Affiliated with the FPMT

• Day One Part One : Introduction and Continuity of Consciousness
• Day One Part Two : Continuity of Consciousness and Compassion
• Day One Part Three : Oral Transmission Begins
• Day Two Part One : The Merely Labeled 'I'
• Day Two Part Two: The Object to be Refuted
• Day Two Part Three : Golden Light Sutra Transmission
• Day Three Part One : Karma and Meditation on Emptiness
• Day Three Part Two : Meditation on Emptiness and Refuge

Day One Part One : Introduction and Continuity of Consciousness

So… Comesta. (Rinpoche laughs)

So before the talk we are going to, one of the teaching the Golden Light Sutra which I will be transmitting the lineage, the blessing which came from Buddha, Omniscient One, Compassionate Omniscient One, that has been transmitted unbroken, which is unbroken lineage from my guru, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche. I have about 25 gurus and he is one of them that, who is great spiritual master, great scholar and highly attained, whose qualities like limitless sky, realisations, understanding the Buddhadharma.

So this Golden Light Sutra, it has, from the Buddha’s teaching, about maybe 100s of volumes, from that Kangyur, there is elaborate version and middle version and shorter version, there are three. So this is short version which I am going to recite, transmit the lineage of this teaching which came from Buddha.

So paying some homage to the Omniscient One, kind compassionate the Omniscient One who is Shakyamuni Buddha. So, that and the heart, the very essence, the very heart of Buddhadharma, called, Three Principal Aspects of the Path to Enlightenment.

So first I would like to say that it appears, I think many of you here are old students and old students, older students before this birth, old students before this birth, anyway, so many years ago and maybe also who have met dharma few years ago or some are quite new to Buddha’s teachings and there may be also, could be also new ones, who has just maybe the first time to hear the dharma.

So however the purpose we are gathered here is for happiness, is to achieve happiness, either for oneself or to be able to cause happiness for others. So whichever religion one follow or practice, the wish or the aim is same, happiness, to achieve happiness. How many different, how many hundred thousands, or billions of religion that there is in the world, the goal is the same, you know, peace and happiness. Even for this insects that, you know, those tiny insects, ants or very tiny insects that hardly can see with the eye, you see, even these very tiny insects running around keeping busy, they doing this for happiness, to achieve happiness in the life, including the tigers, you know, elephants, crocodiles, mosquitos, elephant, ant, elephant, mouse, anyway, so everybody is working for or doing something to achieve happiness, you know. Either by eating grass or by eating other animals, by eating grass, you know, plants, like the monkeys eat fruit, climb all the trees to eat fruit or the tigers, tigers they hide in the grass, as if they don’t exist there, you know, as if there are not there (Rinpoche laughs) then when they are plan well, you know, to get it, to get it, you know, when they really plan well, the right time, they know the right time to capture, you see. Which one to capture, which one you can catch. Or which part of the body to grab, you know, whether here, here, from backside climb, bite, sometimes the animal cannot function any more, fall down, then … or some bite here, you know, from in front, bite here, they know everything what to do, you see, they haven’t gone to school, they haven’t gone to university, or college to, you know, there is no tiger university or college, you know, train how to kill those, you know, those peaceful animals, deers and zebras, the buffaloes, you know, those who don’t kill other, they don’t eat other animals. Anyway, they know exactly how to do, where to bite, you know, here or something, you see, right, the right place where the animal that, no matter how big, can’t do anything, you know, can’t do anything. So you see, they are very smart, they have their own politics. They are very expert in their own politics, how to get food. Like that. Each have their happiness, you know. So like that, you see. Very expert. So even the mouse, they are very expert, they are so expert in how to achieve happiness for themselves and to harm others. They are very expert mouse. So anyway, maybe I tell a story.

Many years ago at Kopan Monastery, in Nepal, you know, so people may not be aware, name Kopan. So this is monastery where, the main monastery from where the FPMT organisation started. The main monastery where my master, Lama Yeshe, kinder than all the three times buddhas, who take care of me for many years, who founded this organisation. So this monastery built. So there are about nearly, say, there is nunnery and monastery. Nunnery, I think, maybe nearly four hundred nuns, mostly from Tibet, because there is not much opportunity in Tibet to learn. So mostly came from Tibet. Then about three hundred monks like that. So anyway, that is the present time.

