Blueprint for Right Living from NWAonline

BUDDHIST TEACHINGS WARN AGAINST NONVIRTUOUS DEEDS

By Bettina Lehovec

PDF - BLUEPRINT FOR RIGHT LIVING

(Photo by Andy Shupe)

Geshe Dakpa Topgyal speaks Jan. 25 during a lecture at the Fayetteville Public Library sponsored by the Tibetan Cultural Institute and Students for a Free Tibet, University of Arkansas Chapter. The talk on ethics for the modern age was one of several presentations given by the Buddhist monk, a visiting scholar from Charleston, S.C.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

FAYETTEVILLE — Human beings create the future with their actions today, Geshe Dakpa Topgyal told an audience at the Fayetteville Public Library on Jan. 25.

That’s the basis for Buddhist teachings on ethics, the monk said.

“We all hope for peace, happiness and justice. At the same time, it’s important to know they will not come to us as a gift, like a Christmas gift.

“We are the creators of our world.
We’re responsible for what we experience – in this life and next lifetimes.”

The Buddhist monk spoke on “Modern Ethics and Traditional Wisdom” at the start of a weeklong visit to Northwest Arkansas last month. Subsequent talks focused on meditation, healing and nonviolence.

Topgyal is the founder of the Charleston Tibetan Society in South Carolina. He is a teacher, writer and lecturer. His visit was sponsored by the Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas.

Science and technology have replaced religious teachings as the underpinnings of society, Topgyal said. The advances in those fi elds have brought many benefi ts. Yet they’ve also brought new questions and ethical dilemmas.

Topgyal named abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research as issues arising from the fi eld of medicine. The world economic crisis is the result of dubious practices in the business world, he said.

Science and technology are unable to solve the basic problems humanity has always struggled with – howThis is the belief that a person’s actions in this lifetime will bear fruit in the next.

He likened the process to a tree, which will always produce fruit according to its kind.

“A medicinal tree gives medicinal fruit. That is fi xed,” the monk said. “It’s not able to produce poisonous fruit. In the same way, our past actions, done with positive intention, produce the natural result of pleasure, joy, harmony. With negative intentions, the result will be unpleasant.”

A person doesn’t have to be Buddhist to benefit from the teachings, Topgyal said.

“It’s not about religion. Ethics is the rule of natural law that every human being must follow.”

There are three levels of ethics in Buddhist thought, Topgyal said. Theto live happily and treat others with compassion and respect, the monk said.

“If people lack those, there’s not much hope for peace in the world around us,” he said. “In this very confused and dilemma world, we need an ethics more than ever.”

MINDFULNESS THE KEY

Buddhist ethics are grounded in the natural law of causality, or what Buddhists call karma, Topgyal said.

first is the ethics of non-harming. The second is the ethics of benefiting others in everyday life. The third is the ethics of cultivating ways to deliver help to the world.

In his talk, Topgyal focused on the first level. He introduced Buddhist teachings on nonvirtuous deeds – a blueprint for conscious thought, word and action.

“The Buddha said, ‘If possible, help others. If you cannot help, at least do no harm.’”

 

 

 

 

Geshe Dakpa Topgyal has written a number of books on Buddhist ethics, nonviolence, meditation and healing. (Photo by Andy Shupe)

Topgyal likened the nonvirtuous deeds to the Ten Commandments delivered by Moses at Mount Sinai. Like the commandments, the list of deeds prohibits actions that harm others – killing, stealing and sexual exploitation. It warns against the misuse of language through lying, divisive speech, harsh words and idle chitchat. It also asks followers to guard their thoughts against covetousness, ill will and wrong views.

Inner discipline is needed to follow the teachings and avoid the nonvirtuous deeds, Topgyal said. He stressed the importance of cultivating mindfulness – a quality of awareness that helps the practitioner see the unconscious roots of his actions and attitudes.

“Bringing mindfulness in every situation acts as the best teacher,” the monk said. “It will teach you everything, not forcefully, but very gently. It’s the best way to live, so you never experience guilt, regret, remorse. Those are consequences that come from a single root – our own mind or psychology.”

