When His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Wisconsin one or two years ago at Geshe Sopa's center to give Chenrezig initiation... His Holiness Dalai Lama often says, he talks about bodhicitta and says, “no way I have realisation of bodhicitta but I have so much devotion to bodhicitta. No way do I have realisation of emptiness but I have such strong faith in the emptiness,” that is normal expression that His Holiness says.

So one day the organisers of Geshe-la's center had a private interview His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so then one of the guys asked him, “you said you don't have any realisation, then for us it's hopeless. If you say you have no realization, then for us it's completely hopeless.”

So therefore now His Holiness has to say something, this guy has made such big point, so His Holiness has to express something, cannot bear what this person is thinking, hopeless. So His Holiness said, "actually I remember," so he said the things I said, it's kind of private talk, but His Holiness said “actually I remember when Buddha was in India,” His Holiness was around Buddha, His Holiness was with Buddha. So historically there was Buddha, there was bodhisattva, whose name I don’t remember, Buddha told this bodhisattva in the future in snowland of Tibet, you will become Chenrezig Compassion Buddha and you will guide the sentient beings of Tibet in the future in snowland of Tibet and you will spread. You will make four prayers, everybody to practise refuge. I don't remember exactly, but you will do four prayers and you will spread Dharma like sun rising in snow land of Tibet. One of the attendants, one of the bodhisattvas who is attendant of Buddha, surrounding Buddha. So Buddha already predicted. So all the Dharma Kings are manifestations of this bodhisattva, the Compassion Buddha, all the Dharma kings. So historically like this, historically like this. Then each one of these preserve Dharma, spread Dharma, benefit so much in Tibet. There is special connection with Compassion Buddha among the Tibet people.

The Chinese also practised Compassion Buddha but there is more connection with Amitabha Buddha who is the guru of Compassion Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, on the crown of the Compassion Buddha. Tibetans also have connection with Amitabha Buddha but mainly Compassion Buddha.

So of course, now of course, His Holiness has been coming so many times all over the west, many Western countries, giving initiations, teaching, benefits so much, so many millions and millions of people, also shows guiding, also people in the West, the Compassion Buddha is guiding, benefits so much. So it shows us Western people also have a connection with Compassion Buddha, yes.

So historically, there is historical story like this, His Holiness saying that he remembers that he was with the Buddha in India when Buddha was in India nearly 3,000 years ago. There is no question about high reincarnate Lamas who remember, but even common people in the West, many countries east and west, young and old who can remember past, future lives and can see other people’s past, future lives, so many.

I have one book, there is one book in library somebody received, one American man, through research many, many people can remember their past, future lives. In one book collected all the stories and did research like that.

Then some number of years ago, quite a number of years ago in Punjab there was one girl, the girl could remember very clearly the previous town, all the parents, can remember very clearly and explained to the parents. Then one day the girl took the parents, this life's parents, she guided the road to the, I don't know how the distance is to the village, to the house of her past life, in her parents' house. So they are altogether, took picture, this life parents, past life parents. Of course past life parents are older they are more wrinkled, older and this life parents are more fat. Anyway, so this girl is standing in the front, she has a toy or something in her hand. I don't know how it happened but I had her photo, quite a large photo, I had it for some years, quite a number of years, but then I lost it, I don't know what happened with that, so that is very precious photo. So this girl, unbelievable, could remember. His Holiness heard this and sent a person to her house.

In the East, in Tibet and Nepal you see that education, reincarnation, however where Buddhism spread, places where people learning, practicing, it is a very common thing, this understanding, this education is very common thing, but in the west, in the past, this education has not been in the culture, there is only just one life. I think, however, many people, even they may follow the philosophy, the culture of the society, that there is only one life, but in reality if they really question to their heart, if it is questioned, if they question to their own heart I think deep down they are not sure.

Also, the other thing is, this is also interesting, if there is no future life, if there is no continuation of life after death, after this life, then why people who did a lot of negativities, lot of evil deeds, people who are alcoholics, why they have so much fear at the time of death, why is it? I asked some students in the Vajrapani, California who are working in the hospital where people are dying, I asked them what kind of people have more fear at the time of death? That student, I think maybe one or two students replied to me people who are alcoholics they have much more fear when they are dying. So we have to question about that, we have to learn about that, why they have more fear, alcoholics why they have more fear at the time of death? That is very interesting point to study.

