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19940329GRFP

The Foundation of the Perfections the root text what we are doing is been I believe is been made a Xerox copy but it is left there so Julie had gone to collect so she will take a little time to come back0033

Those of you who have a text in your hand so please do look in the text. Who has a text? Okay can somebody read it loudly what we have covered so far and what we’re going to cover.

Audience: Following a kind master foundation of all perfections is the very root and basis of the path empower me to see this clearly and to make every effort to follow well. Precious human life gained but once has great potential but is easily lost.

Rimpoche: Aura thank you I think we are at that level right? Precious human life did we talk about that last week or no we did not? We did so don’t have to go over right? Just touched all right, all right.155

Three levels of training the mind

Well basically we are talking about outlines remember the first outline what we have is the root of all development the practice of guru yoga. And that is what we have covered for the second actually how to training of the mind actually mind training practice, actual mind training practice. So basically you have to look that into three categories it is absolutely important to see three different ways three ways are the first three way when I say three-way you may think you can do either one of them it is not each one of those three are interdependent so in order to have the better one you have to have the different ones. So basically to training your mind is three different levels it is called common with the lower, common with the medium and Mahayana or great vehicle’s practice so basically you have three common with the lower common with the medium and Maha Maha in Sanskrit word means great. The greatest way of training your mind and the middle level training your mind and the lower level training your mind. We would normally we would straightaway jump346

And say I like to be the greatest way of training mind nobody wants to go to the lower level and the medium level. But you cannot reach at the greater level without going lower level and medium level. Basically with the Tibetan Buddhism is considered as a Mahayana Buddhism great vehicle Buddhism and certain Buddhism in India is called they have the Theravadan or Hinayana or the middle level lower level middle level. So I do remember one of those conferences we have one of the Indian Buddhist Hindu teacher, I think it’s called Pandit(Ubaedeya?) And Ubaedeya was talking to the Tibetan scholars and he said it is a great the Mahayana is wonderful the high vehicle and a wonderful vehicle and it is so great wonderful I mean a lot of buttering words he used and after that he said it is like the Himalayas it is high and the peaks are very high level as the snow is wonderful and this and that. But how do I know how high that Himalaya is if I don’t have the ground here get the idea? He said if you don’t have the ground you will not know how high it is.

So you have to measure how high the Himalayan mountain particularly the Mount Everest is you have to have a base from where you are going to measure it. So whether it is sea level or whatever it is some level from where you have to measure otherwise you won’t know how high it is.540

So that is sort of the beginning time when we are sort of exposed to non-Tibetan Buddhist Hindu traditions so it’s sort of stuck in my head I thought it is a very interesting way of expressing the Orthodox Tibetans some of them who really have a very strong thinking that we are the greatest vehicle. And Tibetans are very proud of it’s own Buddhist tradition extremely proud. And quite an Orthodox in old tradition so to get some idea though if you look in our own practice you look in there it’s all there but somehow they will not acknowledge that and they say the highest one you can sort of stick to the highest plane. So but the highest training of mind it depends on the middle level training of the mind which is depends on the lower level training of the mind700

So when we heard you will not know how high the Mount Everest is unless you have a base from where you’re going to measure it and this is absolutely true. So if you are great vehicle I mean you have to measure with somebody to be great otherwise you your self alone there you can’t be great right? The single one cannot be great to be great you have to measure with it so in order to make it the Mahayana or the great vehicle to make it great the training of the mind of the lower level. So we call it common with the lower-level because the tradition from which I came from and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition the goal is not leave the individual left at the lower-level or at the medium level but they are going to lead the individual at the highest level so in order to do that it is necessary to have a certain path of the lower-level foundation it is absolutely necessary and a certain part of the middle level it is absolutely necessary so that’s why they call it common with common means you share it right? So even the Mahayana’s have to share the principles of the Hinayana the principles of the lower-level middle level and higher level they have to share together so that’s why its called common common with the lower-level common with the middle level Mahayana level so where you train the mind like three different divisions. Unfortunately I have been saying all the time normally Americans don’t want to hear is four of this three of this two of that and under this five of this and eight of that. I was told it is in the tradition of Western tradition it is there but nobody wants today but when you look in the Eastern tradition the mystical Tibetan tradition you also have that unfortunately.931

