The Spiritual Teacher - Discovering Buddhism (part 4)

0:01 Oh, money pay me home. Report an error in the passage at 0:01 Highlight the passage at 0:01

0:09 the best place to hook this? Report an error in the passage at 0:09 Highlight the passage at 0:09

0:17 Well, that's probably why we have an attendant, right? like that, so that I can do that, but I can't really. Report an error in the passage at 0:17 Highlight the passage at 0:17

0:28 Yeah, that's better, yeah, that's good. Report an error in the passage at 0:28 Highlight the passage at 0:28

0:35 kept falling off venerable reina this weekend. At one point, she just was holding it and talking into All right, so thanks. For your patience, we just had to bring peace to the planet before we could move on with our class. This is a solar eclipse. It's a really powerful day, so you should try to remember to do as much virtue as you can. Sounding like I'm getting a little bit of feedback. Report an error in the passage at 0:35 Highlight the passage at 0:35

1:10 Just a little loud, yeah. Like there should be more people in here. Testing, testing, testing. That's a little better. Yeah, yeah. Report an error in the passage at 1:10 Highlight the passage at 1:10

1:26 Omar, he's been there, Omar, he's been there, Omar. Report an error in the passage at 1:26 Highlight the passage at 1:26

1:33 little bit, yeah. Is that yeah. that's good. All right, Report an error in the passage at 1:33 Highlight the passage at 1:33

1:49 so let's just start with a little meditation, which Brett, of course, should be leading. Report an error in the passage at 1:49 Highlight the passage at 1:49

2:02 If he does, then maybe the deer will come in as well. All Report an error in the passage at 2:02 Highlight the passage at 2:02

2:10 small children are coming. That's a good sign. Report an error in the passage at 2:10 Highlight the passage at 2:10

2:15 Okay, so just check your posture. Let yourself be really well grounded onto your cushion. Check your spine and your shoulders. You might roll them a few times. Put them back. Report an error in the passage at 2:15 Highlight the passage at 2:15

2:33 Let your hands be comfortable in your lap, right over left thumbs touching lightly or on your two knees. Report an error in the passage at 2:33 Highlight the passage at 2:33

2:50 Your eyes either lightly closed or open and unfocused, gazing off the end of your nose. On the carpet and Report an error in the passage at 2:50 Highlight the passage at 2:50

3:07 the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth but not touching. Chin Report an error in the passage at 3:07 Highlight the passage at 3:07

3:15 just slightly tucked under and Report an error in the passage at 3:15 Highlight the passage at 3:15

3:29 breathing just relaxed and natural. Report an error in the passage at 3:29 Highlight the passage at 3:29

3:43 You can just start with taking three deep cleansing breaths and with each in-breath letting yourself become more and more present and letting go of whatever might be keeping you from being totally present. So any distractions from what The sūtra reading or whatever conversations you were just having, your day, whatever you've been working on at work, whatever your plans are for the week, all of it can be left at the door. Report an error in the passage at 3:43 Highlight the passage at 3:43

4:19 Just focus your mind here, right now, on this class. Report an error in the passage at 4:19 Highlight the passage at 4:19

4:45 And then just focus on your breath, letting your awareness come to the breath exactly as it is, not trying to change it in any way. If it helps, you can count. Just try to do a couple of rounds without letting your mind wander. Report an error in the passage at 4:45 Highlight the passage at 4:45

5:01 If it helps, you can think that each in-breath is bringing fresh awareness, vigilance, focus and concentration. And each out-breath is letting go of all the distractions, any thoughts, anything that's keeping you from being present. Report an error in the passage at 5:01 Highlight the passage at 5:01

· · · silence, 2 minutes

6:55 Mind is more calm and clear. Report an error in the passage at 6:55 Highlight the passage at 6:55

7:01 Visualize in the space above your head a small sphere of white light, Report an error in the passage at 7:01 Highlight the passage at 7:01

7:09 pure, transparent and formless. Report an error in the passage at 7:09 Highlight the passage at 7:09

7:16 I'll just spend a few moments concentrating on the presence of this light. It doesn't matter if it's not so clear or sharp. It's just enough to know that it's there. Report an error in the passage at 7:16 Highlight the passage at 7:16

7:45 Contemplate that this sphere of light represents all universal goodness, all love, wisdom, all the highest qualities you can perfect, the fulfillment of your own highest potential. Report an error in the passage at 7:45 Highlight the passage at 7:45

8:18 And then imagine it decreasing until it's the size of a small bird's egg. Maybe an inch in diameter and then it dissolves into light and descends to the crown of your head into your heart center. Report an error in the passage at 8:18 Highlight the passage at 8:18

8:46 From your heart it expands again and spreads to fill your entire body. Report an error in the passage at 8:46 Highlight the passage at 8:46

8:57 And as it fills your body all the solid parts dissolve and become light. Report an error in the passage at 8:57 Highlight the passage at 8:57

9:06 Your organs, your bones, your blood vessels, tissues, even your skin all become pure formless white light. Report an error in the passage at 9:06 Highlight the passage at 9:06

9:24 Concentrate on this experience of your body as light and Report an error in the passage at 9:24 Highlight the passage at 9:24

9:41 think that all your problems, your worries, any negative states of mind, all your obstacles completely vanish and you reach a state of wholeness and perfection. Report an error in the passage at 9:41 Highlight the passage at 9:41

10:04 Just rest in this state of bliss. Report an error in the passage at 10:04 Highlight the passage at 10:04

10:14 Any thought or distraction, let it dissolve into this white light. Report an error in the passage at 10:14 Highlight the passage at 10:14

· · · silence, 1 minute

10:53 Let's motivate this class tonight. To each one of us being able to take these teachings, apply them, work with them, and then embody them so that we can each become enlightened beings and be able to benefit others perfectly. When Report an error in the passage at 10:53 Highlight the passage at 10:53

11:37 you're ready, you can end your meditation. Report an error in the passage at 11:37 Highlight the passage at 11:37

11:45 And the small child is still there. Report an error in the passage at 11:45 Highlight the passage at 11:45

11:51 Could you get the prayer books? Yeah. Well Report an error in the passage at 11:51 Highlight the passage at 11:51

12:01 done. The white one. He's confused. Oh, everyone else got one. I'm the only one who did. That's okay. I could probably fake it, but when you're leading it, you just like to make sure you have it in front of you. So we're just going to do the opening prayer by His Holiness. Page 8. Report an error in the passage at 12:01 Highlight the passage at 12:01

12:24 With the wish to free all beings, I shall always go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha until I reach full enlightenment. Inspired by wisdom and compassion. Today in the Buddha's presence, I generate the mind of full awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings. As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world. Report an error in the passage at 12:24 Highlight the passage at 12:24

12:53 With the wish to free all beings, I shall always go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha, full enlightenment, inspired wisdom and compassion. Today in the Buddha's presence, I generate the mind of full awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings. As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world. Report an error in the passage at 12:53 Highlight the passage at 12:53

13:23 With the wish to free all beings, I shall always go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma and Saṅgha until I reach full enlightenment. Inspired by wisdom and compassion, today in the Buddha's presence I generate the mind of full awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings. As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world. Report an error in the passage at 13:23 Highlight the passage at 13:23

13:59 I think they've moved in below. Report an error in the passage at 13:59 Highlight the passage at 13:59

14:07 Dare I ask how it went this week? I saw you here on Saturday. How did that go? Did that help shed a little light on the whole karma situation? Yeah, yeah. It's useful timing, wasn't it? Report an error in the passage at 14:07 Highlight the passage at 14:07

14:24 Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Good, good, good. And it's like, you know, I mean, with karma, it's so complex. We can get a simple working knowledge of it and then it's like you keep getting a deeper and deeper knowledge of it over time. And as I said, the next class actually that I'll be teaching on Thursday nights, on Thursday nights will be the karma class, all about karma. Report an error in the passage at 14:24 Highlight the passage at 14:24

14:47 So it'll be, I think, seven weeks on only karma. So we should be able to answer more of your questions. We got into karma hot and heavy last week in the last. 15 minutes. It was like, well, should we take a break or just ask a few questions? Report an error in the passage at 14:47 Highlight the passage at 14:47

15:08 Anything else from the reading or from the meditating or from just thinking or anything else that came up for anybody? Report an error in the passage at 15:08 Highlight the passage at 15:08

15:20 Well, it's not like it's your only moment, so you can always ask later. Something comes to you. Report an error in the passage at 15:20 Highlight the passage at 15:20

15:31 Did you have another one, Cedric? Which is kind of a holly. Report an error in the passage at 15:31 Highlight the passage at 15:31

15:34 You look like you were contemplating. We should use the talking stick. Report an error in the passage at 15:34 Highlight the passage at 15:34

15:43 Well, if it comes to you, I'll try to remember to ask more questions. And I'm sure there'll be tons of questions tonight by the material. Report an error in the passage at 15:43 Highlight the passage at 15:43

15:54 Tonight we're actually going to do, we're going to go over sort of the essence of two different texts. So you can see how quickly we'll go. One of them is called the 50 Stanzas on the Spiritual Teacher or the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion, which used to be a required reading and I noticed they changed it now this year. Report an error in the passage at 15:54 Highlight the passage at 15:54

16:15 Last year it was required reading and I thought it was a bit much actually. Sometimes it's a bit heavy when people read this. But what I thought I would do last year when it was the required reading was just go through and try to give sort of the essence of what... What the verses were saying, rather than going through all 50 verses, just going through sort of the essence of the main ones. Which I suppose in a nutshell you could just say, don't upset your teacher ever. Report an error in the passage at 16:15 Highlight the passage at 16:15

16:44 But I mean, we'll get into sort of more about that. And then there is a text that's called the Nine Attitudes of Guru Devotion. And that comes from a sūtra called the Array of Stalk Sūtra. Report an error in the passage at 16:44 Highlight the passage at 16:44

17:01 So we'll talk about those two. Now both of these are ones that I would never talk about in the first class and even doing it in the fifth class is sort of, you know, it's like, hmm, you know, I'm not sure that all teachers would do it. I think it's useful because I think it sort of gives us an idea of how to behave around our teacher and how to interrelate with our teachers once we've chosen them. Report an error in the passage at 17:01 Highlight the passage at 17:01

17:26 Now this is only... This is only really dealing with those teachers that you decide, if you're looking, remember at our list of eight, those who we would consider a guru. I mean, it's good for you to respect all your teachers. Don't spit at me when I walk through the room, but it's not talking about somebody at my level. It's not talking about somebody that you're still checking out. Report an error in the passage at 17:26 Highlight the passage at 17:26

17:48 It's not talking about somebody that you would go to an informational teaching, like Rubina, perhaps, for you on Saturday, assuming that was your first time. Report an error in the passage at 17:48 Highlight the passage at 17:48

