Chenresig Retreat #8 Topics: Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!

ey "onth# $ay# %&&' Transcri!er: Ruth Schae(er )age * o( %+

,inter Retreat %&&' Sra asti A!!ey Teaching - . /A session #8 Venera!le Thu!ten Cho0ron 1e!ruary *2# %&&' ,e sometimes tal3 a!out people re ol ing in cyclic e4istence5 ,e say# 678m trappe0 in cyclic e4istence#9 or 678m going to !e re!orn in my ne4t li(e#9 or# 6Through the twel e lin3s people cycle in samsara59 :sing that 3in0 o( language in a con entional way is O;# !ut o(ten what happens is we gi e it a little !it more meaning# an0 we !egin to (eel li3e there is a real person there that cycles in samsara5 There8s a person# a real concrete person# who creates ignorance# who has ignorance# an0 generates 3arma5 An0 that 3arma is plante0 on that that person8s consciousness so that person at the en0 o( their li(e# when cra ing an0 grasping an0 !ecoming happen# that person goes on to the ne4t li(e an0 ta3es a new !o0y an0 a new min05 7t is so easy when we ha e the ha!it o( (eeling that there is a real person in there that is going (rom li(e to li(e# a real person that is ta3ing up the (i e aggregates# a real person that is caught in samsara5 7( we thin3 li3e that then we8 e actually misse0 the whole point o( the e4planation on the twel e lin3s o( 0epen0ent origination; !ecause the way that the <u00ha wor0e0 them: the wor0s 679 or 6person9 aren8t in there5 7t8s rather# 61rom ignorance comes compositional action# (rom compositional action arises consciousness#9 an0 so on through the twel e lin3s5 So when we loo3 an0 e4amine a little !it 0eeper# when we say# 6There is a person who is caught in samsara# a person who ta3es the (i e aggregates#9 who or what is that person= ,hene er we use the wor0 679 we (eel there is a real# in0epen0ent person there# !ut when we as3# 6,ho is it who goes (rom one li(e to the ne4t=9 6,ho is it that is caught in cyclic e4istence=9 ,hen we really !egin to search in the aggregates or separate (rom the aggregates# we can8t (in0 a person there5 So there are all these processes going on gi ing rise to e((ects# that go on to gi e rise to more e((ects# an0 we simply gi e the la!el 6person9 to an appearance# !ut there is no real person there5 ,hen we thin3 li3e this an0 apply it then we see that there

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age % o( %+

is no inherently e4istent person who is !orn# no inherently e4istent person who creates 3arma# no inherently e4istent person who 0ies5 There is simply what is la!ele0 on the !asis o( other (actors that are not a person5 So when we train our min0 to loo3 at things li3e this# stu(( loosens up a little !it5 ,e aren8t so reacti e to other people# !ecause we see that there is no truly e4istent person there to !e reacti e to5 7t8s goo0 to try to 3eep that awareness throughout the 0ay# an0 !e min0(ul o( the lac3 o( a (in0a!le person an0 how things e4ist# people inclu0e0# simply !y !eing la!ele05 That8s all>there is nothing there# ?ust the la!el5 7t8s (unny# as soon as we open our eyes it loo3s li3e real people# 0oesn8t it= There are all those real people out there (rom their own si0e5 An0 they8re not ?ust their names# there are real personalities in there5 An0 that8s who they really are: unchanging# always ha e that personality# always will ha e it5 Always will that person# e en when they 0ie they8re ?ust going to !e e4actly the same5 @ou see how we8re so (amiliar with this wrong conception min0# aren8t we= @ou can see how we get so reacti e5 Real people out there# that soli0 personality# an0 7 0on8t li3e it; they shoul0 !e 0i((erent5 Or# 6Ahhh# 7 li3e it59 ,e8re ?ust !ouncing o(( the things that our own min0 has pro?ecte0 an0 create05 Some!o0y once tol0 me the little slogan# 6)ic3 poc3ets see poc3ets59 ,hen you wal3 0own the street# 0o you notice people8s poc3ets= 7 0on8t e en notice what people are wearing5 ,e 0on8t loo3 at poc3ets# so they8re not a !ig 0eal5 <ut i( you8re a pic3 poc3et# !oyA @ou see e ery!o0y8s poc3ets# an0 that8s the most important thing that you see a!out them# is their poc3ets5 @ou 0on8t e en see the rest o( their clothes# or how tall they are# or how ol0 they are; all you see is the poc3ets !ecause that8s what you8re intereste0 in5 An0 in the same way# we each ha e in our own min0 this 3in0 o( lens through which we interpret e erything5 One o( the lenses# o( course# is 6me#9 not you# !ut 6me#9 an0 how e erything a((ects 6me59 <ut we also learn 0i((erent things5 1or e4ample# i( you stu0y psychology# you8ll interpret e erything through a psychological iewpoint5 Or i( you stu0y me0icine# when you loo3 at e ery!o0y you thin3 a!out their me0ical history5 An0 i( you8re stu0y gen0er issues# then e erything appears as a gen0er issue5 Or i( you8re stu0ying racial issues# then e erything appears as a racial issue5 An0 i( you stu0y ecology# e erything appears as an ecological issue5 An0 we thin3 that that8s what it is out there5 <ut instea0 we8re ha ing a iewpoint that we8re superimposing

