Archive Result

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Soundfile 20010526GRGRGLG005

Speaker Gelek Rimpoche

Location eg: New York

Topic e.g: nyur lam

Transcriber Carmela Huang

Date February 27, 2021

Um, do we need a chair? You can…You, okay? Alright. Thanks. 0:00:09.6. And welcome for the last session of this, um, thing. Um, whatever it is – that thing. 0:00:30.2. [Laughing]. So, yesterday we, uh, talked, uh, discuss about the…the dying stages and what you expected to perceive and, uh, and halfway through couple of choice what you can do. 0:00:59.0. Um, so, do you…do anybody have any questions or anything – because I think last night was quite short, so I couldn’t give you…Did I give you opportunity? Couple of questions only. 0:01:15.2. So...so any questions? Yes?

[Question] Rinpoche could you please say a few words about when people die in an accident very quickly? Do they go through those same stages? And also about suicide and what, um, saying some words about the idea of suicide and what happens then? 0:01:48.8

Um, Buddha was asked the same thing. 0:01:52.3. Uh, I’m not going to suicide, but…Uh, about the accident. And, um, the…he didn’t say accident. Those days, they don’t have so much accident as we do today, you know? 0:02:10.0. So…so, they said suddenly when people died what happens? So, his answer was if somebody fall from a cliff or something, um, they have the same all process no matter how short it may be. But all of those eight procedures do appear. 0:02:33.4. Maybe very, very short. Everything goes very, very short. But do…they do have that. So I believe, uh, no matter whatever conditions under which you die, but this…uh…process take place. 0:02:59.7. Um, where we…when we talked yesterday, we’re talking about the process [0:03:05.5] when you’re normal death. Normal death and the process how it goes one after the another. We talked about it. But when the sudden death, that also have the same procedure – same process. But I believe it may be very short one. 0:03:23.4.

People recognize or not recognize, and that is a big question. 0:03:28.3. So, that’s all I can say about that. About suicide thing, it’s a little hard to say. 0:04:03.9. I’m sure everybody has right to suicide and all that. But, um, is it something good to do? Certainly not. I mean, even you suicide, whatever you do, even you play this Japanese system of hara-kiri or whatever. 0:04:27.3. And even then you have those procedures you go through. There’s no question. The procedures will go through. Process of…of, um, disconnecting elements will definitely go through. 0:04:43.0. Um…Actually when you’re hurting yourself and there’s…there’s no question it is negativity. 0:05:01.8. Um, there’s no positive thing come out that at all. Uh…It’s interesting. Like a phowa, we talked about the phowa yesterday. Remember? 0:05:23.5. The time recommended to use for is you know you…there’s no chance for you to continuously live. You know you’re going to definitely going to die. 0:05:39.6. But then you avoid the sufferings of those, and then you recommended to do phowa at that time. 0:05:52.8.

So…so it is a little before the natural death time. So, perhaps from that point of view, I don’t know. 0:06:10.8. But I like to share an interesting story with you that is about, now, about ten years ago. 0:06:19.4. I went and visited a Rinpoche – elderly Rinpoche. 0:06:26.2. Not elderly. Senior one. Anyway. I don’t know how old he is. Maybe late sixties, early seventies. So in Kalimpong. This is, uh, some Northern Indian, Himalayan, um, hill resource. Is it “resource”? I don’t know. Resort or no? Is it a resort? Kalimpong? No, not resort. A town. A Himalayan, nice little Himalayan town. 0:07:11.9. So…So I visited him and talked to him and he give me lunch. And then he came to know some…He came to know that I’m diabetic. 0:07:26.2. So he said, uh, do you have to eat that black, uh, thing or the…the white dough will do? 0:07:36.1. So I said, well, those days, I used to be very strict. 0:07:39.7. So I said, black dough only. And then he called his attendant and said, well I believe he eats only black doughs – something. Then he’s talk…Then he told me, well it’s nice you’re taking care of. He said, I like to share something with you. And he said, a year ago, that…He said, a year ago…0:08:05.2. And then, he said, I was, uh…He said, some police guy – police chief – in the local area came to see him, visit him. 0:08:17.0. And also a political person together. So, when they’re talking to him, and he said, and suddenly he had numb in his left side and all this. 0:08:33.6. And suddenly he’s going to have all this funny little thing. He’s having heart attack. And when they start talking to him. So he said, well I kept my mind together and I’m engaged…There’s a seat available here. 0:08:50.8. Although [inaudible]…whatever. [Inaudible]. Yeah, okay. Tibetan [0:09:00.0]. Huh? Yeah, that’s fine. She got a seat. 0:09:06.3.

So, he said, he said, I kept the conversation in life. 0:09:15.3. But my mind, I said I would keep migtsema: migme tsewe ter chen chenrezig… [0:09:19.2-0:09:26.0]. He said my mind I keep on saying the migtsema and I kept on engaged talking to them. And he said, they won’t leave for forty minutes. They keep on talking to him, so he has to sit there forty minutes. And, um, so then he said, luckily, they…that is…that either the stroke or heart attack – whatever he had – it is very mild, and he did not have any difficulties of speaking. 0:09:55.6. As happened to be mild one. And then he said, by the way, if you have…if you get any stroke or that sort of thing, and when you can’t speak, and when you are sort of helpless and think and then, uh, um, then it is better not leave. And I thought, it’s better to go. 0:10:21.9. That’s what he told me. 0:10:23.9.

And then, few years back when I came back here, and Domo Geshe Rinpoche went back to Kalimpong. 0:10:32.2. And he came back and I talking to him on phone. He said…I said, what his name [0:10:35.3], he said, Thando [0:10:36.1] Rinpoche passed away. Oh? Thando Rinpoche passed away, okay. What happened? 0:10:43.7. He said [unclear - 0:10:43.1] I heard he got some kind of stroke or something, whatever. He said, he doesn’t speak well for about two days and then the next morning suddenly they said he died. 0:10:57.7. So…so taking all this into consideration…I mean. He died probably because he knows what to do. He have his own control. Some to have ext…to some extent. 0:11:23.0. But then people who don’t have control, what they do when they engaged to the suicide – we call it suicide. These are the, um, uh…The spiritually even you do phowa, spiritually you’re transferring your consciousness. 0:11:44.5. I don’t know whether that’s be called under the category of suicide or not. It could be. [Laughing]. You know? It depends on what kind of lawyer you have. [Laughing]. 0:12:01.0. So, it…I think it goes for interpretation. So, I mean they’ll be very hard to prove it, but still. 0:12:10.3.

