Discovering Buddhism - Developing Bodhicitta (10 April 2008)

0:02 So how many of you were on the streets yesterday afternoon? Report an error in the passage at 0:02 Highlight the passage at 0:02

0:10 How many? Report an error in the passage at 0:10 Highlight the passage at 0:10

0:17 And those that were on the street, which flag were you bearing? Report an error in the passage at 0:17 Highlight the passage at 0:17

0:27 So now, let's try to think about it this way. Imagine you have to take the other flag. It's changing self for other. That would be a tough one, huh? Report an error in the passage at 0:27 Highlight the passage at 0:27

0:45 Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. The tall order, that's what we're here for, right? Does anyone remember the five steps we talk about in exchanging self for other? Report an error in the passage at 0:45 Highlight the passage at 0:45

1:12 Five, the outline has five. Report an error in the passage at 1:12 Highlight the passage at 1:12

1:20 There are two different methods for generating bodhicitta. There's a six cause and one effect, or seven cause and effect for meditation, which starts out with a basis of equanimity, and then it's all beings have been your mothers. Report an error in the passage at 1:20 Highlight the passage at 1:20

1:37 Remembering their kindness, wishing to repay their kindness, affectionate love, altruism, great compassion, altruism, which leads to bodhicitta. Report an error in the passage at 1:37 Highlight the passage at 1:37

1:52 We didn't go for that method in depth because not many of you really will kind of buy into reincarnation. So the idea that all beings have been your mothers gets a little difficult. Report an error in the passage at 1:52 Highlight the passage at 1:52

2:04 So we moved on to the second method, which is exchanging self for others. That starts with equalizing self and others, Report an error in the passage at 2:04 Highlight the passage at 2:04

2:14 the disadvantages of self-cherishing, the advantages of cherishing others, the actual exchange and giving and taking, or Tonglen. So those are the five points. So equalizing self for others. Does anyone want to remember what that was about? Report an error in the passage at 2:14 Highlight the passage at 2:14

2:36 Oh, come. Report an error in the passage at 2:36 Highlight the passage at 2:36

2:44 It's simple. Just like I want to be happy, you want to be happy. It's very simple, that one. And there's no difference with any of us in this room. There's no difference with anyone who was out there yesterday on the streets. Everyone wants to be happy. No one wants to suffer. Report an error in the passage at 2:44 Highlight the passage at 2:44

3:10 And from every moment of everything we do, Report an error in the passage at 3:10 Highlight the passage at 3:10

3:16 even though it's shaped by our view of things, this is what we're after, this happiness. Report an error in the passage at 3:16 Highlight the passage at 3:16

3:30 I think you've got the wrong class. Report an error in the passage at 3:30 Highlight the passage at 3:30

3:39 Okay. Equalizing Self with each other. Does anyone remember some of the advantages of, disadvantages of cherishing oneself? Report an error in the passage at 3:39 Highlight the passage at 3:39

3:51 Anything come to mind? Just only one of you. Yes? Report an error in the passage at 3:51 Highlight the passage at 3:51

4:07 All of my problems, they come from cherishing myself, don't they? If I had no self-cherishing, I wouldn't have any problems, would I? Report an error in the passage at 4:07 Highlight the passage at 4:07

4:19 Would I? Can anyone think of a problem that comes from cherishing others? Or a problem that doesn't come from... tightness that you feel? Hmm? Report an error in the passage at 4:19 Highlight the passage at 4:19

· · · silence, 1 minute

4:30 Self-cherishing? Anything. I'm willing to take it on. Listen. Hear it. Let's think it through. Think of all your problems. Report an error in the passage at 4:30 Highlight the passage at 4:30

4:42 Unless you don't have any. Anyone got any problems? Want to share them? It's okay. We're safe here. We won't take it outside the room. Report an error in the passage at 4:42 Highlight the passage at 4:42

5:02 Who takes care of me? Are you talking about me personally? Report an error in the passage at 5:02 Highlight the passage at 5:02

5:09 Who takes care of oneself? Report an error in the passage at 5:09 Highlight the passage at 5:09

5:14 Okay. So... Report an error in the passage at 5:14 Highlight the passage at 5:14

5:25 yeah, yeah, okay. Report an error in the passage at 5:25 Highlight the passage at 5:25

5:39 Preservation. Report an error in the passage at 5:39 Highlight the passage at 5:39

5:45 Well, especially in a culture where there's a lot of low self-esteem, we have to have some amount of self-esteem to begin with. This doesn't really work so well when we are coming from a place of low self-esteem. Report an error in the passage at 5:45 Highlight the passage at 5:45

6:08 Um, so you. Usually, and in fact, when we get into the Tonglen practice this evening, you'll also include yourself in this practice, that you do have love for yourself. Report an error in the passage at 6:08 Highlight the passage at 6:08

6:23 But to really look carefully is an example of a Report an error in the passage at 6:23 Highlight the passage at 6:23

6:34 problem that doesn't come from self-cherishing. I understand your point. I kind of want to leave it for a minute because in some ways, I think, at least in my belief system, If you just let go of that self-preservation, it all kind of falls into place anyway. Report an error in the passage at 6:34 Highlight the passage at 6:34

6:59 But it takes a lot of strength and courage to get there. Report an error in the passage at 6:59 Highlight the passage at 6:59

7:06 Because no matter what the situation is, Report an error in the passage at 7:06 Highlight the passage at 7:06

7:12 self-cherishing is really going to be the impediment in lack and cherishing others is going to be the release. Report an error in the passage at 7:12 Highlight the passage at 7:12

7:27 And we're talking really in abstract terms here, really, I know that. The point is to try to make it real in our own experience. That's why using our problems as examples is really, really helpful. Report an error in the passage at 7:27 Highlight the passage at 7:27

7:47 I can give you an example. I mean, yesterday, of course, it didn't go the way I wanted it to go. I really wanted that torch to be doused, you know. I really, really did. Now, Report an error in the passage at 7:47 Highlight the passage at 7:47

8:04 is there self-cherishing there? Report an error in the passage at 8:04 Highlight the passage at 8:04

8:10 If I look at it closely, yes, there is. Let's determine that my view is the correct view and it had to be my way because it didn't hurt that it didn't get doused. Report an error in the passage at 8:10 Highlight the passage at 8:10

8:36 Anyone else? I mean, think of your problems. I find myself reading the news today, I indulge in a lot of self-righteousness. Report an error in the passage at 8:36 Highlight the passage at 8:36

8:51 That's Report an error in the passage at 8:51 Highlight the passage at 8:51

9:04 what most cherishes feeling that way. Report an error in the passage at 9:04 Highlight the passage at 9:04

9:18 Within election year, with the world and the situation that it is, we're understandably coming to have to give some consideration that the way things are going is not the right view. And people have to propose other ideas, for sure. I think mostly what we need to really look low is what's arising for us. Report an error in the passage at 9:18 Highlight the passage at 9:18

9:48 If we are... Getting upset and angry and annoyed and irritated and all those kind of things. Then there's something behind it. Report an error in the passage at 9:48 Highlight the passage at 9:48

10:06 If not, then it's okay. I mean, your view is certainly as right as the next view. Report an error in the passage at 10:06 Highlight the passage at 10:06

10:24 From an emptiness point of view, it's Report an error in the passage at 10:24 Highlight the passage at 10:24