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age B o( %+

on all these parts# an0 then 0i((erent things 3in0 o( coagulate5 So it8s not to say that none o( those things are true; con entionally they may ha e some sense5 <ut they8re not some inherently e4istent o!?ecti e reality a!out what8s going on out there# they are ?ust iewpoints5 All our things are ?ust iewpoints5 7 wante0 to share with you a couple o( messages (rom inmates5 One is (rom Cohn at Airway Heights5 7 thin3 we ha e some other letters (rom him5 He8s than3ing us (or !eing a!le to participate in the retreat: 6,hat it has 0one (or my le el o( commitment to a 0aily practice is astoun0ing5 At (irst to say it was a chore to remain attenti e through the whole practice woul0 !e putting it mil0ly5 7 3ept catching mysel( 0oDing o(( 0uring me0itation5 That has all change05 7 still ha e the same *E hour sche0ule5 F<ecause he wor3s an0 goes to school5G The 0i((erence is# now 7 can har0ly wait to get to my practice5 7 woul0 ha e to a0mit that when 7 hear0 that this was to !e a three month retreat 7 thought that that was an enormous amount o( time5 How that we are more than hal(way through# it has prompte0 this letter5 "y Iuestion is that a(ter we are 0one with the Chenresig retreat# what woul0 you suggest as the ne4t practice=9 To reply to his Iuestion# 7 thin3 you ?ust 3eep 0oing the Chenresig practice5 The en0 o( the retreat 0oesn8t mean you stop the practice5 The retreat is a way to !ecome (amiliar with Chenresig# to ma3e Chenresig your (rien05 An0 then ha ing ma0e a goo0 (rien0 o( Chenresig# why stop it ?ust !ecause you get to a certain calen0ar 0ate5 Ho sense in 0oing that5 @ou 3eep going# an0 you 3eep on practicing5 7 thin3 (or all the people 0oing the retreat (rom a(ar# an0 all o( you here too# ?ust 3eep 0oing the practice e en a(ter the en0 o( the retreat5 7 thin3 Fthis isG especially FimportantG (or the people 0oing the retreat (rom a(ar# !ecause it ta3es us awhile to transcri!e an0 sen0 out all the transcripts5 7( they stop the practice at the last 0ay o( the retreat an0 they get all these transcripts e4plaining the practice a(ter they ha e alrea0y stoppe0# it woul0 !e a great pity5 <ecause when you8re getting it# it8s a really goo0 opportunity to put it into your practice5 So 7 really suggest ?ust 3eep going a(ter the en0 o( the retreat5 An0 then there is another car0 (rom ;en in "issouri# an0 he sai0: 67 ha0 a great lam rim me0itation on impermanence5 7t scare0 me something (ierce5 FThat is goo0AG So 7 0e0icate0 a whole !unch o( merit to meeting Iuali(ie0 teachers in the ne4t li(e59 Jater on# he sai0# 61inally since my an0 e eryone else8s 0ays are

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age E o( %+

limite0# 7 Iuite smo3ing# since 7 won8t i( 7 put it o((5 7 nee0 all the merit an0 positi e potential an0 goo0 ha!its 7 can get59 7 thin3 that8s 3in0 o( incre0i!le5 ,hy put o(( stopping a !a0 ha!it !ecause he8s really seeing things in the correct way: our 0ays are num!ere0# at the en0 o( our li es all we ta3e with us is the 3arma5 So i( we8re going to 0o something important we shoul0 at least em!ar3 on it now rather than say# 6"aKana a la maKana59 That was Iuite a goo0 insight 7 wante0 to share5 So now how are all o( you this last wee3>what8s happening= FJong pauseG @ou aren8t thin3ing= J5 Hothing8s coming up in your me0itation= .5 A couple o( things5 7 ha en8t really mentione0 this# !ut 0uring this whole retreat 78 e !een ha ing really i i0 0reams# that ma3e me thin3 a!out it all 0ay5 Especially this last wee3 or so there has !een much more learning a!out my attachments# an0 7 ha e learne0 a!out reputation# partly (rom rea0ing5 7 got a la!el (or my e4perience5 7 was listening to your teachings on this an0 7 realiDe that concern a!out reputation inclu0es e en this small group# you 3now= 7 was going through my !o0y# an0 the mental gymnastics aroun0 it# which is the part that is unnecessary# an0 it ma0e me remem!er that a!out three wee3s ago 7 came into the me0itation hall as the !ell was gonging5 An0 it was li3e there wasn8t any soun0 in there e4cept (or the gong# !ut it was so lou0 in my min0: what you guys were saying to me that you coul0 ha e !een shouting5 ,hat 7 was telling mysel( was so lou0 that it was almost li3e a hallucination# !ut 7 3new it wasn8t5 As 7 thought !ac3 a!out it this past wee3 7 thought# 6Oh# this stu(( 7 go through in my min0 it is a!out reputation5 ,hat people are thin3ing a!out you5 7 ne er really connecte0 the wor0s to the e4perience5 7t (elt so small# it 0oesn8t go small (or me !ecause it turns things in a positi e way5 7 ?ust ha0 this memory o( this woman once in the hospital that 7 wor3e0 with ?ust once an0 7 ne er ha0 (orgotten her5 7 was thin3ing that what was so amaDing a!out her is that her !o0y was a wrec3# an0 (rail# an0 L there were L they were going to !e 0oing surgery5 7 remem!er 7 was rea0ing her chart Lget out o( !e05 An0 it was so huge what we were going to try to 0o compare0 to the state she was in# 7 remem!er her ?ust saying# 67 can try59 An0 the way she sai0 it was li3e# 7 0on8t 3now# what was in there that was so amaDing a!out it5 7t was li3e there was no ego5 7 0on8t 3now what it was>it was this incre0i!le strength that ha0 no ego a!out it at all5 An0 we 0i0 try# an0 it wasn8t

