Archive Result

Soundfile 20010526GRGRGLG02

Speaker Gelek Rimpoche

Location eg: New York

Topic e.g: nyur lam

Transcriber Carmela Huang

Date January 28, 2021

And welcome, everybody. Okay, we’re back here today. We’re going to talk about…oh, thank you. No sugar, right? 0:00:26.4. Okay. 0:00:51.9. So we basically talk about the impermanent [? 0:00:54.5] yesterday. I like to…to bring out one important point that Buddha gave message. So, I’d like to share that with you. Um…actually, sort of Buddhist…um, sign of Buddhism or Buddhist sort-of logo. Four important points. 0:01:33.1.

All phenomena that created are impermanent. All contaminated things are suffering. All phenomenon is nature of emptiness. And nirvana is peace. These are the four basic important points and…that even during the Buddha’s lifetime in India, the difference of the spiritual path between Buddhists and non-Buddhists are in these four, important points they emphasize. 0:02:23.5. And, um, among the first – all phenomenon is impermanent, and that actually again there’s four important points. And the first one being – after…after birth, the birth will be concluded with death. 0:02:49.2. And after accumulation, it is the exhaustion. After accompany, it is separation. 0:02:59.7. Did I get four? No? [Tibetan]. After being climbed high up, then fall down. 0:03:13.5

So, the basically, when you say all phenomena is impermanent, sort of, under these four categories. So, they change, and change took place. And, of course, after birth, the conclusion of the birth is death. And that for sure. There’s no other question. [Tibetan begins 0:03:48.5-0:03:57.9]. I think one of the Amdo lama called [Tibetan name – ku dang jang beyam 0:04:01.4]. 17th century. One of the greatest scholar ever available. And saint together. Because [? 0:04:08.2] we say “scholar” and I’m in habit of bringing in the monastery – we say “scholars.” But when you’re talking about “scholars,” we are talking about saint. We’re very knowledgeable and they….if the person has no development at all, so we don’t count them as...um…um…as…um…as…um…great being. A person who had great information and…uh…and…uh…and have a great knowledge. But when they doesn’t have…uh…spiritual development within them – and I’m belong to the old school – that’s why. And, when you say “scholar,” and…um…you’re counted to be spiritually developed. And if you are not developed spiritually and we don’t count that high up up there at all. 0:05:01.9

So, there are a number of them. There are number of great, learned ones. But not necessarily being counted as…counted as…um…um…scholar master. But the “scholar” is I’m using English language and thinking in Tibetan, which is making the confusion. 0:05:28.1. So…so, it is “scholar” when I’m referring to scholar-saint, because if you are not developed and your scholar knowledge is…um…a just a general knowledge. It’s not that useful and not that helpful. There is a great person called Pu-Dong [Tibetan 0:05:49.0] or Pu-Dong Cholla Namgye [0:05:51.9] in Tibet.

Later after Tsong Khapa. Something like…almost same period. Tsong Khapa is 1357-1419 and Pu-Dong is probably…probably 1380-something to 1430 or something. So that’s very…there’s a lapse. But Pu-Dong Rinpoche is such a great scholar. And so that his collected work is one-hundred and ten volumes. And he had such a tremendous knowledge, and…um…and he has the capability of dictating five different subject simultaneously. And what…that’s how he had this huge collected works. It’s because what he did is…he had that…um…he had a big stupa in his place. So in the afternoon, a little after twelve he takes the circumambulation of that stupa. 0:07:02.0. So he had like four secretaries in the four directions of the…of the…really! Four directions and they are somebody sitting with chair and table over there. And…uh…and he’s walking by and the subjects are also funny. 0:07:18.5. This side is astrology, that is philosophy, this is metaphysical thing, and this is vinaya rules. 0:07:26.2

Something. That’s what he does. He goes round. And wherever he’s getting the contact with the secretary who is writing, and then, he gets on that subject. And then he moves out and he the other subject. He can…be able to switch back and forth and do four things together. That’s why he be able to write 120 volumes. Huge ones. 0:07:53.2. But the Pu-Dong Rinpoche’s benefit is quite a limited. I mean it’s in the 120-something volumes. And um no one virtually reads. And no one even…uh…it’s not that he doesn’t have scholar information, he does. But it’s not very much contributed to the spiritual development of the individual, but it contributes tremendous on the knowledge. But so that’s why Pu-Dong Rinpoche is not counted that way. There are two. One is Pu-Thuweh [? 0:08:32.9] Pu-Dong. So, don’t get mixed up. Pu-Thuweh [? 0:08:37.9] is very considered very great. It is a little bit before Tsong Khapa. Again lapse. And Pu-Dong’s work is about 30 volumes. And is also great and that was very well-known and very well read and very well practiced. 0:08:56.5

And Tsong Khapa’s is 18 volumes. And…um…and you see how the Tsong Khapa’s teachings still continue. 0:09:05.6. So, even though 500 years later, it’s still how. So it is…when we talk about as an acknowledged [0:09:13.1]…um…acknowledged…um…khepba [0:09:19.0] in Tibetan, which when you translate it, it’s becomes only “scholar.” But, what you really mean is not only you learned, but you developed according to you have learned. Not only you…So that’s why you preach what you practice. 0:09:41.1. It’s really becomes that way. Because you learn and you practice what you learn. And you preach what you practice. That’s how…that becomes helpful. 0:09:53.2

When I’m referring to “scholar” because I’m thinking in Tibetan as khepba [0:09:58.9] and then I translate that into English and now I pick directly in English sort of “scholar”… “scholar.” But…um…that…uh…I’m really looking for those person who had both qualities. 0:10:14.4. I suppose you have to very clearly say [Tibetan begins 0:10:16.2 Ke du nyingnye…] which means not only a learned, but also have the equal spiritual development. Rich in both level is the acknowledges masters of the Tibetan tradition. 0:10:33.4

So those acknowledged masters we quote here and there. 0:10:38.1. Those…um…like Pu-Dong Rinpoche…uh…I don’t hear anyone quoting Pu-Dong though there’s hundred and some huge volumes there. Um…And as myself, and I was working in Tibet House in New Delhi…we published Pu-Dong’s book…uh…collected works, so I had to edit. And…um…so I had to read about…read about it…0:11:11.0. I have read just because I’m looking at the mistakes. But I did not read from the eye of what I can learn out of it. And so I didn’t see anything in there. But there is a tremendous amount of information. 0:11:26.4. Odds [? 0:11:26.4].

