So we're going to today actually just give a short talk, a little bit of talk, and then people have questions and answers. activities in the center up to this time. And he thinks actually this is very good and also he's very happy that there is a center here and there is a continuity and continuation of the center. People practice individually, practice a lot on their own greater activities or more positive activities for the greater good, it's very necessary to have a center, a place where people can come together in order to bring the Dharma not only to themselves but also to many others.

[02:18]

So without a place of focal point or a place of focus in order to engage in of that center. It's very necessary that not just one or two people come, but actually that many people come together all the time in order to really perform beneficial activities. that people come together in order to enhance their own dharma practice and also to enhance the activities of the center. So it's very important that people come together at least once a week to do Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig meditation together or can come together and do practice such as the Tatha ritual like this, to do the Tatha ritual together or Tatha Sadhana or whatever practice one does.

[03:36]

In addition to that, she said it would be good to come together sometimes and do a form of retreat or a recitation period. Though a proper retreat is hard to do because a proper retreat would take many days or months. However, just sometimes the people come together like for a day or even for a weekend or whatever and during that time to recite sadhana and also to practice recitation of mantra of a certain deity. This will be of great benefit to everyone. For example, it is said according to scripture that if a person recites the mantra 100 times, then the person gets the virtue or the merit of reciting 100 times. But if you have a big group of people and everyone recites 100 times, so say if there's 100 people, it would be, the merit accumulated by that would be actually 100 times 100 for each person. So it's actually as if each person recited it 10,000 times or 100,000 times. So that if people can come together for like a weekend retreat or a day retreat or whatever, and during that time recite like certain mantras such as the Avalokiteshvara Tantra or whatever, like 100,000 or 200,000 times in accumulation, then it'll be of great benefit for everyone because everyone individually would be able to gain the merit and the power of having recited the mantra

[05:04]

When you do dharma or work within activities of the center, it is very expensive and very difficult in this way. But actually, if one person was trying to support the love of a center or do many things in this way, it would be shares in the running of the center, or shares just in giving tea to each other, or food to each other, or sharing a meal together, or sharing various activities in this way, that it wouldn't be a very big burden on an individual separately, but it would just be an effort. And also that some people think, actually, just to spend money in this way, it's a difficult difficult situation. But Rumiji was saying actually that it's not without purpose that one is spending one's money when you're doing a dharma activity because any expenses or any money expended at the time of a dharma activity is really for the purpose of accumulating virtue or entering into a virtuous deed, a virtuous activity.

[06:17]

And it's result, that the activity that you are engaged in when it's dealing with dharma is actually an activity which will benefit yourself and also others this time and future, that it's actually an activity which will bring virtue and merit to yourselves and to others. So in this way, actually, if one considers it's just not an expensive money, but it's which most definitely will bring benefit and good results to each of yourselves and also to others. And once you consider the works of the Dharma in this perspective, actually it is for the good of oneself and for the good of others that something is arising from this. So, no matter who one is in this world, actually a person or an animal or whatever, whatever type of living being there is, that actually everyone only desires one thing.

[07:33]

Everyone desires happiness alone and also desires to be free from any suffering. This is actually the great desire of all of us, actually. We really are searching for some kind of true happiness, a real happiness. Unfortunately, we do not know the methods for obtaining this, and without knowing the methods, actually, we run away from our own happiness and run into the arms of suffering itself, or we run into the arms of harm, or discord. So when we understand, actually, that what we really seek is suffering or non-virtue are taught and practiced. So when one works within a dharma center or a dharma society, then it's very necessary to keep this as a goal in mind and also to work together in harmony so that this may be accomplished.

[08:36]

There's no use actually in coming within a society or a center and just looking down upon each other or looking down upon others or making trouble for one person. putting one person in a very difficult situation, that instead actually the people work in harmony together, that everyone takes some responsibility upon themselves. And then also, along with that, to understand that the very source of happiness within society, any small or large society, is harmony among the people, among members. so that if any discourage should arise that one should really check one's own mind to find out why it has arisen and not to retaliate but instead actually to practice patience and to practice a need to accommodate and also to relate to each other in a very positive and proper manner so that at all times actually this basis of harmony is always within everyone's mind as they work within the societal situation.

[09:41]

And as long as there is this relationship of harmony among the members who are distributing all the activities or all the responsibility among themselves, then one's own individual happiness will rise as well as the happiness of everyone together. So if anything bad happens, if one does practice patience, one does not retaliate immediately, if one really holds back and when people see actually that someone is harming you and you don't retaliate this way actually you are practicing patience that you are able to remain in harmony with others and also others will also see this to be a very good quality and also see this to be something that they wish to participate in so it's very necessary that that's the basis of the society or center or whatever that harmony always be maintained in a very pure and very proper way And that one's practice, no matter what one practices, no matter what tradition, what sect, one practices of whatever tradition, any practice that one does is good, actually.