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age 2 o( %+

so easy# !ut to !e in such 0ilapi0ate0 state physically; yet mentally# 3in0 o( li3e ha ing a smoothness going on5 An0 so# 7 0on8t 3now# 7 thin3 a!out that once in awhile5 7 ?ust realiDe0 how 7 (elt a!out mysel( !ecause 7 realiDe0 that 7 ha e li3e other people are thin3ing a!out me is li3e going on in my hea0# an0 7 realiDe# you 3now# what 0o 7 thin3= ,ell 7 thin3# well this is pretty goo05 ,ell 78m trying5 7t8s li3e that whole little thought turne0 the whole thing the way 7 was 0ealing with it in a really positi e way !ecause it was completely (rom insi0e# an0 it was so small !ut it (elt li3e the e((ect that the e((ect was clearing away a lot an0 it was goo05 A5 So you8re tal3ing a!out reputation an0 7 thin3 your e4ample was e4cellent> wal3ing into the me0itation hall that was totally silent# !ut in your min0 people were screaming all their opinions a!out you at you5 J5 An0 how much we get in ol e0 in what we thin3 they thin35 An0 then# in contrast# this woman that you 0ealt with when you were wor3ing as a physical therapist who was 0ilapi0ate0 !ut sai0# 67 can try9 as i( it were the most natural thing in the worl05 There was no# 6Oh well# 7 guess 7 can try# 78m gonna try Fsai0 in a moaning# whiney oiceG5 @eah# she ?ust 0i0 it5 An0 what you sai0 too# that we are so o(ten wrappe0 up in our stories o( what we thin3 they thin3# that we8re totally out o( touch with what we thin35 An0 what we (eel# an0 we 0on8t e en o(ten !other to consi0er it5 An0 instea0# we ?ust ta3e other people8s opinions or reactions# or what we thin3 their opinions an0 reactions are# an0 we ta3e them in as i( that were really us5 Some!o0y else tells me 78m talente05 6Oh 7 must !e59 Some!o0y else tells me 78m stupi05 6Oh 7 must !e59 Some!o0y else sai0 what 7 0i0 was right or wrong# or consi0erate or inconsi0erate# 6Oh# it must !e ?ust as they sai059 An0 we ne er !other to e aluate an0 assess what we thin3# what was my moti ation when 7 sai0 that= 1orget what other people thin3 a!out it>what was my moti ation= ,hy 0i0 7 0o that# an0 how 0o 7 (eel ha ing 0one that= An0 i( we (eel goo0 a!out something# then it 0oesn8t matter what other people thin35 An0 i( we (eel !a0 a!out ha ing 0one something# it also 0oesn8t matter what other people thin35 <ecause we are the ones who create our own 3arma5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age M o( %+

7 see so o(ten that people go thorough their whole li(e trying to !ecome what other people thin3 they shoul0 !e5 An0 you can8t really li e a li(e trying to !ecome what you thin3 they thin3>especially when you ha en8t e en as3e0 them5 So we get ery tangle0 up in this thing reputation5 7t also ma3es us 0o all 3in0s o( (unny things to get other people to li3e us5 ,e thin3 soNan0Nso li3es people who are intelligent# so there(ore 78m going to act intelligent5 ,e thin3 soNan0Nso li3es people li3e people who are artistic# there(ore 78m going to act artistic5 An0 then we try to show that si0e o( our sel(5 An0 then o( course pro!lems come up a(terwar0s5 <ecause we8re putting on a !ig show# an0 they8re usually putting on a !ig show too5 J5 ,hereas# 7 thin3 i( we (in0 that space insi0e o( our sel( that has some 3in0ness towar0 our sel( an0 others# an0 i( you relate (rom that place o( 3in0ness# then what we thin3 they want us to !e is irrele ant5 7t8s li3e you saw when ;hensur Rinpoche went into Airway Heights# ;hensur Rinpoche was ?ust who he was5 He wasn8t trying to impress the guys an0 the group with !eing this or !eing that5 He ?ust sat 0own an0 sai0 what he ha0 to say an0 that was it5 There was something Iuite !eauti(ul a!out that5 ,e so o(ten try to put (orth an image o( our sel( an0 get tangle0 up in it# an0 worry a!out what their image o( us is# as i( that8s all they ha e to 0o in li(e is thin3 a!out what they thin3 a!out us5 @ou wal3 into the me0itation hall an0 they8re screaming their i0eas a!out you# an0 !oy# that8s all you can thin3 a!out in your me0itation is what they thin3 a!out you5 J5 7t8s so (unny that no matter what group we8re with we8re ery attache0 to our reputation5 ,e ?ust get so tangle0 up in all o( that5 7t8s ery goo0 to learn to laugh at oursel es a !it an0 then ?ust put that 0own5 FCan8t un0erstan0 se eral wor0s5G @ou8 e !een worrying a!out what other people thin3 a!out you= .5 @eah# !ecause OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO5 Jong a(ter that inci0ent has stoppe0# you8re thin3ingL 7 wish he ne er gaine0 whate er# so that8s totally unpro(ita!le thin3ing5 .5 FCan8t un0erstan0 se eral wor0s5G J