Um…Anything you think of, Buddhist philosophy or debate…dialogical…um…Tibetanized Sanskrit…um…you name it. And there’s nothing which you…uh…you cannot find. There’s nothing which is not in Pu-Dong’s work, actually. If you want to know about art, medicine, astrology…everything in there. 0:11:57.8. That’s is Pu-Dong Rinpoche. Anyway. But, you know, again…the usefulness of the Pu-Dong’s work is limited. 0:12:13.0

That because the…speaker doesn’t have spirit…well, [?] doesn’t have. But does not have the level, which level where you have the scholarship and that’s what happened. Though there is tradition called Pu-Dongba tradition in Tibetan. It’s not that they don’t have tradition. They also have Pu-Dongba tradition. You see them in Tibet. Um…I don’t know now. 0:12:44.9. I have no idea. When I was kid, I used to see them. They wear monk’s robe, but on top of that they wear some sleeves. The monks are not supposed to wear sleeve. And if any monks wearing sleeve…huh? Sleeve. Sleeve. Okay. Okay. So…uh…so then… then it is questionable, traditionally. And…um…and…um…that’s why you find some teachers who wear…uh…long sleeve all the time, which…uh…probably gives you….uh…uh…different information. 0:13:49.0. Um…um…0:14:01.5.

So those…uh…uh…people who follow Pu-Dong tradition, they’re not really a monk. So they wear the monk’s robe and they wear the sort of long jacket with long…um…um…maroon or yellow, orange…uh…shirt and…um…then sort of jacket which has long sleeve there. 0:14:28.1. So this are Pu-Dongba traditions, yeah? Maybe their own [? 0:14:32.1 completely set up?] but it’s very, very few people. Very, very few people. And I don’t know whether anything exist today – I have no idea. 0:14:43.3

They go and do prayers; they use the symbols. And normally most of the traditions will hit the cymbals with the one to another and when they saying prayers – zing zing zing they do. But Pu-Dongbas will hit with the…like this…with their…hitting with finger. And sometime they pick up the mala when the finger get tired or pain. They take out the mala and the mala will the hit the…the cymbal. 0:15:16.3. So, there is…there is tradition in that too. But, uh, but, uh, but, uh, Pu-Dong [Namgye Tibetan 0:15:23.0] is, uh… I can’t say it’s not great being, but, um, to develop…his…uh…service to the sentient beings is not that lasting and that helpful. 0:15:47.6.

Um…I don’t know why I mentioned that. Because of the “scholar,” right? So from the “scholar” I went. So it is the [ku dang jang beyam Tibetan 0:15:47.6]…now I even forgot what I quoted. I completely forgot. I’m sorry. [inaudible]. Uh? Yeah, points of impermanent I quoted something, but I don’t know what I quoted. Just completely forgot because, you know, from the “scholar” it went to somewhere else. Some…Uh….[Tibetan 0:16:36.5-0:16:40.4]. That’s it. That’s what I quoted. The moment you born, we don’t have a single minute to rest or to wait. We’ll be running like a galloping horse runs, we’ll be running towards the death. That is the [[ku dang jang beyam 0:17:02.1-0:17:08.1] Not only you’re running, but really running like galloping horse with all forces. Running towards the death. [Sumouse chuah lam jey… Tibetan - 0:17:18.1-0:17:22.5]. Though we may call it ourself a living beings, but we are, in the truth, that going towards death. 0:17:31.6

So, how sad the situation of ourself and the friends and everyone? That’s what the [ku dang jang beyam 0:17:45.1]. So, it is true that we call ourself a living beings, but we are in that truth….that running rowards that direction. Not only that, we are…we are running. We are galloping. Not only walking is not enough. It is going, going – every minute of our lives is going. And that’s why…You know, I was amazed when I first came here…The Days of Our Lives – you know that? The sand bottle turn upside down and goes down…so it’s like…I keep on thinking that, you know, we call that…This is the truth. 0:18:25.0.

We are going through [Sumbose chuah lam jey Tibetan 0:18:27.3- 0:18:32.9]. So I used to remember that…So I used to watch The Days of Our Lives for quite a while because when I first came in I had a lot of time, you know? So, I watched this sand bottle going down and all this drama. But then after a little while, you know, you missed a couple of months you watch them still the same thing there. 0:18:50.6.

Something not changed. So it’s not running through. Anyway…So we’re in that condition. So sooner or later, that’s going to happen. But, uh, our mind will never acknowledge that…you know…unless you are trained…Unless you are trained, our mind will never acknowledge that I’m going to go. We’ll be very scared…very worried. Very scared. 0:19:25.2. But we will never acknowledge…uh…this is me and I’m going to go. [Sigh]. This is unfortunate. Um…Even the person who are on the eleventh hour on death bed will not think, “I’m going to….” They think, “I’m going to go.” But they then they don’t think I’m not going to go today or tomorrow or next week, next week, next month. We keep on prolonging and making plans for who’s going to come and see me on next Sunday and would you bring this and that? The person may be dying on Monday morning, but…or Sunday night, that night. But still they will talk to you what’s going to…what they wanted to do to next Sunday. All this we see all the time. It is our own…it’s not…uh…nothing mystery here. It is practically we see. And that means, whatever we see with other people, you can always has to think, “Will I do the same thing?” And chances are we will do the same thing. 0:20:44.5

We’ll…we are very good at looking at other people and criticizing or even making fun of it or….or whatever. But, uh, you going to repeat the same thing again. 0:21:01.9. So, then that time the other people will criticize you and make fun of you or do the same thing whatever we…I did to that person at that last time. And they…you will get the same thing next time by somebody else. 0:21:22.6. So, that’s the…that’s the point. We’re interested to learning. We say, “Ah, it’s good learning!” But we never learn! We’re good at criticizing, looking at the other person and…um…and…um…making fun of it. Or giving sympathy or whatever we do – all depends on the relationship of the person I believe. Or whatever. Or maybe the person knowledge of the individual, too. Who knows? 0:21:54.5.

