Beginning in late September of this year, the IBA will be expanding its educational role to offer a three-year Post-Graduate training program for a very dedicated group of young monks. Participants in the program will already have completed their monastic training and attained a high academic standing in Buddhist Philosophy. These young monks will also be highly motivated to serve others through their development of leadership skills.

Each participating monk will choose to study either Mandarin Chinese or the English language. Training in oral and written Translation and courses in Computer Literacy and Accounting will also advance their capabilities in Communication and Administration. The skilled mentoring of their teachers will be both example and guide for the monks’ Leadership learning experiences.

This specialized training will take place for three consecutive years during the eight months in which International students are not in residence at the IBA for their program of Buddhist Philosophy and study of the Tibetan language. The IBA summer courses will continue to occupy the Academy’s focus during the months of June, July, August and half of September. During those months when students from around the world are in residence at the IBA, the monks in the three-year Post-Graduate training program will be visiting their families, friends, or their home monasteries.

Many of the student monks will be from Tibetan refugee families. Most of those entering this program will have no funding at all for their studies, and need to rely on sponsors for their tuition and their room and board expenses, which total approximately $40. US dollars per month. It is hoped that some sponsors will be able to make a full three-year commitment of support. Shorter commitments and group sponsorships are also important ways of accumulating the resources needed by the monks in order to complete this intensive program.

Supporters of the IBA can help to welcome the new Post-Graduate program by assisting in organizing sponsorships. Though these monks are without financial resources, their determination, focus, Dharma knowledge and personal qualities have earned them a place in this educational initiative.

It is extremely important for the bright and capable young monks of the next generation to receive opportunities such as this in order to enable them to make the fullest possible contribution to their communities.

Helping just one of these future leaders will result in bringing benefit to so many others!

Our web-site will be updated over the next few months to give some background information on individual monks requiring sponsorship, and more information on the Post-Graduate Leadership Training program. If you wish to donate now, please go to our “How To Help” section for information on bank transfers, and, eventually, other payment methods.

Dear Friends,
“How do I learn Tibetan?” is one of the most common questions that I hear. So let me do my best to address it. I’m sure others will have useful points to add.

Nevertheless, a few tips I can attest to:
1) Make an unshakable resolve to learn Tibetan. Don’t think about how long it will take or how fast you are progressing.
2) Start out in a structured program: a formal class is best. At the very least form a study group. I’ve only met one person (Tyler Dewar) who ever made much progress without structure -at least initially. The more peer pressure you get the better you’ll do. Immerse yourself (e.g. in India, Nepal or Tibet) if you can.
3) Spend at least six hours a week studying. I’ve never seen someone progress with less. More generally, the good news is that the more effort you put in, the better you get. The bad news is that you don’t get much better without effort. (Manjushri mantras do help though.)
4) Do your practices in Tibetan.
5) Learn spoken and written simultaneously. I didn’t follow this advice. Now, 30 years after I started Tibetan, I’m finally learning to speak a little.
6) Find something you absolutely HAVE to read that’s not translated, and consecrate your life to reading it.
7) If you find a Geshe/Khenpo/Lama who is willing to sit with you and read texts then serve them and utilize every opportunity to read with them; they are a scarce and invaluable resource. If you can’t find such a Geshe/Khenpo/Lama then take texts (e.g. Buddhahood Without Meditation) that have the Tibetan and English side by side and go through them carefully until you understand how they were translated.

Of course to be really good at translation, you need to make this more than a hobby. It’s a lifetime of effort.
However, to read competently is something we can all achieve.

As for books for spoken Tibetan:
http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Standard-Tibe…e/dp/1559391898
As for written Tibetan:
http://www.amazon.com/Translating-Buddhism…n/dp/0937938343
Here is some other useful stuff:
http://www.tibetanlanguage.org/Study_Aids/freestudyaids.html

1) The “center Geshe” is one of America’s great untapped resources. So if you’ve got one in your area they almost certainly have time on their hands and will enjoy working with you. Tenzin Wangyal nearly always has a Geshe staying at Ligmincha now and I’m sure you can find some time with them.
2) As for material: Choose a text that you’re excited about, that you can likely comprehend, and IS appropriate to the teacher (e.g. NOT an enumeration of characteristics of a suitable consort).
3) Show respect for their time and their situation by offering money early and often. You may not have a lot of money but they are likely to have less. To offer something (rather than nothing) shows consideration.
4) I have never had success studying Tibetan grammar with Tibetans themselves. They learn grammar by memorizing legs shad ljon dbang or something similar and even if they learn English are reticent to use western grammatical terms.
5) One more thought - choose something that is natively written in Tibetan and not in verse. The grammar will be clearer then.

Good luck!

Kurt Keutzer

The IBA’s Khenpo Jorden recently made a five-day visit to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., where the Khenpo teaches at the University of Chicago. The visit was sponsored by Geshe Tashi Namgyal’s Victoria Dharma Centre, and was greatly enjoyed by those members (of Sakya Thubten Kunga Choling), whose beloved teacher, Geshe-la, is 85 years old, and is still teaching (and teasing) his students.

In addition to informal meetings with Geshe-la and members of the Centre, Khenpo Jorden translated for two of Geshe-la’s teachings: Chandrakirti’s Seven-Part Reasoning on the Selflessness of Persons,and The Wisdom of Hearing & The Four Seals of Buddhist Practice.

In addition to answering his students’ questions, through Khenpo Jorden’s translations, Geshe-la also directed questions towards his students, as is his custom, to see if his teachings had been understood. There was a lot of laughter as well as learning, and Geshe-la really enjoyed Khenpo Jorden’s presence.