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age ' o( %+

A5 ,hat8s !een happening (or other people= .5 7 ha e a couple o( things where my conceptions come up really strong an0 it got me thin3ing a!out howL An0 there are a couple o( real li(e inci0ents that came up where 7 was !arely coming (rom one conception# an0 the person was coming (rom another5 An0 we weren8t communicating5 7 thought how there are conceptions an0 perceptions# an0 this is the le el we (unction at5 An0 all the ma?or things# all the ma?or pro!lems we ha e in the worl05 ,e all li e at that le el o( conception5 So we ha e to wor3 at that le el# it seems# an0 we ha e to !e responsi!le (or what perceptions or conceptions are going on5 ,e ha e to thin3 o( them5 On one han0 we can8t caught in them# an0 on the other han0# they seem ery important# !ecause this is why wars are (ought5 )eople 0on8t li3e each other !ase0 on whate er conceptions they ha e5 A5 O; so you8re saying that on one han0 conceptions are ?ust things that our min0 ma3es up# on the other han0 they are ery important in the (unctioning o( the worl0 !ecause it is through conceptions we relate to each other5 7t is through conceptions that we either li3e each other# or 0isli3e each other# or help each other# or harm each other5 So the conceptions are important5 ,hen you really loo3 at it you see how this whole worl0# an0 especially i( you ?ust loo3 at society# the whole thing is conception5 1or e4ample# what we consi0er to !e polite an0 impolite is ?ust whate er a particular group conceptualiDes as polite or impolite5 <ut !oy when some!o0y8s impolite# we are really o((en0e05 <ut it is ?ust our conceptual min0# or e ery!o0y8s conceptual min0 together# that says this is O; or this is not O;5 Our sense o( what is min0 an0 what is others8 is ?ust a la!el5 <ut we 0e(initely (ight wars o er 6mine59 7n the "i00le East there are the Cews# the Sunnis# the Shiites# this group an0 that group5 <ut all these groups are ?ust la!els5 There is ?ust the 0e elopment o( a name that is coming (rom a concept# an0 certain Iuali(ications (or !elonging to each group that are also in ente0 !y our conception5 The pro!lem happens when we ma3e all these things ery soli0 an0 0on8t realiDe that it is our conceptual min0 that is creating all these Iualities an0 groups an0 things li3e that5 ,e (orget that we are the ones who ga e the la!els an0 (orget that all these things

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age 8 o( %+

are that way (rom their own si0e5 That8s why things get really 0i((iculty5 So 7 thin3 it is important to !ear in min0 when things get really 0i((icult is that as a society we create0 norms an0 concepts an0 that8s all it is5 .5 "ostly we 0on8t 0o that5 A5 An0 we 0on8t 0o that an0 that8s why we get in trou!le5 That8s why we practice $harma so as to !e more aware o( creating all these things5 1or e4ample# i( 7 was raise0 in a certain way a!out what is polite an0 what is not polite5 7t8s a ery minor thing# isn8t it= <ut i( 7 was raise0 in that way an0 7 ?ust assume0 ha !ecause e eryone else aroun0 also as3e0 in the same way an0 conceptualiDe0 manners in that same way# then when 7 go to another culture an0 people are acting 0i((erently# 7 thin3# 6Oh these people are acting so uncouth5 They must !e une0ucate0# they must !e stupi059 O( course# they must !e thin3ing the same thing a!out me5 <ut i( 78m aware that all o( this is ?ust a pro0uct o( my own con0itioning an0 my own conceptual min0 an0 the conceptual min0 o( the particular people 7 grew up with# then when 7 go into a 0i((erent culture# then 7 0on8t start imputing all these things# an0 7 0on8t start interpreting people8s actions in that way5 7nstea0 there8s more space an0 there8s more curiosity5 That8s one o( the things we8re trying to 0o in our $harma practices is to let go to how rigi0ly we hol0 onto some o( those conceptions5 .5 <ut in my opinion people ha e ery ali0 e4periences that cause them to react in a certain way# it seems to me that there it is ery easy (or things to happen in a certain way5 ,hen 7 was 0own in the south there was a center# an0 most o( the olunteers at the center were white people5 An0 the OOOOOOOOOO was A(ricanN American5 An0 when the County came in it is was a county that OOOOOOOOOO5 they woul0n8t gi e them (un0s5 An0 when they se me with white people they thought it was 0iscrimination5 An0 it was a ali0 response !ecause OOOOOOOOOO5 There was so much anger at that center5 An0 they (elt so 0iscriminate0 against !ecause they ha0 these e4periences that were ali05 So they coming in an0 see these white people 0iscriminating against us L an0 that8s a reality5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age + o( %+