If there is no reincarnation, if there is no past life, future life why should they be frightened why the fear arises, no matter whether you are alcoholic, non alcoholic why fear arise? So there is some reason why fear arises, that shows, that is the sign, in the text Buddha teaching, those are the signs of reincarnating in the lower realm. Before you get reborn lower realm there is a sign, there is a karmic torture at the time of death before you are reincarnated, your own karma tortures you have all kind of terrifying visions happen. If you have killed many animals or went fishing, killed many fish, for example if you did a lot of killing in the life then at the time of death you have very terrifying karmic appearance your karma, your past life karma, killed those animals manifest up, crazy visions, terrifying vision you are attacked by them, all around the animal that you have been killing this life, all those animals they are eating you, they are attacking you, all over the body, you die with so much fear.

This is very important, learning, it is very good when people are dying, to be near and to learn person's, what kind of fear, what kind of vision; that is very important research. Then, you see, what kind of people have more fear when they die and then you judge, then you can judge then you go back what kind of life they lead. Then next question is, when there is a lot of fear when they are dying, then you research how that person lived the life, then next question is that. Then you find out why they have so much fear. This is way how to make research how to learn about life.

One Tibetan person in Dharamsala, one lay person, when he was dying he screamed so much, the people around can't do anything, can't help, they don't see any animal attacking him but he sees it, so many goats, sheep, goats attacking him, he screamed so much. The other people around they can't see anything, they can't do anything.

So one old meditator, very successful meditator, who before he escaped from Tibet he was meditator for a few years, three or four years and then came to Dharamasala, meditated in Dalhousie then came to Dharamsala, Geshe-la Rabten Rinpoche’s disciple, Gen Jampa Wangdu. Before I took teachings from this meditator he is our best friend, Lama Yeshe and myself. When we meet at Dharmsala every time when he comes its the best time because his own life stories, practice, and then who has achieved realisations among the Tibetan lamas, the monks, you find out who, those meditators living in the mountains, who has achieved what realisation. So he brings the information to us, and other places such and such lama, such and such a geshe, what realisation they have achieved, because when they achieve realisation, lam-rim or tantra then they report, many they report to His Holiness Dalai Lama to make offering of their realisation. There are some their root guru is His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, so they send report what kind of realisation they have achieved.

So this meditator Gen Jampa Wangdu can go to see His Holiness Dalai Lama whenever he want and also he might know from his cave the right time to go, clairvoyance, he might know the right time, the right moment. Also might be like that because I remember in Tushita, when I need him he appears. He stays down below, there are few different places, cave, one big rock, he lived seven years under the rock, meditated. One time so much rain came the whole place filled with water, still he was meditating. There is one small box like that, and all the rest was filled with water so much rain came. So Geshe Rabten Rinpoche he heard this, so he and his cook attendant, geshe, who is incredible meditator, you never see him angry in this life, not matter how bad things you might say to him, never, never say anything in his life, always the same person.

So he has many lice, he keep many lice on his body, we talk about tonglen, taking other sentient beings suffering on yourself special bodhicitta practise for quick enlightenment, taking other sentient beings suffering on yourself, giving one's own body happiness and merit to others. So here he actually does, not just in meditation, he actually does. So many lice, he sees the lice coming out so he pick it up and puts it back, inside. Like that so he is actually doing tonglen, taking and giving practise, actually giving himself, like Buddha, making charity gave completely for five tigers who were dying of starvation at Namo Buddha, up there in the mountains, one of the holy place where you people go to see. Here he is giving his body everyday charity to all the lice. Like that no matter how much people tell bad things, teasing, whatever situation happens, you never see him unhappy or angry, never see, he was famous for that, so very inspiring example of patience.

Anyway this Geshe Rabten Rinpoche who is my teacher, who taught me first, who began teaching philosophy first time, when he heard this Gen Jampa Wangdu this meditator, Geshe Rabten Rinpoche’s disciple from Tibet, Gen Rinpoche he carried these tools to dig, he and his assistant went down to put the water out, like that. So anyway I think there, it seems in that cave Geshe Jampa Wangdu realised emptiness, there, I think, it seems since according to what Geshe Rabten Rinpoche… one time when I was taking Mahamudra teachings from Geshe Rabten Rinpoche, Geshe-la told me if you want to ask questions on emptiness ask Gen Jampa Wangdu, he has very fresh realisation of emptiness. He said, often Geshe Rabten Rinpoche used to praise Gen Jampa Wangdu, often he would say “he is so lucky person.”

