…we don’t know…we really don’t know there is reincarnation. And we don’t also…we also don’t know there is not reincarnation either. So the benefit of doubt we must leave it. So we…if there is, we must prepared. But that also not the subject we wanted to talk. What we want to do. We’re talking about life and death. We’re not talking about reincarnation. But reincarnation is a very important issue to so many of us. Yes, you’re right. You had messages. You had visions. And you don’t know what it is. That’s great quality of you that you said, “Don’t know.” 1:04:21.8

A lot of people will pretend that is something fantastic – very unique. But you’re good. You said, “I don’t know. I had message. I had vision, but I don’t know what it is. I don’t know it’s true or not.” 1:04:38.9. That’s honest statement because we all get that funny things and we all don’t know what really is. But on the other hand, it seems the great teachings…the great spiritual masters are every…many of them, sort of have gone through…and the many of them have revealed their stories. And a number of them have even told their personal story by the next incarnation what had happened. I hope they’re not lying. 1:05:33.6.

And that had been for like…you know…a couple of…uh…a couple of…um…instances that…uh…you can probably read it in my book and [without? 1:05:48.2]. And this has been like…five, six, seven hundred years. And, so…I just simply that I hope they’re not lying [laughing]. On the other hand, it’s also very funny thing happened. 1:06:12.8. I was writing…I was…uh…I was writing a biography of a great teacher in…uh….1600. The Amdo teacher. Because I…I published his collected work and his collect 15 volumes. And in his collected work, his biography is not there. So, I composed a biography of his about 100 page. That’s about 15 years ago. 1:06:50.5

And then…And he’s reincarnation, the number two, the number two, the second one…has wrote something somewhere. And I was looking at that…and looking at that and suddenly I read that portion. You know, you read, but you don’t read. You know what I mean? You see it, but you don’t see it. You read many books, you don’t get it. So I call that, you see it, but you don’t see it. So suddenly I got it there. I saw it. And what I saw it is a reflection of that second person what had happened during that day…that particular day during his previous incarnation. 1:08:07.2. So…I don’t want go in that detail story. It’s very long story. It was a little after 5th Dalai Lama and one of his…that…uh…the person who was the Desi like the prime minister after the 5th Dalai Lama was killed by a Mongol…uh…type force came and…um…the commander of that army unit is a woman from his native land. And so she somehow…the moment they get a hold of him…the first thing, without any hesitation, she copped his head off. And so this person’s biography I wrote is try to save him life because that woman happens to be his disciple. So try to save, but he couldn’t. 1:09:33.2

And of course, his…[can’t understand 1:09:34.3 - history…history become another kind of version because he cut …1:09:40.6] one this way, one that way, one that way when something…something three times he went across the river. 1:09:47.5. And so…so…some of the critics writes, if he did not cut back and forth and goes straight, he could have saved the…the life…But since he been cutting back and forth three times, so he was too late. But…uh...but according to the supporters of those, he tried his best to try the life, but they don’t know where they are. And then finally, by the time…uh…when he gets to there, and he was already killed. 1:10:23.7

And…um…then this…his next reincarnation composed a book somewhere and then he said, “It was so upsetting in that day. And…uh…and…uh…then he refers to the first…the first…couldn’t even say his daily commitment prayers. And…uh…I suddenly saw that as a big reflection of shock that individual went at that moment. 1:11:01.7. You read that…between the lines.

Then childhood memories are another story. But things like that, you get occasionally here and there. That happens to came out my head, so just share with you. 1:11:33.7. Uh…but really, truly, we don’t know if there is reincarnation or not. That’s just because no one has came back and said hello. Yes…

[question inaudible - 1:11:54.8]

No. Honestly telling you, it’s not. Um…The reincarnation they recognize is not…this is one of the purses [? 1:12:23.6] they show their articles within that kid recognize correctly or not correctly. It is one of the tests. I don’t think we rely on that totally. We don’t. Definitely not. 1:12:36.9. Um…even that Kundun movie sort of give you the…uh…the picture, idea that kid recognize then everyone goes Kundun or something, right? [laughing]. I believe that’s movie. That’s definitely movie. And that’s not the major point where you rely on. It is rely on mostly on the other well-respected…uh…great beings and their perceptions are deeply you rely on them much more than whether kid pick these thing or that thing. That is one of them, but…um….when that doesn’t contradict with the…um…perceptions of other beings…That is much more important than…uh…picking up things or not. 1:13:44.9. And definitely it’s not the final point of accepting reincarnation. 1:13:59.1 Yes?

[question mostly inaudible – I don’t remember what words you used…dreams…what were the words you used? Indestructible…]. Drop. [inaudible question continues…what is the connection?]. Because we experience the sufferings that we experience. Is not that you have to hit the drop. But the…whatever we physically experience or mentally experience or emotionally experience, the drop get the message. 1:14:44.0. And not only the drop, but inside the drop get the message. 1:14:53.5. Does that answer your question or you’re looking for something else? [inaudible 1:15:06.4…Does that indestructible drop…laughing]. That’s a very interesting question. 1:15:27.4