So this is my answer. 0:12:18.2. Um, but, hurting yourself is negativity – you have to remember that. But at the time when you really have to die otherwise you will be unnecessarily suffering – there’s no chance for you to continuously live. If that’s certain, then…I don’t know. 0:12:48.3. I will not recommend to do suicide. But I do recommend to have done phowa or whatever. Whatever way. There are a lot of…lot of…lot of different methods given by different teachings at different levels. So, there are many of them there. So…So, I don’t think we have to follow the…the Japanese tradition. 0:13:18.2. But, if you’re a practitioner, and if you’re a Vajrayana practitioner who did this at the wrong time, you not only have a negativity of killing a human being, but you also have negativity which is of killing a deity. 0:13:38.1. So, it has to be right time. 0:13:42.2

That’s why all this…all this teaching will say, when you’re certain there’s no other way, then this, this, this. Okay? 0:13:55.5. [Q: Why would someone switch one pureland for another, like you were saying yesterday. The woman switched to Tsong Khapa.]. That’s her choice. 0:14:00.1. [Q: I mean, what’s the difference if they’re all…]. Doesn’t matter. 0:14:03.2 [Q (con’t):…if they’re all, like, blissful, how do…]. Doesn’t matter. That’s her own choice. 0:14:07.2 [Q: So what distinguishes…No, I mean, what’s the difference between them in terms of the experience of the individual]. Probably her own choice, really. I don’t think there’s one…one…one pureland is better over another. No I don’t buy that at all. But, uh, whatever you have inclining at that time. What would you like to do. And that’s probably what…that’s what her choice is. 0:14:31.9. [Q: Is there a difference…]. Supposed to be physically different place and the different activities, too. 0:14:41.2. Yeah.

Yes, sir? [Q: One is able to, uh, rebirth in the pureland.] I’m sorry, say it again? 0:14:57.1. [Q: If one is able to take rebirth in the pureland…]. Rebirth, okay. [Q: Is one able to carry through bodhisattva activities?]. If you get to the right pureland, yes. 0:15:10.2. [Q: Which one would that be, in particular? Laughing]. 0:15:15.8. I don’t think the Harlem is. 0:15:19.6. I don’t think the Harlem is. 0:15:24.4. All this different purelands – doesn’t really matter. Doesn’t really matter. 0:15:35.6. Depends on the individual’s practice, what you have. And, um, your inclining different deities. 0:15:48.1. Um…Yeah, that’s about it. A distance is…doesn’t matter. Where the pureland is. Distance is no issue because you don’t travel by the measurement of mileage because it is the…the mental body.

We talked yesterday. Um, I mentioned to you wherever you’re thinking. 0:16:23.2. But distance-wise, like Tushita is considered most closest to here because if those…some…somewhere the chart is flowing and floating. And Tushita happens to be within the…uh, within the form realm. 0:16:41.5. And within the form realm itself. Who have the chart? Did you get your chart back? [I haven’t found…I haven’t got the copies.]. No, no, you got it back, right? 0:16:53.3. The Tushita’s probably falls in, like, seventeen or something? 0:16:57.4. [I don’t know. I don’t have it with me.]. Oh, you don’t have it with you, okay. 0:17:00.7. So, it is…it is within this chart available. So, it’s considered all…all others are out of this chart. So…So considered quite close from the distance-wise. 0:17:13.3. But, um, it’s not an issue because you’re in…you’re in, um, not, uh, physical body. 0:17:23.5

So you don’t have to carry it over or anything. So it’s not an issue. 0:17:29.8. But on the other hand, um…Yeah, I mean that’s not an issue. So I just getting those idea of those, you know, for a while ago, that, uh, um, Holy-Bopp? 0:17:44.6. Or some…[Hailey-Bopp]. Uh? [Hailey-Bopp]. Hailey-Bopp. 0:17:49.9. Some, uh….Uh? It’s Hale-Bopp. [Yes.] That’s right. [Hale-Bopp.]. Hale-Bopp. 0:17:55.7. It is, uh, some group of people committed suicide in California, remember? 0:18:03.4. And, uh…Heaven’s Gate. There you go. 0:18:05.1. And they think there’s…they said there’s some kind of vehicle waiting behind the…the…what? That’s right. Hale-Bopp. So, um, so that sort of thing clearly indicates, uh, not correct. 0:18:24.8. Because, uh, the moment you die, you’re not carrying this body. So you don’t need the vehicle to carry. 0:18:34.1. The…You have the same capability…You have better capability than vehicle. 0:18:40.7. So you don’t need a vehicle because, you know, the moment you talk about the vehicle waiting, so then from here to the vehicle where it’s waiting, you have to kill yourself. This, uh…Doesn’t make…Doesn’t add up together. It doesn’t add up. 0:19:01.1.

So it doesn’t add up at the end. So…and that sort of thing is totally, uh, waste of tremendous amount of human life. And, um, it is not only a negativity, but it is one of those immeasurable negativities. 0:19:21.5. So…Certainly, that’s not the way. 0:19:31.1. It sort of clearly shows you all their statement doesn’t add up together. Not at all. So if you can get from here to this sky – wherever that is – and then why can’t you get where you’re going? You know – there’s no reason. 0:19:50.5. All of those – doesn’t make sense.