Three levels

So the first training will be common with lower-level the basic foundation the fundamental basis has to be established so let me just talk a little bit more. So when you talk about the lower-level what are we talking about it? We’re not talking about the hiring or lowering (?) business. What are we talking about it we are talking about at least what do we want to achieve at least do you know what I mean? Spiritual practice means you have to have some goal to achieve it may be a goal less goal but it doesn’t matter but there should be a goal otherwise you have no purpose why are we doing this what do you hope to get out of it do you know what I mean? Yes it is easy for a number of people to talk that and it is very difficult to a number of people to talk because a number of people will think well I don’t need a goal I’ll just do it and then see where I get it or maybe it may be popped up one day so people have that and the people have not only a people have that attitude but they sort of like to go to that way so people may be interpret that as a freedom or I do not know what but people do have that problem. A number of people and a number of people if you don’t have a goal it is also a problem for number of people because their sort of mind is such a way they look in it and say what do I hope to achieve out of this? I mean it is normal American language what’s in there for me right? Now this is not material point of view the materially what’s in there for me means how much money do I get or what do I gain out of that right but now here is spiritually saying what is in there for me you know what I mean? Same technique same language but instead of use for money used for spiritual see what’s in there for me so naturally you get the goal you’re looking at the goal what am I my doing this for what am I trying to achieve this or am I just doing empty exercise or what is it? What do what I want? What do I get out of this what is my goal? Right? So the Buddha deals with this the Buddhism deals with that Buddhism does not leave the individual without goals. Even you may think even just a simple meditation a simple straight sitting meditation you may think that has no goal it absolutely has a tremendous goal. Even though you are just watching breath just sort of watching and concentrating and watching and may look like you have no goal that is sort of you know like you may sit for twenty minutes or forty minutes or something but even then it has tremendous goal the goal is to have a stable mind stabilize your thoughts and that is the goal! Why do you have to stabilize your thoughts? So you can deal with the problems and that’s the reason there’s a goal there likewise when you do this sort of a practice what goal do you have what do you hope to achieve? So the Buddha introduced three different levels at least you should receive this much and if not if you more than that you should have this and then (?) Is this.1357

So sort of gives you that’s why Mahayana practice and the common with the medium level and the lower-level. So hey here is your goal you may hope to be achieve become a Buddha fully enlightened but if you not get it there that’s okay there is the medium level sort of mediocre type of thing that’s the wrong language but it is the medium level even if you don’t get that at least you should get this the lowest level the lower-level achievement so the common common common I explain to you why we call this common but why is the lower-level so at least what you should try to get out of it you know spiritual practice is something interesting if you work you don’t think it is easy if you think and you put on efforts it takes effort it takes time it takes energy it takes a lot and when people are willing to put that much energy and that much time in that you have to see what will they get out of it you don’t want just spend time even twenty minutes per day or fifteen minutes per day if you adds up that and you could make a couple of..... quite a lot of money out of that if you’re doing that way if you’re doing something else you can do a lot so when you (sample?) twenty minutes a day it is easy looks easy but when you’re constantly doing it it’s hard hard to do so when you put that much energy and that much efforts in it it is your investing in it you should invest something in the worth to in that. You may not pay anything to your time by yourself for you you may not have to pay for your energy by you for you but it causes you.1629

Buddha born like us

So when you put that efforts in when you sacrificing that you should sacrifice something worthwhile you should at least know what you wanted out of that what you hope to gain out of it so that’s why they introduced the three levels so basically I tell you what the highest level is may not make much sense but the Buddhism and particularly the Mahayana Buddhism in that Buddha says I’ve followed this footsteps I reached to the level of the Buddha and Buddha was not born as Buddha nor he has been popped up from the ground nor landed from the sky. So it is common normal mundane individual human being just like us. Be able to follow the steps and reach a level of a Buddha so he says hey I did this and I could achieve this and there is no reason why you can’t become a Buddha as much as I did there is no reason why you cannot. So Buddha himself goes and says that and it is equal you and me by (chance or choice?) I become a Buddha I mean he just said by (chance or choice?) I put more diligent I become more diligent than you are so now I become a Buddha and you’re left out there that’s what it is and so when you praise Buddha some of them praise the other way around you and me equal first but now you become a Buddha and I left out there I bow to you this is an unfortunate statement1832