A5 So you8re saying that we might ha e certain e4periences# especially in a racial situation you might ha e e4perience0 0iscrimination in a certain amount5 So whene er you come into a certain situation you8re aware that it coul0 !e 0iscriminatory5 This is a really goo0 e4ample o( )ic3poc3ets seeing poc3ets9 !ecause we all get con0itione0 !y our own thing# !ecause OOOOOOOOOO5 So we8re superNsensiti e a!out certain things5 The people we8re interacting with may not share those same sensiti ities5 <ut !ecause we8re ery sensiti e# so when we go in we see# oh>0iscrimination5 <ut (rom the si0e o( the other person that wasn8t happening5 <ut !ecause we ha e (ace0 so much o( it our sel(# that8s what we see5 Another 3in0 o( situation is i( we8 e ha0 a lot o( con0itioning in our li(e in going into situations an0 ?ust not ma3ing (rien0s ery easily# we8re always rea0y (or people not li3ing us# or we !elong# we 0on8t (it in5 So when we go into any new situation# we8re seeing it through those eyes o( our past con0itioning5 7t may !e ali0 that other people 0on8t li3e us5 Or in a racial conte4t# people really are 0iscriminating against us5 Those coul0 !e ali0 things that we8re turning in to5 <ut sometimes those e4periences ma3e us much more sensiti e that we nee0 to !e an0 we see poc3ets where there are only (ol0s in the clothes5 An0 our min0 gets really churne0 up a!out something5 An0 we tal3 to some!o0y else a!out it# an0 they8re going# 6Huh=9 So what we8re seeing is that we8re all li ing# we all 0on8t come (reshly to situations !ecause we8re coming with this !ag o( con0itioning !ehin0 us5 An0 7 thin3# that when they say# 6Pen min0# !eginner8s min059 7 ne er use0 to un0erstan0 that5 <ut now 7 thin3 that it means whene er we8re going into new situations# in spite o( our con0itioning# we shoul0 try to loo3 at it in a (resh way an0 thin3# 6These are sentient !eings59 "y mom is in the hospital right now# an0 her con0itioning is that 6people aren8t ta3ing goo0 care o( me59 ,hate er the nurses are trying to 0o# they are not meeting her stan0ar0s# an0 instea0 causing a lot o( misery5 <ut 78m sure the nurses are trying to 0o the !est they can# consi0ering that they ha e a whole (loor o( people to ta3e care o(5 <ut what 78m getting at is when we let this pre ious con0itioning# when we ma3e it too soli0 an0 !elie e in it# we create a lot o( 6me an0 you# an0 this an0 that9 an0 unnecessary antagonism !etween people5 .5 <y !eing insensiti e you can create antagonism too5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *& o( %+

A5 <y !eing insensiti e you can create antagonism# !utL O;5 Jet me gi e another situation5 Jet8s say you ha0 some encounter with some!o0y>with a (rien0>an0 there were some things sai0# an0 you weren8t ery nice to them# an0 they weren8t ery nice to you5 An0 you 3now how the ne4t time you see that person you (eel a little !it ill at ease= 7t8s li3e you ten0 to shut up an0 loo3 0own an0>you 3now how it is= 7t8s li3e something happene0 an0 you8re still 3in0 o( ma0 at them# or you (eel that they8re 3in0 o( ma0 at you5 <ut 0on8t want to apologiDe !ecause what they 0i0 was really wrong# an0 you8re gla0 you sai0 that# !ut you 0on8t (eel so goo0 !ecause they8re clearly not happy with you5 So then you want to 3eep your mouth shut5 @ou come into the situation the ne4t time you see that person with your min0 li3e she was# wal3ing into the me0itation hall an0 e ery!o0y screaming at her e en though it8s silent5 So you8re wal3ing in to !e with that person an0 all your own pro?ections an0 opinions are all there twirling aroun0 with you5 An0 so then you try ha e a con ersation with that person# !ut it8s ?ust soL li3e you8re wal3ing on pins an0 nee0les !ecause you8re a(rai0 to say the wrong thing !ecause they might get ma0 again# !ut on the other han0 you8re listening (or e ery slight tone o( oice an0 e ery wor0 choice they8re saying !ecause may!e they8re still ma0 at you5 "ay!e they8re sorry# !ut too prou0 to say that5 So you8re li3e sitting there listening to e4actly what tone o( oice they8re using# an0 what wor0s they8re saying5 An0 you8re trying to say e erything so 0elicately# an0 it8s stress(ul# isn8t it= ,hat woul0 happen i( you ha0 that situation with some!o0y# there was whate er happene0# an0 you 0roppe0 it= @ou wal3e0 up to the person the ne4t morning an0 you sai0# 6Hi# how are you=9 An0 you really meant it; it wasn8t li3e you were trying to preten0 that nothing happene05 @ou really ha0 put that 0own an0 you were wal3ing in completely (resh5 The situation woul0 loo3 totally 0i((erent# woul0n8t it= <ecause we woul0n8t ha e all o( our own stu(( screaming at us5 So this is the same thing5 ,hen we con0ition our sel(>an0 7 come (rom a religious minority# so 7 3now ery well what it8s li3e to grow up (eeling li3e# 6you !etter !e care(ul !ecause you 0on8t 3now i( they8re going to put you in a concentration camp ne4t wee359 ,hen you ha e all those preconceptions an0 you li e li3e that# you see pre?u0ice e erywhere5 .5FCan8t hear the Iuestion5G

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age ** o( %+

A5 7t8s !ase0 on e4perience5 7 0on8t 3now how the e4perience in the past occurre0# !ut why 7 shoul0 assume that the people in the past are going to !e li3e the people in the (uture>that8s me pro?ecting5 An0 the e4tent to which 7 was hurt in the past= Two people e4perience the situation: one person is really upset a!out it# one person isn8t5 7n se enth gra0e 7 remem!er so clearly what 7 was li3e5 == 78m waiting (or her == 78m waiting (or )eter Armeta Qsp=R to show up5 )eter Armeta Qsp5R ma0e this incre0i!ly antiNSemitic remar3# an0 !ecause 7 ha0 all this con0itioning a!out the Holocaust an0 this an0 that# an0 all these people who 0ie0>one antiNSemitic remar3 an0 7 spent the whole 0ay crying in the !athroom5 An0 7 owe0 ne er to spea3 to )eter Armeta Qsp=R again as long as 7 li e05 ,e were in all the same classes all through ?unior high# all through high school5 ,e !oth starte0 :SC early in the same program5 7 0i0n8t tal3 to him5 <ecause 7 was !rought up Fso thatG i( some!o0y is pre?u0ice0 against you# they !a0# they are e il# you cut them out o( your li(e# an0 you let people 3now that you8re not going to stan0 (or any pre?u0ice5 So 7 ma0e a !ig hulla!aloo in that se enth gra0e class5 "rs5 "cCaus3y QspR an0 "r5 Reese>7 0on8t 3now what they went through5 .5 @ou 0i0n8t e en thin3 a!out it# though5 A5 <ut it was coming (rom my min05 7 0i0n8t nee0 to get so upset5 7 0i0n8t nee0 to get so reacti e5 7 coul0 ha e realiDe0# O;# some!o0y sai0 something5 7 coul0 ha e ma0e a calm comment a!out# 67 0on8t thin3 it8s (air to generaliDe59 <ut 7 0i0n8t nee0 to ta3e it personally5 7 0i0n8t nee0 to ma3e it part o( my i0entity (or all o( those years an0 cause mysel( an0 other people such misery5 .5 7t can ma3e (or tremen0ous su((ering5 7 li e0 with a Cewish man (or eight years# an0 7 saw how he su((ere0 in the way you8re 0escri!ing# an0 he continues to su((er5 He has such a tight little group o( (rien0s5 An0 e en his ser ice people ha e to !e Cewish5 He is so con(ine0 in his min05 7t is ery# ery sa05 He su((ers so much5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *% o( %+