Audience member Charles DeWitt commented on the parallels with Christian teachings.

“In the Bible, if you love your neighbor, you’ve fulfilled all the law,” he said.

Geshe Thupten Dorjee, left, and Geshe Dakpa Topgyal chant Jan. 25 at the start of a lecture at the Fayetteville Public Library. (Photo by Andy Shupe)

Topgyal’s lecture brought home to him the potential impact of every action, such as yelling at a child, DeWitt said.

“I see the consequences. Those things are not just harmful because people say they are, but because of the consequences” for self and others.

WEB SOCIETY WATCH

CHARLESTON TIBETAN SOCIETY

TIBETAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF ARKANSAS

 

 

 

2012 Retreat Topic: Death and Dying

Lord Buddha said, “Dreams, dew drops, water bubbles, snow flakes, and lightning. View all conditioned things like that. “

Among the myriad types of impermanence, the impermanence of death is something that we need to deeply and seriously consider because it profoundly affects our lives. What does death really mean?

Life is short, fragile, delicate, and full of karmic malaise. There is a powerful potential to die at any moment. It is beyond ones control or wish. Life is vulnerable to decay. It is subject to all forms of depredations that destroy the basis of the life force.

Life is always subject to being hijacked by death. Death is sure and certain, but the time of death is uncertain. It is inevitable, unpreventable, and beyond anyone’s control. Because of these indisputable reasons, the end of birth is death, and it is a part of life’s natural process.

Birth has the purpose and potential to die, and death has the purpose and potential for rebirth. Life goes through the cycles of excitement of birth and sorrow of death. Our life is full of strange and mysterious things, but without a purpose.

Birth and death are closely related and neither one is random. The birth that we celebrate with joy, laughter, and delicious birthday cake is just a beginning of death that we grieve with a deep sense of loss.

The death that we grieve is just a beginning of birth that once again we celebrate with joy and an uplifted mood. It is a natural cycle of life until the potential of life is fully realized and no longer subject to uncontrollable birth and death.

It is a great mistake to view death as a tragedy. It is surely not a tragedy and not a random incident.  It is a natural process of life moving from freshness to decay, youth to age, health to illness. And eventually life comes to an end with a death. This is nothing to be denied or defied. The only correct view is to accept it without dwelling on feelings of self pity, anger, fear, and confusion.

The birth of someone is dependent on the death of another, and the death of someone leads to the birth of another. In order for someone to be born today, someone has to die in some other time. Similarly, in order for someone to be born here, someone has to die somewhere else.

There is nothing that we can do to stop death from happening once birth has taken place. What  one really can  and must do is to make sure that our death is a peaceful transition with a virtuous state of mind free from clinging, grasping, and attachment to whatever is going to be left behind, such as family members, friends, loved ones, wealth, and social status, etc.

A peaceful death under the influence of a virtuous state of mind is crucial for obtaining a higher and fortunate rebirth with a pleasant living environment. A virtuous state of mind at the time of death activates a seed of positive karma. This activated karmic seed will become the sole determining factor in regards to the nature of our future rebirth, its environment, and the unique characteristics of that life.

Because of the fact of the certainty of death, we must consider the real value of devoting our time and energy to the great accumulation of material wealth that is more than what we need for our survival. We can’t take it with us and it will not provide us a sense of inner comfort and security at the time of death. Our material wealth and any other property may be left behind neither as an act of generosity that bears merits nor as selfless an act of sharing that others may deeply appreciate of it. Our wealth that is going to left behind  can be left in the middle of hungry and aggressive vultures who simply want to eat it without appreciation and positive merit arising from our own good intention.

Our high social status will remain in the graveyard. At best our name will be carved on piece of good looking marble stone. What is the real point of accumulation of wealth and seeking high social status in this short life which is like a lightning bolt?

What should one do about our death?

We need to make full preparation and gain familiarity with the natural process of death. This is extremely important and highly beneficial. Not considering death in our everyday life is an ignorant mistake. This will be the cause for a painful death accompanied by anger, fear, rejection, confusion, and depressing feeling of self pity.