So anyway that’s why Buddha said you can become a Buddha and that’s why the highest goal the Mahayana goal the Mahayana hopes to become individual each and every single individual will be able to become a Buddha. That is the Mahayana goal so I’m included pointing my finger on my nose and that means each one of us pointing each one of our fingers on our own nose and I am included in it so that means I am possible for me it is possible for me to become a Buddha there’s no reason why it is not possible. It is possible whether I do it or not do it it is up to me. But I am impressed with that or not impressed with that that’s up to me right? And if I’m impressed if I’m interested if I put my efforts in if I have enough diligence I can become a Buddha it is possible. And that is the first goal the second goal common with the medium the second goal alright even if I cannot become a Buddha I would like to be free I don’t want to be under the control of suffering. 2001

Choosing your death and rebirth

I don’t want to have the constant undesirable sufferings that are (stalking?) me time after time life after life birth after birth I don’t want that and that is the second vow when you talk about common with medium level I mean it may sound strange but what they try to achieve at common with the medium level is freedom free from the suffering free from the pain that’s what they’re seeking a total freedom not occasional freedom but total freedom true that’s what it is total freedom I don’t want to have headache I don’t want to have a sore throat I don’t have a cold I don’t want to have illnesses other than those I don’t want to have the suffering of death I don’t want have the suffering of rebirth I can die I can take rebirth but I would like to do it when and where and what with my own choice and that is we are talking the freedom that is the freedom we are talking that is the second level the medium level goal so that’s what we call it common with the medium2131

So but the goal number sort of two is the total freedom free of all this not by somebody else tells you hey it’s time for you to die or hey it’s time for you to go up or it’s time for you to go down or time for you to get sick or it’s time to get trouble you know it’s not and we want to be in our total control not something like you planned it earlier and you go through with it not that way of freedom the freedom when I wanted to die I can die with my own choice when I want to take rebirth I would like to take rebirth with my choice not by somebody else pointing me helplessly pushing me up or down and that is the freedom that is the goal of common with medium level this is the secondary achievement third or at least what you should get out of spiritual practice according to Buddha according to the Buddhism when you die you should be able to die with relaxment. That’s also divided into three which you don’t like it again that also divided into three the best among the lowest one the best is actually people will know what is going to be there after so they’re looking forward (he speaks Tibetan) so they will be looking forward they are very happy to die they know exactly where you’re going to go how long you going to take what your future is you’re looking forward to it in other words are you taking rebirth in a pure land and you become pure like (Longda?) Llama had said by this old terrible shrinking monks body in the morning I would like to change in the beautiful young Samsaric gods body 2415

so you know like that and so they’re looking forward for the change by knowing what next change going to be or not by closing say oh or maybe you know helpful I will pray and then go and that is the last category anyway the last category among the last category the first better one is looking forward knowing what the future’s going to be and looking forward. The medium one among the lower the medium one we will have no hesitation at least the lowest one the lowest of all at least no regret did you get me? No regrets no hesitation and then the better one is looking forward for the future get it? This is not fancy. This is not juicy but it is very important it is absolutely relevant for everybody’s life. According to the Buddha the spiritual path is the path that really leads the individual or better so the categories of those so that’s what it is so as a spiritual person knowing (Rimpoche talks about some copies they have made) so training the mind here is when you want to train your mind the first question rises why do you want to train your mind right? Why do you have to get mind training? Why do you want to get mind training what’s wrong with your mind nothing is wrong but you know training mind mind training is so difficult in the West you know there’s funny things like Silva mind control not necessarily a funny thing but people do that you know mind control this and that. This is different this is not a control issue this is you know training a mind training why do you need a mind training that is a most important question do we or do I get that question each and every individual has to raise that question to the individual itself. You know this question mark instead of putting on the paper like this you have to put right in front of you like this way. (Audience laughs)2757