A5 @eah5 Carrie woul0 say# 6Oh# that8s ali0 !ecause they 3ille0 si4 million Cews59 <ut are you going to carry that aroun0 your whole li(e= 7t ma3es me ery misera!le5 .5 <ut it8s not e en ?ust that5 There are 0e(initely groups out there that to this 0ay ha e a ery strong 0isli3e (or particular ethnicities or religious !elie(s5 7t8s almost li3eL That whole i0ea o( pri ilege>7 0on8t ha e to worry a!out some!o0y saying# 6@ou8re 7rish59 ,ell who cares i( 7 ha e an i0entity o( !eing 7rish5 78m not e en conscious o( that5 A5 <ut years ago# i( you were !orn B& years ago in Hew @or3L .5 <ut 7 mean the !alanceL There are no groups out there trying to 3ill 7rish people right now5 Hone5 7t8s 0i((erent when you ha e an i0entity that you8re ma0e aware o(5 A5 <ut the e4tent to which we assume an i0entityL <ecause we8re many i0entities# aren8t we= ,e8re all human !eings5 ,e all ha e a gen0er i0entity# a racial i0entity# an ethnic i0entity# a religious i0entity# a socioeconomic i0entity# a hair color i0entity# a tall an0 short i0entity# a (at an0 thin i0entity# an athletic an0 nonN athletic i0entity# an artistic an0 nonNartistic i0entity# a smart an0 a 0um! i0entity5 ,e can go on ad infinitum with all o( our i0entities5 An0 0epen0ing on which i0entity on which we (i4ate# we see the worl0 through that i0entity5 All the other i0entities !ecome less important !ecause at certain times in our li es we are (i4ate0 on certain ones5 ,hen 7 was young 7 was (i4ate0 on my Cewish i0entity5 An0 then 7 was (i4ate0 on my girl i0entity>how to attract a guy# that was the whole thing o( me !eing a teenager5 An0 then you8re an aca0emic i0entity5 ,e ?ust create all these i0entities an0 we8re the ones that ma3e

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *B o( %+

them important5 They8re all con entionally e4istent# !ut to the e4tent to which they are important or unimportant 0epen0s completely on our own min05 7 remem!er ery well when one A(rican American woman in Seattle came to a Clou0 "ountain retreat an0 at the en0 o( it# she sai0# 6This was the (irst time 7 realiDe0# this was the (irst time 7 was in isi!le to mysel(59 She sai0 so o(ten she ma3es such a !ig 0eal out o( !eing A(rican American that she sets hersel( apart (rom other people automatically# !ecause that8s what you8re suppose0 to 0o5 She sai0# 67 was in isi!le to mysel(# an0 (elt li3e such a part o( the group59 An0 this was Hanc8s e4perience in the (irst retreat5 She set hersel( o((>she was 0i((erent5 ,hy were you 0i((erent= .5 7 was li ing in the ca!in5 J5 A5 She was 0i((erent (rom e ery!o0y else !ecause she was li ing in the ca!in5 She 0i0n8t (it in an0 they 0i0n8t li3e her5 She coul0n8t relate to them5 She saw e erything through that# an0 was misera!le until hal(way through the retreat when she 0roppe0 the i0entity !ecause 7 mo e0 into the ca!in5 J5 <ut 0o you see what 78m getting at= How we create these things# an0 then latch onto them5 There is some con entional reality# !ut how 0o we react to that con entional reality= An0 how much 0o we ?ust e4aggerate con entional reality= 7t8s li3e (rom the iewpoint o( Americans# we har0ly 3new anything a!out 7slam until a (ew years ago5 7t was li3e# 67slam= @eah# 7 guess 78 e hear0 o( itL Something or otherL9 An0 now it8s li3e they 3now a little !it more5 <ut when Americans loo3 at what8s going on in 7raI they phrase it as terrorists ersus ci iliDation5 ,hereas people in 7raI are putting it as Sunni ersus Shiite5 The Americans 0on8t loo3 at it in terms o( Sunni ersus Shiite>they8re terrorists5 E eryone is (raming it in their own way# ma3ing up their own groups an0 their own i0entities an0 !eing totally misera!le5 ,hat i( we ha0 the i0entity 6sentient !eing=9 Oh# there8s a sentient !eing5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *E o( %+