The Khenpo also gave a public Dharma teaching at the University of Victoria, titled “The Basis, the Path, and the Result of Buddhist Practice”, with the Two Truths as the Basis, the Two Accumulations as the Path and the Two Kayas as the Result. There were many interesting questions which allowed additional mini-teachings by the Khenpo. As a special treat for his audience of approximately 65 people, Khenpo Jorden offered a very moving recitation of a prayer, in English translation, (usually titled “The Tibetan Prayer for Peace”) followed by a most exquisite and subtle chant of the same prayer in Tibetan, a truly memorable gift to the audience of practitioners.

Before he left Sakya Thubten Kunga Choling, the Khenpo was presented with a videotape of his public teaching and with a set of three DVDs containing digital sound recordings of almost three hundred of Geshe-la’s teachings, from 1984 to 1997, for the IBA archives.

The Victoria Buddhist Dharma Society’s members look forward to a return visit from the Khenpo, whose kindness in accepting their invitation was greatly appreciated.

The Questions of the Contemplative Nyimo Gomchen and the Responses of Sakya Pandita

I reverently bow at the feet of the Holy Guru! The glorious Sakya Pandita wrote the following lines to Nyimo Gomchen, a contemplative filled with faith and spiritual aspiration, applying himself earnestly to his practice: In response to your questions:
What is the cause of renouncing this life? It is the awareness that the cycle of existence is devoid of essence.
What is the contributing condition for such renunciation? Seeing the faults of the cycle of existence.
What is the criterion of renunciation? Mentally turning away from the Eight Mundane Concerns.
What is the sign of renunciation? Not being affected by the Eight Mundane Concerns even though one encounters them.
What is the criterion for attaining Enlightenment in one life? Liberating one’s body from aging and death and accomplishing the nature of the Four Bodies of a Buddha.
What is unspecified action? Action that is unable to produce either good or bad results.
What is dedication of merit? Something that transforms the causal roots of virtue into whatever result one desires.
What is prayer? The yearning for bountiful results [of spiritual practice].
What is the meaning of auspicious verses? Special words that produce good results by the blessing of truth.
In realizing the nature of the mind, is there a complete grasp of the meaning of the Three Collections of Teachings and the Four Classes of Tantras? There are two realizations: Realizing the emptiness of the mind, and realizing the union of apparent reality and the emptiness of mind. In realizing the emptiness of the mind, one does not fully grasp the meaning of the Three Collections of Teachings and the Four Classes of Tantras. With such realization one may fully comprehend the Cessation of a Listener (Shravaka), but since that cessation falls to the extreme of emptiness alone, one would not grasp the meaning of the Mahayana teachings. This is stated in all the Mahayana Sutras and Tantras. In realization of the union [of apparent reality and emptiness], there is no blemish of even the most subtle faults. It therefore holds the basis of morality, and the Collection of Vinaya is complete. Since the Heroic Samadhi and all other states of concentration arise [from such realization], the collection of Sutras is complete. Since it cognizes all knowable things, from form to the Omniscient Mind, the collection of Abhidharma is complete. And due to its comprehension of the special outer and inner dependently-related events, the Four Classes of Tantra are complete.
Are the Three Jewels complete in one’s own mind? In the mere emptiness of the mind and the understanding of that emptiness, the Three Jewels are not complete. In the union of the cognition and emptiness of the mind, the seeds of the Three Jewels are complete. If one properly realizes the meaning of that union, the Three Jewels are manifestly complete.
Is the Supreme Accomplishment (Siddhi) attained due to the Guru or the Meditation Deity? It does not occur from either one separately. Rather, it occurs due to the Guru, the meditational Deity, the Buddhas of the three times, one’s own mind, and from the realization of the indivisibility of all of Samsara and Nirvana.
What makes a person one’s true Guru? The person from whom one correctly receives the four empowerments in accordance with the Tantras in one’s true Guru. A Guru from whom one has not received such empowerment - how ever good a person he might be - is one’s Guru in name only, For example, the person from whom one receives monastic ordination is one’s true abbot, but if one has not been ordained by someone, he is not one’s true abbot. And even if he is called “Abbot”, he is such in name only. Thus: “without bestowing empowerment, there is no Guru. Without monastic ordination, there is no abbot. Without precepts, there is no continuum of virtue. Without going for refuge, one is not a spiritual person.” That is the meaning of the above verse.
Is it possible for there to be hearing, reflection and meditation concerning one utterance of the Buddha? In reliance upon one utterance of the Buddha, one may practice hearing, reflection and meditation. The nature of such an utterance is that it is an enlightened activity of a Tathagata.
Among all the teachings of the Buddha, which are profound? With respect to the mentalities of individual disciples, all of the teachings are profound. On the other hand, only the Tantric teachings are profound for all disciples in common.
Is a person who realizes the emptiness of the mind a Buddha? One who has realized emptiness alone is not a Buddha. If one comprehends all knowable things, one is fully enlightened. Furthermore, there are two modes of comprehension, the comprehension that there is no realization of an ultimately (i.e. inherently) existent phenomenon; and the comprehension of all distinct, conventionally existent phenomena.
Do you claim to be a realized person? Since I have not ultimately realized any phenomenon, I do not claim to be a realized person. But since I know the Five Fields of Knowledge concerning conventional truth, I claim to be a Pandit.
Among your pupils are there some who ascertain the nature of the mind? I understand that among my pupils there is no one with ultimate realization of the mind, but there are many who are learned in conventionally existent phenomena. The mind being without [an inherent] nature, what is there in the ascertainment of the mind?