There are other places where Geshe Gen Jampa Wangdu lived to do meditation, one of the most successful meditator in Dharamsala who has achieved very high realisations even external looking. So later I took, before he passed away I took one teaching, the pill retreat, where if you are living in the high mountains or very isolated place then difficult to find food, takes much time if you go to look for food, very far always, go very far to look for food, you waste a lot of time then you don't get to meditate, so you live on the pills. So I think it was 21 days? 21 days? Retreat 21 days. You cut down food everyday, you bless the pill and you take the pill, and that helps to get very clear mind and very healthy body; it purifies all the bad things, and very clear mind, it helps particularly for the shamatha, calm abiding meditation, ------ that, perfect concentration. So anyway I have forgotten what I am talking about (confer audience) oh yes, good, thank you very much.

So this person, this Tibetan man, down below Tushita Road, when you come down from His Holiness the Dalai Lama's old place when you coming down from there, you coming down the road, Mcleod Ganj where there is the bus station, there is houses down below the road, so this dying person there is so much screaming so Geshe-la, I think he must know from the cave. So when certain person is suffering so much, need help, he just appears, without even asking, he just comes. He must see, clairvoyance, he is somebody who has achieved… before coming to Dharamsala he achieved calm abiding, shamatha which has nine levels, the perfect concentration free from attachment, scattering thought go.pa and ching.wa sinking thought, the two obstacles which doesn't allow to have perfect concentration, he achieved all that, totally succeeded. So of course he would have clairvoyance, reliable clairvoyance. There are other techniques to achieve clairvoyance but unreliable, but this way you have reliable clairvoyance.

Why clairvoyance? so that you can help other people, help benefit. So Gen Jampa Wangdu came then he gave advice to the people. Then Gen Jampa Wangdu checked, this man many goats, sheep attacking him, completely all over him. Gen Jampa Wangdu checked his life what kind of life he led, asked a friend, then found out he was a butcher killed many sheep in this life so that is why one is dying with unbelievable fear like this. Same thing if you are killing fish if you did a lot of fishing in the life same thing happens at the time of death. But that is just preliminary, before you die, this is just preliminary. The actual one is the next life, the lower realm billion times much more heavy. Anything, killing the flies, mosquitoes whatever, it is same so depending what kind of negative karma we have like that. Nobody touches you, your karma tortures you, gives you all these projections, terrifying so anyway like that.

Then there is one business person I can't remember many years ago he is very rich Tibetan person very, very rich. He become rich by selling statues, by selling holy objects, he is from lower place Tibet, Amdo, very big benefactor of monasteries. So anyway when he was dying, for months he has so much unbelievable difficulties, his stomach swollen, and hospital they cannot do anything, he can't drink, can't eat just tiny drop water, can't drink, such thirst cannot drink. Doctors could not do anything so he was taken home by his wife, so each step upstairs takes long time, one step there like that, then upstairs. Then he sees ants come from the windows and all his bed is covered by ants, ants come all over. He screamed so much, “Please chase away the ants!” but other people around cannot see one single ant on his bed, but he actually sees it, ants all over, so very hard time before he died. That shows future life, this is sign of lower realm, so this shows future life.

At the time of death even you are intellectually not believing one life but why having fear at the time of death? That is some guilt, you feel guilty, feeling of “I wasted my life. I didn't do anything worthwhile thing with my life.” No one is telling you but you feel like that, fear some very heavy thing is going to happen to you, fear. That shows next life from your intuitive feeling, not intellectually, like that.

So anyway, if you really check your heart, down there, the sincere answer is not sure; that is the very sincere answer. I had one Irish… I spent two months studying English in England some years ago, my teacher was Irish. So she brought many articles of what the scientist who produced the idea of atomic bomb, Einstein and she told me the scientist never tell lies and I am very happy of that. She says whatever they discovered they always say “maybe like this,” they never say while they fully not discovered they will never say, never tell lie, over exaggerate. So she brought me that. Anyway that make me very happy - they just tell what they thought but not telling lies.

However, so I think maybe I stop here. Okay, maybe have a tea and then go to bed.