You know there was a great Indian pundit saint and scholar who left the monastery and went into wild. And then there was a big debate….anti-Buddhist scholars would like to defeat the great Vikramsila, the biggest one of the biggest sort of seat of learning of Buddhism. It’s like 600 or 700 years after Buddha. During that…those days, the debate is such, whoever loses the debate not only get lost the debate, they also has to follow the other who won the debate. So the monks of that…the scholars of that particular Vikramsila…Actually it is…we…now we call that monastery, but more or less is sort of ashram-type of thing. 1:16:38.6. So the scholars of Vikramsila was very afraid of losing so they keep on avoiding and getting the debate and they try to get that pundit who left…They try to get him back. So he came one day and somehow mixed them together. And at that moment, this anti-Buddhist guy who would like to debate them…They used to lock all these Buddhists in a room and…uh…and lock them in a big hall. And when they go out and he will try to get a stick and touch and [crowned? 1:17:13.6] them. And when they come in…and then he will crown [1:17:17.0] the stick, hit on the head and say…one bald head, two bald head, three bald head. So, he goes and hit them. And suddenly the new guy came, you know? Mixed them together. And he hit on that…he says, “Oh, here is the new head! Where is come from?” And he replied, “It’s come from throat.” The head was on the throat, on the neck. 1:17:45.5

So, where does the suffering come from? Cause of suffering. [laughing]. The cause of suffering which is the negative emotions. Bottom line. Again, theoretically, it’s wrong answer. But bare bones…bottom line, it is the negative emotions. That’s where they come from. 1:18:15.5. It’s not that they carried over or produced or something. It’s the negative emotions are the cause of suffering and then it’s the materialized there. 1:18:28.6. The head is coming out of neck. Ok…one minute. Is it okay with you? We’ll talk more…okay.

[inaudible question…cannot be destroyed…law of conservation…]. Can you say it again? [inaudible question…is there a logical truth that the consciousness cannot be destroyed…the mind doesn’t disappear….so…logically….] 1:19:38.7. Yeah, it does. But…uh…that’s logical, that’s logical. You know, you really have to follow that logic and very carefully…dig down and follow it, observing the logical rules and then goes through, you can prove it that way. But…um…that doesn’t work with us that well. I mean it does work, but…it doesn’t. It will not become like scientific proof, in other words, that’s different. I think it’s difference. It’s actually..it is the based on the continuation. The logical reason is based on the continuation and also the…a.nd also there are lot of other things, like the mind becomes a mind only, the matters doesn’t become mind and…uh…the matters becomes matter and the mind doesn’t become mind. That’s a lot of those complications are there, but….I don’t think we should touch that because it’s not going to do any good for the 99% people here. 1:20:50.7.

[inaudible] Well, I don’t think…You don’t have freedom of what you want…to want to. 1:21:28.0. It is what you get it. I don’t think you what you wanted is not it. For lot of people, it’s not the question. It’s what you get it. 1:21:41.6. The bottom line is what you wanted, and…um…it’s not you don’t get it. What you desire. And also drawing itself is…I don’t think it drawing because you want to be human being or you want to be insect. But I think the drawings are normally done by attachments and attachment is probably sexual attachment. Even among all the attachments, I think it sexual attachment that really draws. So when you look carefully, that’s what it is. 1:22:19.0

We can go that…um…more detail tomorrow, day after tomorrow. Ok, Rory?

[inaudible]. [laughing 1:22:47.4]. No, I don’t think so. 1:22:58.1. No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. [inaudible]. Interfere…I don’t know they interefere. 1:23:10.3. Then there will win our way [1:23:13.3] But ghosts do interefere…Ghosts are not bardos. They’re different. [inaudible]. Possible. Possible. I don’t know.

[inaudible question…In the bardo state, it’s not like we get what we want. So why is that in lam rim we think avoid hell realm, rebirth…hungry ghost remember the limitations of human rebirth…why are we everyday thinking to avoid things that we have no control?]. At least it is give you a way and how you function. 1:23:54.3. And death. You don’t have control, but you…you know that non-spiritual [1:24:05.8]. So it is very helpful that time. When you’re drawn, you say, “Oh my god, I’m drawing in there. I don’t want go.” Yes, please?

[inaudible question…] Yes, karma has so much to do in here. 1:24:39.8. And…um…the karma, original karma is the main thing they give you, but attachment that will drawing you will probably provide the conditions. Karma is original cause and then the conditions right and then it materialized. The drawn by the attachment is probably…the condition. The provide the condition. Karma without condition not materialize even though there is karma. If the conditions not right, it will not materialized. 1:25:20.2.

Karma, in order to materialize, you have to have right condition. So the attachment probably provide the right condition. Is that okay? I’m making it a little short, but we can talk more because this is…I don’t think you want little sentence will…can answer that. 1:25:45.8. Yes, what do you wanted to?

[inaudible question]. Attachment provides the condition, yes. Attachment itself might not be the condition. Like, for example, the parents in bed together and having their whatever is the condition and the attachment of the individual drawing towards that and provides all those…you know? So I think that’s…1:26:28.7. And that also right condition. Right…everything has to be right. If it’s something wrong, you don’t get...conception or whatever they call it. 1:26:40.9. So, yeah…Because everybody…every sex doesn’t produce the right condition again. Because people have lot of difficult to get [laughing]. All because it has to be right condition. Sorry. I don’t know why I say that. That’s what it is. I think you already asked once. I like to call a day. That’s tomorrow, okay? You want to ask that question today or can you wait until tomorrow? Alright, thank you. So otherwise, it’s going to be late. So, well, thank you so much. And I hope you’ll be comfortable tomorrow. I don’t know. Tomorrow they have to sit long. It’s 10-12 and 2-5, right? Ok, thank you.