17:57 It's not really talking about that, although it is, I mean, some of them are just sort of common sense. And so I think you'll be able to tell the difference between the two. But I find them useful because they also tell a little bit about sort of what, probably how our gurus will act with their gurus. Report an error in the passage at 17:57 Highlight the passage at 17:57

18:16 And so you'll see that when you watch them with their gurus, and it kind of gives us an idea of their, I don't know what the, Right where it is, but just sort of how they would be behaving. And so for me, I want to know that because I want to behave in the proper way with my group. So that's kind of where I'm coming from with this. Again, if we think about it in terms of karma, we're thinking about creating the causes to keep them in our lives and to always keep them in our lives, to always stay connected with these teachers. Report an error in the passage at 18:16 Highlight the passage at 18:16

18:55 And we do that by... Respecting them, honoring them and so forth. So it's creating the karmic seeds to keep these teachers in our lives. Report an error in the passage at 18:55 Highlight the passage at 18:55

19:09 So it's possible too that when you hear these you'll think well these are really dated time wise. They were of course written thousands of years ago in some cases. Or they're culturally based and they aren't relevant to... To this day and age. But again, if you're thinking about somebody that you spent up to 12 years figuring out is the one who's going to take you to enlightenment, that bit is probably going to carry, it's going to be about the same. Report an error in the passage at 19:09 Highlight the passage at 19:09

19:45 I mean, it's beyond somebody that we're thinking of like a piano teacher or any other kind of worldly teacher, a chef who might teach you something. We're talking about somebody who is actually going to take us all the way to enlightenment, which is like already this It's a stretch of our imagination, of our mind. And that's also assuming that you already want to get enlightened. So you've got to get to a certain point where you know you want to get enlightened and then you've got to get to a certain point where you know you want to find somebody who can take you there and then you've got to get to someplace where you actually have found somebody who you believe can take you there. Report an error in the passage at 19:45 Highlight the passage at 19:45

20:19 Then how do you treat that being? It's like beyond anything that we've experienced in a more worldly sense. Report an error in the passage at 20:19 Highlight the passage at 20:19

20:31 So, remembering too that those first few years where you're checking up on this guru, he or she is checking up on you too and trying to see whether you're a qualified vessel. Report an error in the passage at 20:31 Highlight the passage at 20:31

20:46 So anyway, so we'll start with the 50 stanzas on the spiritual teacher or I learned it as the 50 verses of guru devotion. So this text is totally based. On how to cultivate a proper relationship between yourself or the proper student once we decide that we actually are capable of being a disciple, which is already big leap. Report an error in the passage at 20:46 Highlight the passage at 20:46

21:11 And it's basically covering Dharma etiquette in a way that we might not know. Some of it is stuff that we might not even think about. I didn't even look at this text until... Like years into it. Of course after you've already done a lot of things wrong. So I'm trying to like save you from doing things and having people like rip hats off your head in the middle of teachings and things like that that you just might not know. Report an error in the passage at 21:11 Highlight the passage at 21:11

21:37 You know the Dharma police are everywhere. So just not that you guys have to all become Dharma police. And actually once you do, once you take Tantra, this becomes a commitment to follow the 50 verses of Guru Devotion. And they cover it like in one bow, like all 50 verses. So you're like, oh, what's that? And then of course you get a copy of it. Report an error in the passage at 21:37 Highlight the passage at 21:37

22:02 So I'm giving you a preview. This will also help you decide when and where you're ready for entering Tantra. So the first one, I think I condensed it. Let's see. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Report an error in the passage at 22:02 Highlight the passage at 22:02

22:22 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. So I condensed a few, about 20 out of it. Once you have a guru or a Lama, and this is again talking about qualified guru or Lama, then you're supposed to prostrate to them every day, three times a day. Report an error in the passage at 22:22 Highlight the passage at 22:22

22:46 And again, you can do, this counts as a prostration, which is a good one to remember if you're really tired. Or you can even do a mental prostration, in your mind prostrate to them. And of course this is true if they aren't with you in person as well. So it's not like you only need to do that one if you happen to be living in the same house with them. It's not like easy out if you're not. So this is actually when you wake up in the morning, you're supposed to do a prostration to them. Report an error in the passage at 22:46 Highlight the passage at 22:46

23:16 And you're actually supposed to do a prostration to them when you go to bed at night. But it does say three times a day, so I don't know. Report an error in the passage at 23:16 Highlight the passage at 23:16

23:26 This is interesting, and this is, I think... all. Thank you. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 23:26 Highlight the passage at 23:26

23:29 Some of these, I think, get a little technical. But, you know, again, it's really all of these are about us watching our minds. So they're really about us cultivating respect. Report an error in the passage at 23:29 Highlight the passage at 23:29

23:40 If our guru is lower than us in terms of ordination, or if they're lay and like I'm ordained and I have my guru, a lay person, then it's not really appropriate for me to prostrate to them in public, but I have to prostrate to them in my mind. So if this were the situation, I think all of my... All of my gurus actually are ordained. But if one of them were to disrobe, for example, it's not really appropriate for me to prostrate to them in public with my body, but always to prostrate with my mind. Report an error in the passage at 23:40 Highlight the passage at 23:40

24:14 And this one actually comes in quite handy. I remember hearing some senior Saṅgha member told me, and this doesn't even have to be your teacher, but if it's somebody that you really, really honor and respect, maybe you know a little something about a certain practitioner that you really honor them. Then you can always prostrate to them in your mind. And you don't have to make a big show then. It doesn't have to be this big thing of like, oh, you're so amazing. Report an error in the passage at 24:14 Highlight the passage at 24:14

24:39 You'd be like fawning all over them. But you might know a little something about them. I mean, like Tiziana, for example, who would die if she heard this tape. But I just think she's an amazing being. She was in our classes, you know, last term. Prostrate in your mind. You know, I had this situation where I was in New York, First Holiness' teachings, last fall. Report an error in the passage at 24:39 Highlight the passage at 24:39

24:59 And I happened, coincidentally, to be able to walk down Broadway with Rinpoche for 20 blocks. And I couldn't think of a word to say to him, but in my mind I was like prostrate, prostrate, prostrate, just trying to honor him the whole way. And he was like all casual, you know, he was like, oh, how are things, you know, and all this stuff. Report an error in the passage at 24:59 Highlight the passage at 24:59

25:20 But I'm just like, in my mind, just because I just knew, you know, that that was the most important thing for me to do was just to honor him. So you might get caught in an elevator, say, with His Holiness or something like that, you know, and just frustrated in your mind. And that way it doesn't have to be like this huge, like falling on the ground at the airport or something like that, which of course is wonderful if you can do it with a pure mind. Report an error in the passage at 25:20 Highlight the passage at 25:20

25:42 I've never been able to do it too self-conscious. So do this. This is like a good little, like, you know, how to be a respectful student without drawing attention to yourself. Kind of a fun fact to know and tell. Report an error in the passage at 25:42 Highlight the passage at 25:42

25:57 You should always show respect when he or she enters a room by rising. So it doesn't even mean just at a teaching, just if they happen to walk into the room. Now some of these will only happen for you right now at a teaching, and that's fine. But just to know, and some of these of course I think are quite common sense, especially if it's somebody that you already honor. Report an error in the passage at 25:57 Highlight the passage at 25:57

26:21 You know, if they enter a room, it seems almost like crazy that you wouldn't leap up, but I've seen people not leap up, so I think it does make sense to know this one. If they walk into the room and they're, say, new, say they've arrived earlier than we expected, Chad's the only one in the room, then you might want to, like, kind of offer him a seat, him or her a seat. Report an error in the passage at 26:21 Highlight the passage at 26:21

26:45 So if they are coming into the room, you would offer them a seat. If you're the only one here, which probably won't happen, but say they sneak in and we aren't ready for them, we're all upstairs fixing the room, it's really good for them to offer him a seat when he first comes in, if you're the only one here. Report an error in the passage at 26:45 Highlight the passage at 26:45

27:03 He's panicking. Okay, no, it's not a teaching. Say he's just walked into the room. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, this is actually the best seat to offer, unless there's a higher throne, in which case you would offer that. Report an error in the passage at 27:03 Highlight the passage at 27:03

27:23 Again, this next one talks about how there is mutual examination beforehand, and they actually phrase it to determine if each can brave a guru-disciple relationship, which gives you a hint of how heavy that relationship is. Report an error in the passage at 27:23 Highlight the passage at 27:23

27:42 The text then goes on with several verses about the qualities that you should be looking for in a guru, and we've talked about the qualities in the last few. You've got the documents, right? You have some reading to do. I'm sure. Report an error in the passage at 27:42 Highlight the passage at 27:42

27:54 One of them says, and I quote, a disciple with sense shouldn't accept as his guru someone lacking compassion or who is angry, vicious or arrogant, possessive, undisciplined or boasts of his knowledge. Now remembering, of course, that we may have delusions and see somebody that way and they aren't actually like that. Report an error in the passage at 27:54 Highlight the passage at 27:54

28:19 So that's a hard one. Why would you accept that person Well, you clearly are a disciple with sense. Report an error in the passage at 28:19 Highlight the passage at 28:19

28:28 I don't know. You might be impressed by their teaching or something, you know. So, you know, those qualities may not bother you, but this is saying that that's really, like, that should send up a red flag. Report an error in the passage at 28:28 Highlight the passage at 28:28

28:41 And we've all heard stories of, like, Marfa and some of the famous disciple guru stories where the guru did manifest in a wrathful form. Report an error in the passage at 28:41 Highlight the passage at 28:41

28:51 Go to Rubina sometimes. sometimes manifest in a wrathful form. As somebody who has spent a lot of time with her, I can see that she has a clarity beyond anything that I've seen. So you don't want to have that be your only, you know, so you run the other direction, in other words. Report an error in the passage at 28:51 Highlight the passage at 28:51

29:10 But, you know, use your wisdom, basically. A lot of these are like, use your wisdom, use your wisdom, which is one thing that Rinpoche always says all the time, use your wisdom. Report an error in the passage at 29:10 Highlight the passage at 29:10

29:21 A guru should be, do you want me to read those again? A disciple with sense shouldn't accept as his guru, his or her guru, I'm going to update this, someone lacking compassion, who is angry, vicious, or arrogant, Report an error in the passage at 29:21 Highlight the passage at 29:21

29:45 possessive, undisciplined, or boasts of his knowledge. Report an error in the passage at 29:45 Highlight the passage at 29:45

29:53 So, anti-equalities, I suppose. Report an error in the passage at 29:53 Highlight the passage at 29:53

29:58 A guru, and then the positive, the guru should be stable in his actions. Report an error in the passage at 29:58 Highlight the passage at 29:58

30:08 Yeah, this is all still part of, this is like what you're checking out in mutual examination. Stable in his actions, so you would see that over time, right? Somebody's behavior is stable over time. Think about Geshe-la, talk about stability. Cultivated in his speech, Report an error in the passage at 30:08 Highlight the passage at 30:08

30:30 wise, patient and honest. Basically like a good boy scout. Report an error in the passage at 30:30 Highlight the passage at 30:30

