Student: My mother very much wants me to live with her and take care of her in her old age. Is this more important than doing retreat or teaching?

Rinpoche: It is more beneficial to benefit many beings by teaching or practicing Dharma.

Student: I don’t feel comfortable teaching tantra (or even sutra really). I do not wish to be a guru and, according to what I understand, when one teaches tantra, immediately the guru-disciple relationship is formed. If I teach tantra to someone and then that person develops a negative mind towards me or treats me with disrespect, then this is unfortunate karma for both of us.

Rinpoche: If you do not give initiations or commentary, but just answer questions and lead discussions, then this does not create that special guru-disciple relationship.

Just live and teach and do what you think is best to benefit beings through the Dharma. Just do that for some time, a few years. That is all. It is not like a retreat; you don’t have to do it for a specific amount of time. Just live life and do what you see is best.

Student: I have a plan to do the 108 springs retreat (Chöd).

Rinpoche: It would be extremely beneficial for you to live, do retreat, and teach in that place. Not only do Chöd, but do Sur, and give charity to the spirits in the water practice.