If one does not ascertain the mind, even though one accumulates merit, doesn’t that [just] lead to temporary happiness? If one does not realize the mode of existence of the mind - the meaning of emptiness - one cannot attain the joy of Liberation by means of one’s collection of merit. Although that may act as a cause for the joys up to the Peak of Cyclic Existence, the collection of merit is not perfected, And, on the other hand, if one does not have knowledge of know able objects but only realization of the emptiness of the mind, how can one be a Buddha? If that were possible, there would be Buddhas in the Nirvana of Listeners, for which there is realization of emptiness alone, and there would also be Buddhas in empty space. But how could there be Buddhas there? Thus the assertion of all the Sutras and Tantras is that Buddhahood occurs through knowledge of all knowable objects and through realization that there is no inherent nature to be realized, i.e. knowing that of which there is nothing to be known,
At what point does one have the certainty of attaining Enlightenment? Some people realize the emptiness of the mind alone, but have not perfected the qualities of the Method aspect of the training. Some have such qualities, but do not realize the emptiness of the mind. Some have both, but they are not able to guide their practice of the Method with their knowledge. Some have the other qualities, but since they lack the lineage of blessing, they are unable to generate the Clear Appearance. Thus, I fear that Buddhahood is far from them. Since I have a number of these attributes, I hope to attain Enlightenment, but not by the swift means.
Who is your Root Guru? My Root Guru is the Great Sakyapa Drakpa Gyaltsen, the Vajradhara, who is the nature of the body, speech and mind of all the Tathagatas of the three times.
For what reason is he your Root Guru? He has granted me the four empowerments of the vase, and so on; he has shown me the four paths of the Stage of Generation, and so on; he has set forth the dependent relationships of the Four Bodies, including the Emanation Body, etc.; in short, since he practices in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings in the Sutras and Tantras, he performs the deeds of a perfectly enlightened being; and thus I regard him as my Root Guru. On the other hand, one who does not grant empowerment according to the Buddha’s teachings, does not reveal the Path and does not set forth dependent relationships, but does ascertain the mind, is limited in his teachings to those leading to the Cessation of a Listener - regardless of whatever merit he accumulates. Such a kind of person is not fit to be regarded as the Root Guru of a Mahayana practitioner, for that path is not a Mahayana path. Thus from the treatise called Synthesis (sDud pa): “With Wisdom alone, without the Method, one falls to the state of a Listener.” Thus, those who give little emphasis to the Method and great emphasis to Wisdom slip down to the Nirvana of the Listener.
Which path to Enlightenment is shorter: that of a learned pandit, or that of a “kusulu”? In general, the acts of a “kusulu” are impure. “Kusali” means “a virtuous person”. There are kusalis who do not rely on the Buddha’s path, and there are also pandits who do not rely on that path. Neither of them become Buddhas. There are both pandits and kusalis who are Buddhists. Among them there are both pandits and kusalis following the Vehicle of the Perfections who attain Buddhahood, and it takes them three countless eons to do so - a long time. There are also tantric pandits and kusalis who establish internally certain dependent relationships and thereby swiftly attain Enlightenment.
Now it is said that the task of a pandit is to become learned in the outer and inner field of knowledge. And it is said that a kusali supremely devotes himself to inner practice, after discarding all external affairs. To attain perfect Enlightenment, one first becomes knowledgeable regarding all knowable objects and cuts through false assumption by means of hearing and reflection. Then by taking Samadhi as one’s essential practice, one cuts through false assumptions by means of meditation and thus achieves the Dharma of Insight. In this way one gradually attains Enlightenment. Therefore, it is necessary to be both a pandit and a kusali. In terms of those approaches taken separately the pandit is closer to Buddhahood. Now one might object to that, citing the Sutra, Mound of Jewels (dKon mchog brtsegs pal): “If one meditates for one moment, the merit from this is greater than that of listening and explaining to others for ten eons.” I think there is no contradiction here. The meaning of that citation is that meditation [has such benefits] if one already knows the object of meditation; but without such knowledge, how could there ever be such benefits? The Vinaya scriptures also state that one should not meditate in a hermitage without having understood the Collections of Teachings. The Treasury of Phenomenology (mNgon pa mdsod) also states: “Endowed with proper hearing and reflection, Devote yourself to meditation.” Arya-Deva also states: “Without relying upon conventional reality, One will not realize ultimate reality. Without realizing ultimate reality one will not attain Liberation.” Thus, in all the Sutras it is frequently said that by hearing certain points of Dharma, one is liberated from certain obstacles. There fore, if hearing and reflection liberate one, one is advised to meditate afterwards. It is wonderful that you dwell as a contemplative, and I think it would be good if you continue in your efforts on the path of the Tantric method.
I realize that there is no realization of the answers to the question of this realized person (i.e. yourself), I understand that there is no understanding, and I know that there is nothing to be known.
This concludes my responses to the questions of the contemplative Nyimo Gomchen.

(This unedited translation was prepared under the guidance of Lama Tashi Namgyal by B. Alan Wallace (Gelong Jhampa Kelsang) at ©Sakya Thubten Kunga Choling in Victoria, B.C., August 1984.)

In undertaking to study the Dharma, we need to understand that there is a right way to do it. As you listen to this exposition of Buddhist teachings, put aside all distractions and focus your mind with single-minded intent upon its words and their meaning. This, too, should be done in an attitude of remembrance of all those beings who are unable to hear the teachings of enlightenment. Bring them to your mind with thoughts of love and compassion and with a resolve that, on their behalf, you will learn the Dharma rightly, remember it, experience it and realize it through your own efforts.

In order to purify the mind of ordinary conceptualizations about the nature and value of Dharma, you should also think of your teacher as being none other than Shakyamuni Buddha himself. For if the Enlightened One himself were here before you, he would not teach other than this Dharma.