So, but, we can never think, “Will I do the same thing?” 0:22:00.7. And the Buddha did raise that question. When he encountered the suffering. When he was artificially locked in that beautiful palace…When he get out, he asked the question…the first question, “Will I be the subject? And will my parents be subject? What about my subject that I’m supposed to protect?” These are the first questions he asked. 0:22:25.8. So…so, the Buddha knew you have to ask the same question. And here, now, we know we have to ask the same question to ourself when we see something funny somebody’s acting instead of criticizing or making fun of it or even giving sympathy. This is…it is such a funny thing, you know, this sympathy is? 0:23:01.4.

I don’t whether people like to receive sympathy or not. I’m not sure if you like it to receive sympathy, then you give it sympathy. They may like it. But if you don’t like receiving sympathy, so probably the other person don’t like it. 0:23:21.0. So I think these are sort of important things. So, we will…we normally see people are planning to live rather than die, but the death comes. 0:23:34.6. So, we have to make sure that we don’t be in the…we don’t act the same way. If the death doesn’t come, that’s great. If you don’t die, it’s good. But if it came, one should be prepared. 0:23:50.7.

Okay? So, let’s…can somebody be the timekeeper? Do we have to have a break, or we don’t have to have a break? We don’t think so? Okay. Two hours, okay? So, anybody has to get up and…um….and not well and wanted go out or whatever or get up and go to bathroom, you please do. If anyone has to lie down because of the medical reasons, please do so. Don’t hesitate, okay? So, but the other than medical reason, don’t do it. [laughing]. 0:24:39.7

Okay, so actually, what I’m going to talk to you about the death stage and all of them. [Wow, it’s hot! 0:25:06.8. Huh? Huh? It’s hot. Thank you. It’s really hot again. 0:25:18.8]. Um, those informations are coming out of Vajrayana. Normally we don’t share many of the Vajrayana informations with the non-Vajyrayana people. However, this is one point where it is quite an important thing. And, uh, it is experienced that everybody bound to experience and, uh, it is so important, uh, for that person at that time at least to know what’s going on. So, I’ll be talking to you from that angle from the Vajrayana source. 0:26:07.3.

Now, Vajrayana or no Vajrayana, if you look in our physical body, and, uh, body which we use as basis of mind to stay. Uh…We talked yesterday to the combination of these two genes and growing out of it. 0:26:34.3. And when you are looking in that body, its body is made of five elements. Let it be four. Easier. Four elements. 0:26:43.6. Four or five. So let it be four. Four elements. And that will be the earth element, and water, fire and air. That’s a-i-r, air. I emphasize, you know? A while ago…a while ago, that’s about seven or eight years ago, I think. Um…I don’t know – somebody invited me a conference in Washington, D.C. It was held in that huge church up there. Episcopal [praying? - 0:27:31.2] church in there. And, um, in that it’s sort of think tank conference, you call that. Very small group. Ram Dass was there. Joseph Goldstein was there. And I…I don’t think Sharon’s there. Maybe Jack Kornfield. 0:27:48.8. Like four or five people. And we spend whole weekend, and there’s like twenty people watching. So, I don’t know what it is. Something….About twenty people…observers. So been talking. And then I’m started talking about this, you know, dissolving, collecting all energies into central channel. 0:28:15.0.

I think I used rather than “energy” word “air.” 0:28:22.3. I think its Ram Dass who looked over there says secretary who is…uh…typing out everything and it’s comes out in type. And they looked and they started giggling. And then they showed me in this [inaudible]…, “All the hairs are collected in central China.” 0:28:48.6. Central China! So, probably that’s what she heard, right? That’s probably….But I didn’t mean that. So….[laughing]. So…air, not “hair,” okay? 0:29:05.9.

So these are the basically five elements our body is made. 0:29:12.9. And its simple – you look bones and flesh and all of those are earth element. It is a…it’s very…that’s no mystery about it. It’s earth element, and all this nerves and everything are earth element. And all the fluid in our body is water element. And that’s not…everybody knows, right? And then the heat. 0:29:39.2. Digestive power and all of those are fire element. Circulation – air. That is basically four elements. 0:29:56.9

So when these four elements are balanced, and we don’t experience any ache or pain, we call ourself well. When they are off balanced and you get discomfort in physical body, affects mind, all of those. 0:30:20.6. So the level of well being or well in life and well in all that is actually really talking about the…these elements are properly balanced in our body. And what makes you die is because off the balance. When the balance goes off, so then one element becomes more stronger than the other elements and then they take over. It’s not really taking over. It is the one element weakened completely and so then you begin to notice the next element because the one element doesn’t work then you begin to notice the next element. 0:31:12.3. And the first elements…what really goes and…and give you a trouble for us…not trouble for us…get weakened is the earth element. Earth element. That’s going to get weakened first anyway. 0:31:29.1.