30:43 This is an interesting one. He should neither conceal his shortcomings nor pretend to possess qualities he lacks. Report an error in the passage at 30:43 Highlight the passage at 30:43

30:53 So they may be humble, but they aren't going to out and out. You know, they aren't going to say, I have not had a direct perception of emptiness. What they will say is that I am a simple monk. You know, they'll phrase it in a way that, like, they aren't out and out denying. Report an error in the passage at 30:53 Highlight the passage at 30:53

31:13 Or they'll say, you know, in a teaching they'll say, Beginners like us, you know, Renee always does that. Beginners like us, you know, or actually I've heard Rinpoche say that too. But beginners like us, when we have to start, you know, with the lamrim or something like that, you know, very, very humble. This is still part of the same thing. Report an error in the passage at 31:13 Highlight the passage at 31:13

31:37 This is basically a list, a laundry list. He should be an expert in the meaning of tantra and its ritual procedures. Report an error in the passage at 31:37 Highlight the passage at 31:37

31:49 I should have loving compassion and a complete knowledge of the scriptures. So some of these are repeats from the list, right? From the main list of ten qualities. Report an error in the passage at 31:49 Highlight the passage at 31:49

32:07 And then it gets into really some specific expertise that he or she should have regarding Tantra, which we don't need to get into here. Report an error in the passage at 32:07 Highlight the passage at 32:07

32:22 And they say it's not enough for a Tantric master to merely know how to perform these. Yes, Allah talked about this. It's not enough for the tantric master to just learn how to perform these in a big hall, you know, but he actually has to be able to invoke the actual deities. Report an error in the passage at 32:22 Highlight the passage at 32:22

32:43 You know, so like we might learn what words to say, what mantras, even the visualizations and, you know, sort of the word, all of the teaching behind it. And actually to be a tantric master, you have to have a connection with the deities and invoke them and have them actually come. So it's kind of a step beyond ordinary school. Report an error in the passage at 32:43 Highlight the passage at 32:43

33:10 Now, how do you know? Again, you just have to watch to be aware. Report an error in the passage at 33:10 Highlight the passage at 33:10

33:21 Then there are a lot of verses, and I'm not going into these in detail because I don't know how useful they are, but basically if you decide somebody is your guru and then you despise them or disparage them or disturb their mind or belittle them, scorn them, there's that word again, you don't want to scorn or contempt. Report an error in the passage at 33:21 Highlight the passage at 33:21

33:40 Basically the general idea is don't do it. Once you make this decision that your guru is your guru, Then you work on guarding your mind towards him or her and training your mind in devotion once you've made that step. That's why it's really important not to take that step too soon and to guard your speech. Report an error in the passage at 33:40 Highlight the passage at 33:40

34:05 And so they say, like, even if you see faults, because it's really normal for us to see faults. We are fault seers. We see faults in ourselves all the time. We see faults in each other, much less teachers. Just not to dwell on them and certainly not to like discuss them amongst ourselves and sort of stir the flames of it, you know, just to protect our minds. Report an error in the passage at 34:05 Highlight the passage at 34:05

34:35 If you're aware that you somehow did disrespect your Guru just through a lack of mindfulness, you just kind of forgot yourself for a moment, then it says present an offering and seek forgiveness. Report an error in the passage at 34:35 Highlight the passage at 34:35

34:50 And I actually think you can do this in your mind through prayer. I don't think you necessarily, of course it's wonderful. I have a friend who talked about an experience where she actually went to her guru and begged forgiveness and all, which is like so horrifying I can't imagine. But, I mean, I'm sure that bravery will pay off for her karmically big time. Probably the more cowardly way is through prayer, but I think it still gets the job done. Report an error in the passage at 34:50 Highlight the passage at 34:50

35:21 So I think, I think. Go for it. Especially because sometimes you don't even notice you've done it until you're not even in the presence of that master anymore. Report an error in the passage at 35:21 Highlight the passage at 35:21

35:36 Now this one I think is really quite a tall order. You should be willing to sacrifice everything for your guru if necessary. But remember, slowly, slowly. I mean, remember in Shantideva when he begins the teachings on generosity, he says start with something you... Aren't going to have any problems sharing like carrots and potatoes. So you don't start with chopping off your left arm. You know, that would be inappropriate. Report an error in the passage at 35:36 Highlight the passage at 35:36

36:06 The same is true with the guru. Ultimately, if this is somebody who is going to take us to enlightenment, we probably will ultimately be willing to give this person everything. But we don't want to do it too quickly so that we regret it, because that's supposed to be really, really negative karma. So it's great, I think, to push yourself a little bit, maybe give something that you really love or that maybe is a little bit more expensive than you were intending to get, but not to the point where you're giving something like your car or your house or your partner. Report an error in the passage at 36:06 Highlight the passage at 36:06

36:44 You don't want to go too far. Because I actually, I think I told you guys that story where I had heard... This one friend of mine was talking about a student of Geshe Lobsang Tarchin, who's Geshe Michael's root guru, who was so inspired when she heard him teach, she gave her house, and then she regretted it. Report an error in the passage at 36:44 Highlight the passage at 36:44

37:09 But he was like, no, no, no, no, he wouldn't receive it. He wouldn't receive it, but still, she had that, you know. It was just like she was caught up in the moment, and it was all exciting, so you have to be careful. Report an error in the passage at 37:09 Highlight the passage at 37:09

37:26 And so that's why when we're doing, you know, when we're doing these prayers, like the preliminary practices, and we do the prayers, like the seven limb prayer, and we visualize the quality of the Buddhas of Bodhisattvas that we want ourselves, and then think, what would I give for this quality? It's like that. That's like the sort of warm-up exercises for being able to do it in real life. It's just thinking, if I want the direct perception of emptiness to be able to directly... Report an error in the passage at 37:26 Highlight the passage at 37:26

37:55 Connect with how things actually exist. If I want to generate the mind of bodhicitta, this mind that's basically going to fuel me all the way to enlightenment, what would I give for that? Of course it's going to be more than like, you know, a bouquet of flowers from Safeway. You know what I mean? Like it's going to take me up a notch. But I have to get to the point where I actually even believe in those states. Report an error in the passage at 37:55 Highlight the passage at 37:55

38:17 You know, I have to actually believe that it's possible to generate bodhicitta or that bodhicitta even exists. Much less that I can... So it's slowly, slowly. We have to grow into these. Report an error in the passage at 38:17 Highlight the passage at 38:17

38:34 And then the next one has to do with making offerings. It's really good to make offerings to the guru. Do they need it? No. It has nothing to do with the fact that they need it. In fact, often, like I said last week, I think it was last week, they'll often give it to somebody else as a lesson for you, for your own attachment. You know, Tim will offer. Report an error in the passage at 38:34 Highlight the passage at 38:34

38:55 His favorite jacket or something to Rinpoche and then Rinpoche will turn around and give it to Chad, just like literally right in front of Tim. This kind of thing happens a lot, so you just can't be attached to thinking that he'll love this forever because literally the guy behind you is going to walk out with it and be all excited, like, wow, isn't this great? Report an error in the passage at 38:55 Highlight the passage at 38:55

39:16 So you have to be careful when you give that you are solely giving for the sake of... You know? Um... Report an error in the passage at 39:16 Highlight the passage at 39:16

39:22 It's sort of like expanding your heart is really what giving is all about. It's generating this mind wanting to give. It almost doesn't even matter what you give. Report an error in the passage at 39:22 Highlight the passage at 39:22

39:34 You guys have heard stories, right? Remember that there's one where this little kid meets the Buddha and he has nothing at all to give and he picks up some sand and makes a mandala and offers it and visualizes it as gold. And just through having that wish and that mind, he like generates this amazing good karma and is like reborn as some amazing king later on who does something amazing. Report an error in the passage at 39:34 Highlight the passage at 39:34

39:59 Clearly, I need to remember the rest of the story. But I mean, what important fact of that one is, is he just generated that mind. So what he actually gave, anybody else would look at it and they'd be like, you know, get this kid out of the way. You know, he's like, he's like handing dirt to the Buddha. But the Buddha. Report an error in the passage at 39:59 Highlight the passage at 39:59

40:18 Read his mind and saw that he was seeing it as gold and offering a mandala with it. So it's really our mind. All the time it's our mind. It's not even what we give. However, if we do have money and we give dirt, not so good. So again, think about it all the time. It's your own mind. It's not necessarily what you do. If you make a promise to your guru, it's good to keep it. Report an error in the passage at 40:18 Highlight the passage at 40:18

40:51 That one I think is common sense, but still. I think that one's a good one to remember, not to promise if you can't keep that, at least phrase it like, I will try. Report an error in the passage at 40:51 Highlight the passage at 40:51

41:08 I'll do my best. Report an error in the passage at 41:08 Highlight the passage at 41:08

41:13 I mean, the thing is, is when we make offerings to teachers, to our gurus, even if they aren't our gurus, but they're teachers of the Dharma, we're the ones that get the merit, actually. It actually increases our merit. It's not anything that they need. They don't need anything if they're actually what they seem to be. But there's this enormous merit, even if it's not our particular teacher, but especially if it is, because the object's so powerful. Report an error in the passage at 41:13 Highlight the passage at 41:13

41:41 So it's just like me giving a clock. Actually, I guess I really liked this clock. can't remember. Me giving a clock to Geshe-la is far more powerful than me giving the same clock to Chad, for example, or me giving the clock to the cat or something like that. Actually, the cats would probably like it. So it depends. The object, that's another one of the karmic teachings. It's just sort of like the same act with different objects could increase the karmic result. Report an error in the passage at 41:41 Highlight the passage at 41:41

42:16 And they say, I remember one teaching that Rinpoche gave on guru devotion, he said, up until the point that you connect with your guru, especially your guru guru, he was talking about, the most powerful object in your life was your parents. So actually they say it's quite powerful for us to do good things for our parents, no matter what our relationship with them is. And the reasoning is because they gave us this body. Report an error in the passage at 42:16 Highlight the passage at 42:16

42:41 So no matter what else they did, And this is always a big one in the West because not all of us had great relationships with our parents. They gave us this human body and without this human body we couldn't have met the Dharma. We can't practice the Dharma. So no matter what our relationship with them is like, any act we do we can dedicate to our enlightenment and you can still get merit for it. Report an error in the passage at 42:41 Highlight the passage at 42:41

43:01 So you can, I mean it sounds like brownie points, but if you're thinking about the fact that you're actually trying to become a Buddha so that you can benefit all beings, it makes more sense. Because they're really, really powerful. Report an error in the passage at 43:01 Highlight the passage at 43:01

43:16 So then it gives some qualities of the disciple. We talked about the qualities of the disciple last class, but here are some more that I think are useful. Here it says that the disciple should also have compassion. I guess that makes sense when you think about it. We should have compassion because otherwise why would we be on this path of compassion? Report an error in the passage at 43:16 Highlight the passage at 43:16