10:32 just a view. It's a label. But, you know, we live in a conventional world. But we have to look at what's behind it. Report an error in the passage at 10:32 Highlight the passage at 10:32

10:47 And it doesn't, you know, it doesn't mean to remain fixed. Like even yesterday, for example, there were moments when I was very disappointed and watching my mind around that. But there's also moments that, you know, being in robes and being in that situation, I had to be very, very careful. Report an error in the passage at 10:47 Highlight the passage at 10:47

11:08 Okay? And I knew that, you know, my presence really was... It was significant for some people. And I noticed that. I mean, there were a couple of times when people were really, really irritated with me. I mean, if they had the chance, they would have probably slugged me because I brought up things for them. And in my mind at the time, really, you know, as they're shouting at me and things like that, I'm kind of thinking. Report an error in the passage at 11:08 Highlight the passage at 11:08

11:40 You know, I really wasn't saying anything. There was only one time at the end where I started to engage somebody in a conversation. I realized, hey, there's no point. I mean, there's no point engaging in this conversation, really. But there was, you know, these conversations kind of at one point. I really was pretty silent, just a silent message about healing. Report an error in the passage at 11:40 Highlight the passage at 11:40

12:09 Having to remember that the person that's across from you or the person that's in your face is another human being. Just like you, they want to be happy. Report an error in the passage at 12:09 Highlight the passage at 12:09

12:24 And maybe they're confused. Definitely maybe they're confused. It's very, very possible that they can be confused. Report an error in the passage at 12:24 Highlight the passage at 12:24

12:44 But we ourselves are confused too. You know, in the larger scheme of things. When you think of Report an error in the passage at 12:44 Highlight the passage at 12:44

13:00 one day and the moment that you get carried away in that moment of just being there yesterday and with all that activity, thousands of people and very emotional, and then you start zooming out to where you've got a whole planet of people in all kinds of situations, suffering in all kinds of ways, that little bit that you've focused in on becomes rather irrelevant. Report an error in the passage at 13:00 Highlight the passage at 13:00

13:29 It's not meaningless, but you have to always keep that perspective. And you don't know that what you're seeing at that particular moment can be judged the same way as if you're viewing it from a global perspective of all this suffering. So it's always good to take yourself in and out of these kind of views. But going back to the point really that if you have something arising in your own mind, anger, Report an error in the passage at 13:29 Highlight the passage at 13:29

14:00 Attachment, relationships. I mean, what are the things that come up? For me, relationships aren't such an obvious thing. But I'm sure in relationships there's always, you know, especially if you're with someone for a long time, there's always like, okay, it's Saturday night, what are we going to do? Report an error in the passage at 14:00 Highlight the passage at 14:00

14:21 So who gets to decide? Things like that. Does that irritate you? Do you always agree? How do you maintain that balance? Is there self-cherishing there? Are there problems? If there are problems, are there self-cherishing? Is there self-cherishing behind it? Or when we're overworked and we're in a bad situation at work, is there self-cherishing? Report an error in the passage at 14:21 Highlight the passage at 14:21

14:50 Can someone come up with an example where there's no self-cherishing? Or even an example that we could talk about that's real for people. Report an error in the passage at 14:50 Highlight the passage at 14:50

· · · silence, 1 minute

15:55 it was a problem, like hurt. Report an error in the passage at 15:55 Highlight the passage at 15:55

16:18 fear and attachment that I was Report an error in the passage at 16:18 Highlight the passage at 16:18

16:28 was hard for me because I really thought about the last class and just-cherishing. Report an error in the passage at 16:28 Highlight the passage at 16:28

16:38 about my clients and Report an error in the passage at 16:38 Highlight the passage at 16:38

16:54 head my goodness you was hard to tell if self-cherishing. Report an error in the passage at 16:54 Highlight the passage at 16:54

17:08 really kind of, like, going into The interesting thing in that situation probably for the example would be that in the end, if you know you're honest, In this situation, and you have a good motivation to benefit others, then whatever happens is going to be okay. Report an error in the passage at 17:08 Highlight the passage at 17:08

17:36 And the rest of it is self-cherishing. Report an error in the passage at 17:36 Highlight the passage at 17:36

17:44 It doesn't always play out, and this is one thing we're learning, certainly, that what we think is right and wrong is going to play out in such a prescribed manner that we anticipate. Report an error in the passage at 17:44 Highlight the passage at 17:44

18:08 I mean, it's obvious that human rights are not respected in many countries around the world, and it becomes an issue. And I think it's a very valid issue for us to bring up, and I think there are basic human rights that should be, you know, and I don't think we're wrong in having that view, but it doesn't mean necessarily that it's going to play out that way. Report an error in the passage at 18:08 Highlight the passage at 18:08

18:37 Because of all the other emotions and power and attachment and greed and stuff like this that come into play in the world as a whole. Report an error in the passage at 18:37 Highlight the passage at 18:37

18:48 And what we can deal with is going back to ourselves and what's happening within our minds. Because that's kind of the game that we have control over. And it's also the one where we can actually have the most benefit. Report an error in the passage at 18:48 Highlight the passage at 18:48

19:12 On that global scale, by working within our own minds, watching what arises. Report an error in the passage at 19:12 Highlight the passage at 19:12

19:21 If you're down and you're getting irritated, Report an error in the passage at 19:21 Highlight the passage at 19:21

19:29 you know, I mean, it's true that, you know, I mean, and this for me is like, Report an error in the passage at 19:29 Highlight the passage at 19:29

19:38 there are people dying all over China. And we're just talking China because that was because of the Olympic thing. There are people dying. There's the highest execution rate in all the world. Report an error in the passage at 19:38 Highlight the passage at 19:38

19:55 And there are actually people now dying, and people in Tibet are locked, basically under house arrest, without food and water and basic necessities, and slowly, okay. Report an error in the passage at 19:55 Highlight the passage at 19:55

20:12 And yet, on the other hand, we have this big party, as if there's this whole other side of reality that there's nothing going on, and we can kind of... And this is... This is happening in our own culture as well. When we have the whole Hollywood thing, we kind of are in denial. And it's always this balance. Report an error in the passage at 20:12 Highlight the passage at 20:12

20:35 How do we maintain this? There's always this. And it's a tricky one. Definitely a tricky one. But you have to really, really look at it. And this is where, to me, the teachings of the Buddhists are really, really validated. Report an error in the passage at 20:35 Highlight the passage at 20:35

20:55 Because they help you in the moment, in the situation, because you can be in the middle of a hundred people who have an opposite view of yours and think that China is a wonderful place to be, screaming at you, and you can still have a place, coming from a place of compassion. Report an error in the passage at 20:55 Highlight the passage at 20:55

21:21 I mean, I find, I was totally, I mean, the people that were yelling and screaming at me, I was like... I was completely erased because I'm like, well, you know something, just the fact that you're able to do this here says a lot when you can't do it in your own country. Report an error in the passage at 21:21 Highlight the passage at 21:21

21:43 This would never be allowed. Doesn't that dawn on you or something? But anyway, but I mean, you know, and this is, to me, it takes practice to look at that, to look at my own mind, to know that I'm not projecting all my own stuff. Report an error in the passage at 21:43 Highlight the passage at 21:43

22:04 to know that deep down the simple answer that i have is that they want to be happy want to be happy and i have to remind myself of that over and over and over again they may not be happy Report an error in the passage at 22:04 Highlight the passage at 22:04