So, are you okay with that? 0:20:03.6. Question and what I talk about? Or you’re thinking something else? 0:20:08.8. [Well, I’m thinking about something, um, primar…a person that you know, um, takes their…his own life. And how you think about, you know, the shock that you feel about it. And how to deal with that, really. Someone who actually was elderly and, um, studied…was Buddhist. And everything…you know. And every…well-loved by everybody and had children. And then took his own life. Um for the people who are left and [inaudible] it’s difficult to deal with. And I don’t…you know…it causes [inaudible] a lot of suffering for those people. 0:20:58.0]. It is true. 0:21:00.7. It is absolutely true. I talked from the one person his own…You know, actually, what drives individual to commit suicide is the suffering. I don’t think anybody will be driven to commit suicide because of pleasure. 0:21:21.2. So it is the suffering. 0:21:24.2. And Buddhism provides so many ways of handling the suffering. So, if you have to indulge such a level, it is a little bit of strange. Um, however, when the person is committed suicide, committed suicide, committed suicide. So, you can’t bring it back. 0:21:55.4. And, um, I don’t mind saying. A little inconsiderate of the persons who left behind – people who left behind. A little inconsiderate. A little bit. But, on the other hand, it also…you have to understand, when the person who took that far, whatever the suffering that person must be having may be very severe. 0:22:27.1. May be very severe.

So, for us, those who are left behind, it’s only to do is to try to understand – make some sense out of it. 0:22:43.4. And, uh, whatever it may be, it is done. So we so…sort of have to look for some kind of closure. 0:22:56.7. And the closure from our side what we can do is dedicate our positive karma to whatever that person would like to achieve. From our side, we still have many [0:23:12.8] ….we, of course, it is upsetting. But also you have to know, um, you know…you have to know how to forget. 0:23:27.3. Because that person lost life. And we lost a friend or companion or guide or teacher or whatever. And that person lost life. The loss is what the individual has taken is much more than what we lost. Maybe it’s equal. But, still…0:23:50.5. Um…So we have to know how to forgive. And the dedicate and prayer his whatever wishes he have and maybe fulfilled. 0:24:07.7. Perhaps we all can pray. 0:24:11.2.

And, um, so somehow you have to know and [0:24:15.5] to do a con…conclusion. 0:24:20.2. And also particularly this are nice days to do those is the anniversaries. Yearly anniversaries. 0:24:30.4. Uh, the…the nice days to do. You welcome. Yes? [Q: A couple friends of mine where their loved ones were suffering and dying [inaudible]. With the approval of loved who couldn’t bear to see their suffering and helped them die by medicated reasons. Um, is that like a huge negative karma or [inaudible - 0:25:10.8] Well, I’m sure they’ll be lot of legal consequences for those who are left behind. 0:25:21.1. And from the karmic-wise, you’re definitely contributing to a killing. I don’t want to be advocate [0:25:33.9] of Dr. Kervo…Kervorkian. I know, but, you know. But, uh, if it’s definitely they’re going to die, so the time for doing phowa is…that is the time. That is the time. If it’s definite. If you’re absolutely sure, then that is the time to do phowa or any other thing that you know. But, uh, I don’t…I don’t want to be advocating, um, assistance suicide or whatever, you know? 0:26:26.5. I don’t whether the individual human being has a right to end his life. I think he should from the spiritual point of view at that level, for that individual person, I don’t think there’s any negativities. 0:26:42.0. But, for the others who are involved, I’m sure there is negativity of contributing committing suicide.

[Q: And what do you think about, uh, someone dying and, uh, [inaudible ]. 0:27:08.8.] Well, I don’t want to be a…a vegetable myself. 0:27:16.3. I don’t…would I like to see myself as a daikon radish lying over there? No. [Laughing]. Not for me. [Laughing]. I don’t know. [Laughing]. But others…for me, certainly not, so…[Q: Inaudible [0:27:42.6] making the decision yourself if you don’t want have life prolonging measures.]. Life prolonging measure is, uh, I don’t know…I don’t know, Carol, I’m sorry, I really don’t know what to say this because I don’t know. 0:28:01.3. But my…I…my, sort of assessment is probably at that stage, at that level, anybody who are engage, uh, to disconnect the, uh, I don’t know, machines or whatever. I don’t think there is a negativity from the karmic point of view. I don’t think so, but I can’t say certainly now. But I don’t think so. 0:28:36.2. And also, you…well I don’t want to give you that excuse. Actually, it depends on the motivation.

But, I don’t want give you that excuse because anybody can claim to have a motivation, right, you know? 0:28:50.4. I mean there is…there always a right motivation, but…Uh, I don’t know. 0:28:58.4. Individual personally is it worthwhile, certainly not. As I said, I don’t want to be daikon radish lying there pumped up with electricity [laughing] You know pumping? No. No. 0:29:12.5. [Q: If…what is the dying…how is the dying process different if – or is the dying process [inaudible 0:29:24.0]]. What? [Q: inaudible [0:29:25.1] …time of death. So, um…]. I think what’s [inaudible - 0:29:31.8]…I don’t know what’s happening. But my guess is, uh, probably you add up the last minute addition to those elements – whatever’s getting weakened, you know? Air is pumping up – get little more air. 0:29:46.4. And, uh, whatever, you know, little more adds up, you know, little bit of earth element here and there. Little bit of fluid – water element – here and there. And little bit of heat. I think that’s probably what they’re really doing is adding up, uh, like little elements here and there. So that’s probably what it is. 0:30:06.4.

[Q: inaudible - 0:30:07.5]. I’m not a…I’m not a, uh, scientist, so I don’t know. 0:30:12.5. But probably what they’ll do is probably that’s what they’re doing. What else? 0:30:17.9. You know. Adds up some kind of whatever the element’s getting weakened, you know? They add something over it, you know? Pumped up little bit. And that’s probably keep on prolong then. And then some people it also depends on karma. Some people lies in their unconsciousness level for years too. 0:30:39.2. Okay. Jane? [Q: I don’t need a driver’s license. I’ve always inaudible - 0:30:48.2.] Yeah, well… [Q: Dying process [inaudible - 0:30:52.0]. It is another very interesting question. 0:30:58.0. Somebody asked me the same question up in North Michigan, right? So, I thought – because you really have to be careful here. Um…Person like me, whatever I say here, you know. Few people like you, uh, may take so seriously, so…so I don’t want it, uh, make it a disservice to anyone, uh, so I wanted to make it very careful about that too. 0:31:31.5. Because it does make a difference. And people started quoting, oh Gelek Rinpoche said this and that. So, you really have to be very careful. Um, in one hand, the organ donation is, uh, very helpful. 0:31:50.7. Um, we can see. At least, if you’re bodhisattva or something, what a better opportunity than this. But on the other hand, the time, um, the organ has to be taking it away, um, is very critical time, um. Normally, you know, with thinking, normal process…If you think very carefully, very carefully, the earth element dissolves, the water’s element gone, the fire gone, air gone. 0:32:39.8.