For many of us, there are number of different signs or the signals that telling us, “Hey, it is time for you to go.” 0:31:43.3. For many of us we get that sign and signal saying, “Hey, you…it’s time for you to go.” Are you with me? We will…we will not acknowledge those signals. I always say, one of my great teacher, Laydee [Tibetan 0:32:04.9] Rinpoche, when he was ten, he wrote a poetry saying, “[Kai ye twuo dah…Tibetan 0:32:09.1]. He said, “Hey friends, the invitation of the lord of death has arrived to you in the form of snow on your hair.” Grey hair, he is talking about it. The greyness. The invitation of the lord of death in the form of snow landed on your hair, you know, so… 0:32:38.7

So that’s what he’s talking…That’s like ten years old at that time. That’s what he wrote. So…we get this…uh…signals, but we pay no attention. For example, many of us, wearing these eyeglasses. That is another signal of the weakening of…not the eye consciousness, but the…the…but the…but the earth element part of the eye, whichever what you call “retina” or whatever you call those. The ball over there. 0:33:18.9

And that is the sign of weakening that we wear glasses, right? 0:33:24.1. Also, some people wear people aides. Not the consciousness is weakened, but the eye consciousness is weakened, not the ear consciousness is weakened, but the connection between the consciousness and the physical aspects of that form somehow is…uh…getting weaker. And disconnected. These are the signs early, early signs, of the invitation from the Lord of Death. 0:34:07.0. If there is somebody called “Lord of Death.” That’s a different question! But…bet let’s call it…let’s call it for the time being. These are the signs. So many of them posted. 0:34:24.3

Many of them. But we will…we will not acknowledge them. We will not receive them as…uh…a signal. We will simply look that as…I don’t know. Uh…uh…Some kind of temporary problem, fixed and overcome. Um…So…But, um, that’s what it is. 0:34:54.8. And I don’t…I don’t think I have time to do. But it is important…um…if you do a meditation…uh…on death and dying stages are extremely helpful if you’re looking from the spiritual angle. If you’re not looking from spiritual angle, then it doesn’t matter. But if you’re looking from spiritual angle, the dying stage of meditation is very helpful. 0:35:49.9. At least I’ve found that. And there’s no other better basis of meditation on that is Pabongka’s the now translated into English out of Wisdom Publications. It’s called Heart Spoon or Heart Spoon or something. You have that available there, right?

So…so if you look those, there’s wrote in the poetry form. 0:36:19.8. But if you read it that, and it will really give you a stage by stage – though it was based on the Tibetan culture, so some things may not very well tally with the Western culture. But they really give you the stage…it is very helpful. It will be big reminder. And it is big…uh…it is a…it is a heavy dosage to take it. But…but it’s quite a powerful. And it will give you big boost on that. 0:36:54.7.

So, anyway, at end of those, the earth element within our body is…um…um…weakened. And, um, unable to…the connection…You know I told you, “Death is disconnecting.” 0:37:11.8. Death is separation. So actually, the first thing what you are separating is the…uh…is the… you know it…all this external things. 0:37:31.4. Uh…we’re going to leave them and go. Uh…But, uh, but then you know the problem comes because we can’t let it go. And this attachment will hold them in. And I can’t give up my house. I can’t give up my car. I can’t give up my bank balance. I can’t give up my, you know, insurance. All this…this…this attachment will hold in a lot. And that…that is one of the source of additional suffering for us. 0:38:07.9. And not only…now…now here is the another problem than usual. In our usual problem, we say attachment is the problem. It gives you suffering…blah blah blah, yeah. 0:38:19.4

But here, it gives you more trouble at this…as time of the dying. When I say, “At the time of dying,” I don’t mean at that hour alone. I mean within the range of weeks and months. That’s what I’m talking about it. Within the range of weeks and months is this attachment will give you additional trouble than normally we know because they will interfere if you believe in your reincarnation. They will interfere in that process. 0:38:57.9

And that’s why it’s big troublesome. 0:39:03.4. Um….They interfere in the reincarnation. 0:39:07.2. Uh…So…so normally you hear a lot of spiritual teachers who will tell you, “Let it go. Let it go. Let it go.” I think that’s probably what they’re talking about it. And we can interpret to…to many ways letting it go this one letting it go that one. All thing you can do. 0:39:30.6. However, I think…I think they mostly referring here. Because at the time of the death, if there is an attachment, it really holds you back. They give you tremendous problem. I have a…a example. One of my teacher called Gombo Rinpoche [0:39:52.7] Kyabje Gombo Rinpoche [0:39:55.1]…He is a very interesting character. Is not known…He was well-known in Tibet. But in…since we came to India, somehow, he’s…he’s somehow sort of downgraded himself and…he just simply…uh…behaving…um…just…uh…simple…uh…a household person. 0:40:35.2. Just. And so…so, he sort of carries huge load of bag and goes round in India. 0:40:46.7

And…um…later he…he…he became…um…the house parents in the Tibetan children’s home in Mussoorie. 0:41:02.8. So people…Nobody calls him Rinpoche. And they calls him…um…home fifteenth father. Home Number Fifthteenth Father, or something. 0:41:17.0. And…uh…then a few years later, people around him begin to know what he is and they begin to get a little teachings from him and they set up a…they had a little group whose been very strong group about hundred people studying with him every day. 0:41:38.0. So it later become that way. But, he behaves very, very ordinary way. Completely. Any other…uh…lobsang or tashi [0:41:51.4] or any Tibetan in the street.