22:22 My own view is very, very much transfixed by my own view. Report an error in the passage at 22:22 Highlight the passage at 22:22

22:35 It's very microscopic and takes on a lot of significance based upon my own ego and attachment. Who Report an error in the passage at 22:35 Highlight the passage at 22:35

22:50 knows? Even though the torch was changed and all that stuff and people were frustrated, who knows what the effects of this will be as they unfold in the next few years even. There's something that at least came out of this that, you know, who knows? So we can't really judge it from just a single moment. Report an error in the passage at 22:50 Highlight the passage at 22:50

23:17 But you can look at your own mind and see what's arising in that moment and see if there's anger. Because if there is anger, then there's no difference between you and the person across from you. Report an error in the passage at 23:17 Highlight the passage at 23:17

23:33 And we never resolve anything. And this, I mean, His Holiness has been very, very, very clear about the non-violent approach. Report an error in the passage at 23:33 Highlight the passage at 23:33

23:45 even though it seems very, very... Difficult because there's not a lot of hope in that. There's not a lot of hope in that. But I think actually as a Buddhist you see that there's no alternative either. Report an error in the passage at 23:45 Highlight the passage at 23:45

24:09 There really is no alternative. Report an error in the passage at 24:09 Highlight the passage at 24:09

24:20 Well I think in the context of the non-violent approach takes generations. Whereas the power, a lot of guns, It can be very quick. Report an error in the passage at 24:20 Highlight the passage at 24:20

24:41 It takes a long, long time. Report an error in the passage at 24:41 Highlight the passage at 24:41

24:47 But there is no alternative. I mean, if you look at the alternatives, you see what the world is. You see that power and violence and intimidation and this kind of fascism, I guess, it creates problems all over the world. And those go from generation to generation because they just get carried. Hand it down because they never got resolved. And it's the same thing for us at 9-11. Report an error in the passage at 24:47 Highlight the passage at 24:47

25:26 No, everyone was like trying to find someone to blame. There was never an inquiry of what was the cause. Why would people be upset with us? Let's start some dialogue around that. I mean not that there wasn't any. Because there was some people who had those kind of thoughts. But the majority was really this revenge kind of thing. Report an error in the passage at 25:26 Highlight the passage at 25:26

25:58 And we know that that doesn't really work. That really doesn't. But if you can kind of stop and say, wait a minute. Let's step back here. Let's look. Let's bring the people who are so angry to the table. Because one of the things that happens... Report an error in the passage at 25:58 Highlight the passage at 25:58

26:19 When you bring people to the table is you realize you're dealing with other human beings. And that has a lot of power. It has a lot of power. Report an error in the passage at 26:19 Highlight the passage at 26:19

26:35 Any other problems that we have? Jerry, do you have any problems? Report an error in the passage at 26:35 Highlight the passage at 26:35

26:48 By who? Report an error in the passage at 26:48 Highlight the passage at 26:48

27:01 Oh, Report an error in the passage at 27:01 Highlight the passage at 27:01

27:10 yes, now. now I'm doing it and miserable. Oh. Report an error in the passage at 27:10 Highlight the passage at 27:10

27:11 Your alternative is to say, there's no self-cherishing whatsoever. This is what I've decided to do and that's a benefit. And of course, as soon as you do that, there's no problem, is there? There is no problem. But once you've already done it, you've made the decision, you've accepted the responsibility. Report an error in the passage at 27:11 Highlight the passage at 27:11

27:36 You know, no, no, I'm serious here now. Okay, we've got the responsibility, we've made, we've accepted the responsibility, we've accepted what we've... Okay. Now there's no turning back from that. We have to accept that. So either we can spend the next five weekends driving ourselves, going crazy, thinking I should never have done that. Report an error in the passage at 27:36 Highlight the passage at 27:36

27:56 But what's the benefit in that? What is the benefit in that? And where does it come from? Report an error in the passage at 27:56 Highlight the passage at 27:56

28:13 Even though you created it. But the moment you let go of it, it's like, okay, five weekends, it's not that big a deal. It'll be over. I did it, and maybe next time I'll learn a little bit to step back and not necessarily take on the same responsibility, especially if I know it's going to make me miserable. Report an error in the passage at 28:13 Highlight the passage at 28:13

28:35 I mean, it's true. There's a tendency, and it's okay, actually. It's okay to step up to the plate once in a while. You might make someone else's life and look at it. You might be benefiting someone else. Giving someone else a weekend off that wouldn't otherwise have a weekend off. Report an error in the passage at 28:35 Highlight the passage at 28:35

28:54 Or being able to spend some time with a patient. She's a nurse. I know that, I guess. Being able to spend some time with someone in a certain particular situation that you would never have had the opportunity to do if you didn't have those five weekends in front of you. Report an error in the passage at 28:54 Highlight the passage at 28:54

29:16 Yeah. Report an error in the passage at 29:16 Highlight the passage at 29:16

29:25 So instead of being miserable, you should be rejoicing. Report an error in the passage at 29:25 Highlight the passage at 29:25

29:35 But you do recognize that it's self-cherishing that's where the problem's coming in. There's that self-seeking, self-sneaking in on you. Report an error in the passage at 29:35 Highlight the passage at 29:35

29:49 Yes? Report an error in the passage at 29:49 Highlight the passage at 29:49

29:58 Humor or something of interest in whatever situation we're in. I know how you're always, we're talking about karma determining the way that you see things or you experience things. Report an error in the passage at 29:58 Highlight the passage at 29:58

30:12 Instead of getting into a situation... Or I'm irritated because I don't want to be in that particular situation. Well, they do. They find a way to find something interesting in it or to find a humor in it. And sometimes that... The situation, by allowing my mind to become disturbed is what's determining the situation. And it's still so resonant for me because I didn't allow that to happen so much that I realize if I don't allow myself to get disturbed about this, then it doesn't have to be that way. Report an error in the passage at 30:12 Highlight the passage at 30:12

30:46 But sometimes you get really annoyed at that person who always has that kind of outlook, don't you? Yeah, Report an error in the passage at 30:46 Highlight the passage at 30:46

30:58 I mean, I'm not, I'm not, we have a term Pollyanna, is that right? Does anyone know what that means? Yeah, that Pollyanna approach where everything's like sickly, syrupy, sweet. It's not even so much that they're like that, it's just like they have a very curious mind, I find. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean. Report an error in the passage at 30:58 Highlight the passage at 30:58

31:15 I think that's very, very beneficial. I think sometimes to maybe ignore what's happening around you is very dangerous, but it's good to try to look at it from a different approach. Because you do know that the suffering is coming to your mind, the disturbance to your mind Report an error in the passage at 31:15 Highlight the passage at 31:15

31:39 is somehow related, is related to how you're seeing it, which is really related to you. What your expectations are around that. Report an error in the passage at 31:39 Highlight the passage at 31:39

32:01 Self-cherishing. Anyone want to get some advantage of self-cherishing others? Report an error in the passage at 32:01 Highlight the passage at 32:01

32:13 An experience that I just spent the last two weeks taking care of my mother who had some major surgery and it was really relevant in the context of this class because we were talking about everyone being your mother and this was the opportunity. To really pay her back, you know, and I spent five days in the hospital with her, you know, around the clock and it was very difficult, but I was able to just take care of her. Report an error in the passage at 32:13 Highlight the passage at 32:13