Anyway, many years ago, in my room, in the monastery as I was staying there. So Lama and myself we had one benefactor or one nun, the American negro, who has been school teacher for many, many years, whom we call Mummy Max. And so after the first disciple, our very first western student was a Russian, her name is Princess Rachevsky, her father was king and there was revolution happen in Russia then later they lived in France, so she grew up in France and then lived in America, many parts of the world and all kinds of life she had. So after, just before she died, this other negro, the nun, called Mummy Max, she took care of us and then after the very first Russian, first student was Russian, the nun, she went to Himalayan mountain to do retreat, Lama sent to do very long retreat, Himalayan mountains there, great lama from Nyingma, Trulshig Rinpoche who is also, from whom I received also teachings. So at this monastery, did long retreat, Lama sent.

So she did the retreat and she passed away in meditation state and at that monastery and then Rinpoche, Tulshi Rinpoche who is the founder of that monastery, Rinpoche said that she is in pure land of Buddha, the deity called Vajrayogini. Rinpoche said that. And I checked with another lama, one very high lama in South India from Sera Me, Targye Rinpoche, who is one of the Kadampa Geshe Potowa incarnation, very highly respected and very old aged lama, so before Rinpoche passed away, I had the chance to go to see, to receive blessing. So I asked Rinpoche where she is born, so Rinpoche said, did divination and said extremely good where she is born, extremely good.

Then I asked, I have one benefactor, one old mother from London, who took care of me… there was another one who took care of me for seven years when I was at school or, you know, India, different places, I had TB so she benefacted me for seven years, I never met but she sent letters and money to buy some more extra food and she sent clothings, she sent money to one nun, one English nun, I think who is the first nun, I think, ordained by Domo Geshe Rinpoche, I think, one lama. She is actually the first nun, she is the follower of Karmapa, her name is Sister Vajra. So that old lady who is member of Buddhist Society in London, she sent money to her and made set of robes to me, and sent. So that was my new dress on New Year or those special days to wear.

And anyway, so already passed away. There was avalanche happened at Darjeeling, because Darjeeling is very wet, you know, lot of rain. So where she was staying, she had a new house built, very nice house, new cottage and then avalanche happened. So everybody screamed her, please get out but she didn’t, couldn’t come out, you see. I think she was packing her money and things like that, you see. So I think what happened, was too late to come out, so then the whole house collapsed. So people found that, if she come out immediately then it was good but, but I think she was packing up, you know. So whole house collapsed on her by holding suitcase here in hand and umbrella, you know. So I think, maybe had she come out straightaway, would live longer. So anyway, anyway that story helps impermanence, very important meditation, very important meditation nature of life, the of nature life, the reality of the life, impermanence death, you see.

So however, this old lady who took care of me for many years when I was studying in Buxa, for eight years, extremely hot place. So she passed away and then her cousin, also living in London take care of me for some time...

I don’t know why I am talking this story (Rinpoche laughs) Huh? Why I am talking is gone (Rinpoche laughs) anyway doesn’t matter. Anyway, come back to… (Rinpoche laughs)

Oh, now I remember. I asked this old lady, member of the London Buddhist Society, her name is Rachel Levy who took care of me for, you know, that lama and myself, so we have better food in Buxa, to buy, with the money to buy. So this, from her, medicine, everything from her.

So asked this lama, where she is born. Then the lama said, present, at the moment it is very good, at the moment is good, the high lama, Targye Rinpoche, at the moment is good but seems maybe not so good near future. So that’s the story.

So anyway, so going back, so going back, so Mummy Max, the second benefactor, student, so she bought for one, she bought one very, very thin zen, the aim to go to the Japan, she said Japan is very hot. So of course other than the statues, buddha statues in my room but that’s only most precious, that’s only new thing, you know, in my room, very thin zen, you know, not complete zen, maybe half. So that’s the one new thing I had in my room, in the drawer.

So what happened was under my bed, the lama came, lama came … I don’t know how lama find out that there was a mouse in my room, but lama found, anyway. So then Lama asked one man, he was cook that time, he was my same class in Buxa, he was leader of my class but anyway, he disrobed so he was cook at Kopan. So he, lama asked him to bring a stick and chase the mouse away from my room. So he came with stick and chased under my bed, you know, like this. So there was a mouse made nest under my bed, under my bed they made nest, I think, must be their home.