So, actually, no external feelings – I don’t think there’s any feelings at all. So, after the air element dissolves to the consciousness, so, even they’re…they’re taking away, you know, whatever organs…0:33:03.4. I don’t know about heart or brain, but beside that, um, any other parts of the organs they’re taking it away may not have feeling to the individual. Individual doesn’t feel the cutting and taking it away, you know? 0:33:34.4. Might not feel. But I’m not sure, so I don’t know. So, I don’t want to be disservice to anybody. So my answer is, I don’t know. But I was giving you my thoughts. Probably not, but then the heart is another big question. 0:33:57.0. But that heart just doesn’t pump anymore. No more pumping. No more movement. However, this indestructible drop could be at the navel level, could be at the heart level. So did not give opportunity to separate. I don’t think there’ll be any ears or the, you know, lungs or something – it won’t be there. But it will level of either the heart level or the brain level, so…0:34:35.3. I don’t what else [0:34:37.0] they do. Really I don’t know. Thank you.

Yes, Carol? [Q: [inaudible - 0:34:43.0] question that Helen asked yesterday, which was, um, [inaudible - 0:34:48.9] you know, whether you understand these states [0:34:53.0] that you’re going through when you’re dying or not, you’re still going [inaudible -0:34:55.9]]. I’m sorry – I’m sorry. Repeat that again. 0:34:58.3. [Q: Whether you understand the states that you’re going through when you’re dying or not, you’re still going to be going through states.] Yeah. [Q: And then you’re going to get this formless form or what [inaudible - 0:35:12.4] formless state [inaudible - 0:35:14.4] in the bardo. And then what benefit do you have of having understood the states in [inaudible - 0:35:24.9] where you’re going next. Are you going to play a role also through your understanding? You said you were going to get that [inaudible - 0:35:33.2]]. That’s what we talked in the afternoon when you’re going through that stage: you think this, you do this, you think about this bodhi mind, you think about it emptiness, you do this, we give you five points of the Buddha’s things, and also…so the Vajrayana level, we talked all these different things. And that’s our to do at that time. 0:35:56.3. If you know it. [Q: But that at the time while you’re dying.] Yes, yes. [Q: [inaudible - 0:36:02.5] But then.]. But if you don’t know, then you don’t know it. 0:36:07.9. That’s about it. [Q: But then I thought there was, like, an initial question [inaudible - 0:36:12.6]]. Well, she didn’t ask yet. 0:36:16.6.

[Q: One of my questions was [inaudible - 0:36:27.0]. If you’re with somebody who’s dying, the stages that you’ve described…] Oh, you’re talking to another person who’s dying? 0:36:36.4. Did you… [Q: I’m talking about practices to do in preparation of death.]. Okay. [Q: If you’re…if you’re, um…we’re talking about [0:36:44.2] doing these practices in the [inaudible - 0:36:46.4]]. For yourself. [Q: For yourself.]. Okay. [Q: And, um, if you’re…if you’re with people who are dying, the stages are [inaudible - 0:36:59.0] it’s obvious that that is what’s happening. And [inaudible - 0:37:03.3] I’ve never had a [inaudible - 0:37:05.1] being with somebody who knows what’s happening [0:37:07.7] I’ve certainly with people who [inaudible - 0:37:11.0]. So, one can see that there would be some conflict between the familiarity of that. [inaudible - 0:37:20.7]…you’re still facing completely unknown.]. Oh yes. 0:37:26.4.

[Q: [inaudible - 0:37:27.9]. The question [inaudible - 0:37:28.6] if you meditate on the stages, you’re still meditating on something that you’re [inaudible - 0:37:37.2]. the visualization is not of something that will [inaudible - 0:37:41.3]…I don’t mean that it’s concrete [0:37:48.4]. It’s a very known quantity. But see, you’re still going from there to something that’s completely unknown. The question is, does that or can that meditation…is there something transformative in the process that actually helps facing the unknown. Otherwise, like, I can’t grasp why those particular meditative stages, by simulating the stages, is actual preparation [inaudible - 0:38:12.5]]. Okay. I…I…I…I begin to get your question. Am I correct you’re saying, uh, people go through that dying stage anyway, whether you meditate now or you don’t meditate. But when you’re going through the pro…dying stage, you go through that stage anyway. 0:38:37.7. So, what does this meditation will do. Is that right? For affect to the unknown there after. 0:38:48.8. [Q: Yeah because certainly there are meditations that deal specifically with being comfortable in the unknown, as opposed to getting comfortable with the stages of dying.] Yes. [Q: The question – it seems to be a kind of continuum with the stages of dying into the unknown. But in fact [0:39:08.4]]. It’s known.

Yes, that’s right. 0:39:12.0. So we do that meditation every day because you make sure you recognize – you’ll be aware – when it’s actually comes in. That’s one purpose. 0:39:27.2. Another purpose during that period of proceeding dying stage meditation, you also bring the wisdom, the emptiness, the understanding of emptiness. And, uh, all the…all the transformation and all of them you bring together along with this. And the more quieter you go – when more you dissolving, more quieter you go – it will become a much more lucid and vivid. 0:40:03.3. And with that point of emptiness and, adds up the joy and bliss together, prepares the individual encounter with the primordial mind much more stronger and clear…lasting. And also, by this negative…negative thoughts bring negative and positive thoughts bring positive, so though death itself is neither can be negative nor can be positive, it is very neutral thing. 0:40:46.4. However, it’s almost like sleep. Sleeping thing is…sleep is very neutral thing. However, the mind immediate before you fall asleep makes the difference for the period of sleep itself – whether it’s going to be positive [inaudible - 0:41:10.5] because it is neutral level is changeable. So we’re…we’re going to changing the positive level or going to be changing to negative level. Or just remain neutral. It depends on the mind immediate before you fall asleep. 0:41:28.3. We know that clearly. So, likewise, the death process also the same thing. 0:41:35.6. So, with influence of the emptiness, bodhi mind and all this. Whole process itself is a change into the positive so the unknown…unknown where you’re going to hook up is going to be hook up positive if you’re going to bounce back. 0:41:54.9.