I mind training needed

And that’s true that’s absolutely true do I need mind training or am I don’t need mind training if I do why I do need if I think I do need it why I do need and that is the question and anybody thinks I don’t need mind training so then don’t waste your time no point if you try to follow this you’re going to waste your time because you don’t need it do you know what I mean? people have to raise the question to yourself you have to answer it to yourself. That’s true am I need that that question you put to yourself (pass?) the question to yourself am I need it you may draw a very well conclusion I don’t need it that is jolly good you can go ahead (Rimpoche laughs) if you don’t need it you don’t need it. But if you think you need it and then you have to ask why? You really have to ask why you need it you have to know why you need it okay that is absolutely important if you think you need it training you have to ask yourself why do I need the training and then you get a different answer by yourself I do need it some people say I do need it because I’m not happy some people say oh I do need it because it is great some people think I do need it yes somebody said it is good all sorts of million different answers you get by the million different persons because human thought is such a thing there’s no blanket each and every individual will have its own little answer it will come up with it 3014

Get it? So the real answer here which I think is the real answer don’t take my words but really true it comes to so many points it leads to karma it leads to impermanence or the reasons we can be proved by karma it can be proved by the impermanence it is so many things there. I mean for me if you ask me why do you why do I need it my answer will be will be different from yours my answer will be because I seek pleasure I don’t seek trouble many Americans may not like it because some of them like the trouble (Rimpoche laughs) they can’t live without trouble they enjoy many people I can’t say Americans but for me the bottom line will be I seek joy I don’t seek trouble or suffering that is my bottom line but then you raise the question why what is that got to do with this and suffering has nothing to do with the mind training or suffering has nothing to do with it if you want to be joy and happy you need a lot of money or you do need this you do need that you need a good girlfriend you need a good boyfriend or you need this you need that and all sorts of answers will come up. And each one of these answers you have to look and see if this is capable of delivering what I want. Unfortunately none is capable of delivering what I want none you raise any one you raise money you raise wealth you raise health you raise anything girlfriend boyfriend you raise anything any one of them they may give you help here and there each one of them will give you some kind of help if you don’t get that help and then there is no value for whatsoever nobody will like it so they have to give you some help the money will give you help some help the boyfriend will give you some help the girlfriend will give you some help the wealth will give you some help health will give you some help but they are not capable of delivering that and with this a little bit if you hold on that it is material spiritual material too. Anyway so you have to see this and they’re not capable of delivering the goods that we wanted3339

Things that can help a little

Each one of them say vitamin okay vitamin will help me all this helpful to people they take this handful of vitamin every day that will help yes vitamin will help you to a certain extent but with all this vitamins you are going to get sick there is no guarantee at all you’re going to get sick health-food is another one yes health-food it can help sure definitely can help but they will not guarantee that you will not get sick either whatever you follow macrobiotics vegetarian to Michio Kushi or whatever right? okay. I mean it’s great it helps a lot of people it’s true that food but it doesn’t guarantee his own wife and daughter have cancer really that’s what it shows it doesn’t guarantee it’s not his fault it’s not the macrobiotics fault it is the fault of that substance is not capable enough to be able to give you to deliver that it helps but it’s not capable enough to deliver 3518

Get it aspirin also helps you yes it does but it is not capable to cure you you get drug yourself and get symptoms away for that times and hours that you have to go through its like that all the material will do this the wealth will do that the health will do that the boyfriend will do that the girlfriend will do that and anything you name it it will do that and the house will do that the car will do that all of them will do that but will not capable enough to deliver. Then the question rises is there something capable to deliver that or not the Buddha says yes. I experienced and the other spiritual leaders will tell you the same thing so it lies on the mind level. The health wealth comforts of the body is connected the comfort of the body is connected with the comfort of the mind so the mind training becomes in a way necessary. Not only that if you’re looking from the other point of view from the bigger picture point of view lets say if you look from the karmic point of view. The karma says the good karma will give you the good result and bad karma will give you the bad result. What is a good result? A joyfulness what is a bad result? Suffering. It is black and white there’s a gray too but (Rimpoche laughs) that is black-and-white right so then the question rises how do I get good karma and how do I get bad karma. What do I have to do to get good karma what do I have to avoid not to get black karma or what do I have to do get bad karma?3738