So one mouse came out, so went out, then I went after him, you know, I don’t know him or her, anyway. Went after him and then the mouse went over the… Kopan monastery was two storey, it jumped on the vegetable field that belonged to monastery, you know, because Lama liked vegetable garden, himself, say, sometimes pour water, with the gardeners. So anyway, jumped down. So I think he jumped one floor down.

Then what happened was, one day, I pulled the drawer, there was zen, this one, you know, one of the new things that there is, kind of precious thing that there is, you see, so folded many times. So what happened, mouse came back. So hole is like this. The mouse came back, he ate, he made a hole right in the centre, so when you stretch out the zen, many holes. (Rinpoche laughs) It’s very interesting. Mouse very small like this, very small but knows how to, knows what the person cherishes. So among the room, in the room among possessions what the person cherishes and exactly, you know, targets that. So I thought that was very interesting. I think that was very helpful. I think it’s very helpful to destroy my attachment, you know, clinging to this zen, the mouse help to destroy my attachment. I mean, actually if I think, well, if I did recognise that’s what it is, that’s to help me destroy the attachment, you know, that gives all the problem in the life.

So anyway, so what I was saying before, is like that. There was story that Kadampa Geshe, maybe Kamrungpa, I think, it is said that he smiled only three times in the life. He smiled only three times in the life (Rinpoche laughs) so what caused him to smile, I don’t remember, but one was that, one story anyway, that when he was meditating in hermitage, the mice were keeping so busy, you know, so busy and then was meditating, mice keeping so busy, round him, you see, then the mouse … so the wall and then mouse was carrying, they have stolen one turquoise from somebody, from some family, turquoise. I am sure this again, this something what the family cherished. So anyway, he trying to bring up, collect, you know, I don’t know, I mean, he can’t eat that turquoise, and can’t wear, that’s very interesting why they take the turquiose, you see, anyway, it’s very interesting. It’s not medicine for them.

So anyway, so the Kadampa Geshe Kamrungpa, I think might be. So one mouse lay down, you see, there is crack in the middle … not crack … space between the wall and the floor. So what they did was one mouse lay down, you know, like a bridge. Then this mouse pushed the turquoise onto the backside, you see, backside of the mouse, laying down. One lay down like this, the other mouse push the turquoise back to reach on the other side, in the hole. From there they can carry roof or somewhere, you know. So the lama saw this, so this one time he smiled, he laughed. Yeah...

... know how to harm, they know how to harm back, you see. Yeah, they keep in mind and then harm back. Incredible, you know, even they don’t have human body, go to school or college like that, but they, yeah. Like that, there are so many stories like that.

And anyway doesn’t matter, since I am talking this story, think, another story … one lama, one monk in Tibet who is a meditator, living in hermitage. So he lives in hermitage, doing meditation but he checked all the animals about their life, like research, you know, checking on the animals their life, what they are doing, you know. So I think one time, the animal, maybe skunk, the one which gives bad smell, skunk … so there was nest on the tree, nest of the skunk on the tree. So what happened was, one day a bird, I am not sure what bird came, I think, there was egg or something, I am not sure. So while the mother skunk is away, I think … I think maybe skunk, I am not sure, seems the animal has long tail, you know, long tail with lot of hairs. So they came back, you know, and it was missing, so the animal thought, the meditator in the cave maybe took away the baby, you see, the egg, you see. Then slowly came inside the, slowly came in the hermitage, through the door, you know, and then, at the altar and bed, sent this very bad smell, at the altar, you know, at the altar. So gave very bad smell in the altar, you know, I thought it is shot, what you call, so very bad smell. So then one day, one day, he actually saw the bird coming to, saw the bird coming, you know, to take the baby, you see, so then he realised that, then he realised, it’s not the meditator, it’s the bird who took the babies. So then one day he came inside, through the door, you know, quietly, you know, came and then went to altar, he moved his tail, like this, like this and the smell went away. (Rinpoche laughs) The bad smell, you see, at the altar went away. Went away.

So, you see, they are very expert, to harm the enemy and, you see, to help somebody who, you know, help you and to harm back, revenge to somebody, very expert. So this lama realised, you know, that he took as teaching, you see, that is not real meaning of life, real purpose something, something else than that, even the animals they are expert in this. So purpose of human life is not just that, the lama, the meditator realised. Realised the purpose is to change the attitude, you know, to develop the mind in the path, to overcome the anger, you know, desire, ignorance, these things and to benefit others.