So very important, this question, those who are able to remember, see past and future can see, others. What about that? You ignore them because its not your experience, you don't accept things because its not your experience, because you don't have the capacity. That is totally fooling yourself, so that is a big question. What about many things you don't remember you did in this life, you don't remember, do you say you didn't do that? There are many things childhood time, many things you did you don't remember now. So then other people said you did this and this, you shouldn't accept that because you don't remember. Also you don't remember coming from the womb you just believe, most of us believe I was born from this mother, because you are told you are born from this mother you just believe it but you don't remember coming from mother's womb , coming from mother's womb, don't remember, with bluish body, so much pain, don't remember, and in the womb don't remember. So we just believe what they said, that you are born from her, just believed what somebody said. Then we shouldn't accept that either because you don't remember. Anyway there are numberless things.

Conclusion there is nobody who has realised that there is no reincarnation, there is nobody. Who just assumed major philosophy there are many, but not by realising, but people who have realised that there is reincarnation, karma are numberless, they are numberless. This is without counting buddhas, those high beings, without counting that, just ordinary beings, they are numberless, like that.

Okay, so maybe have tea.

I just want to make sure in case some people still have questions, find difficult, still find difficult so I am saying how to analyse, the way of analyzing. If you don't know how, to analyse then you think there is no proof.

Before you mentioned “body buried.” Now I understand what you are saying, what you meant, body buried, then reincarnating, you can't see how that is possible. That is because we don't differentiate the mind from the body, we don't see, because body has colour, form, shape, like that, substantial; mind is colourless, shapeless, formless, it's a phenomenon that doesn't have form, whose nature is clear and knowing object, nature is clear and knowing object. So two completely different, one is form, one is substantial, one not substantial, mind is not substantial.

Definition of mind is clear and knowing, sechen(?) rigpa that is definition of the mind, which is formless, clear, knowing object. So body is not in that nature, so therefore what goes to next life is not the body, body does not reincarnate, mind reincarnates. That is how we should think, body does not reincarnate.

Sorry what is your name? Concentration I thought your name was meditation (Audience member "Constantine") So what you said is true, that the body buried, then how is it possible to reincarnate, its true, that is why I said I completely agree with, that body does not reincarnate, mind is what goes to next life - two completely different phenomena, separate, different phenomena. Like that.

I want to tell you this, not having head doesn't mean there is no mind. There are two people that happened in Tibet, my Guru HH Zong Rinpoche when he was visiting Pagri, where I lived three years in Tibet and did puja. Almost every day I go from family to family to do puja, eight o'clock go puja, then four or five o'clock, stomach filled with delicious food and come back to temple, pack up the texts, damaru and bells… anyway I did three years like this.

Anyway, so this place, HH Zong Rinpoche was there and he saw one person, no head. Rinpoche himself told me, no head, there is no head, there is a hole for food, so when he gets hungry he rubs like this. So you see the family put some tea in the hole. Then he, when he feel cold, he make some gesture and they bring the body in the sun, then bring in the shade like that, that is first what I heard.

Then I saw in the texts another very high Amdo Lama, Kundak Konchog Tenpa Donme, anyway doesn't matter, he saw in Amdo same, he saw one person without head, with no head so doesn't have brain. So two informations I saw; this Amdo Lama explained in text. So therefore doesn't prove, if you don't have brain you don't have mind doesn't prove. First, of course if you don't have karma… that is because these people have karma to, even though they don't have head, they have karma to suffer, that's why. If you have karma to die even if you cut finger you may die. Sometimes, some small thing you can die, but if it is your karma to suffer, even though your body is cut in half still you can stay many days and suffer.

For example person, one Sherpa man that I know he went as servant on Sherpa businessman from Tibet, they bring things imported, the Sherpa businessman went ahead. This porter, Sherpa, this guy I know, so much snow came could not go, so he laid down in the snow for seven days, no food, nothing, in the snow. Then his feet all, what you call (audience "frostbite") yes, become like that. So I asked what happened and he told me the whole story. The businessman, Sherpa businessman didn't look after him and he was left there for seven days and covered by snow, no food, no drink but he didn't die. You see karma is heavy to suffer, he has karma to suffer; life lasts and doesn't die, so like that. So I thought anyway I hope this information is enough.

(Tibetan chanting)