That question rises so the Buddha goes and says very simple right Buddha goes and says very simply it all depends on your actions karma is nothing but cause and effect who created the cause nobody else except ourselves who experienced joy and suffering nobody else except ourselves we may not have immediate effect it is not instant karma instant karma right instant like the instant coffee you have this Taster’s Choice you see that all the time on the television right? With the interesting advertising for that. It is not instant it is not instant it is a long time process one minute I will do finish then I’ll give you an opportunity. It is a long time process so where are all this process where all this action have been taking and who has been taking it? It is this person who has been pointing finger to ourselves not me alone okay (Rimpoche laughs) it is this person it is this person who is taking the action and when and where everywhere all the time this person has been taking the action everywhere all the time consciously or unconsciously with awareness or without awareness this person has been taking action all the time so how? How? Usual way absolutely usual way. When you like somebody you develop some kind of attachment when you don’t like or dislike somebody you develop some kind of hatred or jealousy or get angry4014

Don’t we do that we do that all the time one thing what we don’t need training is how to get jealous it comes by itself even if you don’t want it to and one thing what we don’t need to do have training is how to get angry how to get attachment these things we don’t need training why we don’t need training that is a very important point why we don’t need training why we don’t have to train our children or ourselves how to get angry how to be jealous how to push the button and get hurt people get buttons right and when they put the right buttons you get ZZZZ electrical shock 4121

Human nature or being’s nature

So you do not need to train in that you get it. We know that right? When the children go to school they don’t learn how to get angry they are not going there to learn how to get angry at least. They may get one day but they are not going there how to get angry or attachment or hatred there are not you get that. But we call it human nature right? It’s not human nature no even the dogs knows how to do it you know watch them if you keep a dog you know it they know how to do it and they don’t have a human thing in there it’s not a human nature. All of them the dogs will know and cats will know even little insects that are underground knows that. They know how to get afraid right? If you touch them going there some insects you try to point there and they will role themselves into a complete little one twisted over or do something go the other way around. And they know that they know how to get afraid they know how to get angry even the ants know how to bite the elephants right? Now it may make effects it may not make effects but the ants can bite the elephants leg? Whether there is an effect or not an effect but it is biting whatever they could do they do they don’t need the training it’s not human nature ants not human elephants are not human it is not human nature it is our nature it is being is being’s nature. We all do that that is a pattern what we have this is our habitual pattern right? 4351

If you “boo” somebody if that person has opportunity he will say “fuck you” but if it is an election you can’t do it (Rimpoche laughs) that’s true they will do it right straightaway. Straightaway they do it they don’t have to learn it or think twice. You can straightaway do it unless it is an election. So that’s what it is. So why do we have that that is our habitual pattern. We don’t have to think we don’t have to plan we don’t have to draw a diagram we don’t have to make a chart you don’t have to have a matrix we don’t have to have all this you don’t it’s there it is our habitual pattern which is the same as I mean because of we are a human being we think better we don’t behave like animals but if you go deep enough yes very close we do the same thing we do the same thing. The way we do is different right? Animals can always get back and bite or scratch or something and the human beings can sit and manipulate and do all sorts of things funny things and make the other person miserable in their lives that is the different way of (?) but we are doing the same thing. So that is our habitual pattern and we need to change that when you change that with or without realizing instead of creating a negative karma we will be creating a positive karma.4614

(Silence on tape)4715 automatically effortlessly we will be doing that and for that you have to give mind training it’s not to control mind it’s not a control issue it is a practice it is some kind of better way of thinking a better way of looking a better way of understanding having a little more openness a little more kindness a little more gentleness and a little more urgency too 4758

Buddha nature

And that is all about training of mind get the picture? So basically that is how we are training the mind but before we do all this the first step is looking at the life. The life what we have in our hand is it something good or bad is it worth or not worth that is the question. Is it good or bad is it worth or not worth a lot of people will say my life is so and so a lot of people will say great a lot of people say oh I blew it I’m terrible right? So the answer to this no matter whatever it is life is great there is no problem deep down every being has a good nature a kind nature a compassionate nature what we call it from the Buddhist point of view Buddha nature the two kinds of the Buddha nature what you call it? Unshakable? Static Buddha nature and growing Buddha nature. So the basically that both static and growing Buddha nature are with everybody. There will not be even a single person you cannot point it out who does not have that nature. So that’s why even I was reading in the newspaper the other day I think it was the Detroit news or something his Holiness was in Jerusalem he said even the Nazi’s have Buddha nature and the kindness and compassion within that deep down5041