From the bounce back from the primordial mind. 0:42:04.4. So, it that make it a little clear? I’m glad your raised that again because it wasn’t clear yesterday. Thank you. Yes? [Q: Is it true that, uh, in Vajrayana system, when you get to clear light of death that you should acknowledge this as the dharmakaya. But then what happens?] Then natural process take its own place. [Q: So it just…it just goes from [inaudible - 0:42:35.9]. No. [Q: What happens?] What happens is then dharmakaya goes into sambhogakaya, sambhogakaya goes into nirmanakaya – the whole process repeat. 0:42:47.1. [Q: So that process – you acknowledging it is enough that you don’t…you weren’t reborn?] No. 0:42:56.2. No. No. Definitely not. [Q: [inaudible - 0:43:08.9]. Rinpoche, could you address cremation?] Cremation. 0:43:19.9. I don’t know. What you want me to say? I, you know, for me, truly speaking, and I honestly with you, for me, once you’re disconnected with the your body completely, uh, for me, it doesn’t matter whatever the…And I’m talking about myself. 0:43:41.2. Doesn’t matter whether somebody crem…somebody had to throw that away because it’ll smell.

So, I don’t know whatever the way they throw it away, whether they cremate or buried or, uh, whatever. It doesn’t matter to me. 0:44:01.7. Um, literally speaking. However, culturally speaking, or maybe some spiritually speaking, um, personally, um, I like the sky burial because whatever the body leftover – earth element it may be – it goes as part of generosity. Feeds bird or whatever, you know? 0:44:40.7. Uh, uh, but traditionally, in Tibet, all this incarnates lama and respected teachers are all cremated and, um, all the others are sky buried. Traditionally. And, uh, if you…died with some kind of disease, so infections, im…im…disease that catch, you know? And then they bury. That’s traditional, Old Tibetan culture. 0:45:17.7. The reasons why this respected, incarnate lamas and teachers been cremated, because it’s not for that individual who’s gone, but for the…for the remaining people. 0:45:32.9. For they’re sort of think it is great respectful way of cremating. They build stupa and put the body in the stupa and cremate it. 0:45:45.0. So you don’t just…don’t want to see and sort of terrible view as well as, um, the remains they continuing respect and faith and been…try to be respectful from the point of those who are left behind rather than to that…though they may think you’re doing a service, yes. And you’re doing service to that particular person. So…so that’s all from our perspective. To the living perspective. For the dying person, individually it’s really…I don’t know whether that have any difference to the individual. Cremating is better than burying or sky burying or...Probably not that much difference. 0:46:38.3.

That…I’m…I’m sorry, this my personal think. Very personal thinking. 0:46:46.8. [Q: inaudible - 0:46:48.4 sky burial.] Oh, you know, they cut it and they give it feed to the birds. In old Tibetan…I’m sure it is…They carry up in the…in the top of [no recording - 0:47:01.1- 0:47:12.3]. Okay, you. Thank you. 0:47:14.1. [Q: inaudible - 0:47:14.8]. I’m sorry. [Q: inaudible – 0:47:23.2]. No. 0:47:42.8. It is preparation for our lives. Lives. The life and death are tremendous connection. Really. Tremendous. If you were…Let’s say – I’m coming with a background of reincarnation so don’t kick me out of my job. 0:48:08.2. So, if you…Let’s say if you’re reborn as an animal, and what can you do so much to help myself or for help others? Probably very limited. 0:48:21.6. At the most, I’ll be able to entertain you if I’m a dog by getting up or barking at the you tune when [0:48:29.3] want it. Or something. And, uh, and that…and that much sort of limited. But to be born as a human being and you can think and, uh, you can understand, and you can communicate and, uh, you can make a difference in your life.

That is the human potential. 0:48:55.1. Such a potential can make a difference to myself and make a difference to the others. Others. Not only in their life – how they conduct. Also during their death and during their future lives as well. 0:49:12.4. So that’s the potential I think they’re talking about it. Capability, right? Value. 0:49:18.5. Capable…Potential is not really capability, but I think you’re talking about human capability, right? Human value. [Q: Yes, but I was [inaudible - 0:49:28.7] in the investigation of the death process that also taxes [inaudible - 0:49:32.4] our…our life [inaudible - 0:49:34.6]]. Both were true. One that reminds you the death very often, which makes you to get little preparation done. 0:49:46.5. Um, and also helps you tremendously not to waste your time. Tremendously not waste your time. And, um, and also prepare yourself because that’s an unavoidable thing – it will go. And death itself is not that important. 0:50:10.1. But what is important is what happens thereafter. And how that’s going to affect, uh, by this life. By the life here and how…This is the…the…We’re living in this life. But we’re also designing and preparing our future lives. Shaping our future lives. 0:50:35.1. So how do we do here is totally diff…making the difference how it’s going to happened the life after death. 0:50:45.7

So, it is so much link – I’m that’s no…We…we sort of cut them – life, death, rebirth. 0:50:53.1. We cut them. But, actually, it’s all linked together. 0:50:56.7. It is one little piece of pie running together all…all the way through. So it is sort of affected to both. All three ways. And particularly this life, whatever we’re doing is, uh, though sometimes it doesn’t seem to be very much rewarding materially or even physically. 0:51:25.2. But, it is definitely making a very beautiful shape…beautifully shaping...shipping…to make ship of your future life. 0:51:38.0. That’s definitely going on. A little bit of trouble here – even a headache or whatever, you know? All physical, mental, emotional, um, for us, those who knows, who have idea about this reincarnation. 0:52:00.6. It is all a little bit of a suffering is probably getting a huge way over. Huge way over to the future lives. And future well-being. Not necessarily has to be lives. 0:52:21.2. Is that okay with you? She said okay. Yeah.