So, he’s like that. 0:41:56.9. So he had two old students, and the students that, being a formally Tibetan government official in Tibet when the government was independent. And…um…and these two happens to be his students even in that time – back in Tibet. And they live in Kalimpong [0:42:20.8] Northern India. And since Gombo Rinpoche become the Home Fifteenth Father, so they moved themselves to a place called Rajpur near…near Mussoorie where there’s…there’s…I’m talking about India. I’m not talking about Missouri here, okay? So…so, he moved there and so they moved in there. 0:42:49.8. And they’re learning practice. And they sit there. 0:42:58.2. They learn the…and they study with him, Vajrayogini studies. 0:43:04.4

And they are his quite close disciples. And he helped them a lot. 0:43:12.9. And somehow they came to the conclusion it’s for them to die. 0:43:19.4. Uh…for not for them, but for the…for one of them. I mean they both of them said, but one had no problem. And the other one, the last one, they said of the death when he’s going to die. And they set up everything. And…um…he has a domestic helper that he brought from Kalimpong to Dehradun. It’s like four five days by train. So, in those days, in India you don’t get the train tickets as easily avialble. So even bought the train ticket for the domestic helper to go back because he’s going to die on such and such a day. 0:44:02.9. And then they fix up like two three weeks thereafter, the domestic helper will go back too. So they bought train ticket. They paid him and did everything – everything well planned. And then the day came and Gombo Rinpoche’s waiting in his room. So the message…somebody telling him he died – they’re waiting for it. 0:44:29.4

And he said nobody came. 0:44:32.9. And…the…it’s…it’s 12 o’clock nobody showed up. 1 – nobody came. 3 – nobody’s calling or coming or anything. By in the evening, he said he has to go and find out what happened. So he went there and they said – everybody’s sort of busy. He said, “What happened?” 0:44:53.6. And he got very sick this morning and…um…and then the ambulance came and took him to American hospital. So…so then now he said, “Well now I have to go to the hospital.” 0:45:09.4. So…so…so he tried to get in the hospital. They would not let him in because he’s in intensive care unit. And they will not let him in. So he said, “By hook or crook I have to get in.” 0:45:21.7.

And so…so he went round and got some kind of super’s [0:45:26.8] equipment and moved through. 0:45:29.8. And went into the room and then he saw in there and then he said, “What happened?” And he said it, “And all these signs came and I was ready to go and suddenly…suddenly, I didn’t go.” 0:45:44.7. And then what happened? See…[interruption in recording - 0:45:46.6 to 0:45:55.0. Then speeds up extremely fast until 0:47:17.5, but unintelligible if speed is reduced!]

…In Amdo 600,000 people. 0:47:21.5. And they’re…they’re so scared of reporting to the Chinese that much people. So they reported there maybe over 200,000 people. That’s what they reported. Then the Chinese government later found out from some Danish people who happened to be there doing the machine population check. And they reported over 600,000. So the Chinese told them…them…them, how come you reported 200,000 but the foreign report says over 600,000? How come you reported us so little? And then they said we didn’t count. We thought that much. So it’s 600,000 people who are attending to his Kalachakra initiation. 0:48:14.1.

It is a total valley between. 0:48:18.7. So this is just occur by the total valley at Laos [? 0:48:21.2] because put on the hilltops and then it sort of broadcast in that way. That’s what they did. That is the probably now fift…from this famous ku dang jang beyam [0:48:35.1]. So, anyway, so the ku dang jang beyam was very, very well-known, famous and he went and visit him in his the…he got very excited and very respectful and all this. And ku dang jang beyam sat down and started talking to him and then…then he led the conversation, how about the…how about…how good shower [? 0:48:59.1] is it these days? In the monastery? And he said, “Quite good. It’s getting better and better. And day by day. And especially when I’m sick. They give me first. And so, the first has more chance of getting it in there.” 0:49:16.2.

So, all that. 0:49:18.5. And then ku dang jang beyam says, very good. You know this pureland called Tushita and has much better shower [0:49:25.0] than we do here. 0:49:28.4. And the guy got a little curiosity, and saying, are you sure? Oh yeah, definitely. The pureland Tushita has much better shower than we do here. 0:49:40.3. So he said, “Well, not ever believe it, but since it’s you who’s telling me, so I’ll think about it. You really think so?” And he said, “I think so. Yeah, I think so.” And few days later, he died. 0:49:51.3.

So went to Tushita to collect better shower. 0:49:56.4. So tiny little attachments can do that, okay? So that’s…that’s why it is important to be aware of that. Anyway, when it comes…when it comes, and then the earth element been weakened, and when the earth element weakens, the sign of weakening of the earth element comes a vision of mirage. Mirage. 0:50:37.5. You know a mirage is? Of course. You understand what I’m talking about. Like you see water but there is no water. 0:50:49.7. Waterish type of thing. It is really actually…it is the sign of the weakened earth element. Because the waterish is the water sign. And the water sign is become more vivid to yourself. You know, I’m talking about these actually, literally you see it. I’m not talking about it…uh…literal…I’m talking about…I don’t know whether it is hallucination or not, but…I’m talking about this individual literally see it. Literally see it. Mirage. Very much water effect. 0:51:35.9

Some people are not necessarily a mirage. Some people really feel there’s a lot of water. 0:51:46.7. Um…I had a…I did the workshop up in Omega. 0:51:58.5. It is similar…There’s a woman who talked to me later and…uh….and uh…she used to be in New York here and now she moved to California. Elizabeth. 0:52:09.3. So Elizabeth told me after the workshop – after the workshop, when my mother was dying, she was complaining about this water coming in the room and the water under the bed and water everywhere. She had been complaining this for weeks and we did not know anything about this. There’s no water at all. So…so but she was complaining for weeks and now I begin to understand. That’s what she told me. 0:52:41.3.

So…so it is clearly people do see it. Some people see it for short period. Some people see it for…for a long period. Some people see it literally water, but sort of a mirage type of thing remains. Even in our weak eyes we…we have…we begin to get that up, right? 0:53:07.2. So that might not be sign of completely sign of earth element, but even when weak eyes we get that very often. That’s the signal. The first signal that one individual sees. 0:53:23.2.

So this actually earth element is now separating from you – from ourself. And the water element is very vivid. That’s why we see the water or mirage. 0:53:43.3. Then followed by…Then the water becomes weakened and then the next element…what’s going to be very vivid is going to be fire element. 0:53:58.2. So the sign of fire is smoke. So we begin to perceive lot of smokey thing. Lot of…as though your room is filled up with people who smoke lot of cigarettes there. Lot of people smoke lot of cigarette. 0:54:16.9.