Visualize your teacher in the form of Shakyamuni Buddha and imagine that boundless rays of golden light shine forth from his body to touch all living beings. These lights remove from them and from oneself obstacles to the experience of the Dharma Realm and establish them in the pure joy of liberation. As these rays of lights touch your heart, think that there arises in your mind insight into the true sense of the Dharma that is being expounded.

Think of yourself as being none other than the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri, who in fulfillment of his vow, tirelessly seeks out all the teachings of the Dharma on behalf of suffering beings. Imagine that you are receiving this Dharma in the pure realm of the Buddhas. There, all things are seen, not as substantial and real in the way that we see them through delusion, but as similar to the images that appear in a mirage or in a dream. Without grasping at anything as real, allow your mind to dwell, in the state of emptiness. In these ways, your efforts to learn here and how will approximate the transmission of holy Dharma as it takes place on the level of ultimate reality.

All such opportunities as this — to hear, to learn, and to integrate within one’s own consciousness the teachings of enlightenment taught by Shakyamuni Buddha — are extremely rare. Very few beings have such an opportunity. Many live their lives cut off from the Dharma. They have no access to the path of liberation. As a result, they suffer and, through delusion, create more suffering for themselves and for other beings. This suffering goes on and on; it is endless and manifold in its manifestations.

It was truly spoken in the sutras that it is rare for beings to hear even the name of the Buddha. Throughout countless lifetimes, most beings do not have even that much of a chance for liberation from their delusion and pain. Every teaching should, therefore, be valued as rare, and cherished while one still has the opportunity to receive it.

Fortunate beings such as ourselves, who now have the advantages and leisure of human life at a time when the teachings are present, should be mindful of our situation. Human life is extremely short. It passes away more rapidly than the falling waters of a mountain stream. Our life is passing away swiftly and death lies ahead for each one of us. In this world, distractions are many and obstacles are rife. It is hard to find the will to practice Dharma. It is hard to awaken within our minds the resolve to win enlightenment, hard to apply ourselves rightly to this resolve in a way that truly benefits ourselves and other.

Yet we must find the strength to awaken this resolve within ourselves through reflection upon the facts of our human existence and the facts of existence as a whole. For we, like other beings, are being carried along by the great river of karmic propensities (actions born out of attachment, aversion and ignorance). At the time of death, the propensities of our mind will determine our future whether we shall again find such an opportunity to receive and practice the Dharma or whether we shall have lost it for good, whether we shall suffer in the lower realms among the hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and animals, or find ourselves bereft of Dharma among the gods and titans.

The law of karma that turns the great wheel of interdependent origination, the inexorable cycle of deluded mental processes, will carry us away from this unique opportunity to take hold of, and be rescued by, the saving Dharma. If we remain under the control of this round of delusion, the evolution of the twelve nidanas, or links of interdependent origination will cause us helplessly to roam about from one state of existence to another. If we do not break free from the wheel of delusion through wisdom and right understanding of the Way, we are sure to continue to experience pain. If we do not make this break, the three kinds of pain — of impermanence, of pain itself (in the lower realms), and of conditioned existence — will continue to plague us. This is the future that awaits each one of us who fails to pause, reflect, and make a sincere effort to realize these Dharma truths.

In a situation such as ours, what are we to do? This was the matter upon which the Enlightened One, Shakyamuni Buddha, pondered for years and it is through His great compassion for beings like ourselves that we have had revealed to us a way whereby we might free ourselves from our plight.

The Buddha taught a path of liberation based upon purity and morality, a path of experience that consists of right study, reflection and meditation, a path that has as its end the attainment of the great happiness of freedom. Through His skill in means and knowledge of the various kinds of beings and the various karmic propensities which cause beings to differ from each other, He expounded several systems of practice.

First, He taught the system of the Hinayana Buddhism with its concept of individual salvation. For others of greater spiritual capacity, He taught the noble doctrines of the Great Way of Mahayana Buddhism with its concept of universal salvation. In the Mahayana system, one takes the Bodhisattva’s vow to liberate all living beings as well as oneself. It has as its result the attainment of the three kayas, or aspects of perfect enlightenment. However, this path of Mahayana practice requires that three incalculable aeons be spent in perfecting the qualities of Bodhisattvahood.

For those whose compassion for the world is intense, who find it intolerable that beings be kept waiting so long before one is able to free them from suffering and establish them in the happiness of liberation, Lord Buddha expounded the swift path of Vajrayana Buddhism. Because of the superior meditative techniques of this system, it becomes possible to attain Buddhahood in a very short while.

If one preserves one’s vows and meditates diligently, one will attain perfect enlightenment - — Buddhahood — in this very lifetime. But this system does require that one be endowed with superior mental faculties: one must be extremely intelligent and diligent. Yet one can be assured of enlightenment either in the bardo state or in the next life-time if one is only of mediocre abilities, understanding, and diligence. Even if one has very little spiritual development and is unable to practice at all, one is still assured of the attainment of Buddhahood within not more than sixteen lifetimes.

This last system taught by the Buddha is, therefore, extremely effective. Buddhists who are moved by intense compassion for the world, who have resolved quickly to free beings from suffering and to establish them in happiness should apply themselves to this system of practice. The qualities that are required here are courage, diligence in practice, and enthusiasm for virtue.

These three systems of Dharma expounded for beings of different spiritual capacities are all of great benefit to the world. Through them, all beings may find a way to liberation. Whoever receives the Dharma receives benefit, for it was taught by the Compassionate Buddha to help us achieve our aims. We all seek happiness and try to avoid pain. The Dharma shows us the way to remove the causes of pain and to attain the experience of supreme well-being.