[Q: So if…when we do a daily meditation on this process of death, how does purification…purification [0:52:42.7] practice? It…] Purification you have done before this. 0:52:49.0 If you look in your sadhana, you will see it. You have the seven-limb in there. That’s purification.

And beside that om svabhava shuddo sarva dharma svabhava shuddho ham. 0:53:00.0. That…what natural, empty…What is it? [inaudible - 0:53:07.2] Huh? [inaudible - 0:53:07.8] What? Can you say it loud? You’re just done…bloo bloo bloo what to do. [Nature empty, everything’s pure. Naturally pure. That is what I am. Or something like that?]. Yes. 0:53:18.2. Can you say it loudly? [Nature empty, everything pure, naturally pure, that is what I am.]. Yeah. Nature empty. Everything’s pure, naturally pure. That’s what I am. 0:53:32.0. So when you’re going at that level, and, uh, you’re going through a…a stage of wisdom. And that is the most important purification. There is no other powerful purification than that. 0:53:48.4. Zillion times more than doing hundred thousand pro…prostrations and hundred thousand…what is it? Bodhisattva recitations and…all this is [0:54:00.6] great. But this is zillion times more powerful than that, really. 0:54:06.6.

So that’s your purification going on. Joan? [Q: Just trying to be clear about some things [inaudible - 0:54:15.3 karma history and personality. And then when the drops dissolve is that the last…as the…is that the last physical material element of our current history?] That’s right. 0:54:49.7. [Q: The mind that the...that awakes up to count in the primordial mind is not material as we understand it.] No, definitely. [Q: And yet, it contains, uh, somehow something that can give us – some people, not everyone – recall [0:55:10.4] their past lives, their past histories, personal. You know, some people finally develop enough to take that mind, have an encounter probably to rebirth but somehow can recollect their past, um, minds and history of reincarnation, incarnations? Or not? 0:55:33.6]. I suppose so. I…I’m not very clear. But, but of course, at that level, if the high developed person, that person at that level, read three times, past, present and future all. They read at that level. There is no problem for them to read in that. 0:55:53.1. But, uh, I’m talking about…Yesterday, I talked and I said even at that level, even you are not at that high level to be able to read and do whatever. But even then, you make a mind that you would like to be taking rebirth in this way or that way. 0:56:15.9. And so then I even quote from a Buddha saying that, um, every phenomena depends on the mind. Mind is the creator and all that, I’ve talked…quote yesterday.

So that means they’re are also tell you at that time you can also keep on thinking you going to choose to go there and to be born this way or that way. 0:56:41.6. And that we can even do even right now. Even right now. Whether we…whether you wanted to be another human being just like this one with all the opportunities and possibilities and, even now, you can set up your mind to be taking rebirth in that way and started dedicating every positive karma that you have to be materialized. 0:57:11.1. And if you want to go in certain purelands and do the same thing, even now, and be prepared…And so whatever may be at that time, when you do it now, what helps is at the time of the death, when the process goes and that mind…because you’re so used to it, even automatically comes up, wanting to take rebirth in that shape – this form, that form, whatever it is. 0:57:46.1. So, there’s a…there’s a big push in there, too.

I didn’t really answer what you asked question, but…But I wanted to say that. Okay? 0:58:01.0. You know why? Because whether you read the past [inaudible - 0:58:04.8] or not read past, doesn’t really matter. It’s not that important. [Q: I’m trying to visualize why…what are the [inaudible - 0:58:13.0] of that which travels along to that [inaudible - 0:58:16.8] primordial mind and then…]. That…that depends. That depends on the individual person – how much spiritual development that individual person has. 0:58:32.6. The quality is totally different at that level person to person. Totally different. [Q: But in general, for instance, we do have something now, uh, in us that has the possibility of traveling into that encounter and then that in fact is needed.] We do have traveler within us. Yeah, whether that traveler, uh, what kind of needs is that traveler’s carrying is totally different person to person. We do have a traveler within ourself. [Q: So, what I mean is how to develop that traveler now to…]. Well, I think, you know, the Bakula Rinpoche came up to visit us few years ago, remember? Bakula? And, um, he was, um, he’s saying lot of prayers during the day – almost [0:59:40.2] all the time.

So, then one day he was little busy in Ann Arbor – I don’t know what he’s doing. 0:59:50.4. And then, in the evening he told me, well I haven’t packed up yet today. I said, packing for what? He said, packing for my future journey. 1:00:02.4. So…so that means his prayers – that what he’s saying. He say as…is…he’s packing for his future journey. Okay. [Q: Does the…[inaudible - 1:00:18.2] how does recognition of the primordial mind influence the experience [1:00:24.7]]. If you’re…uh, the primordial mind, if you know exactly what it is and what happens and then, uh, the…your question does not rise. 1:00:38.5. First, you just figure out that. You don’t mind, okay?

Yes? [Q: I was wondering if going from stages…]. I’m sorry? [Q: I’m wondering – in going through all these stages you’ve described, if you’re aware of other beings going through the same thing.] I don’t know. 1:00:57.0. I read a couple of return from death stories and they tell you your…they been lined up and suddenly someone came with all these big, thundering words of om mani padme hum. And some big people went through and, um, this…They call it with overriding priority went through. 1:01:18.0. And the others are still waiting. And suddenly there’s another huge cries, screaming thing came. And another, heavy negativity one with the…totally with overriding priority went. And they tell you those stories. I don’t know. 1:01:36.0.