43:41 That should be the basis of our path, really. But it also says that one of the qualities we should have is generosity on Report an error in the passage at 43:41 Highlight the passage at 43:41

43:52 that one. I know we should develop generosity. This is saying that we should actually already have it. So, interesting. I'm not sure where that one comes from. But I would think that, I don't know, does anyone have an idea on why? Some generosity. Maybe not a tightwad heart to start with. Maybe you're just not ready to be a disciple. Report an error in the passage at 43:52 Highlight the passage at 43:52

44:22 Right, you're not ready to give your left arm yet, but you could be, yeah, you have an open heart and you're, yeah, that's a good point, yeah. This is one of my favorites, moral self-control. Report an error in the passage at 44:22 Highlight the passage at 44:22

44:35 You have some ability to restrain yourself from, and remember morality in Buddhism, I think you can basically say is non-harm. So morality here basically means non-harm. So you're able to restrain yourself from punching some guy in the face, for example, or, you know, squashing. Report an error in the passage at 44:35 Highlight the passage at 44:35

44:55 A roach or something. And patience is the fifth. One, two, so compassion, generosity, moral self-control. Oh no, four. And patience. And then that same verse it says, never think of your guru as different from Vajradhara. So that's getting into what we're going to spend the last couple classes on, which is beginning to try to see the guru as a Buddha already. Report an error in the passage at 44:55 Highlight the passage at 44:55

45:33 And this is interesting. Then the next one is interesting. Never tread on your guru's shadow. They say it's the same as destroying a stupa. Report an error in the passage at 45:33 Highlight the passage at 45:33

45:45 Now this one actually came up for me. This verse alone makes this class worthwhile for you guys. You think this one's never going to come up for you. But I remember actually following Rinpoche right after I got ordained. And we stopped at this mall, it was during some teachings by Chodron Rinpoche, and there was a number of us that were in this van with him, and we got out of the van. And he was sort of leading, but then all of a sudden he'd go really slowly. Report an error in the passage at 45:45 Highlight the passage at 45:45

46:17 And luckily for me, my friend Brian, who at that point was his second attendant, kept sort of pushing me so that I wouldn't be stepping on his shadow. So the reason is, from this standpoint, is not to disrespect him. So you basically, because in the same verse they're talking about, it says, no need to mention, as they always say, there is no need to mention stepping on or over his seat, which, you know, in this situation isn't going to happen, right? Report an error in the passage at 46:17 Highlight the passage at 46:17

46:45 But at a busy teaching with His Holiness in India, it's really easy to happen. Actually, it's not good, and this is a little aside, it's not good to step over. If you ever see at a teaching, you know, some saṅgha bring their dingwa, which is that seat cover, there's this, like this, example A. This is called a dingwa, and we're actually supposed to bring these and cover the cushions to protect the cushions, basically, is what it's for. Report an error in the passage at 46:45 Highlight the passage at 46:45

47:16 It's not like, because our... Butts are so holy. It's to protect other people's belongings is what it's about. I never bring mine because apparently it's incredibly bad karma for people to step over that and people always do because they just don't know. They're just like, oh, give me that text, you know, and then they just reach over it. So just a little FYI for you guys. Don't step over this if you can. Report an error in the passage at 47:16 Highlight the passage at 47:16

47:38 If you see any Saṅgha, whether it's a teacher or not, it's supposed to be. Again, why? Because the... We are not actual Saṅgha, meaning the capital S Saṅgha jewel, unless we've directly perceived emptiness, but we're the representatives of the Saṅgha in the world. So it's just for your mindful respect. That's what it's about. It doesn't mean... Report an error in the passage at 47:38 Highlight the passage at 47:38

48:03 It's good for your minds whether you like the particular Saṅgha member or not to get into the habit of respecting the Saṅgha member. And I'm not saying that because I'm a Saṅgha member. I'm saying that just to protect your minds. It's really easy for us as our friends to get ordained to see them as ordinary and to see their faults and to begin to have favorites like that one's really holy and that one's really not and that's just not good. Report an error in the passage at 48:03 Highlight the passage at 48:03

48:27 So just basically to be respectful. So that's just an aside. So no need is there to mention stepping on or over his seat or his shoes. I remember that one coming up. I remember Jay's house one time. Or sitting in his place, which I would think probably won't come up very often. But again, in those crazy situations in India, I could, like you might not realize that he had been sitting there and just plopped down. Report an error in the passage at 48:27 Highlight the passage at 48:27

48:54 Or riding his mount. Well, I mean, hopefully you're not going to hop onto his horse. doesn't include driving his Well, you probably shouldn't with that permission. I mean, at least talk to Venable Roger, but usually he doesn't drive. I've never seen him drive. I don't think he has a license, so maybe just not to sit in the passenger seat of the Aptos House car. Report an error in the passage at 48:54 Highlight the passage at 48:54

49:18 But you might be asked to move it, so you might have to drive in the driver's seat. Again, you're trying not to see him as ordinary, and so you're not taking him for granted, so you're not seeing all these kind of ordinary things about him as ordinary, his shoes as, you know. His horse, whatever, his car. Report an error in the passage at 49:18 Highlight the passage at 49:18

49:39 A disciple having sense, I kept the wording on some of these, I thought this was actually good. A disciple having sense should obey the words of his guru with joy and enthusiasm. If you lack the knowledge or ability to do what he says, explain in polite words why you can't comply. We talked about this in one of the prior classes. Report an error in the passage at 49:39 Highlight the passage at 49:39

49:58 It's totally fine for you to say, I can't do that. I'm not able to do that. I'm working full time. I'm living in a sublet. I don't have any floor space to prostrate. It's okay for you to say, you know, I can't do that. But say it. Just go ahead and speak up. And don't just scream out no. You know, try to be polite. And if you have received advice and you have gone to the... Report an error in the passage at 49:58 Highlight the passage at 49:58

50:33 The teacher and you've asked for advice and they've given it to you, clearly you would make a wholehearted effort not to break that advice. I think that's common sense. Report an error in the passage at 50:33 Highlight the passage at 50:33

50:43 This is another reason why I think it was last week we talked, or the week before, we talked about not going to like five different teachers with the same question, which people do. For one thing, I think you'll get confused as to what you agree to. And then, you know, secondly, it's really easy to... Report an error in the passage at 50:43 Highlight the passage at 50:43

51:01 To only do the one that you like and not to do the one that might be more difficult or kind of weird, you know, like some practice or puja or something like that. Report an error in the passage at 51:01 Highlight the passage at 51:01

51:13 Guard your guru's belongings like your own life. Again, we think, you know, that this might not happen to us, but it will. If you have the karma to be in, you know, in your guru's company for any amount of time at all, this one will come up. Report an error in the passage at 51:13 Highlight the passage at 51:13

51:33 Yeah. Treat your guru's family like you would him. Treat those close to him like your own dearest kin. Single-mindedly think in this way at all times. So I remember actually I went to Laudo, which is where Lama Zopa Rinpoche's previous incarnation meditated for 20 years as a lay lama actually in his past life when he was married. Report an error in the passage at 51:33 Highlight the passage at 51:33

52:01 And his sister is there. And I just tried to keep this one in my head the whole time. Because she manifests not perhaps as elegantly as her brother. And she's amazing. She's great. But you just have to keep reminding yourself to honor her. She is a manifestation of him. She's as close as him. And to try to really think of her that way. This one comes up when you think about their attendance. Because often we'll have to, in order to... Report an error in the passage at 52:01 Highlight the passage at 52:01

52:38 Make appointments and have interviews and things like that with the guru. Especially if you have somebody as a guru like Lama Zopa Rinpoche or His Holiness or somebody who has a big entourage and it's not so easy to get close, which is a karmic occurrence. Report an error in the passage at 52:38 Highlight the passage at 52:38

52:57 You go through attendance and so to honor them. And actually the more you do that, the more purely you see them. It's kind of amazing you begin to realize what amazing beings they are too. To just be in that position, like Ven. Roger has been serving Lama Zopa Rinpoche for 15 years at the same pace that Lama Zopa Rinpoche lives at. Report an error in the passage at 52:57 Highlight the passage at 52:57

53:19 So rarely sleeping, like traveling all over the world. Basically, no matter what time of the day or night, whatever problem arises, he handles it with the same. Report an error in the passage at 53:19 Highlight the passage at 53:19

53:36 as if it were know the middle of a sunny day and you're basically at a picnic or something you know he's the same it's just this I was you know this could be at 2 a.m. and you've all been like prostrating online And after a while you really begin to see that in order to hold these positions for such a long amount of time, They themselves have purified an amazing amount. And so it's actually not so much of an effort to see them as holy beings. But this does come up. Report an error in the passage at 53:36 Highlight the passage at 53:36

54:13 So just remember that the attendants of our teachers are like their family. Never sit on the same seat or bed as your guru or walk ahead of them. Report an error in the passage at 54:13 Highlight the passage at 54:13

54:26 Here comes the Dharma etiquette. And again, it makes sense. You would never, if your guru is... His Holiness, you'd never like leap onto his throne or something like that. But again, it might happen at a really crowded situation where you might not realize that he was sitting there or something. Although, of course, 79 Tibetans would like leap onto you and tackle you to the ground. Other than that, don't wear your hair in a top knot at the teachings. Report an error in the passage at 54:26 Highlight the passage at 54:26

54:55 This is one that doesn't come up very often, but every once in a while you see it. I actually saw there was this one Lama at some teachings of His Holiness in L.A. a few years ago that... Some monks came up and talked to him about this when he took it down for the second half. Or wear a hat. This is one that comes up a lot with Western students that don't realize. Report an error in the passage at 54:55 Highlight the passage at 54:55

55:15 You shouldn't wear shoes at a teaching. Report an error in the passage at 55:15 Highlight the passage at 55:15

55:20 Now I remember actually I was receiving teachings from Geshe Michael in the desert during his three-year retreat and it was really, really hot. It was really, really hot. Report an error in the passage at 55:20 Highlight the passage at 55:20

55:36 And he said actually that it was okay for people to wear sun hats, but I didn't want to. I read this and I wasn't going to, so I actually didn't. I think some of us did put on like umbrellas or something like that. And you actually see that in some Asian countries. People will carry umbrellas rather than putting on a hat. Report an error in the passage at 55:36 Highlight the passage at 55:36

55:54 It seems more respectful. Or carry weapons. You're not supposed to carry weapons to a teaching. That makes sense. I'm sure this one did come up a lot in Tibet though, actually. I bet this one actually did come up. Report an error in the passage at 55:54 Highlight the passage at 55:54

56:09 Now it says don't touch his seat before he sits down. I actually think that this is talking about like in a grasping way. I don't think it's such a bad thing to make sure that it, you know, if in the service, especially like as SPC, this is the kind of thing that I end up doing a lot. If you're just trying to like make sure that it looks good because it's like this or something like that, I think that's fine to do. I think it's more like if you're just kind of... Report an error in the passage at 56:09 Highlight the passage at 56:09