[10:50]

Any of the practices of any traditions is of great benefit and will benefit everyone. However, when one feels that it's good to settle your mind that whatever you do practice whichever center or tradition that you follow that you really are firmly rooted within that so that you're stable that your own mind is stable and that when others see you actually they also understand that oh this person actually is someone who's stable who's not confused who's not jumping around with a lot of haphazard ideas and lopsided thoughts actually the person is really knows what they are faith or confidence in other people, that people do know what they are doing within the Buddhist tradition or within whatever tradition they follow. So that if a person just takes a bunch of ideas from here or there from different traditions and is not settled in their own mind of what they're doing and seem to be confused and have hazard in their practice have hazard in their ideas and also it'll create confusion in the minds of others and it will not be of any benefit for that person themselves or for the benefit of others so no matter what you're

[12:02]

great benefit or of a great blessing, that one just becomes very settled within one's ideas and then very settled and firm within one's practice, so that in this way actually one can benefit their own self as well as benefiting others who will see and then also participate in that same tradition or that same path. The tradition anyone follows, whether it be even within the Buddhist tradition, within the Tibetan traditions, or even other Buddhist traditions of different schools or ideas and even beyond that actually of different religions themselves no matter what the traditions are that one should actually always maintain a very good thought and very good harmony towards all the schools all the different traditions and because it's only through harmony and proper or good thoughts harmonious thoughts and actions towards others that one can actually be stable oneself and also create stability and harmony and good intentions

[13:17]

one's own good intentions and others' good intentions. If one's own self, actually, if one's own practice is not stable, then one is not able to help anyone else even. But it's just like if you're walking somewhere and if your feet are not firmly set on the ground, and you see someone else falling over, you try to help them, then both of you fall. There's no benefit. You couldn't help anyone. So in the same way that within your own tradition, whatever tradition you do follow, that you should be very firm and very stable. then you'll be able to benefit and be able to help many other people. But if you yourself are not stable in your own ideas and your own practice and your own thoughts, then when you try to help others, actually, who are also confused or uncertain, then instead of helping them, actually, both of you will tumble down, just like when you try to help someone when you're not stable on your own feet. So it's very important that one really understands one's own situation, one's own practice, one's own tradition, and become very stable, firm in that.

[14:19]

And then when one is stable there, no matter what one wants to do with other schools or other traditions, if one is able to benefit and prosper the entire tradition, no matter what it will be, no matter what it is, through one's own competence and one's own practice, Dharma path, they also create a faith or confidence in what you are doing and that confidence itself will even help them whether they be within your own tradition or another tradition. So stability and harmony actually are the related keys for maintaining one's own individual practice as well as a practice where the functions or activities of one's own center and also other centers. Actually, if one practices by themselves alone, individually, that this is good and there's no need or no benefit of having a dharma center. Rumi says actually, he thinks this is actually not a very good idea because in order to receive the dharma, in order to, for example, to invite a lama to come over to receive teachings, all the teachings that you have received, they've come through the

[15:32]

the center being here actually without the center being here you would not be able to receive teachings and also other people would not be able to receive teachings and there would be very little benefit but if you yourself try to invite a lama from India or some other place very far away and bring them here actually be very expensive and impossible for any person to do it individually and it would be very difficult in many, many ways. However, through gathering together as a society or a center, one is able to invite dharmas or other dharma teachers, bring them together, and many people are able to benefit, listen to the teachings, and then they're able to go off and practice individually. But the basis, the place where they receive the teachings and the source of their teachings come from the dharma center itself. So that in this way, actually, the dharma center really is bringing great benefit, not only to yourselves, but also to many others. So from this point of view, it's very important to have such a source of dharma, such a focal point of bringing teachings and the teaching, teachers and teaching together.

[16:36]

The center can meet together on a regular basis, such as once or twice a week or whatever. And during those times, actually, to practice the recitation of the Chenrezig and Avalokiteshvara Sattva together. Or if one also, if the center can also get together to do the Tara ritual in order to overcome obstacles and create favorable conditions for the center and for the members. And then also, just any time the center is able to do other practices together, such whatever practice that the center has received. And also, not only on a weekly basis like this, but also on other special occasions, such as on special days of the Buddha's birthday or enlightenment day like this, and then also on special days of the anniversary days of the Vipassana, Satya founders, that on these special days also people can come together and do some kind of recitation of mantra or sadhana or ritual together.