Yet there is the danger of taking hold of Dharma wrongly. If this danger is not avoided and one’s approach to Dharma is faulty, ‘Dharma’ becomes a cause of harm instead of benefit. This is not the intent of the Enlightened Ones nor of those masters who have entrusted it to us.

Recognise and avoid this danger: it is called ‘narrow-mindedness’. It manifests in sangha circles in the form of sectarianism: an attitude of partiality, a tendency to form deluded attachments to ones own order and to reject other schools of Buddhism as inferior.

I have seen this narrow-minded spirit detract from Buddhism in my own land of Tibet and, during the past 20 years of my stay in America, I have also seen it grow among the many Dharma centers founded here by Tibetan teachers and their disciples. It is always with sorrow that I observe sectarianism take root among Dharma centers. It is my karma, as a representative of Buddhism and as a Tibetan, to have the opportunity and responsibility to speak out, when asked, against this ‘inner foe’.

It was common in Tibet for the least spiritually developed adherents of each of the four great orders to nurture this spirit of sectarianism. Often monks and lay disciples of one order would refuse to attend the services of other orders. Monks would refuse to study or read the literature of others simply because they were the writings of masters who belonged to another lineage - — no matter how good the literature might be.

The great Nyingma order - - - the Order of the Ancient Ones - - -has its own special pride. Some of its followers feel that, as members of the earliest school, they have profound doctrines unknown to the later schools of Tibetan Buddhism. They maintain that somehow their doctrine of ‘Great Perfection, is superior to the ‘Mahamudra’ perception of ultimate reality. They make this claim even though, by logic and the teachings of the Buddha Himself, we know it is not possible that there could be any difference in the realization of ultimate reality. They also claim that theirs is a superior path endowed with secret teachings and levels of Dharma unknown to the other schools. The Gelugpa school, founded by the great Tsongkhapa, has its proud adherents, too. They think they are sole guardians of the teachings that were transmitted into Tibet by the great pundit Atisha, even though these are available and commonly practiced in the other orders. They have pride in proclaiming a superiority in moral conduct. They feel their observance of monastic discipline and their custom of devoting many years to study before finally turning to the practice of meditation constitute a superior approach to Vajrayana practice. They consider themselves to be superior both in deportment and in learning.

Certain followers of the Sakya order also have their conceit about learning. They believe that only their school understands and preserves the profound teachings that were introduced into Tibet from Buddhist India. It is common for these Sakya scholars to look down on the practitioners of other orders, thinking that other Tibetan Buddhists are ignorant practitioners whose practice is not supported by right understanding of the Dharma’s true meaning.

Some Kagyu adherents have their own special pride. They claim that their lineage of masters is so superior that they themselves should be considered superior — as heirs of Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa and Dagpo. These masters, it is true, were very great but it does not necessarily follow that one who claims to be an adherent of their tradition is also great. The greatness of these masters depends upon their realization. Blind allegiance to these masters cannot make Kagyu practitioners superior.

All of these are attitudes commonly found among Tibetan Buddhist monks and lay people. They may be common attitudes but they are not Buddhist attitudes. The great Kagyu master and Ris-med proponent, Kongtrul Rinpoche, stated that a wise person will have faith in the teachings of all orders, will love the Dharma found in each just as a mother cherishes all her children. A wise person’s mind is vast like the sky, with room for many teachings, many insights, many meditations. But the mind of an ignorant sectarian is limited, tight, and narrow like a vase that can only hold so much. It is difficult for such a mind to grow in Dharma because of its self-imposed limitations. The difference between the wise Buddhist and the sectarian Buddhist is like that between the vastness of space and the narrowness of a vase. These are the words of Kongtrul Rinpoche.

The great sage of the Sakya Order, Sapan wrote in his Three Vows that, in his youth, he studied extensively the literature of all the orders of Tibet, under different masters. He made special efforts to learn, understand, and realize the doctrines of these different schools and never despised any of them. He cherished them all.

Long-chen Rab-jampa, the great scholar of the Nyingma Order, practiced similarly. He received transmission of Dharma from masters of all four orders without discrimination. From the biography of the great Tsongkhapa, we learn that he, too, studied extensively under masters of all orders. The great Khyentse Wangpo, foremost teacher of the Ris-med, or non-sectarian movement, wrote in his autobiography that in his youth he had studied under one hundred and fifty masters of all the four orders of Tibetan Buddhism.

Kongtrul Rinpoche, another Ris-med master, included all the essential doctrines of each of the four orders, as well as of the minor subsects, in his great masterpiece, The Treasure of Doctrine.

All of these great masters, the greatest minds that Tibetan Buddhist history have produced, agreed that there is no place in the pure Dharma for a sectarian attitude. The Buddha Himself taught in The Book of Discipline and in various sutras that those Buddhist who form attachments to their own school of Buddhism and despise the teachings, masters and followers of other schools, create great harm for themselves and for the Buddhist community as a whole.

First of all, one who despises another Buddhist school despises the Buddha. He impairs the transmission of the Dharma. The presence of the Dharma is jeopardized by such an attitude, and one becomes cut off from its transmission. This is so because one’s refuge vows are based upon reliance on the Enlightened One, His Teachings, and the Holy Community. If one rejects Dharma one breaks one’s refuge vow and thereby becomes cut off from the Dharma. By rejecting this Dharma that is the only door to happiness for beings and oneself, one accumulates inexhaustible sin.