56:38 You know, pretty much what I just did, but I was doing it to teach you guys. Report an error in the passage at 56:38 Highlight the passage at 56:38

56:46 This one comes up for us because it's not something that is, I think, big in our culture. And it may not matter if our teachers are Western, but it definitely matters if our teachers are Asian. It's not good to recline and have your feet pointed towards. And this one, you know, you might, the Dharma police may grab you and tell you not to do that. Report an error in the passage at 56:46 Highlight the passage at 56:46

56:42 guys. Report an error in the passage at 56:42 Highlight the passage at 56:42

57:06 but Report an error in the passage at 57:06 Highlight the passage at 57:06

57:11 For me teaching, it probably wouldn't bother me, except for the fact that I happen to know this, because I've read this, but it's not something that's in my culture as being a negative thing, the underside of the foot. But if your teacher is His Holiness or Lama Zopa or Yangtze Rinpoche or something, then it might be an offensive thing. Report an error in the passage at 57:11 Highlight the passage at 57:11

57:33 So it's good to know. I think also just that thought of, you know, sometimes, and this comes up at Copan all the time, where people are like leaning on the columns because everyone's like tired. This, our gampa is not really that big to be leaning on walls so much, but in a larger one, you know, people do that kind of thing all the time. Report an error in the passage at 57:33 Highlight the passage at 57:33

57:54 And it's really not so respectful. Remember last week when we were talking about how you're really supposed to be... Gazing at the teacher like the newborn babe at the face of the mother or something like that. So we're supposed to be so thrilled and rapt that just this whole thing, you know, it doesn't that you can kind of get that. Report an error in the passage at 57:54 Highlight the passage at 57:54

58:14 I mean, if you read any of the other teachings up to this point. Yeah, not to lie down if he's sitting. Well, that makes sense. But, I mean, you see people, right, at Kopan all the time. People are, like, drawing and stuff, you know. I was shocked, actually, once I have Kopan. Kopan Monastery is the monastery where the FMT started, and they have this big November course, and they have from 200 to 250 people there. Report an error in the passage at 58:14 Highlight the passage at 58:14

58:41 And both times that I've gone, I've always sat, like, really close to the front. I wasn't ordained, but just, you know, just to be able to hear and all that stuff, you know, so it's completely different. That group of people, everyone's like, you know, you're just completely all wrapped. But then one time I had to come in late and so I came in the back and it was just completely, people were talking to each other and drawing and just like leaving in the middle and coming back and like massaging people's feet and it was like completely different. Report an error in the passage at 58:41 Highlight the passage at 58:41

59:09 Feel. I mean, even Geshe-la isn't such a small one. The times that I've had to sit in the back, like when my knee was messed up and stuff, people just talk to you. I just turn and start talking to you and I'd be like, he's talking, you know. It's just a different feel, you know. So it's not, these aren't such outlandish things because they happen. Report an error in the passage at 59:09 Highlight the passage at 59:09

59:32 I mean, it's sort of like any time you see a weird sign, like there was a reason that sign was created. It says, always be ready to stand up and serve Him. Now, I mean, that's kind of like when, you know, we wait a lot of times for the attendant to do that, right? Like if poor Geshe-less thing is like flying, like, you know, sometimes it happens where this thing is like doing, but, you know, say mom's not paying attention or something, you know, and you see, like Stephen will sometimes just... Report an error in the passage at 59:32 Highlight the passage at 59:32

1:00:03 Jump up or one of us will just jump up. And that's okay to do. It's actually good to do, to be willing to help out. Even if Malam suddenly goes, no, it's okay or whatever. It's still good for us to be able to leap up. Don't spit in front of your guru. Okay, there was a reason that one was written. We won't spend much time on it. Don't sneeze or cough without covering your mouth. These are common sense. Never argue with him. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:03 Highlight the passage at 1:00:03

1:00:33 Now that one sounds kind of bizarre. Like if you're thinking about somebody like His Holiness, of course not. But what if your guru is a Western teacher that is manifesting in a Western body and after you've checked out this person, but there's this ability to see that person as a little more ordinary because they're Western. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:33 Highlight the passage at 1:00:33

1:00:55 So you have to be careful. Don't massage your limbs in his presence. Report an error in the passage at 1:00:55 Highlight the passage at 1:00:55

1:01:04 I know, I know. There are times that I catch myself. There's another one, too, I think, where you're not supposed to be, like, picking your nails or something, and every once in a while I'll be like, oh, no, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:04 Highlight the passage at 1:01:04

1:01:16 Don't sing, dance, or play instruments except for Dharma purposes. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:16 Highlight the passage at 1:01:16

1:01:23 And this one actually comes up a lot, like, at the airport. Never chatter idly or speak in excess too loudly within the range of your Guru's hearing. There's this excitement thing. Everyone gets excited when you're at the airport and you're like, and then afterwards you're like, oh man, we just blew that one. Again, keeping the mind calm, remembering who this is, and you have to do it with training. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:23 Highlight the passage at 1:01:23

1:01:49 We aren't naturally, we don't treat even each other this way, much less our teacher this way. So it's like just remembering, even if everyone around you is like giggling and laughing and stuff, to just quietly. Hang out. Report an error in the passage at 1:01:49 Highlight the passage at 1:01:49

1:02:10 There are times when it's actually all right to, it's good to actually normally walk behind a teacher, you know, sort of in a respectful way. But then there are times that if you're, say you're on the street in New York with them, it's okay to sort of walk in and protect, you know, take the bullet. As Spina Rubina said once. She walked in front of Geshele and she said, I'll take the bullet. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:10 Highlight the passage at 1:02:10

1:02:39 Yeah, and then that's okay. And I have to think about that. There's also this, you know, when they first arrive and if you guys have seen that where somebody takes the incense, you have to walk in front of them and it feels really weird. But what you're doing is you're purifying the air in front of them. That's what that whole ritual is about. So it was really weird for me the first few times to do that. Report an error in the passage at 1:02:39 Highlight the passage at 1:02:39

1:03:01 But what you're doing is you're in this position of service at that point. And so you just are, you know. Or purifying the air in front of them. But I mean, if you're on the streets of New York or the streets of the city, you know like when Stephen goes with Geshe-la, there'll be times that he'll be standing in front to make sure that he can get on and then standing back. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:01 Highlight the passage at 1:03:01

1:03:22 So you're constantly kind of doing this little thing. Don't crack your knuckles or clean your nails. And it's like, don't sit twisted up or casually leaning against a pillar or a wall. These are common sense. This is kind of interesting. This next one's kind of interesting. Then I remember reading it and thinking, well, this one's not going to come up for me. When attending to him or her personally, washing him, shaving him and so on, proceed and end with three frustrations. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:22 Highlight the passage at 1:03:22

1:03:54 Gashila actually called me in one time and asked me to shave his hand. I was totally terrified. I think I was so terrified that he'd never ask me to do it again. I'm sure he was like, you know, my hands were probably like so shaking that he was just like, okay, maybe she's not so good for this job. Report an error in the passage at 1:03:54 Highlight the passage at 1:03:54

1:04:10 But I remember this. I think I ended with your frustrations. I forgot, I think, the first frustrations. So don't think that just because they have attendance and things like this that they might not call you in for this. Rubina always has had Michelle do her head. Never has asked anybody else to. It's interesting. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:10 Highlight the passage at 1:04:10

1:04:32 Always use honorifics. We don't have honorifics so much in our language. Tibetan definitely does. Some languages do. But the quote here is, your guru isn't your childhood playmate, but a Buddha leading you to enlightenment. So again, you're just keeping this mind of respect. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:32 Highlight the passage at 1:04:32

1:04:53 So that's, I was always, I was trained actually, that's why I'll always refer to Rinpoche as Rinpoche and Geshe-la as Geshe-la, even in their presence. Like it's like third person. And a lot of people don't do that. Tenzin Chokyi actually taught me that one. And it's the closest we have to an honorific to do it that way. Report an error in the passage at 1:04:53 Highlight the passage at 1:04:53

1:05:13 And they'll even do that. Sometimes they'll even refer to themselves as third person. It's kind of this odd thing. But when you get used to it, it actually sounds normal. Like I would never just say, it always sounds weird even just to say thank you. It sounds weird to me. Like I would just say, we really thank Rinpoche from all our heart or something like that. I phrase it in a different way. And that keeps me from ever saying you. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:13 Highlight the passage at 1:05:13

1:05:35 Which is, we don't have an honorific you in our language. You know, if we had one, it would make more sense. But since we don't, it's just like always keeping him a little bit more at a distance, respectful, like in that awe thing coming up again. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:35 Highlight the passage at 1:05:35

1:05:49 But not, you know, I mean, Rubino would probably say that entire thing was just insane. She screamed at us this morning for offering kata, you know, some stupid Tibetan cultural thing. Report an error in the passage at 1:05:49 Highlight the passage at 1:05:49

1:06:01 But she accepted it. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:01 Highlight the passage at 1:06:01

1:06:06 After, if you've agreed to do something and you do it, then it's good to report back. So say, Chad, you go to Geshe-la and Geshe-la says for you to do 100,000 prostrations and you obediently do it in record time. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:06 Highlight the passage at 1:06:06

1:06:25 Then come back and say, okay, I finished. Of course you probably would, you'd be so happy. Or say it's something smaller, like he says, it's really good for you to read this sūtra tonight or something. So then come back and say, I did this. It's good to report back. And if your teacher isn't, like every once in a while I'll just send a letter to Rinpoche, you know, updating. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:25 Highlight the passage at 1:06:25

1:06:48 I did this and I did this. And I don't know. I mean, I always feel like he may just throw it in the fire. But from my side, you know, I'm trying to like keep up to date. Report an error in the passage at 1:06:48 Highlight the passage at 1:06:48

1:07:01 This one comes up all the time, actually. And you've probably seen. gosh Allah, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:01 Highlight the passage at 1:07:01

1:07:07 It's good to, when you request a teaching or instruction on something, it's good to request properly, actually. This one says request three times with your palms pressed together while kneeling beforehand. We did this actually with, actually we just did this the other day with Geshe, where we told him that next, you know, in a couple weeks we're going to do a 16 Arhat Puja for his long life. Report an error in the passage at 1:07:07 Highlight the passage at 1:07:07

1:07:35 We told him, we didn't request, we told him that we were going to do that. But we did it for his long life puja too, where we all got down on bended knee. It was all the staff of LPP, of Sitch and Ling, we all got down on bended knee. And he was kind of like, what? Why? And then we did it all. It's also very formal if you're going to request a teaching to do the thing where, have you all seen it, the body, speech, and mind offering the mandala? Report an error in the passage at 1:07:35 Highlight the passage at 1:07:35

1:08:02 Like we did for Venomobbina at the end of the teaching, offering an actual mandala if you have one, and then a representation of the Buddha's body, which is a statue, speech, which is a text, and mind, which is a stupa, and then like an offering like that. And quite formally, I mean, actually we're going down this weekend, and we're going to, I shouldn't say this in case he's listening, but. So even for those who are considered. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:02 Highlight the passage at 1:08:02