Actually, at the bardo level, you know. 1:01:41.5. At this level, I’m not sure. Probably not because you’re completely retreating. So probably awareness of other beings are quite a rare at that period. 1:01:58.9. Period thereafter you came out. In bardo, definitely. You’re very much aware of everybody. Even you aware of your past relations and family and so and forth. And the person who don’t know the person has died. So comes back and try to draw attention and nobody ignores and nobody answers, so they feel rejected. They don’t know why they’re rejected. And all kind of things. And they do. They talk about it, so naturally at the bardo level you’re definitely very aware of everything. 1:02:37.5.

Yes? [Q: When you’re in that [inaudible - 1:02:45.1]. So the indestructible drop really in some way is an actual entity of the mind and body so that the body if it’s bodily separated then there could be a problem.] It looks like a genie in the bottle. 1:03:03.3. Yeah, bottle has to break and genie has to get out. [Q: So could your indestructible drop literally be transplanted into somebody else’s body?]. Could. Could! 1:03:19.7. Could, but it…but it will, even then, they will dismantle it. It goes away. It’ll go. But then, uh, it could. Really! You know, it could. If it could, you know what happens is certain characteristic may remain in that new body. Though it’s not individual person, but some characteristic might have effect, you know? Possibility, I’m not sure. 1:03:48.9. [Q: Because that body that it’s being put into, they took that heart out when it was still somewhat beating and threw it in the trash.]. Well, hopefully, quote unquote, hopefully the indestructible drop…drop is not at that level – at their heart level. Yeah, really. 1:04:08.5. [Laughing] Otherwise you won’t revive.

Yeah. Yes, please? [Q: I have a question if the body is cremated [inaudible - 1:04:20.5]]. Well, that’s, uh, that’s same thing. 1:04:31.6. Get out as fast as you can – that’s what they’re saying. Get out! Get out! Get out! You know. [Laughing]. Get out! We’re here to take you! Get out! Get out! You know? 1:04:44.7. Yes? [Q: I’ve heard that rainbow bodies…] You like rainbow body? [Q: No, I don’t know…I don’t know anything about it, personally. But why would somebody to opt to go out that way instead of dying.] People’s mind you give every choice. 1:05:06.0. Okay, so I think we had quite lo…quite good question, and let me try to…to give few things to you. Um, still I had some more.

Yesterday I talked to you about this five points that Buddha recommended, right? And then I very briefly reminded you from the lojong phowa, uh, which we talked here during the lojong teaching period. But still, lojong phowa is based on the five powers…five powers. Power of white seed, power of prayer, uh, power of, um, antidote, and power of wishing, and, uh, power of experience. 1:06:03.7. Or get used to it. Or…you know, experienced. Power of experience. So that is a…I mentioned detailed in lojong teaching, so I don’t want touch so much because…because I’m giving you the choices what you can do. 1:06:23.9. So…so the teachings that comes in various different levels have all this are there. As a matter of fact, when I trying to do this, uh, thing, um, workshop like this, this is like a traditionally…sort of…they do, but they don’t do this way we do. 1:06:43.8. So, I have to collect everything from every…every sources that I can think…remember. So then some – I find some books – whichever already collected something. So choice is available. So, that’s what it is. 1:07:00.8 So that’s it the lojong thing. You have from the lojong level, um…Remember that five powers in the lojong, we give you? So that’s there. 1:07:12.0.

So, can I refer that to the…the lojong – that lojong transcript’s available now. 1:07:19.0 And so you can – both. Eight verses of the thing and seven-point mind training. Both lojong transcripts available. Seven-point mind training lojong transcripts made in the United States. First time. But adverses [1:07:39.0 ] came from Holland. Again this time. 1:07:43.0. So…so they both are there, so you’ll find in there. Then, even you don’t have that lojong level or anything of that sort, also, so it comes what can you do? 1:07:58.3. Mm. Then another thing [laughing]. Or you want another choice or you don’t? You got quite a lot of choice of there, you know? Quite a lot. Quite a lot. 1:08:09.4. Um…Another thing is…and, uh, during the Buddha’s lifetime, uh, Buddha was asked in one of these sutra called…oh…sutra called Eleven Mind. Eleven Mind. Those Buddha’s followers who could not get any higher development at all, so there’s…the time come for them to die. So they ask Buddha what can they do. 1:08:50.2.

So the Buddha came out, um, Buddha came out with the…Well, number one, Buddha said, don’t have any attachment in samsara at all. Look samsara as trouble. And look nirvana as peace. 1:09:08.5. Samsara as miserable, trouble area. And nirvana is peace. Then he said, don’t forget that love and compassion. That’s makes three, right? 1:09:28.6. Oh! Don’t ever get angry. Give up all this hatred. Whoever did to you whatever, don’t think about it. Forget it. 1:09:43.9. That’s becomes, what, four? Four, yes. Then, all the negativities that you have – broken vows, broken commitments or whatever you have – why don’t you do a good purification. 1:10:11.9. That becomes, what, five? Uh? Five. Oh, let’s make sure your moral, whatever your moral stand is, make sure it’s become perfect. And whenever there you notice something not done…not correctly…not correct before, let, uh, don’t forget to include them when you’re doing the purification. 1:10:39.7. So let your moral state be, uh, pure, alright? So that becomes six. Even you have done some big negativities, um, don’t think they’re big. Try to look them as small, accidental incident happened. And look at them as a small. Don’t think it is something big. 1:11:15.4. Even your positive karmas, positive deeds, whatever you may have it – even how small it may be, don’t think it’s small. Think it’s big. 1:11:28.3.