Therefore, the Buddha taught that one should also not despise the Dharma of non-Buddhists for it is their source of happiness and benefit. One should not despise or harbour contempt for the doctrines of the Hindus, Christians, or other non-Buddhist religions because this attitude of attachment to one’s own side while rejecting the possibility of differences is harmful to one’s own spiritual career.

Those people who harbour voiced or unvoiced contempt for the teachings and the lineage of other schools incur great sin and terrible consequences. Worst of all, this attitude is as unnecessary as it is harmful.

Students of Dharma ought to be moved by faith in the teachings of the Buddha to renounce the distractions, delusions, and bonds of the world and to direct their efforts toward purifying their minds of obstacles, obscurations, and sins. They should devote themselves to efforts in accumulating those virtues and realizations that bring about Buddhahood and great benefit for themselves and others. This is the real task that each Buddhist has before him or her. Our work is not one of competing or vying with other Buddhist practitioners, thereby creating obstacles for them and for ourselves. This was not the responsibility set before us when we took upon ourselves the vows of refuge and the vows of Bodhisattvahood.

Faith is the foundation of the Dharma. It is faith in the authenticity and the truth of Buddhist teachings and confidence in the efficacy of the path to enlightenment that impels us to take upon ourselves the commitments of vows. It moves us to take upon ourselves the commitments of the monastic vows, novice vows, or the precepts of the lay householder.

In all of these, our faith in the authenticity of the Three Jewels is. the cornerstone of the vows and trainings to which we commit ourselves. If we reject the Dharma of other Buddhists, we destroy our own commitment to Dharma. We impair our standing in the Dhaka and create an obstacle to its reception. We destroy the cornerstone of our own spiritual career.

For these reasons, keep always in mind the great value of Dharma. Reject within yourself and in others any attitude that promotes the lessening of faith. We strive always for pure faith — faith that is intelligent, based upon the understanding that we must cherish these Three Jewels as the foundation of our own hopes for Buddhahood.

People who adopt this narrow-minded attitude of sectarianism are usually ignorant of the doctrines that other orders possess. Instead they base their sectarianism upon lineage. They reject the teachers, rather than the teachings of other schools.

The lineages of each of the three systems of discipline, which form the structure of Dharma training for all Buddhists, are derived directly from Shakyamuni Buddha himself. The Pratimoksha vows originated with the Buddha and were transmitted in success ion through the great Indian sages to the Tibetan patriarchs They have continued in a pure and unbroken succession down to our present time.

The same is true of the profound doctrines and precepts of the Bodhisattva’s’ 5 vows, which were also taught by the Shakyamuni Buddha and transmitted through the great sages of Buddhist India and Tibet. From the master Nagarjuna we have the Manjushri tradition’ of the Bodhisattvas vows and from the master Asanga and his successors we have the ‘Maitreya tradition’

Similarly, in the Vajrayana, all the tantras were expounded by Buddha in His tantric form — that of Vajradhara. These tantras and their instructions were transmitted from Vajradhara to various masters of Buddhist Tibet. Those same tantras and instructions have been transmitted purely, without interruption, down to the present time. They are common to all of the four orders. Though the lineage of masters may vary from order to order, there is no flaw in the purity and continuity of their transmission.

These three sets of vows provide the framework or structure that enables each one of us to progress on the path to liberation. Thus, there is no fault in any school, or its doctrines or its lineage. Where in all these could an intelligent person find justification for sectarianism?

It is certainly natural and permissible that we might feel a special affinity with one or another school or be drawn to a particular system of practice, to a particular circle of meditators or to a particular teacher. But when we do this, we must also be sure to watch our mind and weed out from it any feelings of contempt for, or aversion to, other schools of Buddhism. We should not shun their teachings or their teachers. Whenever we act simply out of attachment to our own order or from a wish not to be receptive to the teachings or teachers of other orders, we are indulging ourselves in this very harmful attitude of sectarianism.

One whose Dharma career is tainted by narrow-mindedness and attachment to one’s own interests while rejecting those of others will never overcome the many obstacles to the attainment of wisdom or insight.

Sectarianism turns the pure Dharma into poison through it, one accumulates great sin. In this life one will be frustrated in one 5 own Dharma efforts. Upon death, one will fall into hell as swiftly d5 an arrow shot from a bow. These are the consequences of spending a lifetime in rejecting others’ spiritual efforts on such narrow-minded grounds.

Therefore be mindful not to indulge in this attitude that brings so much unsought harm upon yourself. Do not create obstacles to your own Dharma. Strive instead for pure faith and maintain that faith in all manifestations of the Three Jewels, no matter whether they are represented in one school of Tibetan Buddhism or in another. Painstakingly nurture your refuge vows and pure faith and thereby grow truly in the Dharma.

BUDDHISM WITHOUT SECTARIANISM
by Venerable Deshung Rinpoche
1983
Translated by Jared Rhoton
Los Angeles, California

In an intensive schedule over the last two months, Khenpo Dr. Ngawang Jorden has just completed bestowing the full transmission of Maitreya’s Mahayanasutralamkara, (including the “lung”), to a group of IBA students who consider themselves extremely fortunate to have received the blessing of hearing this highly inspiring work.

Our base text was a recently published English translation (from a committee headed by Dr. Robert Thurman) of Maitreya’s root text, accompanied by Vasubandhu’s commentary. The root text is compact and often cryptic, and at all times extremely profound. Since the use of more than one commentarial support proves to be highly beneficial, Khenpo Jorden kindly gave us a full English translation directly from a beautifully clear and detailed Tibetan commentary by Gyalsay Togme Sangpo. This excellent commentary was an invaluable resource throughout our study.