So it is interesting so in reality it is absolutely true maybe you should say that in Jerusalem or not but (Rimpoche laughs) in reality it is absolutely true and that’s what it is so everybody have and having a wonderful nature within ourselves the problem is we don’t acknowledge. We don’t acknowledge. Again I did not touch today properly for the subject what I wanted to touch we don’t acknowledge. Buddha goes to the extent they said there are eighteen different qualities in the human life eighteen and they call it ten endowments and eight leisures in this life. Don’t think Buddha came two thousand five hundred years ago so therefore nobody has a job so everybody has time don’t think that way but actually reality is it’s true we do have eighteen different qualities and the Buddha tells at that time the way he put it is if you are not a human being if you are say another realm say if you are an animal what would you do today. You don’t so lucky you’re not. If you are in a hungry ghost level what will be our condition lucky we are not. And these are the suffering (?) If you are in the hell realm today what will be our condition if we are in the hot hell what will be our condition if we are a cold hell what will be in our condition lucky we are not? Then Buddha goes to the other side if you go high up to the samsaric god level that is a small g. god samsaric god level if you are there you will be so overjoyed you won’t even acknowledge misery trouble and suffering so you don’t want to care for yourself at all you just want to waste your time so lucky we are not like that Buddha goes on and tells and the bottom line here. Tsongkhapa I told the other day Tsongkhapa compared this like you are in a children’s story where you have a magic lamp and he says this life is more important and more value than a magical lamp if you have a magic lamp it’s more than that.and 5345

The bottom line is since the time is short the bottom line is this is definitely worth more than a multimillion dollars whether you acknowledge or you don’t acknowledge each one of our lives is much more worth than a million dollars you may have life insurance about a hundred thousand or whatever you may have but it is worth more than multimillion dollars would you believe it? You will not a lot of people are lucky say a lot of people will say yes a lot of people will say no I’m not worth I’m worth (?) They say that right I always used to make jokingly I tell you it is good to think if somebody provides you a million dollars if you let me cut your head off and I’ll give you this million dollars who’s going to take that tell me that.5503

Which one would you choose the million dollars or your own neck. Oh you go head right? That’s right in the West in English we say chop off the head in Tibetan we say chop off the neck. That’s why I’m saying it’s your neck. What are you going to choose money? There will be a couple of people you know don’t think there will not be but there will be and that’s what we have to call it either stupid or loose screw or whatever it is maybe they have their own reason who knows5546

So that is the point and that is the bottom line you can think about it you can visualize you can meditate you should you must meditate visualize that way. And then you will realize how precious it is to ourselves it serves two purposes one purpose to acknowledge our own value which is very important two to acknowledge to be aware of the value of life with other persons other beings when we protect protect protect protect protect protect at the end of end what are you protecting life right? You are willing to go even your limbs or eye or nose or whatever if there is a problem there is a danger of (splitting it?) you regret but you will chop your nose off the hands off the fingers off the head off what ever it is no it may not be the head but of all this as much as possible as to keep in their lives. You willing to let everything go even the fingers and limbs and everything the legs keep it the life for it shows you how value how much the value it is in there how important it is we don’t think (we don’t think when these are there?) no matter how horrible I may be I still have that life that value 5745

And that’s why Tsongkhapa said it is more than wish fulfilling gem better than magic lamp more valuable so appreciate life and embarrass embrace rather than reject (Rimpoche laughs). Wrong pronunciation makes interesting (audience laughs) sometimes you can make embrace embarrassed too embrace and embarrass both that’s what it is so training number one is embrace life by knowing its value and that has to be reinforced by knowing the cause what makes a human life valuable what takes to have a human life we are taking for granted just now we’re not thinking we have a life we never think what it makes I mean you may say it takes two parents or something that’s a different issue but in an individual how to get a human life what other causes to be taking a human life. The Buddha had all listed what makes you to be reborn as a human being what makes you to be reborn as an animal what makes you to be reborn as this reborn as that what makes you to be reborn as a cockroach or for that matter or lizard or anything so it is there so when you look at what makes what takes you to become a human being it is become very difficult. So by looking through that by observing those we reinforced appreciation of the life reinforced saying it is very difficult to find from its nature from its cause and the Buddha has a very funny example too most a funniest example he will give here that is the famous example the Buddha says if there is a blind tortoise in the ocean and it comes up pops up head every five hundred years once every five hundred years and there is somebody who will throw a joke on the ocean so when the blind tortoise comes up and gets caught the head in that yoke it is next to impossible right one it’s blind two it comes up only once every five hundred years time three the yoke is floating on the ocean with the different winds blowing here and there so just to caught in that is next to impossible it is not impossible it is possible but it is next to the impossible.10140