[17:55]

It'll be a very auspicious occasion and also a great benefit. And also in addition to that, if any of the members or even friends of the members of families or members of society or center are sick or they're having problems, to come together during that time and do special recitations on the benefit of those people benefit them, but also benefit the members themselves, such as reciting the Tara Ritual, or even Havalokiteshvara, or whatever one can do, keeping in mind the person who is having an obstacle, or a sickness, or whatever. Or also, if someone passes away, someone dies, also we can come together and recite the Mahasattva practice, or do some type of practice for the benefit of that person who has died, or whatever. Actually, one shouldn't think at that time that one has some great power to benefit people through one's recitation, but actually that these recitations of the mantras or the rituals and sadhas really is the word of the Buddha himself, and that the words and mantras of the Buddha really have very great effect and great potency and power due to the blessing of the Buddha himself.

[19:05]

So that through the recitation of these, that not only will we be able to benefit those who are sick or pass away or whatever, So this also would be a very good practice to engage in. And then it also means you're saying that whenever, like, you get the Lamas here, or just the resident Lamas who are staying here, So this will bring harmony and also it will bring confidence in the activities of the center, and bring confidence in good activities among the teachers and the students and everyone together, and that this will be of great benefit for everyone.

[20:09]

It will be a benefit for the lamas, it will be a benefit for the members, it will be a benefit for the center, and one should always keep in good like this, and that through keeping any ideas of competition or jealousy or any types of thoughts from arising, keeping your mind in a stable basis, in a leisure basis like this, that one will be able to really produce great activities and benefits for yourself and for the center. And this is actually very important. Also, having the center here actually, it's really important to maintain the activity of the center and then also to increase them in any way that's possible through coming together, meeting together, and then also through inviting other Lamas to come in the future in order to give various teachings, initiations, blessings, and various teachings on different aspects of what you've already received or new teachings which you wish to obtain.

[21:20]

to Rumichi himself, that though he does not live in America, that whatever he can do, or whatever he needs, of course he would be happy at any time to try to do whatever is within his power, to benefit the center, always to help the center and all its members. And also, Rumichi says actually, the center, that everyone really of the Sakhipa tradition, is really under the guidance and blessings of His Holiness Sakhi Krishan, being the head of the sect, so that whatever any individual member needs or what the center needs, one, if this one has come to America to meet with this one and is worried and just to write and remains under his compassionate guidance and also his blessings, it is also very good. So, Umji said actually this is his first trip to America and most of the people met here actually are new. He's never met before a few. In different places like in New York or Boston, he has met a few of the people, but basically, generally, most of the people he has met are all new people.

[22:26]

But he's been very happy to see the various activities that people have been engaged in, whether here or in the other cities and other centers. And he feels actually the people's earnestness and desire to practice the Dharma is really very great. And he's very happy with what he has seen. of mongol members here of their desire to really engage in the various mongol activities and also the desire of people in America itself actually to really enter into the path of virtue, the path of liberation. And this actually brought in much happiness and much joy to see this here in LA and also in other places. so it's his great prayer and hope that the center will continue very firmly very strongly continue to increase and also as just an auspicious connection that this will be so along with his prayers that he'd like to offer the center a small image of the Buddha which he's brought and then also just sort of as a auspicious connection and also with a hope that the center continues that he'd like to give the center five hundred dollars

[23:37]

What? So, Rudjicin actually doesn't have a lot more to say today, sort of his general advice, just that he thinks it's very important that the Center is here, that he's very happy with what he has seen with the individual members and the Center itself, that he has seen a great earnestness and a great endeavor and diligence among the members within their own individual practice and their activities within the Center.

[24:55]

So, actually, he's very happy and very pleased with this. And it is his prayer, and he will pray for all the members, as well as the Center, that everyone continue on the path without obstacles and that everyone remain within harmony among themselves, among the Center itself, and that he will always pray that this will be so. And also, especially since at this time this dharma connection has been created between a guru and disciple, that the various pledges and also the right relationship will always be maintained. about the various aspects that you have to answer. So, this is actually October 6th.

[26:07]

To the members, dear members, thank you so much for your letter on the 7th of May and the enclosures. I'm sorry for the delay in responding to it. I'm very glad to know the news of Putin coming to and the various programs carried out at the center. By now, I hope, leaving Kendramache as teaching at the center, it is quite important to practice the teachings you receive from various teachers. Only then it will benefit you. Dharma is the only remedy for all illnesses of the transient and illusory world. I hope everyone will practice the Dharma with devotion and zeal from right now, with the right method and also with skill. We are all well and doing fine. The Sakya Center and the Sakya College here are progressing steadily, and the Sakya Institute at Cordwella is also making good progress in this sphere. With all my best prayers for the success of Tungpa Rinpoche and its members in their dharmic activities and endeavors, sincerely yours, the Dalai Lama, Sakya Krishna. Dear friends and dear friends, this is about the teachings.

[27:14]

How much do you save without breaking the childhood distance? If they don't have those teachings.

[27:22]

@Transcribed_v004
@Text_v004
@Score_JJ