1:08:32 You know, like Western teachers and things like that to just be, we're starting to try to do it more and more with all of our teachers because it's karmically the right thing to do. We want to create the causes in a karmic way, not just asking. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:32 Highlight the passage at 1:08:32

1:08:52 Whenever you serve him, don't have an arrogant mind. So say you get called in to help out, like don't be all proud of yourself, you know. It's just... It's your karma. As Venom Rubina told me, I remember when I was named director of the center, she said, you just have the karma to be the director. It doesn't mean you're going to be a good one. Report an error in the passage at 1:08:52 Highlight the passage at 1:08:52

1:09:12 I was like, good point. Okay, that's good. The quote here, which I think is quite humorous, instead be like a newlywed Indian bride. I put Indian in front. Timid, bashful and very subdued. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:12 Highlight the passage at 1:09:12

1:09:30 So again, watch your own mind. Don't be awful at yourself just because you get called in to help the girl translate or something like that. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:30 Highlight the passage at 1:09:30

1:09:42 In his presence, don't act, and I'm using the same language that was in the text, don't act conceited or coquettish or flirty. I don't know why you would, but I suppose you could just get flighty. You know, you can get kind of like excitable, and I think that might be what they're talking about, you know, conceited. Report an error in the passage at 1:09:42 Highlight the passage at 1:09:42

1:10:04 Coquettish or flirty. And don't boast of it to others. So hopefully that's not the way this is sounding to you guys. I'm just trying to give you stories that show you that you too may be stepping on your guru's shadow at the wrong time and place. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:04 Highlight the passage at 1:10:04

1:10:22 If you're requested to give an empowerment or teaching, this is once you become a guru, which the assumption is that all of you will at some point be forced into teaching the Dharma. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:22 Highlight the passage at 1:10:22

1:10:35 And this happens a lot when you're planning program. If your guru is in the area, this is why Geshe-Lin never teaches when Shantideva Rinpoche is in residence here. He would never even do a question and answer session if Rinpoche is in residence here because that's his guru. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:35 Highlight the passage at 1:10:35

1:10:58 I think Lama Zopa he considers more as like his boss. But I think it would probably be poor form to have him teach if Lama Zopa was in residence. But definitely with Chodron Rinpoche, that's his guru. Now it's a little tricky now. Chodron Rinpoche is living in the area. But if Chodron Rinpoche was in San Francisco, I think we'd have to cancel teachings. Even if he wasn't here. Sorry? It's far enough away, I think. Report an error in the passage at 1:10:58 Highlight the passage at 1:10:58

1:11:20 Yeah. But if Chodron Rinpoche, say he was invited by some group in the city, but not here, I think we'd have to cancel teachings, I think. Because it's in the same. Or Geshe-la would have to go and get permission. Now this is something I have to think about now. Because Chirin Rinpoche is my guru. And Chirin Rinpoche is teaching. You know what I mean? So it's something that, like you think when you first read this one you don't have to worry about it. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:20 Highlight the passage at 1:11:20

1:11:48 And then all of a sudden you get in that position and you're like, ooh, yeah. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:48 Highlight the passage at 1:11:48

1:11:54 And then it's talking about how if you get offerings for doing various rituals that you're supposed to share it with your guru. Report an error in the passage at 1:11:54 Highlight the passage at 1:11:54

1:12:05 Once you become a guru, if you're in the presence of your guru, you're not supposed to act like a guru to your disciples. And this one you see, like at a long-life puja for children Rinpoche, students of Geshe-la and students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche aren't supposed to be offering katas to them or offering gifts to them or being all the way we always are. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:05 Highlight the passage at 1:12:05

1:12:29 We have to be very cool. And otherwise, Rinpoche will just be like, He'll actually literally just walk away from you, which is so shocking. And then somebody's like, you're not supposed to do that. So yeah, because at that point, they're a disciple. And that's all they are. They're a disciple. They aren't a guru. So it's about pride in their minds, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:12:29 Highlight the passage at 1:12:29

1:12:54 They're, they are. Are living by these rules to keep pride from growing in their minds. If I was in the presence of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and one of you guys ran up to me and assuming that you were my disciples, which you're not at this point, you're just like receiving informational teachings in case you've forgotten. Report an error in the passage at 1:12:54 Highlight the passage at 1:12:54

1:13:11 But I couldn't act like your teacher. Like I would just have to be pals or something. Yeah. Looking at someone's birthday party Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you see it. It happens a lot. A lot of people don't know this one and they don't get this one. And they'll just run up and give all these offerings to the guru who is basically attending the teachings with Lama Tsongkhapa, for example. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:11 Highlight the passage at 1:13:11

1:13:37 And now I think he's kind of nice about it because he figures that people don't know. But I have seen him do this thing where he just won't even look at you. And then you're just like... Messed up! And you know, but there's nothing you can do at that point, so then you're just like, you know, sitting at your seat doing Lama Tsongkhapa, you know. Or at the airport or something, if, you know, they're all at the airport at the same time or something. Report an error in the passage at 1:13:37 Highlight the passage at 1:13:37

1:13:58 At the airport, if we're seeing Chudan Rinpoche off and Lama Tsongkhapa, he's just like one of the guys. It's very odd. He's just kind of like, has he gone through security? And you're just like, you know, but you have to be like, oh, cool, because he's just being like one of the guys. Geshele too. He'll just be like, you know, just... Report an error in the passage at 1:13:58 Highlight the passage at 1:13:58

1:14:15 You know, one of the students gets very interesting. But that's why they're following this advice. And whenever you make an offering or receive something, you're supposed to do it with both hands. Now this one's hard to do because, you know, we forget. It's about mindfulness. These are a lot about building mindfulness. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:15 Highlight the passage at 1:14:15

1:14:35 Mindfulness in your actions and then that builds, you know, your awareness in your mind. You know, how would you receive something from a Buddha? Report an error in the passage at 1:14:35 Highlight the passage at 1:14:35

1:14:45 You probably wouldn't go, thanks. You know what I mean? It's just that kind of awareness. It's that kind of respect in all of your actions. You treasure it, even if it was honestly like a pen. I remember Geshe-la gave me this pen that lights up. It was this great pen and has like five different light sequences. It was actually very cool, but I'm sure I didn't receive it with both hands, but I did remember to thank him. Report an error in the passage at 1:14:45 Highlight the passage at 1:14:45

1:15:10 But it's that kind of idea. It doesn't even matter what it is. You're just thanking, you know, that's some sort of a gift. Yeah. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:10 Highlight the passage at 1:15:10

1:15:20 It says with your head slightly bent too, but good luck to you if you can remember that. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:20 Highlight the passage at 1:15:20

1:15:27 Ha. If a fellow disciple transgresses what is proper in their behavior, here's your warning to not be a Dharma police. Correct each other in a friendly way. Never be jealous or compete with your fellow disciples. That's important. They actually say that our harmony as students of the same teacher is what... Report an error in the passage at 1:15:27 Highlight the passage at 1:15:27

1:15:52 Karmically keeps our gurus alive. It's quite heavy actually. So in a center like this where we're all living together and studying together with the same teachers, harmony is like paramount. And you have to catch yourself because these are the people that you're like sharing the bathrooms or sharing the food with and food's missing and your tofu's gone or whatever, you know, and like all the normal things come up and you have to be mindful 100 % of the time. Report an error in the passage at 1:15:52 Highlight the passage at 1:15:52

1:16:19 It's like really, really heavy to have, and especially when you get into having shared Vajra Masters, and we do, you know, so it's like it's really heavy. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:19 Highlight the passage at 1:16:19

1:16:32 If you have shared, if you've entered Tantra and you have the same Tantric Master, Report an error in the passage at 1:16:32 Highlight the passage at 1:16:32

1:16:40 it's also skillful means. I mean, I actually think that's one of the reasons why the Dalai Lama gives Kalachakra to like mass quantities of people. They actually have to all get along, and they don't all get it. But actually, if they get it, it's bringing harmony to that whole place. It's 100,000 people who have to try really hard to get along. Report an error in the passage at 1:16:40 Highlight the passage at 1:16:40

1:17:03 It's really quite skillful. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:03 Highlight the passage at 1:17:03

1:17:08 Do whatever pleases. This is the end. Do whatever pleases your guru and avoid anything else. Try to please him with all the actions of your body, speech and mind. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:08 Highlight the passage at 1:17:08

1:17:18 That's kind of one to put over your door, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:17:18 Highlight the passage at 1:17:18

1:17:30 By following these... Advice is, this is how you actually become a proper vessel to enter Tantra. They say, that's the final verse. But then, of course, then you have to keep by your samayas. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:30 Highlight the passage at 1:17:30

1:17:44 It's never ending. So do we have any questions on all of those? I know it's a lot, especially because we're limited in our time. Report an error in the passage at 1:17:44 Highlight the passage at 1:17:44

1:17:57 Just one? How do you act coquettishly? Report an error in the passage at 1:17:57 Highlight the passage at 1:17:57

1:18:05 I don't know. I think kind of silly is the way I'm saying. Coquettish actually is more like flirty, but I think I see it as more like silly because I think that's the way I would probably, I would be more likely to act silly than flirty. So I guess I just take it that way. You know what I mean? I can't really imagine acting flirty with him. But I suppose it's possible. What was your question? Do you want to pass him the talking stick? Report an error in the passage at 1:18:05 Highlight the passage at 1:18:05

1:18:32 Qualities of the disciple? The moral self-control? Does this cover anger? Um... As much as you can, for sure, yeah. I mean, not just hitting somebody, but yeah, if you're in his presence, yeah. But remember, his presence is all the time. Oh, it's just in his presence. But remember, his presence is all the time, so really, yeah. I mean, remember when I gave you that quote from Zhang Sikenshi Rinpoche, he said, you know, he would act one way in front of his guru's picture and then another way outside, and that shows that he hadn't quite gotten it. Report an error in the passage at 1:18:32 Highlight the passage at 1:18:32

1:19:09 I mean, he was just saying this. I actually think, of course, that he's a holy being. But, yeah, I mean, if your guru has the ten qualities that we talked about, so they have had the direct perception of emptiness, and they have attained calm abiding, they are clairvoyant. So they could be in Timbuktu, and they'd know that Chad was getting angry at Tim right now. Yeah, it kind of becomes all the time. Report an error in the passage at 1:19:09 Highlight the passage at 1:19:09

1:19:40 But you know the end result of that, of course, right, is you'll actually attain Buddhahood. So it's like at this point you're doing it to be a good disciple, but the end result is that you become a good person and then you develop these qualities and you actually become a Buddha. So who gets the benefit, you know? Any others before? Report an error in the passage at 1:19:40 Highlight the passage at 1:19:40

