Gampopa Center

During Tuesday’s teaching Lama remarked that simple is more profound than complex, but many people don’t appreciate simplicity. And he illustrated this with a story. Once there was a great siddha in India and when the king heard of him, he asked the siddha for an empowerment. The siddha gave the empowerment by showing the king his closed hand and then opening it. This was to signify that we are blinded by grasping and all that we need to do is release our grasping. The king failed to understand the siddha’s intent, became angry, called him a fraud, and threw him into his dungeon. One of the siddha’s disciples heard what happened and came to the king and offered to perform an empowerment. He gave an elaborate empowerment and then explained the sadhana associated with the empowerment in great detail. The king was pleased and offered the disciple whatever he wished. The disciple told the king that he was holding his teacher in his dungeon and asked for his release. The king was embarrassed at the mistake he had made and released the siddha.

Lama has been invited to teach in Indonesia and will be leaving November 16th for one or two months. Our group will carry on in his absence on a reduced schedule. We will post more on this later, but for now, if you have been thinking about coming to hear Lama teach, he will only be here for two more weeks. After that, the next opportunity probably won’t come until 2010.

Lama has been working on a booklet on the refuge vow and recently had it printed. Tuesday he talked about the meaning of the refuge vow. He explained that the Tibetan word for refuge literally means to go for protection. He explained that refuge is the foundation for all other Buddhist practices. We take refuge in the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. We take refuge in the Buddha because he is the only reliable guide to the path to be free of suffering. This is because he possesses enlightenment and compassion in full measure. Other beings can give temporary benefits, but because they have not freed themselves from suffering, they cannot free us. We also may take refuge in our parents and friends, but they are themselves subject to impermanence and must depart from us. It’s like two people who have fallen in the rapids, neither can free the other. The Buddha attained enlightenment and then taught others how to be free of suffering. His teachings are called the Dharma. That is the way he provides help. Buddha lived 2500 years ago. It is only because of the Sangha that his teachings are still here. The Sangha we take refuge in are the enlightened masters, not ordinary Buddhists.

He told us that for beginners the Dharma is the main refuge. We practice to remove fixation to the self. Once we achieve enlightenment, we do not need the dharma any more, it is like the boat that takes us across the river, but it is then left behind. The ultimate refuge is the buddha and not the dharma and sangha. This buddha is not a person in India, it is our own enlightened nature.I we remain in the absence of fixation and affliction emotions, that reality will protect us from suffering.

Lama was asked if people have to abandon their previous religion after they take refuge. He replied that for most people it takes time to understand the benefits of Buddhism. There are two ways to approach Buddhism. The first is for someone who accepts, karma, rebirth, and the path to enlightenment. For them it is extremely important to take refuge. The second is not interested in these ideas, but find the dharma teachings have practical value to lead a happier life and eliminate negative emotions. For these people it is not necessary to take refuge. It’s not a good idea to take refuge and try to follow another religion at the same time. It will only cause confusion. But this doesn’t mean you oppose other religions, you appreciate how they also teach compassion and the practice of virtue. But if you take refuge, you try your best to follow the Buddha’s teachings. If you are sick, you take one medicine, you don’t take every medicine.

Lama spoke today on how it is important to learn the crucial points of Buddhism. If someone asks you why you meditate, you should be able to give a sensible answer. Or if someone asks you if Buddhists believe that killing is wrong, you should be able to give an answer based on your understanding of Buddhism. We should be able to distinguish between what is essential in Buddha’s teaching and what is a product of his place and time. For example, the eightfold path is essential to Buddhism, but the eight auspicious symbols are not, they are a reflection of the culture Buddhism arose in.

Lama explained that the practice of tantra is sometimes misunderstood. The crucial points of sutra and tantra are identical. But results can be achieved easier and faster through tantra. The practice of tantra is best suited for diligent people with keen wisdom. Even though the symbolism of tantra may appear to go against sutra teachings, it does not. Nonvirtue is nonvirtue at all levels of Buddhist practice and nonvirtue does not become virtue in tantra. That is why tantra is kept secret, so it is not misunderstood.

The Gampopa Center currently hosts most of meetings (all except Monday’s) at Michael’s house. He lives in a gated community and it has recently started lowering the gate on weekends. If you plan to come to the Sunday meeting, please email us, so we can tell you the code to raise the gate. You will only need it for the Sunday meeting, not for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.