.5 <ut not e ery!o0y will ha e that5 A5 Jet them !an0age themsel es5 "y responsi!ility is my own min05 .5 <ut you coul0 say that we8re all part o( 0i((erent groups# or whate er5 There is also that going on5 A5 <ut 7 thin3 the main thing is that we8re all sentient !eings5 An0 instea0 o( always loo3ing at how 78m 0i((erent (rom e ery!o0y else# i( we train our min0 to loo3 at how 78m the same as e ery!o0y else# then e en i( some!o0y 0iscriminates against you# you can still smile !ac3 at them5 7 remem!er one time 7 was wal3ing 0own the street in SingaporeNNit was on Orchar0 Roa0# the !ig shopping center an0 we were stoppe0 at a crosswal3>an0 some!o0y loo3e0 !ac3 an0 saw me# an0 his (ace ?ust went li3e he ?ust saw some!o0y (rom "ars5 7 coul0 ha e respon0e0 !y going# 6Oh# he8s pre?u0ice0 against me; 78m a <u00hist# he must hate <u00hists5 Or he hates people with !al0 hea0s; he must thin3 that 78m an ar0ent racist (rom America coming to Singapore to sprea0 Aryan racism5 Or# he hates <u00hists an0 he8s going to 0iscriminate against me; he has a shotgun there an0 he8s going to shoot me !ecause 78m <u00hist5 Or may!e he hates people with !al0 hea0s !ecause he things we all ha e cancer an0 that he catch cancer (rom us5 7 3ept seeing this guy8s e4pression# an0 getting totally paranoi0 a!out it5 <ut 78m so use0 to people respon0ing in 0i((erent ways to me that whene er 7 get something li3e that 7 smile !ac35 All you 0o is smile !ac3>6Hi# 78m a human !eing; you8re a human !eing5 7( you pro?ect yoursel( on me# that8s O;5 The thing is# 7 0on8t care# it8s not going to a((ect me59 <ut you see# i( 7 0i0n8t thin3 li3e that 7 coul0 wal3 aroun0 paranoi0 all the time a!out L The num!er o( times in airports that people ha e come up to me5 One time this woman came up to me an0 sat 0own !esi0e me an0 put my han0 on my hea0 an0 sai0# 67t8ll get !etter# 0ear5 $on8t worry# you8ll reco er59 She thought 7 was a cancer patient5 7t was so 3in0 o( her to 0o that5 7 was a total stranger5 She

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *2 o( %+

pro?ecte0 6cancer patient9 on me !ecause 7 ha0 no hair5 She was so 3in0 !ecause she was also a cancer sur i or# an0 7 coul0 ha e gotten paranoi0# li3e# 6Oh no# this means 7 coul0 get cancer59 Or# 7 coul0 ha e gotten angry an0 sai0# 6$on8t you 3now what a <u00hist nun is= 78m not a cancer patientA9 J5 7 coul0 ha e !een so o((en0e0A <ut 7 ?ust thought# wow# what a sweet gesture she ma0e5 7 ?ust sai0# 6Than3 you ery much5 78m O;; 78m a <u00hist nun59 So you see how we la!el an0 create something in our min0 is going to 0etermine how we react to it5 7 remem!er how some!o0y else in Seattle wal3e0 up to me in the airport# an0 78m thin3ing# 6,here 0o 7 3now this person (rom= 78 e !een to so many placesL9 The person wal3e0 up to me loo3ing li3e she really 3new me# an0 78m going# 6:h oh# where 0o 7 3now her (rom=9 An0 she sits 0own an0 she says# 67t8s CesusAAAA9 J5 @ou shoul0 !elie e in Cesus# honey59 7 sai0# 6Than3 you59 How 7 coul0 ha e gotten really o((en0e0# an0 sai0# 678m a <u00hist>what are you 0oing trying to con ert me=A Here 7 am in a pu!lic place an0 you8re impinging on my (ree0om to sit here without any 0istur!ance59 7 coul0 ha e gotten so upset i( 7 ha0 graspe0 onto that i0entity an0 ma0e a !ig 6us an0 them9 thing out i( it5 6Oh no# another one o( those !orn again peopleLahhhhhh59 <ut i( you 0on8t conceptualiDe things li3e that then people 0on8t appear that way to you# an0 you relate to them completely 0i((erently5 .5 <ut it8s appropriate sometimes5 Cust li3e i( you ta3e# (or e4ample# Rosa )ar3s5 They sai0# 6So to the !ac3 o( the !us#9 an0 she sai0# 678m not going to the !ac3 o( the !us59 An0 she ma0e a stan0# an0 they un0erstoo0 more F=G5 Or people respon0 to something ery strongly# an0 it ma3es that person (eel a!out in a way that they woul0n8t ha e59 A5 Right5 <ut you can !e ery clear in your response without hanging onto a personal i0entity a!out something5 ,hen you8re hanging onto a personal i0entity# you8re going to react against the other person# an0 you8re not going to !e ery s3ill(ul in how you point it out5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *M o( %+