Likewise each one of us to be reborn as a human being with this sort of mind with this sort of intelligence with this sort of understanding with this sort of capability it is like the blind tortoise caught in it in that yoke that was Buddha’s funniest example10205

Why he give the funny example? Because people would remember it. So from the example point of view it is difficult to find blind tortoise caught in the yoke when it pops up every five hundred years. Yes that is the example so each one of them if you meditate and even visualized will reinforced your appreciation of life when you appreciate that more it makes you embrace life better and it helps you us one to recognize our value two not to have depression sadness and it brings joyfulness when you properly reinforce that but if you start looking from the other direction yes they talk about that but my is not I’m terrible and if you get more angry that is a different way of looking people do that people do that not because they would like to do it but because their karma is such they will force in that direction anyway so I’m going to stop talking here tonight and I will continue that the next time next Tuesday when you come please bring that piece of paper back because every time we cannot make it so many copies again please bring it back okay okay and yes you keep on raising your hand I said I would let you ask questions maybe one question please.

Defending self and others

Audience: you talked about the embracing life and sacredness or the value of life

Rimpoche: thank you for adding that beautiful word sacred ness

Audience: in order to protect life sometimes without harming other life the question I have is regarding protecting life that is threatened by others and how to respond to that.

Rimpoche: kill the threatening person first (Rimpoche laughs) Go after it right? Go after it you will be safe you never know you get killed or they get killed who knows maybe it is easier to hire some what you call it mercenary, hitman yes but they may come back to you (Rimpoche laughs) first they blackmail you then second they come for you so you not only lose the money you lose life too (Rimpoche laughs) I’m just joking it is an interesting question but you can’t do that then you’re only left with how the best way that you can put at yourself. You have to take all the precautions the precautions are not distinct not (?) and if you can’t help it there are circumstances sometimes you can’t help it and when you can’t help it and when you come to the last point you have to be able to protect yourself though it is non-virtuous for sure but even then if you don’t protect your life who else protect it? I mean you have to avoid absolutely not to reach to that point at all but if you’re put in the corner what else can you do. I was in Amsterdam a couple of years ago I was walking through the Amsterdam street I was all alone by myself because I wanted a holiday there’s a group of people in Jewel Heart in Holland and I sort of went away from them and stayed in a hotel by myself while they were in Amsterdam because I like to be free (Rimpoche laughs) and near the hotel two people chase me chase me and tried to rob me and first I did is I run I sort of run faster through the street and unfortunately up in that level the road goes like this and there’s a building here and two of them coming and chasing me like this and I can’t get here because they started blocking me here so there’s no way to go so then first thing that came up on my head I started looking whether they had any weapons I thought they may shoot who knows I don’t see any guns so then second time I was looking whether they have any knife (he laughs) I mean while I’m walking I’m going through with all this I didn’t see it and then third thing is before I get blocked completely on this wall I thought this wall I thought better I should hit them rather then they hit me so what I did with all my force I turn my body completely around and hit one over here unfortunately I think he was a little junkie or something he fell like anything on the street he fell and then I remembered the second guy I looked for the second guy and he’s running backwards he was running backwards so then I started picking him up and I was going to hit the second time and this guy is sort of you know putting his hands and moving like this and moving like that so I started picked at him and I didn’t hit the second time I did let him go he started touching my wallet you know here here and here and after I didn’t hit the second time he got up actually I’ve pulled him up he got up he jumped across the street from the other side he is jumping like this looking at me I don’t know what does he mean I had no idea and then I took a cab and try to go back to the hotel and the cab said your next block you should go up that walk this way I said they tried to rob me so the cab driver took me around the street completely around and drop me back to the hotel10938

And then the hotel guy said when I complained Oh did they take your money too? I said what do you mean too? There were three people robbed from the hotel this morning. So no they didn’t get it. I mean its not it’s a nice hotel in Amsterdam actually (Rimpoche laughs) so that’s what it is thank you (he begins to chant in Tibetan)