1:20:07 Let's do it real quick and then we'll finish. Unless you guys, do you guys need a quick break? Do a stretch? Do a wave? Report an error in the passage at 1:20:07 Highlight the passage at 1:20:07

1:20:18 Okay, okay. just go for it, it's good. The Sūtra Readers. Yeah, yeah. I really didn't think we were going to get through it. It was pretty amazing, actually. I was just like, let's just do ten pages each. Actually, I liked it that way, though, because you didn't have any pressure. And then you kind of like, Report an error in the passage at 1:20:18 Highlight the passage at 1:20:18

1:20:42 Sūtra of Golden Light. It's supposed to be a good one for bringing peace. And this being the anniversary of 9-1-1, it seemed like it was a good one. Yeah. Venerable Ninja actually requested that we do that one. That's really Report an error in the passage at 1:20:42 Highlight the passage at 1:20:42

1:20:55 I think Rinpoche was telling her how powerful it is, so she was going to lead it somewhere else. Report an error in the passage at 1:20:55 Highlight the passage at 1:20:55

1:21:14 That's exactly what I have, and I looked online, and Lama just makes a lot happier about everything. It made you happy with Bella? Oh, the first week I... Can you say that into the mic? No. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:14 Highlight the passage at 1:21:14

1:21:31 Thank you, venerable Renee. That's true. That's great. No, but what you were saying, it makes you happier about... The first week a cheetah had, it was made. Crunglin. Tonglen. Yeah, that's what he said he was going to do like 12 hours a day at Tonglen. It's amazing. And like walking meditations where you sit there and like every breath you take, you're breathing in sufferings of specific people in the room next to you or your loved ones. Report an error in the passage at 1:21:31 Highlight the passage at 1:21:31

1:21:57 And then you try to like generalize it farther out to like your friends back at home and then to like bugs you see going by, like walking through the forest and things like that. It's pretty abstract, right? Report an error in the passage at 1:21:57 Highlight the passage at 1:21:57

1:22:09 Doing that for like eight hours a day was definitely a sort of a heart-changing, opening experience. Totally, I would think. How could it not be? Just think about that. It's really moving. Tonglings can be so powerful anyway. But that many hours a day. It's a lot. But there are breaks. And then also you realize, it's sort of humbling too, because you also realize the limits of your compassion. You try to practice equanimity and exchange, you know, or practice. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:09 Highlight the passage at 1:22:09

1:22:38 Do it that way for your enemies. It was very humbling too because you realized that you don't actually have a lot of that in your everyday life. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:38 Highlight the passage at 1:22:38

1:22:48 You run up against where you're, yeah, where you, yeah, sometimes it's really hard to do for ourselves. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 1:22:48 Highlight the passage at 1:22:48

1:23:01 yeah I think Tonglen is like one of the most powerful we just did it on Saturday at the Saturday morning meditation we did it for Whoever in the world has the same problem as we do. So we had to think about what our problem is and what our pain is and think about it really specifically whether it's mental or physical pain and then just imagine all the beings in the world who have the exact same problem and those are your beings for that meditation. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:01 Highlight the passage at 1:23:01

1:23:25 Everybody seemed to really like it. Yeah, it's a good one. Because we can feel so isolated in our suffering, you know, we forget that there's actually billions of beings having the same, probably worse versions of the exact same problem that we have, you know. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:25 Highlight the passage at 1:23:25

1:23:42 So, to end, we're going to talk about this little text, it's nine-point text, that's called The Nine Attitudes of Guru Devotion. And this is getting back, remember, a few classes ago, in class two, we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of serving a teacher. In Pabanka Rinpoche's commentary, which is the one that's translated as liberation, liberation in the palm of your hand, he says that there are four steps to serving a teacher and these advantages and disadvantages are steps one and two. Report an error in the passage at 1:23:42 Highlight the passage at 1:23:42

1:24:15 So there's advantages of serving a teacher are actually the first, that's actually the first step in how to serve a teacher is knowing those and following those. The second step is the disadvantages. Report an error in the passage at 1:24:15 Highlight the passage at 1:24:15

1:24:30 The third is how to serve them in our thought and how do we rely on a teacher in our thoughts. And that we're going to talk about in our next class. And this one is how to serve them through action. So really, this one is all about how to serve our teacher through action. And so is really all that we just talked about on the 50 verses. How do we act in their presence? How do we serve them physically with our body? Report an error in the passage at 1:24:30 Highlight the passage at 1:24:30

1:25:00 They say that there are three main ways that we serve a teacher in action. Given in order from the lowest to the highest. Giving them gifts or material things. So giving them offerings. So that goes back to giving them the clock, right? Giving them an apple. Giving them flowers. Giving them your house. Giving them your horse. Do they need it? No. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:00 Highlight the passage at 1:25:00

1:25:31 It has to do with our mind. Again, it's like what Brett was talking about, expanding our mind. That's what these meditations are for, too. It has nothing to do with what they need. The second is offering ourselves to them in service. And we talked about how important that one is. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:31 Highlight the passage at 1:25:31

1:25:51 It also takes a step more in our commitment, right? Giving them a really beautiful drum and then going home is really different than accepting a job in the center. Report an error in the passage at 1:25:51 Highlight the passage at 1:25:51

1:26:02 And then the final one that they say of course is the most important one is taking whatever they're teaching us and actually applying it. So serving them in our practice. And that's clearly the most important one. Report an error in the passage at 1:26:02 Highlight the passage at 1:26:02

1:26:23 Again remember that serving them in any way has nothing to do with them. It's not for their sake, it's for our sake really. And they used as the example, they say that when a farmer goes to plant seeds, they have to work on the field not for the sake of the field, but rather for his own sake so that when he plants the seeds, he'll have a good net result. Report an error in the passage at 1:26:23 Highlight the passage at 1:26:23

1:26:57 And then what do we mean by serving a teacher? Does it mean taking them a cup of tea? Is it, you Report an error in the passage at 1:26:57 Highlight the passage at 1:26:57

1:27:07 And actually in this case, when we're talking about somebody that we have checked out and who's checked us out and that we've entered into this relationship with, how do they say it? We're ready to brave a guru-disciple relationship. I like the way that's phrased. Then it means, and this is a bit heavy, but it means to surrender yourself completely to them. Report an error in the passage at 1:27:07 Highlight the passage at 1:27:07

1:27:32 If you get it as one... One of my friends who also was a teacher for a certain class given at Diamond Mountain on how to teach the Dharma, which I did online, which I found really, really helpful. But he said, and I am quoting it because I thought it was such a great quote, if you get it clear in your mind that you can't do it yourself, that you need a teacher and that you've taken the time to find a qualified teacher, then why the hell not do what they tell you to do? Report an error in the passage at 1:27:32 Highlight the passage at 1:27:32

1:28:04 I like that. But you don't have to give up your judgment, your wisdom like that. You do have to try to see everything that they tell you as a teaching. You have to work with them. You have to take it all as a personal teaching for you. It doesn't mean that you learn stuff to be able to tell other people what to do. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:04 Highlight the passage at 1:28:04

1:28:24 And that's important too. If a teacher says something, and I'm just saying this as an aside, if a teacher says something specifically to you, it may not actually apply to another person. Even if that other person is a disciple of the same teacher, it might be specifically for your mind. And that's really important. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:24 Highlight the passage at 1:28:24

1:28:45 Because I've actually heard, even in this house, Geshe-la tell one thing to one student and one thing to another student and one thing to another student. So it's not really about Chad going and making sure that everybody else is doing the right thing. It's Chad making sure that Chad's doing what Chad's guru told him to do. Report an error in the passage at 1:28:45 Highlight the passage at 1:28:45

1:29:04 We have to remember that. Karma is that way too. Really, when we find out how karma works, we're supposed to be applying it to our mind, our life, not necessarily looking at who's messing up. These teachings aren't really for that purpose. So the nine attitudes. We'll just go over them quickly and then if you guys have questions, you're going to have this on your homework to just contemplate it and then you can bring questions for class next time. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:04 Highlight the passage at 1:29:04

1:29:29 The first is to be like an obedient child. Rinpoche actually says son and he said it's more like that idea of the father and the son where the son is sort of taking over the business or taking over the kingdom or whatever. Be like an obedient child, act exactly in accordance with the Guru's wishes, submit yourself to the Lama. This is really intense sounding. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:29 Highlight the passage at 1:29:29

1:29:58 But remember that in this text this wasn't really, this was for people who have the goal of enlightenment. This wasn't for a half-hearted practice. This wasn't like a part-time thing. This was for somebody who had already decided they wanted to get enlightened and that they had met the guru that was going to take them there. Report an error in the passage at 1:29:58 Highlight the passage at 1:29:58

1:30:20 Think about Milarepa and Marpa, for example. He literally did have to place himself into the hands of Marpa and not get angry when Marpa manifested wrath, which Marpa, if you know the story of Milarepa, which is, of course, the book of the month. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:20 Highlight the passage at 1:30:20

1:30:37 In the book club, Marpa at the end, after all these years went by, admitted that the reason he was so wrathful and the reason he forced Milarepa to do all these different things was to purify this intense amount of negative karma that Milarepa had in order for Milarepa to be able to attain enlightenment in one lifetime. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:37 Highlight the passage at 1:30:37

1:30:58 So what looks like this angry guru is he may be doing it for your sake. What he seems to be, what he appears to be. So sometimes you just have to rely on that trust once you figure that out. Report an error in the passage at 1:30:58 Highlight the passage at 1:30:58

1:31:15 The second one is, even when Māra's evil friends and the like try to split you from the Guru, be like a Vajra, inseparable forever. Report an error in the passage at 1:31:15 Highlight the passage at 1:31:15

1:31:27 And that's like not letting any friend or your relative or whatever come between you and the Guru. Report an error in the passage at 1:31:27 Highlight the passage at 1:31:27

1:31:38 And at some point, this is kind of difficult, you know, sometimes it's not a problem. And sometimes, you know, it becomes a problem. Sometimes some friends sort of pull you away, like it sounds kind of weird, you know, what are you getting yourself into? At some point in your mind you have to decide, you know, this is the way I'm going to get enlightened and this really means more to me. Report an error in the passage at 1:31:38 Highlight the passage at 1:31:38

1:32:09 And that has a lot to do with renunciation, right? That has to do sometimes with having to give up friendships from this life that aren't pulling you in the right direction. And again, what are Maras? Maras are any kind of negative influence that might pull you from your practice or your teacher. And those could be in your own mind. Those could be your own self-doubts or self-pity. Report an error in the passage at 1:32:09 Highlight the passage at 1:32:09

1:32:35 You know, which Milarepa actually had a couple of those. And then Martha's wife, if I remember correctly, was like trying to help him. Report an error in the passage at 1:32:35 Highlight the passage at 1:32:35

1:32:43 these teachings and empowerments that he wouldn't get. But he was kind of, he was giving in a little bit to that. He was kind of frustrated, you know, and whining to her a little bit, you know. So he had to be careful because I think that probably added, he probably had to build the tower seven more times. Report an error in the passage at 1:32:43 Highlight the passage at 1:32:43