32:49 You know, I was woken up at all hours of the night, which if you would have asked me beforehand, I would have said, oh my God, that sounds awful. But I just, I did it and I felt really good about it and it was so moving to be able to give that to her. Because she has given that to me many, many, many times over. And to be in that position where I could give that back to her. Report an error in the passage at 32:49 Highlight the passage at 32:49

33:16 And it was hard. She lost control of some of her bodily functions during that time. I was there to clean her and wash her. So that was really powerful. Good. Report an error in the passage at 33:16 Highlight the passage at 33:16

33:35 Yeah, it's tricky. It's tricky. I was thinking that, paying the kindness, there's someone the other day, a student I had a few years ago, his mother's dying actually, and she called, she had written a letter a few weeks ago, and I never got around to answering a letter because if you ever know, send me an email or give me a phone number because I'll never get around to writing a letter. Report an error in the passage at 33:35 Highlight the passage at 33:35

34:03 I mean, well, I wouldn't say never, but it takes me a long time. And she contacted me several weeks ago about her mother who was... Report an error in the passage at 34:03 Highlight the passage at 34:03

34:11 She was a primary caregiver, actually. Both her parents are elderly and the father as well is failing health. But the other day she finally called and I was able to actually go see her and her mother to the hospital on the deathbed. Report an error in the passage at 34:11 Highlight the passage at 34:11

34:30 I was quite moved by the strength that she had for taking care of her mother in that situation. Just not questioning, really. This is just something she needed to do. And she found strength in that. And not just like, well, I have a career to worry about or this or that, you know, all these other things. She had already gone through, I think, some of that stuff in her thing, in her life, I think earlier. Report an error in the passage at 34:30 Highlight the passage at 34:30

35:07 Because she was the only child and had to deal with failing parents. But it's not easy, but... You know, I mean, it works. Report an error in the passage at 35:07 Highlight the passage at 35:07

35:28 Tough choices sometimes. Tough choices. And we have to make baby steps, for sure. But in some ways these principles are so, so very basic. And so the only thing we're doing here, and you can see, I'm not like plowing through a lot of data here. Giving you a lot of outlines to remember this and memorize this. I'm just trying to get you to think about it from this angle and that angle and over and over again. Report an error in the passage at 35:28 Highlight the passage at 35:28

35:58 Apply it to the problems that are actually in your life and see if it works. Because in some ways it is very, very simple. It's just remembering it over and over again. Report an error in the passage at 35:58 Highlight the passage at 35:58

36:13 And it's not easy. I don't know if it's any easier for me after practicing it a long time than it was, you know. I mean, I think in some ways It comes to mind a lot easier, meaning I don't have to kind of force it. But, you know, I still have my stuff, so you have to take the baby steps. Report an error in the passage at 36:13 Highlight the passage at 36:13

36:47 So when we talk about exchanging self for other, what are we talking about? Report an error in the passage at 36:47 Highlight the passage at 36:47

36:54 Someone remember the definition or the concept? What are we exchanging? The attitude. What attitude? Report an error in the passage at 36:54 Highlight the passage at 36:54

37:11 The attitude that I am the most important person in the universe with the attitude that everyone else are the most important in the universe, basically. Report an error in the passage at 37:11 Highlight the passage at 37:11

37:21 That's what we're exchanging. Report an error in the passage at 37:21 Highlight the passage at 37:21

37:29 Can you give me an example of how you can apply that in your daily life? Report an error in the passage at 37:29 Highlight the passage at 37:29

37:38 Imagine what something is like for a person. Are you in a relationship? Yes. Okay. So when your partner goes and decides what you want to do, and you say, sure. Report an error in the passage at 37:38 Highlight the passage at 37:38

37:54 Their happiness is more important than yours. Can you do that? Sometimes. Report an error in the passage at 37:54 Highlight the passage at 37:54

38:15 Their happiness is more important than yours. The people you work with. Report an error in the passage at 38:15 Highlight the passage at 38:15

38:31 Everyone else's happiness is more important than yours. That's a tall order. It's a very, very tall order. Report an error in the passage at 38:31 Highlight the passage at 38:31

38:49 Does anyone have any problems with it? Report an error in the passage at 38:49 Highlight the passage at 38:49

38:59 Yes? Report an error in the passage at 38:59 Highlight the passage at 38:59

39:21 more computer literate and we I had a computer crash the other night. I wore a graveyard, so it was just the two of us. I was watching him try to fix this problem and feeling kind of frustrated that I could more quickly. Report an error in the passage at 39:21 Highlight the passage at 39:21

39:41 I looked at him and saw that he was sweating. And I just suddenly realized how much pressure he felt, you know, being in that situation. And I was like, bam, all of a sudden, all that stuff, I just kind of let go of it. I said, no, what you have to do is this. Report an error in the passage at 39:41 Highlight the passage at 39:41

39:59 you know, I could see it was All of a sudden it just became very clear to me that he was very nervous in that situation. Because he's also bringing in, he knows that you trained him, so he's got all this stuff built into it too. Report an error in the passage at 39:59 Highlight the passage at 39:59

40:14 I just hadn't really thought of it that much from his perspective. And afterward he thanked me in a way that he never thanked me for helping with somebody. It was like just this tension. This dynamic part of it dissolved from that experiment. It was great. Yeah, he knows that he could be perceived as a threat to you. Report an error in the passage at 40:14 Highlight the passage at 40:14

40:37 And as soon as you take that out of the equation, you have a much different dynamic. If you see him as another human being who's just, who's also, yeah, I mean, like you said, sweating, suffering, pressure, anxiety, anxious. And not just because of you, because he had a responsibility to fix something. Report an error in the passage at 40:37 Highlight the passage at 40:37

41:00 And there you could offer some help. It can dissolve the situation away. Report an error in the passage at 41:00 Highlight the passage at 41:00

41:13 Are these concepts, I mean, does anyone have any problem accepting these? I mean, I know you have problems with reincarnation, but how about these? Report an error in the passage at 41:13 Highlight the passage at 41:13

41:45 Well, I'll let you in on a little trade secret. Report an error in the passage at 41:45 Highlight the passage at 41:45

· · · silence, 1 minute

42:43 I gave her a month in advance, didn't think it would be a problem. I've been there a long time, and I rarely take out But she was really upset with me because it was a busy day and I couldn't get her. So initially I was very angry. But it's okay for me to take a day off work. I rarely do it. And this is a special occasion. And she has no right to be angry. I'm in the right. I was very focused on it. I'm in the right. And it caused so much problem between us. Report an error in the passage at 42:43 Highlight the passage at 42:43

43:12 Because she's very fast and aggressive. She won't confront me. She wouldn't say anything. So when we were at work, it was just this. The tension in the air that was so hard to bear and it bothered me at home for days. And I was still focused on, you know, but I didn't do anything wrong. And finally I decided, you know, forget it. I'm just going to apologize. You know, I upset her. I put her in a bind. You know, she didn't have anyone to cover. And I can understand why she's upset. Report an error in the passage at 43:12 Highlight the passage at 43:12

43:44 So I bought her a little pastry and I said, you know, I'm really sorry I put you in a bind. I will work that day. And she couldn't believe it. Report an error in the passage at 43:44 Highlight the passage at 43:44