Don’t be afraid. There’s nothing to be afraid. 1:11:38.0. Okay? Now, where are we? Nine? Alright. Then he said, all phenomenas are impermanent and all phenomena are nature of empty. 1:11:54.5. That’s called Eleven Sutras. I mean, I took the points out of it. Essence point out of it. And, uh, so Buddha been personally asked in lifetime by the disciples who cannot have anything else can do, so they said, what can we do for preparing for journey for future? 1:12:21.0. So he give this eleven points and that’s even called Eleven Sutras. Okay? That’s is another choice. You got…two five ones and then eleven one and then you got all this Vajrayana thing. Hum…what else? 1:12:44.9. Um…Then even you can’t have all this, they become so, so, sort of thing…Even you don’t have those…

I don’t see it here. I don’t know what happened. I thought it should be here. 1:13:38.4. Oh yeah. Even you don’t…can’t do that, at the time of the death, your object of refuge – whether it is Buddha or your guru or Je Tsong Khapa or Manjusri, Avalokitesvara, Tara, whatever it may be. 1:14:14.4. You focus, focal object of refuge – the most important one. Whatever you are doing. So, at the time fo the dying, death, you really have to think about it. 1:14:32.3. Visualize in front of you. Doesn’t matter whatever you do usual every day. That is the most easiest way for you to come. 1:14:43.4. Is Buddha or Tsong Khapa or guru or Avalokitesvara or Tara or Manjusri or whatever. Whatever. Uh, whatever it may be. So you think in front of you, and, um, and, um, you just have to say, well, it is the time for you to help me. 1:15:13.6. And I have no other refuge other than you. So…so don’t let me down. And so that’s what it is. 1:15:25.1. And, uh, then if you have, lama chopa teachings, then you bring that your guru, your yidam, your what-is-it…Chonye lama chonye yidam… [1:15:36.3- 1:15:38.5]. Because I don’t say in English, so English become difficult. 1:15:42.0. Chonye lama chonye yidam…[ 1:15:42.7- 1:15:45.6]. You’re the guru, you’re the yidam, you’re the daka, you’re the dakini, you’re the dharma protecoer, you’re the my object of refuge from now until enlightenment. So I have no other refuge than you. And then this life, bardo and future lives, I may be protected. So if you can think that, and that’s what you do. And you focus. 1:16:11.7. And, if you manage, um, you mirage [1:16:17.6] that object of refuge in a small and light form, dissolve to yourself and your mind and the mind of that enlightened being become one. 1:16:33.5.

Within that oneness, if you can die, you can do nothing better than that. 1:16:44.9. It is very suitable for us. Even you can’t do that., even you can’t do that, just keep on thinking the object of refuge and the within that time if you can possibly do it. Tibetan culture has something traditionally…Tibetan culture they bring image of Buddha or picture of Buddha – Buddha’s thangka they hang on – do all that. 1:17:24.4. And, um, after we came to India, now they bring Dalai Lama’s picture. So it is same thing – doesn’t matter. So…so anyway, so I think these are the your choice. And quite a lot of choice. Some are quite easy. 1:17:49.7. So, in short, whatever…how…what kind of death that individual going to have it, is also depends on the life how we live in life. This is very much interconnected. Very much. So this life, whatever we have is the life where enjoying its fruit of our previous life. It is your own deeds. You deserve it. 1:18:32.5. At the same time, this life is also shaping your future life and death. So…so whatever we do, bring awareness in our life. 1:18:46.7.

Actually, try to be very positive in them [1:18:54.6] – bringing positive karma and all this are, in one hand it looks so difficult, so hard. But on the other hand, it’s also very simple and very easy. 1:19:08.0. Simply matter in the morning, when you wake up, just think, how fortunate I am in life and healthy. Whatever you want – you have, qualities. Appreciate. And also make up your mind, I’m not going to waste the day. I’m going to make it’s profitable for me and for all others. 1:19:42.2. So whatever I do, I will do it for benefit of all beings. So try to bring that motivation you cu…build up in the morning. Try to last that motivation til you go to sleep. 1:19:59.8. But if you’re missing something in between, then you may rise, you may rearrange the motivation again and again. And the finally, try to live your life within that motivation and act accordingly. That doesn’t mean for the benefit of all beings so I have to ignore myself. No. 1:20:25.6 You are one of those, uh, sentient beings so you have to…you cannot. 1:20:31.6. Because you say, I will like to obtain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. You don’t say I would like to obtain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings except me. You don’t say that, right? So, so, it’s included. 1:20:47.0.

So conducting life in that form, in that manner, makes, uh, shapes everything perfectly, beautifully. 1:20:57.9. And, um, you can’t be like a, uh, images in the temple, you know? Always smiling and, you know? Won’t be because you deal with the human beings. Sometimes there will be irritations. Sometimes there will be attachments. Sometimes there will be all kinds of things – jealousy and, um, and, uh…So try to minimize that. 1:21:24.3. Both, uh, numbers as well as durations. Try to minimize. If you have to be…if you get upset today, you don’t talk to anybody else if you’re sitting like…like one hour with long jaws [1:21:42.0] and try to make it to half an hour. And then fifteen minutes. And then seven minutes. And then three minutes. And then probably, gradually disappeared. So…so that’s…that’s…And then if…then…then if you…When those things happen – when you realize – just think a little bit. 1:22:10.6. So, oh yeah, I’m sorry I did that. Don’t have to go and apologize to the other person because they may take advantage of you. Just do within you. You say, I’m sorry this is what happened and, um, and I regret and I purify and I meditate little bit more compassion or something.

And that’s how you do the purifications. 1:22:35.9. Purification also you don’t have to make a big deal and say, oh I’m purifying and then sitting there. Doesn’t have to. You can do quite lot of things. And when you’re in the train, you know? I can do quite a lot of things from the 42nd to here if I…if…if no one comes and bothers me. Really. 1:22:57.3. So…so 42nd Street to the Canal St, you know? And now I want to make sure that I don’t miss it in the Times Square, but…[laughing]. So that…that’s how you live about it. And, um, poked [1:23:13.2], I’m a little too early. I’m about to close here. So, I guess that’s it. So, whatever we talked here, don’t’ leave them in the books - notebooks - or the tape recorder. 1:23:40.0. And try to think about it. And, um, try to be…Whole thing is try to benefit yourself. Try to make a difference in your life, in your death and in your future lives. And that is the essence. 1:23:55.1. It really doesn’t matter whatever you do, you know. What you wear, how you look. They’re all not important. I…I think I’m done, so…So, that’s it. 1:24:12.8. And, um, I like to remind you once again for the...if you like to come to the summer retreat and that’s available. I think it’ll be very helpful, too. Okay? Thank you.