Among the five treatises of Maitreya, transmitted through Asanga, this one possesses the broadest range of topics, actually encompassing all aspects of the Mahayana teachings. The Mahayanasutralamkara “ornaments” the vast scriptures of the Mahayana sutras (approx. 30 vol.).

Among the vividly presented and extensive teachings recurring in the Mahayanasutralamkara, each time within a different context or from a new level, are clear explanations of ( just to name a few) The Six Perfections, The Five Paths of the Bodhisattva Vehicle, The Three Natures, The Kayas, Suchness, The Four Seals, and The Four Reliances.

Maitreya himself summed up the entire Path of the Higher Trainings in this verse from the root text (which was used as a guide by Sakya Pandita for his work on the Foundation, Path and Result aspects of the Mahayana teachings: Clarifying The Sage’s Intent. ):

“The Universal Vehicle is summarized as awakening the spiritual “gene”,
having faith in the Dharma, the conception of the spirit, the practice of
generosity and so forth, the advance to predetermination, the evolutionary
development of beings, the purification of the universe, the unlocated
Nirvana, the supreme enlightenment, and the manifestation of the Buddha deeds.”

Some student comments at the conclusion of this course:

“This text would be wonderful to study again and again, and with
different commentaries.”
“I think it’s incredibly important, as a student, to get these basics.
Without a foundation, a house can’t be built.”
“I was amazed at how motivating this whole course was. I thought it
might be pretty dry stuff, but I actually had tears in my eyes sometimes,
because it was so powerful and inspiring”
“By studying it, you realize that it is the basis and essence of the
Mahayana path, without which Tantra doesn’t make sense.
It (Tantra) has to be based on that. The MSA is so rich and complex
and beautiful all at the same time and it’s something I want to spend
years re-studying because I can really sink my teeth into it, with
subject matter that’s just beyond this world!”
“This teaching is a great treasure, I had no idea it even existed before!”

As beautiful, inspiring, and profound the words of the Buddha can be (and definitely are), they are at times very hard to locate. And this is not only true within the world view expounded in the teaching on the precious human life, where we are told what an incredibly rare opportunity it is to be able to dispose freely of your time, to follow qualified teachers, and to study and practice the Dharma. What I am talking about here is of a slightly different nature as you will see. Not as profound and inspiring, but nevertheless very practical, especially for the scholars among us.

I am currently working on my M.A. thesis on Rong-ston chen-po’s commentary on the rGyud bla ma (Uttaratantra, Ratnagotravibhaga), one of Maitreya’s five precious treatises. This texts teaches us what we are ultimately capable of. It explains in great detail why “we are made for buddhahood”, namely: because that is precisely our nature – called Buddhanature (the tathagatgarbha).

In the course of my research I have to identify the quotations Rong-ston draws from the sutras and shastras (scientific treatises) in order to make his points.

The Kangyur (the translations of the Buddha’s words) comprises over 100 volumes organized by subject matter. These include vinaya, prajnaparamita-sutras, avatamsaka-sutra, sutra pitaka including many shorter sutras, and so forth, as well as many volumes of tantric scriptures.

The Tengyur (the translations of the treatises on the Buddha’s words) are also arranged by topics (such as praises, prajnaparamita, madhyamaka, sutra commentaries, cittamatra, abhidharma, pramana, tantra, and so forth) and comprises over 200 volumes. The three major editions of this Tibetan Buddhist canon come from Derge, Narthang, and Beijing.

Luckily for the researcher, we have catalogues which help us identify the volume we will find the text we are looking for in, as well as the page numbers. Although I had these precious helpers with me, I took me (frustrating) ages to locate a text, let alone the quotations. Eventually an angel from my university helped me out, sending me the most useful link for this kind of research. It turned out I was looking into a different edition of the Kangyur. Voila! It could have been so obvious.

Anyway, this research made me take my first steps in this vast universe the Tibetan Buddhist canon is, and it is fascinating. There is such a wealth of material out there to help us understand our mind! Translating these texts (well!) is of paramount importance if we are to establish a firm foundation for the future of the Buddha’s Dharma in the West. I really hope we can join in effort and support each other in laying the bricks for this foundation one by one. It will take generations, and we should certainly not expect any immediately tangible results from this kind of effort, but it is definitely worthwhile and beneficial for all of us.  

For those among you brave enough to still read this blog, here are the useful links:

-          Online catalogue of various Kangyur editions:

http://www.istb.univie.ac.at/kanjur/

-          Informations on Kangyur and Tengyur:

               http://www.thdl.org/xml/show.php?xml=/collections/literature/kangteng/kangteng.xml

I prostrate with devotion to the feet of the sublime Guru.

With a mind free from objects,
with hands folded, I praise
that practice cultivated according to
any Dharma taught by the Muni.

Any misdeeds someone may commit,
those are also conditioned;
therefore, they possess the quality of impermanence,
consequently do not be tormented about that.

If one possesses attachment to objects,
even though one honors the Three Jewels
with one’s right side for a ten million eons,
the Victor has taught there will be no liberation.

Also if that mind freed from all objects
is without grasping,
the unsurpassed awakening of emptiness
and compassion is attained with this.

The path of freeing only oneself
that is not the best;
the omniscient one only taught
intending solely to benefit others.

Considering that, I did not understand
I must give up my own benefit in the beginning,
possessing a knot of attachment to my own benefit.

Mind, if you are distracted in benefiting others,
later on you will be sunk in samsara alone
without having benefited yourself or others.

As such, with diligence, in all respects
do not consider one’s own benefit.

Possess only a loving disposition,
one should dedicate oneself to the benefit of others.

By accomplishing other’s benefit, one’s own benefit is assured.
Because ultimately reality is naturally present,
from that the great nature of the perfection
of all benefits of oneself and others arises.