43:53 She just looked at me like, what? Report an error in the passage at 43:53 Highlight the passage at 43:53

43:59 And I said, it's okay. I had made plans to go to a bed and breakfast that weekend and I said, I'll cancel it and I'll work. And here's something to show you. I'm really sorry that I upset you. And I felt so good after that. And now we're so much more comfortable. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Report an error in the passage at 43:59 Highlight the passage at 43:59

44:20 Yeah. And then that same night, I started thinking differently. And normally after I work on a couple, and when I'm done with work, I just want to go home and go to bed. I'm tired. I work evening shifts, day shifts, you know, I just want to go home. And that particular night, I remember that one of my clients had just had surgery. Report an error in the passage at 44:20 Highlight the passage at 44:20

44:42 And so I decided, you know what, I don't need to go home and take care of, you know, just eat and go to bed. I think I'll call her and see if she needs any help. And I'll bring some food to her if she needs it. And she didn't mean me to bring her food, she was okay, but she was so touched. And it just made a huge difference to me to start thinking differently. Report an error in the passage at 44:42 Highlight the passage at 44:42

45:05 Okay. And then to get the response from the other people. See, I mean, I did tell you that there was a byproduct. You do have... I mean, His Holiness has this quote, you know, if you're going to be... if you're going to be selfish beings... He's wisely selfish. You really do. I mean, look at His Holiness. He's day and night, you know, going, going, going, but he's one of the happiest people I've ever known. Report an error in the passage at 45:05 Highlight the passage at 45:05

45:36 Geshe-la is well upstairs, you know. I mean, whatever anyone needs, it's like he's there. Never questions, never says no. I've learned a lot about that. He's been a great teacher for me. Just to accept it. It's funny because, okay, in my job, taking care of Geshe-la, he's my teacher for almost nine years now. Report an error in the passage at 45:36 Highlight the passage at 45:36

46:12 And starting when I became more of his attendant secretary, things like this, there's a certain responsibility and people want to have access. And my job is somewhat to help protect him because he would get worn out. But at the same time, he... He can call the shots, you know. But, you know, he's taught me to be very, you know, he's very giving. Report an error in the passage at 46:12 Highlight the passage at 46:12

46:44 And I've had to learn that because a lot of times I have my own stuff come up. And it's maybe, I wouldn't agree, the way he handles the situation. Because I think sometimes it's a waste of his time with the way some people abuse his time. But this is his way of nurturing his students. Report an error in the passage at 46:44 Highlight the passage at 46:44

47:05 And you see, maybe I don't see in the particular moment in that particular instance, I don't necessarily see the benefit of the way he chose to act. But I have seen that over time how these people have, something has shifted for them. So, you know, I have to learn to step back from my own kind of prejudging of situations and just... Report an error in the passage at 47:05 Highlight the passage at 47:05

47:35 And just follow his example. Be kind, courteous, friendly, helpful. And then the rest becomes quite easy. And the moment I have suffering, and I swear by this, the moment all my suffering really is about when my own stuff comes up, all about me. I have a certain viewpoint, the way things are, what I want to eat. Report an error in the passage at 47:35 Highlight the passage at 47:35

48:09 What I'm not getting. All kinds of things. And as soon as I let go of that, it just kind of dissolves away. And Report an error in the passage at 48:09 Highlight the passage at 48:09

48:24 it is about the others. It is very good training. Very good training. And it's not particularly easy, but it will, it does work. And you do, I mean, you know, in the context of things, of course, you have to use some pragmatic judgment. It's not about being, what do they call it? Report an error in the passage at 48:24 Highlight the passage at 48:24

48:47 What's the word? Think I'm thinking. A doormat. It's not about being a doormat. Report an error in the passage at 48:47 Highlight the passage at 48:47

48:58 It's really watching what's arising in your mind. Report an error in the passage at 48:58 Highlight the passage at 48:58

49:05 It's watching what's arising in your mind. If there's self-cherishing there, you'll have a problem. Report an error in the passage at 49:05 Highlight the passage at 49:05

49:19 You just have to look at what's coming up. If you're getting annoyed because you really had to expect something, you know, I mean, look, you have to work the next five weekends. You know, of course it seems like so overwhelming, five weekends. I'm not going to be able to go to the movies. I'm not going to be able to do this and all that. Report an error in the passage at 49:19 Highlight the passage at 49:19

49:42 And I've given up my whole life, for God's sake. And, of course, when you look at it from that perspective, the more you think about it, the more you think about, oh, gosh, now my friend invited me to go to dinner, I can't go to dinner, and they're going to be in town, and I was, oh, the weather's so nice, and, of course, all these things just keep adding up, and the next thing you know, you're overwhelmed by all those thoughts about those five weekends and how it's the end of your life. Report an error in the passage at 49:42 Highlight the passage at 49:42

50:14 It's true, though, isn't it? We just start going and going and going, and the mind just kind of like... Report an error in the passage at 50:14 Highlight the passage at 50:14

50:30 Okay. I think we can take a break so Joanna can serve some tea. Joanna's over there in the cafe. And she can serve some tea and then she can go home. How Report an error in the passage at 50:30 Highlight the passage at 50:30

51:12 many weekends do you have left, Jerry? Five left. Oh, you must have gone six out front, huh? How many did you volunteer for up front? About twelve. Twelve. Oh, well, you're over halfway through. Oh, my gosh. That's a miracle. Report an error in the passage at 51:12 Highlight the passage at 51:12

51:37 I know she's one of those people who only works three days a week and then she can play us with it. Report an error in the passage at 51:37 Highlight the passage at 51:37

· · · silence, 1 minute

52:14 Okay, I guess we have a couple of strays back there. Report an error in the passage at 52:14 Highlight the passage at 52:14

52:32 Olivier? No. Olivier. Gosh, I got it right. There's a monk named Olivier that I know. That's a very good monk, actually. You have any problems? You want to talk about your problems? Anything we can solve? Any self-cherishing? Report an error in the passage at 52:32 Highlight the passage at 52:32

53:04 Does this make sense though? Report an error in the passage at 53:04 Highlight the passage at 53:04

53:29 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh God, parenting. That's a good thing to bring up because parenting I think is one of the biggest fiascos we have in the modern day. I think we fail miserably because we actually feel this conflict. Often we don't get it right. We think that giving material is going to be often is going to be the answer or giving just whatever to make them happy and it's more of happy in the moment but it's not necessarily happy in the long run. Report an error in the passage at 53:29 Highlight the passage at 53:29

54:31 Information, the amount of information they have and then also these choices and they think that guarded by so many things need to make Report an error in the passage at 54:31 Highlight the passage at 54:31

54:40 The world of the media has just kind of blossomed into this thing. It just kind of gives you so many different ways of measuring your own self-worth in terms of things, forms, illusions. So it becomes very, very complex. You can't quite isolate yourself from all of that. But at the same time, you want to have your children... Report an error in the passage at 54:40 Highlight the passage at 54:40

55:10 Be very decent human beings who, with a certain amount of maturity at the end of the line, to be able to go forward in life and do the best they can. Report an error in the passage at 55:10 Highlight the passage at 55:10

55:51 Well, it's kind of like yesterday, for example. I wouldn't say we were completely wrong on our views to have human rights, but we have to recognize that they are our views. Report an error in the passage at 55:51 Highlight the passage at 55:51