And also the lama saw, he, he examined how the animals are living, how they are doing, you see, outside on the tree, the bird makes eggs in the nest. So before these birds and another bird living high up on the rock they were fighting, attacking to this bird who laid egg, made nest on the tree, outside this lama’s hermitage. So one day snake is coming up to eat the eggs. And then this bird saw that danger. So then screamed very loudly and then went up on the rock and somehow made noise there and those other birds who fight, come down to fight, came down, came down and the tree is like this, so the nest is on top. So down before here, this bird which came down from the high, from the rock, made holes around with their beaks, made holes round and then left. So this snake that comes, somehow because this hole snake couldn’t go up to eat the egg. So the bird which is enemy before but then somehow when this danger, this bird saw the danger, I think, made a lot of noise, went out, and then the other birds came down, made the holes round, snake cannot come up to eat the eggs, you see. So you see, before enemy but then also, you know, help. So I think the lama found very interesting watching the nature, you see, the animals how they live their life. Even the animals they help others. So which means the human beings of course, full of opportunity to help, so must help other living beings.

So anyway, so going back. So since everyone, including us here, everyone what we wish, any beings wish is happiness, including person who commit suicide, looks like choosing the, it looks like choosing pain, suffering, looks like but actually person is looking for happiness, even the person who commits suicide, because there is a problem in the life, so much depression or, there is a problem in the life, the person doesn’t know how to deal with it, can’t bear it, cannot bear, the person has no method in the life how to deal or how to overcome. So can’t stand that. So then person think, you see, no other solution, so then only thought what comes in the person’s heart, in the mind is that, you know, to kill oneself. Only that thought comes, nothing else, you know. Then you see, by killing oneself then thinking, then thinking peace, then you don’t have that relationship problem or you know, business problem or you see, or whatever it is, you know, something very bad that is going to happen to you that you don’t want to experience, something. So think if you kill yourself then you don’t have experience that. So it is peace. So you don’t have to experience that, so therefore it is peace. So that’s what the person thinks. Person doing, even commit suicide is doing for peace and happiness. Even killing oneself, even killing oneself, using that as, using that as a means to achieve happiness so that you don’t experience relationship problems, whatever it is, business problem or unbelievable future, lot of money you have to pay back or debts, whatever, or danger to court or prison, all these, you see.

But that, not well thought, you see, not analysed, didn’t … but no knowledge of what the mind is, what the mind is. There is the body and mind, what the mind is, without clear knowledge of what the mind is and that … the person questioned, if the person is questioned, do you really know 100%, do you realise there is no life after this, that the mind does not continue, the consciousness does not continue, you see, after death.

You see, when the consciousness separates from the body, do you really know, do you realise, do you really see 100% consciousness stops, when the death happens consciousness ceased, do you really see it, do you realise, you know, see it? Not just intellectual belief or somebody explained, you know, you see, from your side do you really see it, to realise? I mean, cannot answer, cannot answer. If you think properly, you know, straight mind think, it becomes question. The real answer is, “I don’t know.” That is the sincere answer; the sincere from the heart, with straight mind, the answer is, “I don’t know, I don’t know at that time what will happen to the mind.” That’s the sincere answer, very sincere answer. Or you feel, or you feel naturally even you believe intellectually, even you believe intellectual there is no, there is no reincarnation, there is no karma, no cause and effect, even you intellectually believe, that’s what is intellectual belief but your heart doesn’t say that. Your heart, the natural, your heart, feeling, you see, something is very, something very heavy thing going to happen. There is something waiting. So there are people like this. I saw, I heard.

Then there are other people, you see, not necessarily religious person following some faith but feeling at the time of death, you see, at the time of death feeling, you know, something very positive, very positive, something, you know, you don’t feel any danger, any risk, you know, total opposite to the other person. The person feels something, there is great happiness, something very good thing, you know, going to happen, you feel that. Even though you are not religious, particular follow a faith, you see. But feel, you see, very positive, good future, you know, good future, something is going to happen, something great happiness, something very positive, you see, no fear at all. Very good thing is going to happen. So you see, your heart tells. So that is the result of karma. Those are people, there is no particular faith following religion but live their life very sincere, say, live good life, sincere and especially good hearted, you know, good heart, generally doesn’t harm others, you know, always they want to help, be kind to others, you know, so live life like that, even though no particular religion. So you see, your actions, how you live life that affects to your mental state, it affects to your mental state. It affects one’s own mental state, that end of the life is something very positive, something very, something, you know, great happiness, you see, there is so much light in the life, no darkness, your journey to next life, something very happy thing, full confidence. So like that.