So the room is filled up with smoke. 0:54:22.8. And you maybe begin to wondering why the smoke alarm’s not working. Maybe. Maybe not. But lot of smoke. As though lot of people have smoked cigarette in your room. Traditional teachings will give you lot of incense been burned in one room, but this is same thing. And that again happens. We have a friend Kurt, right? Victoria’s husband, Kurt. And…uh…I…when I was talking this, and in California, and Kurt told me, when his father was dying, and he complained a lot of smoke in the room. 0:55:29.4. And, um, must be from wealthy family is it? Nope? Okay. So anyway, he was saying that doctors – team of doctors – saying, yes, sir, yes sir, yes, sir, we’ll take care of it. 0:55:54.8. But…uh…but they didn’t do anything. Didn’t bother. And then he asked the doctors, he’s complaining about the smoke, what to do? What is it? Well forget about it. It’s hallucination. That’s what the doctors told him. He’s having hallucination. 0:56:12.2

So anyway, the fellow is really seeing a lot of smoke. 0:56:17.3. So which means even the water element’s completely, almost weakened. And fire element’s taking over. 0:56:28.3. So you see lot of smoke out. I’m share…I’m telling you these are the things those you perceive. You perceive. 0:56:41.1. Then the smoke will be replaced by sparks as though in a dark room, if you threw a handful of cigarette burning in the air. Lot of – you know, this fire…sparks…flying all over. 0:57:07.4. I don’t have any confirmation from anybody who’s telling me below this who tell…who telling me so and so has seen it or complained about it…below this. 0:57:22.5.

There’s water and fire – I do have two people. More than two. There are a number of people who told me about it. But this spark business is I don’t have anybody to confirming me. So I have to rely on the traditional teachings totally. 0:57:41.9. So…so that was the…that was the spark you going to perceiving. Like in dark room handful of burning cigarette throwing there. Lot of sparks you see. That is the sign of fire overtaken by air. That’s why sparks flying everywhere because that air movement. 0:58:20.5.

After that, now the earth element’s gone. The water element’s gone. The fire element’s gone. Now you have the fourth element only. The element of air. You’re sort of lying, rely on…on the air only at that time. 0:58:56.0. So, that air element is also going to give up. And when that air element’s give up, then you have all external elements are all completely disconnected. 0:59:21.3. And the sign of air element giving up the individual person who’s going through this period…what the person see…is reflect of…of…candlelight-type of fire. Candlelight. It’s not a very big fire. This is…There’s a…there’s a funny point here. 0:59:55.0. The point really is – all the teachings that I have received, and all the books that I have read, is telling me…it’s the reflection of a candlelight burning and…you’re not really looking at the candlelight. Candle is somewhere in the back of you, and you see the sort of little light come in the darkness overtaking light coming. You know when candles…you know in the dark room. The darkness is coming overtaking. And the little candlelight is burning. And this and that. 1:00:36.1

And…uh…and, uh…Tarab Rinpoche [1:00:41.9], who many of you met. Who came from Denmark here. And, uh, he called this a cosmic fire. I do not know why he calls it cosmic fire. So I talked to him, and this time. [? 1:00:57.7]. Um. I did not know he calls cosmic fire because in the Holland they told me he calls this cosmic fire. So…Then…when I went to…to Denmakr, I asked him, “Why you call this cosmic fire?” And, uh, he said traditional Sanksrit language for this is called “fire at the dalla tree.” 1:01:24.8. Dalla is…uh…dalla lau or something. 1:01:29.2. Uh…It…Bottom line, it turned out to be banana tree. That dalla tree. It turn out to be banana tree. It was mystical tree for a while. But it…bottom line, it turn out to be the banana tree. So, dry banana tree catch fire probably goes zoop and out. Zoop zoop zoop zoop, right? 1:01:50.3

So…so, Tarab Rinpoche because it’s banana tree light and not a simple candlelight, but…1:02:02.0. Whether it’s banana tree light or single candlelight, whatever may be, this individual person whose going through is experiencing a light coming up, darkness taking over, light coming up, darkness taking over, light coming up. And a little bit of light coming. The dark coming. A little bit of light going. That’s what the person is experiencing. 1:02:24.1. So, even…even though it is called “cosmic fire” or banana tree, fire, but it’s not going to be huge light and big boom, you know? Zoom is not going to happen because it’s very, very subtle level of the individual. And this is almost the most subtle connected with the body. The most, tiniest level. So it’s going to be very, very weak thing. Not going to be huge thing. 1:02:59.8

So, um, you can call it anything. I don’t have any objection calling it a “cosmic fire,” but it’s not going to be huge thing. It’s going to be very weak. Very weak because period in which the individual is the almost weakest point. And almost the quietest point. It is really – you’re withdrawing. Actually completely withdrawing from all external things, and finally you withdraw from your body. 1:03:38.1. And that’s why…that’s what it is. You’re withdrawing. You retreating. You’re retreating from even from your earth element and water element and fire element. And even at the air element, you retreating yourself in. You’re retreating yourself in. This is the most quietest place. This is the most efficient thing if you wanted do anything. It is great opportunity, no doubt about it. But also it can be very painful. It is…um…not necessarily that simple and easy. Normally people talk about death is natural process. And uh is normal and wonderful and all that. Yes. 1:04:39.9

It is a natural process. It is normal. And, uh, it is nice and beautiful and wonderful, no doubt about it. But at the same time, it can be very painful. 1:04:55.0. If I don’t say that, I’ll be doing disservice to you. Um, lot of people like to talk about nice things and they will like each other and clap and go home. Bye bye. And that won’t do…that won’t do you good service unless you also inform the other side of it. 1:05:17.1.