Under these influences one can not make healthy decisions about one’s wealth and property. One will be unable to pass them over to family members, loved ones, or charity with moral dignity. This leads to conflict and fighting among the family members over your undecided or wrong decision about the wealth and property.

What we will learn from this retreat:

In this retreat we will discuss various ethical issues related to our death such as:

• Mind set during the process of death.
• What to do with ones body.
• How one should make decisions about wealth and property.
• When to stop receiving harsh medical treatment if there is no hope of recovery.
• How to move from this life to the next without clinging.

Note: This discussion can be disturbing and depressing but very beneficial in many ways, not only during the event of death but also in this life.

Benefits of preparation:

• To simplify ones life
• To be more devoted to Dharma practice
• To be more prepared for death without fear and anxiety.
• To be happier with merely meeting basic needs without an inner urge to want more and better with no end.
• To be more motivated in the practice of ethics.
• To be less selfish and more caring of others.
• To be more motivated to create merit and good karma for your future happiness.

Prayers are good and highly beneficial. But creation of merit and good karma through your own effort is far better and more effective than prayers and Pujas.

Geshe Dakpa Topgyal

Ten facts about Tibet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The invasion of Tibet began in 1949. Chinese occupation has resulted in the deaths of at least hundreds of thousands of Tibetans, the destruction of over 6,000 monasteries, nunneries and temples, and the imprisonment and torture of thousands of Tibetans.

2. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, fled Tibet in 1959 to Dharamsala, India, followed by over 100,000 Tibetans and established the Tibetan Government-in Exile. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for a steadfast dedication to non-violence, and the highest US civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, in 2007.

3. Tibet, before occupation, was a nation with an established sovereign government, currency, postal system, language, legal system, and culture. Prior to 1950, the Tibetan government also signed treaties with foreign nations. The Chinese government claims that Tibet has always been part of China, yet its invasion of Tibet resembles imperialist aggression that China accuses other powers of exhibiting.

4. The “Tibetan Autonomous Region” (TAR) is not Tibet, nor is it autonomous. The Chinese government has divided historical Tibet into one region and several prefectures and counties, with the TAR encompassing only the central area and some eastern regions of Tibet.

5. The basic freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly are strictly limited, and arbitrary arrests continue. There are currently hundreds of political prisoners in Tibet, enduring a commonplace punishment of torture.

6. The Chinese government increasingly encourages Han Chinese to migrate to Tibet, offering them higher wages and other inducements. This policy is threatening the survival of Tibetan people. Tibetans are becoming a minority in the TAR. Yearly, thousands of Tibetans still flee from Tibet, making the treacherous journey over the Himalayas into a world of exile.

7. Historical Tibet was a vast country, with an area roughly equal to Western Europe. Tibet is the source of five of Asia’s largest rivers, which provide water for two billion people. Tibet’s fragile environment is endangered by Chinese strip-mining, nuclear waste dumping, and extensive deforestation.

8. The Chinese government claims to have “developed” Tibet, with “developments” mainly benefiting the new majority Chinese, not Tibetans. China, neglecting education and healthcare, has spent millions of dollars building infrastructure; many roads, buildings, and power plants directly support heavy militarization, allowing China to maintain Tibet as a police state.

9. The Chinese government aggressively seeks foreign investment for its “Go West” campaign, with use of these international funds to develop Tibet as a resource extraction colony and consolidate regional control. Foreign investments in Chinese companies legitimise China’s colonisation and exploitative projects that harm Tibet.

10. The United Nations and international community have done very little to address the core issue of China’s illegal occupation of Tibet. China represents an enormous market and cheap labour force, and its associated businesses have such a strong lobby that officials are reluctant to take substantive measures. Since western countries adopted policies of so-called “constructive engagement” with China in the 1990s, the human rights situation in Tibet has only deteriorated. In November 2008, the UN agreed with Free Tibet’s report on torture, clarifying that it believes that torture is ‘widespread and routine’ in Tibet.

Taken from freetibet.org

Initiation

This rare image shows the fourteenth Dalai Lama receiving an initiation from one of his last living teachers, Trulshik Rinpoche, a highly respected Tibetan master.

Dharamsala, India, 1999

Photo by Matthieu Ricard