56:06 And we have to respect that the other people don't necessarily share our views. And if there's a skillful way that we can at least educate them to understand that maybe what we're proposing is a better alternative for everyone involved, then by all means we should do so. If, on the other hand, their ignorance is so great that there's no possible way... Report an error in the passage at 56:06 Highlight the passage at 56:06

56:37 That they're ever going to see our side of things. Then we shouldn't probably waste so much of our energy and time because it only needs frustration. But then, I mean, in a relationship we should also maybe wonder why we're in the relationship if it's so distant. But, I mean, you know, I'm thinking more yesterday when I say that. Report an error in the passage at 56:37 Highlight the passage at 56:37

56:58 It's like there was certain people that there was no point in engaging them. I wasn't going to shift anything, their view on anything. There already was like a wall there. Report an error in the passage at 56:58 Highlight the passage at 56:58

57:08 And, you know, the only thing I could do was make sure that I stayed calm myself, you know, and didn't. And just, you know, that was a simple message, you know. Report an error in the passage at 57:08 Highlight the passage at 57:08

57:26 But in those kind of situations, I think, yeah, I mean, you're right to question, you know, because it is, yes it is, of course it is your view. Report an error in the passage at 57:26 Highlight the passage at 57:26

57:36 We have views about what is the best education and things like that. And it's not necessarily that we're wrong. Report an error in the passage at 57:36 Highlight the passage at 57:36

57:49 That's not what we have to pay attention to. We have to pay attention to what happens with the mind if it gets disturbed, if it doesn't get its way. Report an error in the passage at 57:49 Highlight the passage at 57:49

58:01 Because if it gets disturbed because it doesn't get its way, then it's hanging on to that view too concretely. It's like there's no space there. Report an error in the passage at 58:01 Highlight the passage at 58:01

58:13 The measure really is the disturbed mind. Report an error in the passage at 58:13 Highlight the passage at 58:13

58:19 Because in the end, from a karmic point of view, from an emptiness point of view, it's not just about that simple little one decision you're making in that particular moment. Report an error in the passage at 58:19 Highlight the passage at 58:19

58:35 The world is not created in such a vacuum. So the decision you're making for your children, of course they're important, but it's only one factor that's going to happen. And so even if it doesn't go in particularly the best way or the most advantageous way or the most beneficial way, in that particular moment, maybe it's okay. Report an error in the passage at 58:35 Highlight the passage at 58:35

59:03 Maybe it's okay. You can't see a year down the line, two years down the line. Maybe there's some challenge that your children will have by not having that education you prescribed. By having the challenge that they have that's going to make them a better human being. Or put them in a situation where they question something in a different way. Report an error in the passage at 59:03 Highlight the passage at 59:03

59:24 You can't really tell. Report an error in the passage at 59:24 Highlight the passage at 59:24

59:47 Yeah, yeah, no, no, I understand what you're saying. Report an error in the passage at 59:47 Highlight the passage at 59:47

1:00:03 Well, you have to look at why you're not confronting too. Is it because of self-cherishing you're not confronting? Because you're afraid, you know, you'll be hurt? You might be hurt or you might, you know, that kind of thing. I mean, If you're clear, and this is where I really, again, it goes back to self-cherishing or cherishing others. If you're clear in your mind that it is beneficial and you have some amount of wisdom around that, then there's no fear and there's nothing wrong with confrontation. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:03 Highlight the passage at 1:00:03

1:00:44 As long as it's not coming from an angry point of view. It's coming from a place that, okay, it's beneficial in this case. I mean, and then, of course, you have to let go because the other person may not see it. But at least you've stated your point. And now it's up to, it'll play itself out. And you just let go. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:44 Highlight the passage at 1:00:44

1:01:07 It's hard to let go. I have to do it here all the time. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:07 Highlight the passage at 1:01:07

1:01:22 You know, Report an error in the passage at 1:01:22 Highlight the passage at 1:01:22

1:01:36 we're often, and I'm sure even, like you said, where were you? Now someone you trained is your, now become your boss or supervisor at work, in a work situation. There's often times where the value you might be able to offer in a situation is not necessarily going to be heard or appreciated and Report an error in the passage at 1:01:36 Highlight the passage at 1:01:36

1:02:03 it might be actually the most beneficial solution, but it's just not the time. And it doesn't mean you're... You don't necessarily have to be afraid to say or speak out or things like that. You should be wise because if you're not going to be heard, then there's no point in speaking out. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:03 Highlight the passage at 1:02:03

1:02:31 And that comes by example. But it shouldn't be coming from a place of fear. It should be coming from a place of cherishing others, benefiting others. And you can recognize that because the... Dialogue we're talking about here is not the one out there, what's happening with this person and there. The one that's really happening is the one that's happening with you. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:31 Highlight the passage at 1:02:31

1:02:57 Your dialogue, your mental dialogue. If there's fear there, then there's self-cherishing behind it. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:57 Highlight the passage at 1:02:57

1:03:10 And if you really, really carefully consider, even though you yourself are limited in your wisdom, so maybe you're not necessarily making the best decision, but if you're okay with, That it's benefiting others, then go ahead. But it may not play out that way. It didn't yesterday, did it? The city of San Francisco did not play out the way the city of San Francisco wanted it to. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:10 Highlight the passage at 1:03:10

1:03:43 I mean, this is the city and the whole world for human rights. People really strongly believe in human rights, basic human rights, and we come out on the streets in support of basic human rights. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:43 Highlight the passage at 1:03:43

1:04:05 And that was completely stepped on yesterday, completely stepped on by our own political leaders. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:05 Highlight the passage at 1:04:05

1:04:19 And it's very sad. But I can say, you know, I mean, I have to look at myself. It's like, OK, I can get angry. I can get sad, which is more likely the case. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:19 Highlight the passage at 1:04:19

1:04:34 But there's still that sadness is self-cherishing behind it. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:34 Highlight the passage at 1:04:34

1:04:41 But it's very, very, I mean, it's extremely sad. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:41 Highlight the passage at 1:04:41

1:04:47 What happened yesterday? I mean, in other ways it was good, because there was a message that still got crossed, but, you know, for most of us, the way we define our city as a bastion of human rights, that was just totally disregarded. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:47 Highlight the passage at 1:04:47

1:05:12 Totally disregarded. I Report an error in the passage at 1:05:12 Highlight the passage at 1:05:12

1:05:23 agree with you, and I also think even though that's what happened... My family's back in the Midwest and they saw everything that was going on here in the news, not in the same detail that we did, but it's raising an awareness. Yeah, no, I'm, you know, I know, you know, but that's sort of the positive spin I was thinking about is that I talked to my sister today and she said, well, why was everybody so upset? Report an error in the passage at 1:05:23 Highlight the passage at 1:05:23

1:05:49 I'm like, don't you know what's going on in Tibet? And, you know, it just got us talking about all that. Yeah, no, I think in some ways, in fact, what happened, I mean, in the end, just because of what having to change everything and the deceit that went on around the whole thing, in the end, they lost. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:49 Highlight the passage at 1:05:49

1:06:13 The Chinese government lost. I mean, but this is how they operate. They were determined to do it at whatever cost it took. And they did. And the city of San Francisco's leaders went along with it. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:13 Highlight the passage at 1:06:13