Um…The last time, when the Tibet House did the Art of Dying. Not this time. Earlier. 1:05:24.0. In that Crown Plaza Hotel. And, um, that’s after…just after Sogyal Rinpoche’s book on Tibetan Book On Living and Dying. When that came out…after that. 1:05:41.3. So, some problem, Sogyal Rinpoche couldn’t come, so…so, Professor Thurman sort of dragged me there and putted. And to give that lecture and do that. So, I did that. And after the lecture a lady came up – elderly lady came up. And she was quite angry and upset and she was telling me, “I made my deals with my death until I read this book. And after I reading this book, now I am miserable!” And she was complaining and although I didn’t write the book. But I had to sit there and taking all…listen all her whatever you call it. 1:06:27.7. Huh? Complaint? Whatever. To me, it is abuse! [Laughter.] It’s a joke! Okay? I didn’t feel like being abused. But I felt very sorry for her. Truly, you know? But she was really going on and complaining. She said, it’s wonderful thing and I made a deal with my death. And now after reading this book, whole been destroyed. And she was really complaining. And also afraid. Yes. Fear. And all of them there. 1:07:11.9

It’s very genuine. You know I’m saying it just for fun abuse and that. But it’s very genuine that she really going through a lot of pain. 1:07:28.3. And I tried to help whatever I could. Perhaps I couldn’t do much. Just listen. And just…just listen and I think that itself is quite helpful. She thanked me for listening. So I did sat there and listen for a while. 1:07:51.5

Perhaps for forty minutes or so. It’s not just a while. [Laughter.]. For quite a long time I sat there and listened. 1:08:05.7. Anyway, these are the…the internally one good or bad…whatever it might be definitely experienced. And these are the signs that you are have to...It is recommended in Vajrayana teachings, you visualize those signs. And then they try to acknowledge them. And, uh, then also try to think what’s going to follow thereafter. And think the next sign. So if you do so, you get trained. A training for yourself to be able to proceed. To be able to handle when that problem is encountering with you. So, it is recommended in Vajrayana teachings. 1:09:05.4.

But in non-Vajrayana level, it is very good for you to hear about it and think about it. And you have the knowledge. You have the information. And then, it’s up to you what we to do about it. So that’s that point. 1:09:28.2. These are the external signs. And also people who are watching…um…um…the one person is going. The others are watching. What do we see them? 1:09:50.4

I thought this book should tell me. It doesn’t. 1:10:27.0. Anyway, what the individual did the book doesn’t – that’s fine. Uh, what the individual will really see when this air element is completely gone, then the person has no…they cannot move anymore. 1:10:48.2. And the water element goes, the leaves and all this are dry. And, fire element dissolves you know the heat started going. So these are the external signs that we can see. 1:11:05.3. And if a person who is a really a good one who be able to handle it, and then person who are nearby can talk to that person and saying, now your earth element is going and is gone. And water element is gone. They can hear it if you speak loudly. They do hear it. 1:11:40.7

And, uh, also you can say, now your fire element’s going. And thereafter you have no sign to observe externally on the body, but internally they…you can…can think and do the other things. 1:12:02.5. When I say other things, now the internal dissolving system – these are the external dissolving system. The internal dissolving system…the same thing. Four stage will be…will be developed. By about this time, by about this time, then the person is completely – according to the medical doctors – the person is completely dead. 1:12:31.6. By this time. Um, even during the death of Allen Ginsburg, at about this time…you know…all this things that put on the body is removed and that is roll to the corner and all of them are done. So, push to the near the window to the corner and they’re all done that. And so…so that’s when naturally…um…the medical science today says being dead or whatever. Death is declared there.

However, the person…the consciousness still remains inside because the internal separation has not taken place yet. 1:13:22.9. The internal sep…which I talked to you yesterday…at the conception. I talked to you this indestructible drop. It’s drop. It’s d-r-o-p, right? Drop. Like a drop of water. Indestructible drop. And, uh, that indestructible drop is made of…of that…the genes that you get from father and the mother. 1:13:56.3. The egg and the sperm. They got together, and they’re holding together. And, uh, so the…so the…you…so the…now you completely stripped off every other external layers that you putted on except this one. 1:14:14.4.

This is also time for this indestructible drop should be separated now. Now, they…they will separate. They will separate because the sperm part of that will go and that’s going to be at the individual person will perceive white. We call that nawang [1:14:38.6] We call that perception here. Perceiving white. Moonlight type of whitish you see it. This is the sign that your…base of your consciousness, the sperm, is moving, giving away. 1:15:02.1.

That procedure, I don’t know how long it lasts. But, it depends on the individual. Some people can go quite a long. Some people are very short. 1:15:18.8. It’s no certainty of timing. But then the whitish perception will be replaced by reddish. Uh…traditional teachings will give you sunlight/moonlight business here. Um, but I’m not absolutely sure whether it is like a sunlight orange light. I doubt it. I think it is red light, though they give you example of sun and moon. But, I think it’s…maybe…um…late in the evening. Come in! I think there is a seat here somewhere. 1:16:06.7.