The other one, you see, live life so much with the selfish mind, anger, or with selfish mind and desire, all these, you see, live life so much with that, you know, not a kind person, you see, generous, not kind person to others. Then you see your actions affect to your mind, to your life. So at the end of the life you feel this something, you know, even intellectually believe there is no other life, you know, even intellectually, but your heart tells you something very bad thing is going to happen.

So anyway, so this is the nature, what your heart tells, that is reality. Like that. So however there is nobody, there is no one who has, you know, who has, who believes the philosophy or who follow the philosophy that there is no reincarnation, that there is no karma or cause and affect, action what one does, one’s own attitude and one’s own action, the positive attitude, positive action, result happiness. Negative attitude, negative action, result suffering, this life and other lives. So who do not, say, believe in this, so anyway, so there is nobody who realised that there is no reincarnation, there is no continuity of mind after this life, there is no continuity of karma, cause and effect, who realised, there is nobody. There is nobody. But who, but who realised that there is continuity of consciousness, you know, continuity of karma, cause and effect, so what you do? Your action this life, negative, has a negative affect, suffering and unhappiness life after this, not only in this life, life after this. So they who realise this they are numberless. And they are so many people born, develop in the past through meditation, you are born in this life with that power, can see yours, can see others past, future lives. Like that.

Then there are other people who through meditation, through meditation, you see, able to have those clairvoyance, can see your past and future life, can see others past, future lives, through meditation. Even the … there are ordinary clairvoyance you can achieve through mantra, say, through substances, powerful substances, through mantras and the better quality clairvoyance is through by achieving the shamatha, calm abiding. By actually, when you actually proceed in the path to liberation, you know, the bodhisattva path or lesser vehicle path, when you proceed the path then and higher path you achieve then your power of foresight, the clairvoyance, able to advance, see more and more past, able to see more and more the future, like when you enter in the paramitayana, Mahayana, paramitayana path, the path of merit, preparation path, right seeing path, path of meditation, no more learning. When you achieve the right seeing path, the result path, then there are ten bhumis, ten grounds to be achieved, which starts from the third exalted path, the right seeing path. So by achieving first bhumi, you are able to see hundred lifetimes past and able to see future hundred lifetimes as well. Then when you reach the second level bhumi, able to see one thousand lifetimes the past, one thousand lifetimes in the future, yours and others. So like that. So through the, by actualising path then you see deeper and deeper, you see, the future and also the past, yours and others. So like that.

It is said that after achieving the, by the meditators, they experience, after achieving shamatha, calm abiding, the mind becomes so calm and clear, extremely calm and clear that almost you can count the atoms, the sand, the dust, sand or dust of the mountain. When the mind, through meditation, when the mind becomes so clear, you see, after achieving shamatha, calm abiding, so forth, the basis of that. So anyway, so, you see...

... when the mind is, especially when we enter in the path, those level of paths then able to develop more and more greater insight, you see, foreseeing, the capacity of foreseeing.

So your own mind, even though you are not believing before but through meditation you develop your mind in the path and you see, even your own valid mind can see it is wrong, you see, before your belief there is no reincarnation, you see, there is no continuation of consciousness afterlife like this, that you believed before, your own mind after you developed, you see, the capacity of your mind, clarity, you see, then your own valid mind can prove what you are believing before is wrong, not only that others valid mind, numberless other beings, their valid mind can see past, future life, you see, see your way of thinking is just wrong, not only they see that, especially the omniscient one who has completed all the understanding, those beings who have completed, whose mind is completed, in understanding, you see. They are directly able to see all the past phenomena, at the same time present, at the same time future, the omniscient ones, there is nothing more to develop the mind, to discover something new. Not only they see, their valid mind, omniscient mind can see, that your way of seeing things wrong, not only that. Then numberless other unenlightened beings, their valid mind can see, those who can see past, future, you see, they can see your mind’s wrong.

So what I was saying before, even your own mind, when your mind is developed, you can see, you can prove, your own valid mind you can see the previous thought, your concept was wrong, so like that.