1:06:31 And it's sad. It's extremely sad Report an error in the passage at 1:06:31 Highlight the passage at 1:06:31

1:06:38 because this is not what the people of San Francisco stand for. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:38 Highlight the passage at 1:06:38

1:06:50 But then it wasn't glorious. I know, it wasn't glorious. It was a very disappointment. But at the same time, you know, I mean, and this public relations kind of, it kind of reminded me, we were talking before class tonight, like George Bush and the naval carrier, mission accomplished. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:50 Highlight the passage at 1:06:50

1:07:11 Just the whole staging of it. And here we have used our city with the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge and all these wonderful views of the city for this torch. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:11 Highlight the passage at 1:07:11

1:07:23 With isolating the fact that this whole torch became such a symbol of opposition to the human rights record of China. As if you could separate those two. And you can't. I mean, in some ways, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:23 Highlight the passage at 1:07:23

1:07:44 It's a very, very interesting thing. I think for me the biggest thing that makes me sad is just because of everything I believed in in San Francisco for its basic stand on human rights and its willingness to take that stand to the world. We are the city and the only city in America that closed down when the war in Iraq started. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:44 Highlight the passage at 1:07:44

1:08:15 We shut the city down because it wasn't right. Granted, it's David going against Goliath, but these are very basic human principles. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:15 Highlight the passage at 1:08:15

1:08:34 I agree that in some ways there might have been some public safety concerns. If that was the case, if realistically that was the case, they should have cancelled. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:34 Highlight the passage at 1:08:34

1:08:48 If there was actual public safety issues that they were not willing to... compromise on, it should have been cancelled. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:48 Highlight the passage at 1:08:48

1:09:07 I think they were just trying to, yeah, it was, you could, I mean, you could sense, I mean, I was in that area, but you could sense that there was, it was, could be, could have been volatile for sure. But, you know, I mean, Report an error in the passage at 1:09:07 Highlight the passage at 1:09:07

1:09:29 anyway, I mean, it's just, you know, it's just a sad day in San Francisco's history. You know, in some ways. In other ways, we won. In other ways, we won, yeah. But at the same time, the city was kind of, it's kind of, I don't know, I mean, Report an error in the passage at 1:09:29 Highlight the passage at 1:09:29

1:09:53 yeah. Well, also, it's kind of like, you know, you use the city for photo op for the Chinese government. You know, it's kind of like... They have their torch and they have the beautiful city of San Francisco. And you know, I mean, just the way that, I mean, you could, from before when it was happening in Paris and London and you were, I was watching on the internet the news that was going to China and how, you know, they would just take a snippet to show the torch in London or Paris, you know, without anything else. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:53 Highlight the passage at 1:09:53

1:10:26 And that's the way they control things. And now they have a couple beautiful images, I'm sure, of the torch on the Golden Gate Bridge. And this is something that we allowed. We allowed it. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:26 Highlight the passage at 1:10:26

1:10:52 Yeah, I know. But I think in some ways it's like this is the way. I mean, this is more the way the Chinese operate. The Chinese government operates. This is not the way that we operate. Here in America. And that's, I think, kind of unsettling. I mean, it doesn't mean that we don't do the same thing. I mean, when Bush goes around, they have the protesters two miles away from Bush. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:52 Highlight the passage at 1:10:52

1:11:19 It's a motorcade route for sure. So it doesn't mean it doesn't happen here. But we don't expect it from in our city so much, really. But anyway, so looking at that, there's this sense of sadness. And that's something I have to look at. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:19 Highlight the passage at 1:11:19

1:11:39 Because, of course, it is my view. And there are different ways of seeing it. And maybe the benefit overall, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:39 Highlight the passage at 1:11:39

1:12:00 Well, you come to identify, yes. I mean, I come to identify. I've lived over 20 years in San Francisco. I remember from traveling around the world that deciding that this was one place I could live, you know, having been exposed to different views and things like that. And it is rather special. I mean, I'm very fortunate because of the Dharma, all the Dharma that's here and all the openness and tolerance. And I am very, very proud of the fact that this is such an open and accepting city. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:00 Highlight the passage at 1:12:00

1:12:34 You know, it's not what doesn't have its faults, for sure. But when you go around the world, you realize how precious this city really is. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:34 Highlight the passage at 1:12:34

1:12:44 So, anyway, don't have to spend too much more time on this. But it does help give us a good example. Okay, so exchanging the self with others. We're going to have a meditation now where we're going to actually do an exchange. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:44 Highlight the passage at 1:12:44

1:13:07 I guess I'll just guide you through it. It's called Tonglen. It's called giving and taking. And we're going to spend a few minutes just focusing on the breath and then doing a short visualization. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:07 Highlight the passage at 1:13:07

1:13:22 And basically it's something you can do just breathing. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:22 Highlight the passage at 1:13:22

1:13:31 Okay, Report an error in the passage at 1:13:31 Highlight the passage at 1:13:31

1:13:38 just get yourself in your meditation position and keep your attention focused on the breath for a few minutes. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:38 Highlight the passage at 1:13:38

1:13:52 Calm the mind down. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:52 Highlight the passage at 1:13:52

· · · silence, 2 minutes

1:15:35 In the space in front of you, you're going to imagine yourself surrounded by your family and friends. Take Report an error in the passage at 1:15:35 Highlight the passage at 1:15:35

1:15:46 a few moments to just picture them clearly. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:46 Highlight the passage at 1:15:46

1:16:17 Then beyond that, your neighbors, your co-workers, the people of San Francisco, The Bay Area and Report an error in the passage at 1:16:17 Highlight the passage at 1:16:17

1:16:31 beyond. So imagine as far into space, into infinity, all these beings, all human in form at this point. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:31 Highlight the passage at 1:16:31

1:16:50 The sick, the elderly, the lonely, the homeless, the fat, the skinny, the white, the black, the poor, the rich. All these different myriad of human beings as far as you can see surrounding you. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:50 Highlight the passage at 1:16:50

· · · silence, 1 minute

1:17:37 Now imagine. All their suffering arising in the form of black acrid smoke. And Report an error in the passage at 1:17:37 Highlight the passage at 1:17:37

1:18:02 at your heart is this black lump, hard as coal, like a black piece of coal. It's all your self-cherishing, the me, I, I want this, I am important, I, I, I, I, me, me, me, in the form of this thick lump of black. So Report an error in the passage at 1:18:02 Highlight the passage at 1:18:02

1:18:32 now as you breathe in. You breathe in all this smoke. It rises up through your nostrils, up to the crown of your head, then goes down the central channel to your heart where this black lump is located. So as you breathe in, you take on all this suffering in the form of this black smoke. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:32 Highlight the passage at 1:18:32

1:19:00 And as it comes to this black lump, it completely obliterates it so intensely that it's smashed into... Smithereens, there's no particles left. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:00 Highlight the passage at 1:19:00

1:19:16 In its place is blissful, radiant white light, loving kindness, compassion, complete bliss, white light. As you breathe out, you breathe out this white light. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:16 Highlight the passage at 1:19:16

1:19:38 As soon as this white light touches yourself on the outside, your friends, your family members, it makes them completely blissed out. It takes away all their fear, their anger. Their attachment, their suffering brings them complete happiness. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:38 Highlight the passage at 1:19:38

1:20:11 So breathe in smoke, suffering. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:11 Highlight the passage at 1:20:11