1:32:58 The third one is whenever the Guru gives you work, be like the earth, bear it all. Report an error in the passage at 1:32:58 Highlight the passage at 1:32:58

1:33:13 This is about really accepting whatever the guru is asking you to do. And sometimes they're trying to test you. Sometimes they actually are wanting to see if you know how to say, I can't do it. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:13 Highlight the passage at 1:33:13

1:33:27 So you have to be careful. It doesn't always mean you have to do everything until your body falls apart. And sometimes it actually means that you need to stand up and say no. But I remember that was one of the things actually that inspired me about Jokar is Tiziana. It's her willingness to do whatever she was asked with this happy mind. It's just kind of like, wow, I hope I can get like that. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:27 Highlight the passage at 1:33:27

1:33:58 And actually you can kind of make yourself like that. It's actually kind of interesting. Once you decide, you kind of channel, you become Tiziana. You just come into the kitchen and begin cleaning up and you become this little Italian nun. It's kind of interesting. You can kind of become that. I'm sure she was probably channeling somebody else. Report an error in the passage at 1:33:58 Highlight the passage at 1:33:58

1:34:16 Number four, when devoting yourself to the Guru, whatever suffering or trouble occurs, be like a mountain, immovable. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:16 Highlight the passage at 1:34:16

1:34:27 So this is learning to endure whatever problems come up for a larger goal. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:27 Highlight the passage at 1:34:27

1:34:35 He's helping you, he or she is helping you purify big time, so you are probably going to. You will have problems. This I can guarantee. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:35 Highlight the passage at 1:34:35

1:34:45 Again, think about Milarepa and Marpa. We just can't get enlightened without purifying. It just, it can't happen. So, and those purifications won't necessarily be the blisters on your back the way meli-rape is. It could be depression. It could be states of mind. It doesn't have to be, you know, boils like, you know, in the Bible. Report an error in the passage at 1:34:45 Highlight the passage at 1:34:45

1:35:10 It doesn't have to be something physical. It can be mental states of mind that you wake up with one day. And it's purifying something. Report an error in the passage at 1:35:10 Highlight the passage at 1:35:10

1:35:24 So, yeah. Number five, even if you're given all the difficult tasks, be like the servant of a king. Perform them with an undisturbed mind, never seeking to avoid it no matter how distasteful or unpleasant it may seem. Report an error in the passage at 1:35:24 Highlight the passage at 1:35:24

1:35:43 And this is really easy to do if you happen to be living in a situation where there are more than, like... All the disciples are sort of living together. And you begin comparing. And it looks like Tim doesn't have to do anything except meditate. And Chad has to rebuild the basement or something. Day and night. And so you begin sort of comparing. Report an error in the passage at 1:35:43 Highlight the passage at 1:35:43

1:36:10 And it's not good. It's not good to compare. You have no idea how many lifetimes. Tim has been rebuilding the basement. You just don't know. So it's really just unhealthy to compare and contrast. Each of us has our own karma with that particular teacher and that shifts and moves all the time. And suddenly you're going to be the one that's being told, okay, now it's time for you to study or meditate or whatever. Report an error in the passage at 1:36:10 Highlight the passage at 1:36:10

1:36:38 And Brett has to rebuild the basement single-handedly with a screwdriver or something. So you just, yeah, it's just best not to compare yourself at all. Report an error in the passage at 1:36:38 Highlight the passage at 1:36:38

1:36:51 Also, you just don't know if like Tim's close to death and that, you know, the teacher is just like trying to do what they can for that student before that student. And that student hasn't even received a diagnosis. You just have no idea about karma. So it's just better to just, as Vena Rubina always says, it's none of your business. Report an error in the passage at 1:36:51 Highlight the passage at 1:36:51

1:37:10 It's none of your business what's going on in somebody else's mind. If they're messing up in their practice, their relationship with a guru, it's none of your business. And it's so true. And we so stick our nose into it. Number six is abandon pride. Be like a sweeper. Hold yourself lower than the guru. This is really, really big. Report an error in the passage at 1:37:10 Highlight the passage at 1:37:10

1:37:35 This is one that actually came up for me. I always think that I don't have any pride, but it definitely came up for me when I was the director and then I had to step down and continue working at the center. And at that point, I had no employees. So I was holding all the balls. I knew all the time what was happening and then suddenly I didn't. Report an error in the passage at 1:37:35 Highlight the passage at 1:37:35

1:37:55 And you have to just like totally work on your mind and be like, okay, how can I support the current director? How can I support the current, you know? Office person, blah, blah, blah. You know, how can I be of support? How can I make Rinpoche's vision for this center happen and get myself out of the way? And it's big and you just have to do it. Report an error in the passage at 1:37:55 Highlight the passage at 1:37:55

1:38:15 Because my ultimate thing is I want to serve him, right? Seven, no matter how difficult or heavy the burden, be like a rope. Hold the Guru's work with joy. Report an error in the passage at 1:38:15 Highlight the passage at 1:38:15

1:38:33 Actually, that's the last one, number six. It brings to mind, Tenzin Choki actually told Michelle when she first got, sorry to say ordained, when she first became the director, that she has this theory that although these centers all help the students, They actually, the people that work here, it's really all of us working on our minds. And then he creates this entire world system of all these centers so that all the people that work there can actually purify mass quantities of negative karma. Report an error in the passage at 1:38:33 Highlight the passage at 1:38:33

1:39:07 And it just looks like we're running a center, but in reality it's this entire complicated thing of all of us working on our home minds. And I actually am starting to believe that. I actually am starting to believe that. I think it's all just skillful means. Report an error in the passage at 1:39:07 Highlight the passage at 1:39:07

1:39:21 So with seven, it's basically really about keeping a joyful mind. And when you think about it, if you really think about it and you really see the benefit and the merit of being able to work for your guru and the fact that actually there are so many beings that would want to be able to work for the guru and don't, it's an incredible honor. Report an error in the passage at 1:39:21 Highlight the passage at 1:39:21

1:39:45 It's an incredible thing to be able to further his or her vision in the world to make it happen. No matter how hard it feels, so to be joyful, to channel to Tiana. Number eight, this is a hard one. Even when the guru criticizes, provokes or ignores you, be like a faithful dog. Never respond with anger. Report an error in the passage at 1:39:45 Highlight the passage at 1:39:45

1:40:14 Never be looking for pets like that dog. You're not going to get it. It's not about, remember they don't even care if you like them. They just want to get you enlightened. So they have a whole different idea of in a relationship with you than anybody else that you're involved with. Sometimes if you need your pride check, they'll glare at you. Report an error in the passage at 1:40:14 Highlight the passage at 1:40:14

1:40:39 And it really stings. And then sometimes they're just totally, totally sweet and kind and literally petting you. So it just totally depends on what you yourself need. If you're getting a little bit full of yourself, they'll forget your name. Report an error in the passage at 1:40:39 Highlight the passage at 1:40:39

1:41:02 I like how that one happened. Report an error in the passage at 1:41:02 Highlight the passage at 1:41:02

1:41:08 The last one is be like a boat. Never be upset or complain to come and go for the guru at any time. Even if you're in the middle of meditating in your retreat and they need a text, be willing to jump up and go get that text. I've seen people actually say, no, let me finish this session. And I'm like, didn't they read number nine? Report an error in the passage at 1:41:08 Highlight the passage at 1:41:08

1:41:33 Again, don't forget that this is the holy being that can help you achieve your wildest dreams. I mean, at that point when you're sitting there and it's 3 o 'clock in the morning and you have like 7 more mantras to do, it's hard to remember that one. But you've got to just remember, of course, I need this text, I'm going to go get it. Even if I lose that whole session and I have to start over, you know, it's hard. Report an error in the passage at 1:41:33 Highlight the passage at 1:41:33

1:42:01 So just contemplate these. The homework is going to be... To think about these nine attitudes of guru devotion and also to do the opening meditation just to kind of be able to keep that, remembering that whole sphere of light, letting yourself, like letting all of this stuff, whatever arises, you can just imagine it dissolving into light and having this body of light. Report an error in the passage at 1:42:01 Highlight the passage at 1:42:01

1:42:25 So I kind of combine these two to do that. Do you have any questions before we dedicate? Report an error in the passage at 1:42:25 Highlight the passage at 1:42:25

1:42:35 The dog, the dog one. Even when the Guru criticizes, provokes or ignores you, be like a faithful dog, never respond with anger. Report an error in the passage at 1:42:35 Highlight the passage at 1:42:35

1:42:50 Just remember that sometimes they have to manifest with wrath for your own good. It's always a teaching for you, so even when you're wounded, just think about it, and you can usually figure out why. You can usually figure out what it is. Because nothing is not a teaching. I actually heard this story, and I won't give names, but this one. Report an error in the passage at 1:42:50 Highlight the passage at 1:42:50

1:43:19 This nun who was accompanying a teacher, and he really tested her wildly throughout this entire tour. And at the very end, he said, you never got angry, not once. You never got angry. And I just thought, oh my God, if it had been me, I totally would. And so he was clearly testing her, you know, and she didn't even really know him. Report an error in the passage at 1:43:19 Highlight the passage at 1:43:19

1:43:40 It wasn't like she had this relationship with him. She had just been told to go on this tour with him. Oh my God. Report an error in the passage at 1:43:40 Highlight the passage at 1:43:40

1:43:49 It's good to know these things even if it's not your particular guru because you never know when one of them might slide into that position. Anything else? Report an error in the passage at 1:43:49 Highlight the passage at 1:43:49

1:44:06 So let's just take a moment to dedicate because we did create a fair amount of virtue just by being here, coming together to try to learn about the relationship with a spiritual teacher and how to maintain that relationship and how to make that relationship grow. and then we'll take a moment to dedicate. Report an error in the passage at 1:44:06 Highlight the passage at 1:44:06

1:44:25 And that relationship is what's going to get us enlightened, right? So if we keep this in mind, we dedicate all that positive karma to our own enlightenment and to our own future relationship with our gurus, so that we can use those relationships to the best of our abilities to become fully enlightened beings and perfectly benefit all other beings. Report an error in the passage at 1:44:25 Highlight the passage at 1:44:25

1:44:52 So we'll not do the long life version since we went over. In your mind, we dedicate this also to the health and long life of all of our holy, precious teachers, whoever they may be, whether we recognize them as our ungros or not, especially as well as the Dalai Lama. Report an error in the passage at 1:44:52 Highlight the passage at 1:44:52

1:45:16 Sorry we went over, and thanks for the patience at the beginning so that we could do the sūtra. And may it actually, may George Bush generate bodhicitta in his mind tonight. Report an error in the passage at 1:45:16 Highlight the passage at 1:45:16

1:45:31 You never know. We'll read about it in the news tomorrow. Yeah, actually. Thank you. Report an error in the passage at 1:45:31 Highlight the passage at 1:45:31