So anyway, I was talking about person, even the person who commits suicide, it is done for happiness, you know. Thinking you kill yourself then nothing is going to happen but that is total wrong view, you see, there is no, after that there is no suffering, that’s totally wrong view.

So as I said, as I just mentioned [pause] that, in a short, in brief … that the grain, the rice, the rice grain, it has its own continuity of rice, you see. Like that. Then the corn, corn came from another corn, you see, it has its own continuity. Doesn’t come from… put this way. The chili, the chili, you know, hot pepper, chili, it comes from its own continuity, it doesn’t come from raisin, sweet. Raisin doesn’t come from chili. Raisin has its own continuity. So same, body has its own continuity, substantial phenomena – form, colours.

Mind has its own continuity; it doesn’t come from the continuum of the body. Mind which is formless, because formless, no colour, no shape, nature of the mind which is clear, the clear light, you see, clear, pristine, which has that nature, which can do that. So it has its own continuity. Like those other examples, chili and raisin; rice and corn. So the mind, the conception that has taken on the fertilised egg, had its own continuity before, before conception is actualised, you see, before the mind took place on the fertilised egg. So there is continuity, that continuity of that mind before the birth. So this body is the continuity of that fertilised egg, you see, the sperm and the egg, you know, also combined you see. So the two are totally different, continuities, totally different continuities. And it has totally different principle cause, the nyeren, you know, the body has its own nyeren, the principle cause, which is substantial colour, form, like that and the mind which has its own principle cause, which is, you know, no form, no shape, no colour, you see, but which is nature of clear, perceiving object. So like that.

Then the other thing is, those are the two preliminary reasons, then third, you see, about the reincarnation, you see, continuity of consciousness, those consciousness exist before this life and continue after this life. Then, due to habituation, [pause] due to habituation, also that proves the reincarnation, that is the continuation of conscious life before this and life after this.

That, in my case, I don’t have other not, particularly remember past life, but what I think, but what I think is that, when I do meditation, there are certain things, certain experiences or certain things, you know, I am not talking about realisation, just certain, just certain experiences, that makes me to believe that there is past life. When I meditate certain experiences, that did … did meditate in past lives. Not that I can remember, you know, this and that. [pause]

In one family there is a child, say, very selfish nature, born with very selfish nature then there is another child, in the same family, born very good hearted, very good hearted, very compassionate nature. But this child, this child, if this child see another child being beaten, you know, if this child sees some other child being beaten, this child can’t stand that and cries, even though he or herself is not beaten by, somebody is beaten, you see, some other children, not necessary one’s own brother, sister, not necessary, not in one’s own family but somebody, just, you know, in the street or somebody, seeing and, you see, the child cries, just seeing that, you know, because can’t bear, you know, because so much compassion. The other child is totally opposite, so selfish, no compassion at all, you see, no sympathy or no feeling for others, in the same family.

So it shows this two different, two different children are different characteristic, different character mind, you see, shows that not come from the parents’ mind, not that. It shows completely the, one who is so selfish, you know, same, who has so much pride or so much anger or so much desire, all this, born like that, you see, habituation of the life before this, habituation of the mind, life before this. And the one who is compassionate, you see, so much loving nature that is born, you know, the child born with that quality, always kind to others, always want to give, you know. Always want to give to others, want to, you know, like to give things to others. So that child, quality of that mind, again due to habituation life before this, you see, habituated in the good heart, you know, like that. So like this.

So for example, I think might have mentioned also in the past but anyway, my mother, you know, my mother who became nun, ordained by His Holiness Dalai Lama’s tutor, Ling Rinpoche, with many other western sanghas, monks, nuns, you see. So she passed away and reincarnated, not at the hermitage, Lawudo where the first, where I built the monastery there, at the same time master Lama Yeshe, was building the monastery at Kopan, near Nepal, you see, Kathmandu, you see. So reincarnated next to hermitage which I think takes fifteen minutes to walk from the, that’s where we get water to Lawudo hermitage, that has water stream when there is lot of people at Lawudo, when there is less people then there is small water stream around, so can get from that.

So as far as my mother reincarnation there was no need argument, it’s very clear from the child side, you know, so clear, so much he can remember past life. That is exactly what, the child does exactly, you know, what my mother used to do. So when the child was brought to the monastery first time, my brother, I have one brother who lives, who is younger than me, married and have already few children and he lives in Kathmandu. So went up there to inaugurate, you know, to meet the incarnation, to inaugurate So he did some celebration. He invited my mother’s incarnation at Lawdo, the monastery, you see.