The Condensed Presentation of the Mahayana Path was composed by Shri Sakya Pandita
Collected works of the Sakya master, vol. Na [12], pg.445

Translated by Loppon Kunga Namdrol

A montage of His Holiness the Sakya Trizin’s visit to Lerab Ling, Rigpa’s international retreat centre in the south of France, where His Holiness gave teachings and an empowerment.

Almost one year ago, inspired by H.H. Sakya Trizin´s Vajrayogini teachings in Spain, I started to practice yoga on a daily basis, and seeing the results in my body(more flexibility, strength and vitality) the desire to become a yoga teacher-practitioner developed, too. But what surprised me most was the endurance that yoga gives, and the fact that with this endurance, the body can easily stand longer hours of meditation without so many bodily aches and pains, and without feeling one has to move positions so often. The body’s activity is accompanied by the activity of the mind, and as a result I have found that I can bear new, uncomfortable situations in life with more peace and tranquillity. I don’t experience so much mental stress or anxiety because I trust things more and don’t react to them as I used to. This immediate benefit makes me want to get out of bed when it is so cosy and nice in there, and my mind would like to dwell in old habitual thinking patterns of laziness and procrastination. This is another effect of yoga, it has the power to ignite positive energy and enthusiasm in one´s day, while providing a stable platform on which to build new, healthy and positive habits for oneself. I like having yoga practice as my breakfast, as my travel companion everywhere, stretching at a bus stop or at airports. It feels as if a sudden breath of fresh air comes into my mind and makes me appreciate everything and everyone with a new light…it makes mind transformation easier when we can accompany it with the body, and we can become more agile and lighter in the process. It is so joyful to feel no pain in the body and to know, with meditation, that it is, after all, impermanent.

The whole Kathmandu Valley is like a wide bowl, with layered tiers of mountains seen from everywhere within it. Every “view” has as its backdrop, a treescape that refreshes the rising foothills of the Himalayas.

With its marble halls and panoramic views of multi-coloured, multi-storied buildings studding the surrounding farmland, the IBA offers a vibrant and uplifting study environment. Years ago, after my teacher, Geshe Tashi Namgyal had visited Khenpo Appey Rinpoche here in Nepal, Geshe-la would answer his Canadian students’ detailed questions on Sanskrit-based terminology in Buddhist Psychology, by saying, “You must go to Khenpo Appey Rinpoche’s school. There you can really learn all these things”.

I never considered going half-way across the world, myself, until, one day, Geshe-la handed us brochures that had just arrived at our Dharma Centre from the IBA.

To my astonishment, after reading about the multi-year course plan that included texts I had heard so much about, but never directly studied, I discovered that the comparatively low costs of studying and living here dramatically offset the costs of travelling here! A further exploration of the website and its student video tipped the balance, especially the footage of the departed master Chobgyay Trichen Rinpoche waving, smiling divinely, radiating perfect encouragement. Given that life is short it was easy to decide that I indeed, “must go to Khenpo Appey Rinpoche’s school”!

I’m so happy that I made the decision. Here I am, making meaningful connections with fellow practitioners, in a serene, friendly place where I’m able to concentrate on studying foundational Mahayana texts with knowledgeable, accessible, kind and genuinely qualified teachers. The Tibetan language study is a wonderful bonus, and truly a bonding experience with fellow students. Later on, it will be useful but for now, it’s fun!

From my perspective, this is “What It’s Really Like” here. For you, as it always is for me, it depends on what you bring to the situation. If it’s a flexible attitude, a willingness to help and to be helped, a love of listening, contemplating and meditating on the teachings, and a determination to use your precious time wisely, then your experience can truly benefit your practice, and through it, benefit others.

A recent donation of books from the estate of Kenneth L. Javonovich has made a significant contribution to the IBA’s library. Mrs. Javonovich, of Chicago, Illinois,U.S.A., arranged for this bequest to be given into the care of Khenpo Ngawang Jorden when he was in Chicago, earlier this year. Thanks to the financial support of an anonymous donor from Singapore who took care of the considerable costs of shipping, Khenpo Jorden was able to arrange for safe delivery of the books to the IBA. Student volunteers gave each of the hundreds of books the IBA stamp, and arranged them on shelves in each category. The IBA, in addition to its large selection of Tibetan “pechas” now has a wide selection of “codex” style books on General Buddhism, Philosophy, Buddhist Practice, Art and Iconography, Reference, Language Study, History, Biography, Theravada Tradition, Mahayana Tradition, Mantrayana, Tibetan Medicine, Culture, and others.

We have recently completed our 10 day retreat and it went very well. It was more of a contemplation retreat that a strict meditation retreat. We had a full house for the retreat, 70+ students and over 300 monks who came every morning to listen to Khenchen Appey Rinpoche teach. Rinpoche taught one session per day; we had a review session in the afternoon, a guided group meditation in the evening and 3 individual meditation sessions in our rooms. It was an amazing teaching and experience. A 10 day summary of the whole path. We are very happy we were able to have 2 additional languages this year, Spanish and Mandarin.

I thought this was funny when I read it. Tulkus must now apply for a Rinpoche permit. The beginning of the article is quoted below and you can search the net for more info.

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BEIJING (AFP) - Tibetan living Buddhas are no longer allowed to be reincarnated without permission from the atheist Chinese government, state media reported Friday.The new rules are “an important move to institutionalize the management of reincarnation of living Buddhas,” the Xinhua news agency said.

According to the regulations, which take effect on September 1, all reincarnation applications must be submitted to religious affairs officials for approval, Xinhua said…

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