This side is…there’s a couple of empty seats. 1:16:15.9. How are you? [Laughing] So, I don’t think it is sunlight/moonlight business. Probably what happens is the traditional teaching sometimes, you know, and there then the poetry adds up a little bit and the…it makes a little bit confused, yeah…Sun and moon is very nice in poetical form, you know. 1:16:55.6. But individual really, I think, experience is rare because this is something to do with the egg that is separating. And, um, and um, egg that is separating, going away. It’s sort of reddish feeling. 1:17:17.9

Reddish, marroonish, orange-red…to be honor [1:17:25.8] the sunlight. All that can be happened, right? So, some reddish feeling. 1:17:34.8. So, like three steps here. It is…call it in Tibetan nang chieh thop [1:17:42.7] – non-perception. Chieh [1:17:47.4] is separation. Thop [1:17:50.0] – what you’re going to get it. Perception you have the first whitish. And then the separation – the reddish. And then you get into darkness. So nang chieh thop [1:18:04.4]. These are the three perceiving, separation and getting into it. So, the darkness, the actual darkness is the…that is the…that is the…the shock because not only you be stripped of external things completely, but even your body with the elements. And now even that internal indestructible drop and that also been stripped off. And that shocked the individual person. And that shock somehow puts you in the…like a…um…like um…like we have…what you call that? Fainted. 1:18:49.9

You know when you fainted, you get…uh…you get that, right? And you don’t what had happened. Somehow you’re leaving little bit of…the minute immediate before that, and, um, yet it is darkness to you. And, um, that’s what happens, right? I’m sure you…many of you have exp…experience fainted, did you? No? Yeah, you did. Some of you do. I had experience. 1:19:20.5. That was very funny experience. Um. It is in my house in Michigan and Rinbo (?) Rinpoche is there. And he’s big, you know? So, he’ll try to get up out of sofa. He coulnd’t move. So I went there and pulled him. Pulled him with all my force and I couldn’t pull him off very well. So I thought if I don’t force myself, he could fell and he could hurt himself because he’s heavy. So I put another force, you know? All the forces I pulled him up. He was joking some story of some lama who’s giving…who’s the teacher of the Ling Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra today is from Ling Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche received from this lama called Khangsar Rinpoche. 1:20:17.8

So Rinbo [1:20:18.3] Rinpoche happened to be there and he was telling story how it was happening, how it came in. And I was making sort of joke. 1:20:28.2. And one of the student called Pubochaw [1:20:31.9] Rinpoche. He was very well dressed and he…so he said the umbrella came. 1:20:36.3. So the Pubochaw was under the umbrella and Khangsar Rinpoche himself like attendant coming there after so that Rinbo Rinpoche moving physically like that. And, uh, so I pulled him out. Suddenly I don’t know what happened and I saw the Rinbo Rinpoche’s story what he’s telling me. I saw literally within in front of my eye. Then when I realized I’m on the floor. 1:21:02.1. I don’t know…I fainted. I have fainted, but the…during the fainting period is what I literally saw the…this Pubochaw going under the umbrella and Khangsar Rinpoche looks like attendant or something, you know? I just literally saw that in my eyes…when I fainted. 1:21:32.6.

And when I woke up, Rinbo Rinpoche still laughing. He didn’t know I had fainted. He thought I’m making joke. Turned around. And, anyway, so…so…so….so that shock of…even the fainted period, your ordinary perceptions are taken over by something else. And so…so most of the people it get dark there. 1:22:01.8. So I been happened to be hearing this story and so the instead of my mind and reading this story by the through the hearing, I literally saw the figures and physically that’s happening. So the eye started reading. So that’s what happens. 1:22:21.5

So, anyway, shock the darkness is the…um…actually you going through a death period. 1:22:40.1. How long it is, nobody knows. Nobody knows. But can be quite a while. Can be quite a while. My father who remained on that level in Tibet under the Cultural Revolution Period. He died ’74 – end of the Cultural Revolution. ‘73/’74. So…so, he remained at that level 15 days. 1:23:23.6. Um, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche remained about 14 days. And Devyachera [1:23:32.1] Rinpoche about 52 hours. So, it depends on the…on the individual how long it remains. 1:23:44.4

So, couple of hours – yes, it does. In the case of Allen, we…from the 2 in the morning ‘til 11 at the night. 1:23:56.2. So, how many hours is that? Twenty-ah. 21, 22, 23. So things like that. So basically, uh, it all depends. And some people are very short time. It all de…. In the case of Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa told me that last only a few seconds. All of them went boom boom boom boom. 1:24:29.4. And, um, and particularly when they give you those shocks they give you, you know? Bother you up. So probably that makes you go fast. The procedure is going fast. So somebody was asking me the other day, and he said, I heard you been saying it take…even it can take 50 hours or something. But in the West, we pack up very quickly what happens. So, and then, and then, my answer at that time was I said, well, simply you’re turning bye bye bye get out faster, you know? Go out faster. That’s what it is. And not so much. Not so much. How much that will affect to the individual as on the spiritual path? If you are good spiritual practitioner and if you think you can make a difference in your life by that time, then it make quite a difference. But if you are not that spiritually developed, you can do anything or you simply going through unconscious level, then it doesn’t make that difference – how long you leave it there. I don’t think it make that much difference at all because, uh, uh, because, uh, it’s sort of a procedure one goes through. 1:26:04.0

Then after that, what happens after that? From the darkness naturally you want get out. 1:26:16.4. And desire of getting out, it actually helps you to. I don’t know…transfer, eject of your consciousness out of old body. 1:26:37.3. Then you come out of that darkness and you’ll see a light. Not a moonlight, but sort of morning, early morning light. Sort of, uh, clean, fresh, crispy. Might not be cold, but crispy light. 1:27:15.0

Actually, people refer that as clear light of death. 1:27:24.0. And there’s a little more over here. Little more over here…um…about, uh…What really happens is at this moment, you contact with your primordial mind. 1:27:44.5. You contact with your primordial mind and you perceive your primordial mind and primordial mind perceives you. And I shouldn’t be talking so much about the primordial mind over here. But those of you…uh…who are interested, I think it’s valuable in the Vajrayogini tapes, right? 1:28:13.6. I think during the Vajrayogini teaching I did talk about, right? So that primordial mind, um, valuable. But, uh, Vajrayogini tapes will be restricted only to those who receive the initiation. Um…I hesitate little bit to talk about primordial mind here. 1:28:40.8

Anyway, uh…So I’ll refer you to that. [Laughing]. Information valuable in that. 1:28:57.6. Maybe that information can make publicly available, I’m not sure. I think probably.