When he entered the monastery, so first he went to His Holiness’s throne, a carved table like that. So he went to take blessings, you know, bowed down. Then there was one small throne where I sit, so he goes there, bows down, maybe to the altar. So this is how my mother used to do normally when she entered the gompa. And then when she finished inside then she go round, she go round the temple outside seven times, you know, go round circumambulate for seven times. So when the incarnation came, he did exactly same. And my mother had a prayer wheel, this size, you see, just before she passed away the prayer wheel was, it was suggested for her, you know, to have prayer wheel next to her bed, that she can sit and turn, you see. So of course, my mother liked prayer wheel so much. So the incarnation every time he comes to Lawudo, he grabs the prayer wheel and every time offers kata to the prayer wheel before he leaves, before he go back at his home, you see.

And he remember all the animals. We have some animals at Lawdo that my mother took care and she never gave to people. The animal is increasing because the baby made, you know, baby, baby, baby, so my mother didn’t want to give animals away. Of course there is lots of work. You have to go, you have to go very far, you know, to collect the dry leaves from the forest, you know, up there is … either you go down very steep, or you go up, much of it is like this. So life is very hard. So you have to collect dry leaves from the forest to put inside the house for the animals so they can be, when they lay down, keep warm. So there is so much work to do, you know, collect grass for the winter, all these, so many things, you see. So my mother didn’t want to give animals to the other people because she is scared that the other people will sell to the butchers and they will be killed. So she just took care of every animal, you see, so they increased more and more.

So anyway, so this child could remember some of the cows, their names, you know. Anyway, one amazing thing is, there was one Sherpa man, my mother’s very close friend, call Ang Phurba. So lives in Kathmandu. So my brother together they came to see the incarnation. So they went to the hermitage where he lived. So the minute when they, the minute Ang Phurba sat down when he went in the house of the incarnation, you see, in the house, the minute Ang Phurba sat down, then the, my mother’s incarnation’s mother… in Solu Khumbu, there is custom, you see, you offer wine or tea, whatever the person drinks, you see, usually normally wine, chang, you see. So the incarnation, I don’t know how old, maybe less than 4, I think maybe three or something. So immediately able to call the name, Ang Phurba, immediately called name and say, please have, please have. Mother is pouring wine or chang, maybe chang probably. So the reincarnation, “Ang Phurba, please have, please have.” So this Ang Phurba then grabbed him, incarnation and Ang Phurba cried, cried, you know, it became too much for him. So like that.

And then the incarnation could recognise all the family members, there is no shy, you know, immediately talk. Other people, then, they shy. Even the … before my mother passed away, she came down from Solu Khumbu to Kopan, so she spent some time, everyday go down to Boudhnath, the great stupa, you know, all-encompassing wish-fulfilling stupa. So my mother used to go round to circumambulate stupa. So from the nunnery, the one, the main nun who runs the nunnery, take care of the nunnery, she helped, she helped to accompany my mother and to go round, circumambulate like that, for something like three months. So then when incarnation came to Kopan, able to remember this nun, who helped for her for three months to circumambulate stupa, accompany, you see. Other nuns he is very shy, you know, like that.

And then my mother, during my mother’s time there … she had a shirt, old shirt, so she took the plastic buttons out, collected in a bottle because in the past many years ago when I was in Solu Khumbu like that, it is very primitive, there is no kerosene, there is coffee, no sweet tea, no sugar, very primitive. The light, when you travel, the light you use those bamboo, dry bamboo for, if you go night time outside, like that or, in the house when you make food, there is no light, so you use pieces of the tree, the juniper tree or … not that one, something else, I can’t remember, maybe pine tree, I think, some piece of that wood which has this sticky thing, you know. You light that, you light that with a flame, you see, so put in the wall, where there is a hole, put there then you can see the food. So anyway, very primitive. So that time, the plastic buttons, like that, you know, that come from Kathmandu, the plastic buttons regarded as very precious, very precious the plastic buttons or spoon or the … you carry the spoon here tied with the, you know, like something very precious. So anyway, because you can’t get … they don’t make them in Solu Khumbu, you see.