1:20:20 Breathe out light, love, happiness. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:20 Highlight the passage at 1:20:20

1:20:49 As you breathe in black smoke, Report an error in the passage at 1:20:49 Highlight the passage at 1:20:49

1:20:55 breathe out white light. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:55 Highlight the passage at 1:20:55

1:21:15 Breathe in suffering, Report an error in the passage at 1:21:15 Highlight the passage at 1:21:15

1:21:23 breathe out happiness. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:23 Highlight the passage at 1:21:23

· · · silence, 1 minute

1:22:36 Breathe in suffering, Report an error in the passage at 1:22:36 Highlight the passage at 1:22:36

1:22:41 breathe out happiness. Breathe Report an error in the passage at 1:22:41 Highlight the passage at 1:22:41

· · · silence, 3 minutes

1:25:30 in all your problems. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:30 Highlight the passage at 1:25:30

1:25:36 Breathe out the happiness. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:36 Highlight the passage at 1:25:36

· · · silence, 1 minute

1:26:41 The idea is to keep this mounted on the breath. Since we're breathing in and out all day long, this is a practice we could be doing all day long, taking on the suffering of others, bringing them our happiness and joy. Report an error in the passage at 1:26:41 Highlight the passage at 1:26:41

1:27:01 Just breathing in and out, very easy. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:01 Highlight the passage at 1:27:01

1:27:08 Any questions, thoughts? It's actually quite a powerful meditation, has it? Yeah. I mean, I've heard some very amazing stories of people who do this practice that's cured some illnesses, things like that. It comes recommended sometimes in very difficult situations for people, and it completely shifts things around. But for me personally, I haven't had that experience so much, but I don't discount it either. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:08 Highlight the passage at 1:27:08

1:27:43 But it's more like, it just really is quite simple. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:43 Highlight the passage at 1:27:43

1:27:50 practice and Report an error in the passage at 1:27:50 Highlight the passage at 1:27:50

1:27:55 its own side it's really just seems to work Report an error in the passage at 1:27:55 Highlight the passage at 1:27:55

1:28:02 too hard. nothing wrong with the concept. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:02 Highlight the passage at 1:28:02

1:28:10 questions, thoughts? Report an error in the passage at 1:28:10 Highlight the passage at 1:28:10

1:28:15 take some practice, it in on the in-breath and out. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:15 Highlight the passage at 1:28:15

1:28:28 So, I Report an error in the passage at 1:28:28 Highlight the passage at 1:28:28

1:28:45 had this thought that Report an error in the passage at 1:28:45 Highlight the passage at 1:28:45

1:28:52 there might be a way in which we could practice cherishing others in an engaged... I Report an error in the passage at 1:28:52 Highlight the passage at 1:28:52

1:29:11 don't know what people's time's like and I'm sure people are busy so trying to schedule something might be difficult but is there a way in which we can find a way we could actually engage Report an error in the passage at 1:29:11 Highlight the passage at 1:29:11

1:29:27 cherishing others? Maybe a non-profit that we could contact or learn more about. Maybe that would be a nice homework assignment. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:27 Highlight the passage at 1:29:27

1:29:46 Learn something about Not someone, a non-profit you already know, but learn something about the work they do, how they benefit others. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:46 Highlight the passage at 1:29:46

1:30:00 So just, you know, do some research. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:00 Highlight the passage at 1:30:00

1:30:09 Contact them and Report an error in the passage at 1:30:09 Highlight the passage at 1:30:09

1:30:16 see if they have someone who would come in and talk about the work they do. Yeah, for maybe a half hour to the group. And then we can talk about it and see if we can schedule it during our last meeting. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:16 Highlight the passage at 1:30:16

1:30:37 How's that? Is that an okay thing? So we Report an error in the passage at 1:30:37 Highlight the passage at 1:30:37

1:30:44 have three more, I think. Is that right? I can look at my calendar. There's class next week, which is the 17th. There's no class on the 24th. And then there's a class on the 1st and the 8th of May. So let's shoot for the May 8th. But see if you can try to do contact. Initiate contact because next week we could talk about it and then we'd have a couple weeks to actually see if we can make something happen. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:44 Highlight the passage at 1:30:44

1:31:34 With the example of cherishing others. It can be something simple. It can be something very human. We all go, I mean, Report an error in the passage at 1:31:34 Highlight the passage at 1:31:34

1:31:47 anything. I'm open. There's lots of ideas. Okay? What? Report an error in the passage at 1:31:47 Highlight the passage at 1:31:47

1:31:59 Well... We can. I hadn't really scheduled it because the end part of May gets Chodron Rinpoche here visiting for two weeks after this is finished. And June gets Report an error in the passage at 1:31:59 Highlight the passage at 1:31:59

1:32:29 a little bit tricky depending upon whether Monlam goes out of town. He might be out of town most of a good chunk of June. But I haven't forgotten it. How many people are interested in a practice day? One, two, three, four, five. Okay. Report an error in the passage at 1:32:29 Highlight the passage at 1:32:29

1:33:04 How many are interested in a practice day that doesn't necessarily all have to happen in the gompa? This is the gompa, by the way. How many people would be interested in a practice day where we took part of it out on the streets? Report an error in the passage at 1:33:04 Highlight the passage at 1:33:04

1:33:20 Not a park. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:20 Highlight the passage at 1:33:20

1:33:29 Okay, let me see what I can do. I can't get you all into the prison. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:29 Highlight the passage at 1:33:29

1:33:40 Well, it's hard to get a large group into the prison. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:40 Highlight the passage at 1:33:40

1:33:50 The prison I go to is actually also two hours away. I think they would be, yeah, not this large of a group. One-on-one they might be more open to. And I haven't, you know, anyway. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:50 Highlight the passage at 1:33:50

1:34:08 You know, let's look at things. So anyway, you guys have your homework. It would be really nice if you just made a few phone calls or go on the internet and find out some things, talk to someone and see if there's some, and then we can talk about it next week and see which one we'd like to actually follow up with. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:08 Highlight the passage at 1:34:08

1:34:26 Okay, thank you. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:26 Highlight the passage at 1:34:26

1:34:38 turn it off to him right either. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:38 Highlight the passage at 1:34:38

1:34:42 Caught on to. Should we dedicate? We should dedicate, we did dedicate, we did. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:42 Highlight the passage at 1:34:42

1:34:56 All the energy, positive energy we have from taking this time, may it be cause for extreme happiness in all of the world, may this planet heal, let's joy of all of its beings Report an error in the passage at 1:34:56 Highlight the passage at 1:34:56

1:35:19 recognize the basic values, sustain us day to day of human rights, the joy that comes from respecting each other. The very basic elements of health, education, self-determination, food, clothing, shelter, all met for everyone. Report an error in the passage at 1:35:19 Highlight the passage at 1:35:19

1:35:53 All beings have happiness and peace of mind in all of their actions. Report an error in the passage at 1:35:53 Highlight the passage at 1:35:53

1:36:07 I have an idea. Report an error in the passage at 1:36:07 Highlight the passage at 1:36:07

1:36:14 member of team going to a treatment center, I'm a It's just an interesting idea. It's certainly awesome. I don't know, just an idea. I mean, I definitely, I, Well, that's one thing. Report an error in the passage at 1:36:14 Highlight the passage at 1:36:14