So anyway, so my mother continuously saved these plastic buttons, kept in bottles, you see. So then after the incarnation came, then my sister used these buttons to make shirt for the incarnation, you see. After the shirt was put on the incarnation, after the shirt was put my mother’s incarnation, then the incarnation said, oh these are my buttons. (Rinpoche laughs) These are my button. So many things could remember.

So I think the reason why she can remember so clear, why so clear minded that is, such clear memory you see, I think is small, a small part of benefit of reciting Om Mani Padme Hung, because she … the year when she came down, that time Lama was still there. So she told me that she used to go on the roof and then try not to distract the mind, close the eye and make sure mind don’t get distracted, you know, and chant Om Mani Padme Hung. I don’t know what she meditated, I have no idea. But closed her eyes at least, you know, very tightly and then try to not distract her mind, not allow mind to be distracted. So she told me she used to recite fifty thousand, everyday, fifty thousand Om Mani Padme Hung. So half of 100 thousand Om Mani Padme Hung, so half. So she said, she used to recite that everyday but now, you know, because of old age, like that, couldn’t do that much, this is before she passed away. So I think reciting Om Mani Padme Hung has skies of benefit but I think this is a tiny bit, you know, tiny bit of benefit from that, this such clear mind, you see, can prove the incarnation without any doubt, from child start, you know. Can tell so many things. So like that

... great sad things there I think, maybe didn’t get done enough pujas, merit to have the incarnation, I think, so passed away very young time, didn’t get to do, collect, maybe didn’t get done enough pujas in order to eliminate obstacles so I think passed away young time. If it happened to be in the hand of great lama, teacher, you know, it will be so good, you know, the character, the personality, so that happened.

So anyway like that. That’s just talking story or nearest one, the mother.

In the case of Lama Osel, how the lama, Lama Yeshe, how he treated the different students, how he treat, for some wrathful, advise, even when Lama Osel was, I think, maybe I think maybe, I don’t know four years or five years old, I don’t remember, Dharamsala, I think the first time, first time came to Dharamsala that was very young, treated exactly, that particular student treat, talk, treat similar way as how past life used to talk, advise that person, you see like that. And then many places happened that, many places happened that, when Lama Osel came he immediately run to the particular room that’s where Lama Yeshe stayed. He entered the house, then the first thing he run in that room and then he lay down on that bed, like this. So he did that, did that, the house in America and also other students houses, Italy, different places. I was quite surprised. And sometimes what he says is quite like past life Lama Yeshe, you see. Or his advise or what he says, things like that.

The behaviour, you know, when Lama was very young when he came to class, when he came to Kopan and did the inauguration, during those times the way of conducting exactly same as past Lama Yeshe. Lama eats orange, Lama Yeshe used to do that, not early times but later part of his, last one or two years, later part of his life, Lama Yeshe ate orange, he suck the juice and then put the stuff on the plate. So when Lama Osel came at Kopan, that young time, you see, did exactly same. Sucked it, sucked juice, put the stuff on the plate, you know, exactly same.

Then the white one, the white one … this round white one … the round white one, Lama always… pisho round, I don’t know it’s call …huh? I always used to have that around, pistachio, then when the Lama came he liked that very much.

And then another one is momo and tukpas, in the past Lama used to, Lama Yeshe himself used to cook, momo and tukpa, the Tibetan food, to cook, very fast, very fast and Lama Osel same. Tukpa, momo and tukpa. And he liked tsampa. So when he was at Kopan, for inauguration, we had lunch upstairs, the inauguration, after that is done we have lunch upstair with the rest of the brother and sisters, so there is no father, mother, but just the children.

So I was eating tsampa, so I offered to Lama Osel. So he liked. So choose and he again stretched out his hand. Then I gave another one. He took back and stretched out. But the other, the brother, sisters, I gave them, I gave everybody but they never asked for seconds. They kept quiet. (Rinpoche laughs)

So I definitely believe, from the food, from the, you know, somebody who like Tibetan food, definitely the past life is Tibetan. That’s for sure. Actually … the food, you know, who like very much Tibetan tea, you know, the butter tea, salty butter tea, you know. Anyway, so there are many things like that. In the meeting what he said, things like that.

So anyway, so even we, even oneself doesn’t have clear mind to see past or future life … anyway, one can’t see now but others, numberless of others, you know, even unenlightened beings can see your past and future life. Then also when your mind becomes more clear, more clear through meditation then you yourself able to see your past, future life. So like that.

Continue to Day One Part Two