.5 "ay!e it8s the moti ation5 Ji3e when you ?ust stic3 with parenting# sometimes you ha e to !e (irm5 <ut there is a 3in0 o( (irmness with lo e an0 a (irmness where they8 e lost it5 So the moti ation !ehin0 it some o( it is important5 A5 ,hen you 3now when to ma3e strong statements an0 you can 0o so without !eing churne0 up insi0e# then you8re going to !e much more s3ill(ul when you 0o that5 Ji3e i( Rosa )ar3s ha0 gotten onto that !us an0 sai0# 6@ou can8t ma3e meA There8s no way 78m gonna go to the !ac3 o( the !usA9 an0 thrown her groceries out an0 screame0 an0 yelle05 7t was the (act that she 0i0n8t 0o all o( that5 .5 @ou write a!out this in the te4t an0 7 want to un0erstan0 this a little !etter5 So you8re sitting there 0oing this F=G me0itation an0 you still ha e this sense o( 6me59 An0 the calmer you are# 3in0 o( the less it is5 Things are stirre0 up the !igger it is# !ut it8s always there5 So is that a mental (actor o( grasping= ,hat is the la!el (or that e4perience= A5 ,hen you ?ust ha e that sense o( 6meL9 .5 <ecause what happens sometimes is that 78m calm# an0 then 7 go 6Here 7 am againA 78m hereA9 So 7 0eci0e# 6O;# there8s not a person in the thought# there8s not a person in the (eeling an0 78m loo3ing at all the things5 7t8s not a soun0 o( the oice# an0 78m not 3in0 o( (in0ing things5 So what 7 was won0ering is# it (eels li3e the person# you ne er (in0 the person# !ut that person e4ists con entionally= A5 @eah5 There8s a con entional L So you8re as3ing FwhetherG when you8re sitting there calmly in your me0itation that there may not !e some huge sense o( 67#9 !ut there8s 0e(initely a sense o( 678m sitting here on this cushion# an0 78m Tme#8 78m not some!o0y else5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *' o( %+

.5 7t8s getting ery light# e en5 7t8s li3e the !o0y 3in0 o( li3e gone !ut it8s still in your min0# li3e 6Hi# 78m hereA9 J5 A5 J56E erything else in the uni erse can 0isappear# !ut 7 am hereA 78m here an0 78m going to e4ist (ore er# an0 nothing is going to ma3e me stop59 .5 So that thing>what8s the la!el (or that thing= A5 The o!?ect o( that is the inherently e4istent 67#9 an0 the mental (actors that 3eep see0ing it is the jigpa# the wrong iew o( the perishing aggregates5 .5 So that8s li3e the misconceptionL A5 @eah5 .5 The other thing 7 ha0n8t really appreciate0 !e(ore was that a lot o( these misconceptions are li3e you8re learning C)R in a classroom# an0 you8re misun0erstan0ing something# right= @ou ha e this misconception# an0 it8s ery much in your hea0# it8s ery theoretical5 <ut then you still ha e the misperception an0 now you8re 0oing C)R on a real personA An0 you8re screwing up5 7t8s li3e you ha e this misperception# !ut now it8s li3e real5 7t8s li3e an e4perienceL7 was thin3ing this misconception we ha e is an e4periential misconception# not li3e a theoretical# intellectualL ,hen you sai0 we get ri0 o( this misconception Fcan8t un0erstan0 se eral wor0sG# O;# let8s go (i4 it5 7t8s ery much ery much ingraine05

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *8 o( %+

A5 Totally ingraine05 @es# it8s an e4periential misconception5 An0 that8s why sometimes some translators translate it as 6Conception o( the T7589 An0 to me# that ?ust seems ery theoretical5 That8s why 7 call it grasping at the 67#9 !ecause grasping gi es you a much more 3inesthetic (eeling5 7t8s not ?ust li3e you sai0# it8s not ?ust li3e you correct your notes !ecause you ha0 a wrong i0ea5 7t8s a way o( seeing things that you hol0 as *&& percent real; you ne er 0ou!t it at all5 .5 An0 that thing# is it calle0 the 6mere 7=9 A5 They tal3 a!out 0i((erent o!?ects o( a min05 Sometimes they call it the (ocal o!?ect or o!ser e0 o!?ect5 An0 then what Ce((rey translates as o!?ect o( the mo0e o( apprehension>7 ?ust call it apprehen0e0 o!?ect5 ,hen you8re ha ing that ignorance grasping at 7# the (ocal o!?ect is the merely la!ele0 6759 That8s the actual thing that e4ists5 <ut what we are apprehen0ing is an inherently e4istent 6759 7( 78m loo3ing out an0 7 go li3e this an0 0o something to my eye# instea0 o( one moon 7 see two moons5 The o!ser e0 o!?ect is one moon5 The o!?ect o( the mo0e o( apprehension# or the apprehen0e0 o!?ect# is two moons5 78m percei ing two moons >that8s the o!?ect 78m apprehen0ing5 7 !elie e in that>there must !e two moons5 .5 That8s actually (alse>a (alse statement5 That8s not true5 A5 @eah5 That8s not con entionally true5 That8s why we say that when we are grasping at e4istence# the 679 that8s appearing to our min0 0oes not e4ist5 The 679 that8s appearing to our min0 is an inherently e4istent one5 .5 FCan8t un0erstan0 se eral wor0s5G A5 The merely la!ele0 6759 ,e (orgot that we8re the one who that ga e it the la!el# an0 we thin3 that it8s ra0iating 67Nness9 (rom itsel(# !ut it8s not5 .5

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age *+ o( %+

A!out the !oo3 when you 0i0 the teachings in $ecem!er5 7t was the i0ea o( a !oo3 >here8s the !oo3 on the ta!le5 The !oo3 (rom it8s own si0e# i( it ha0 a consciousness# isn8t sitting there saying 678m a !oo3# 78m a !oo359 ,e8re the one who is saying it8s a !oo35 7t8s ?ust a !unch o( pages an0 parts an0 this an0 that5 A5 They o(ten use the e4ample o( the rope an0 the sna3e5 So it8s 0ar3# an0 there8s a rope coile0 up an0 you loo3 an0 see a sna3e an0 (rea3 out5 There8s a!solutely no sna3e there# !ut what appears so i i0ly to your min0 is a sna3e an0 you totally# *&& percent !elie e that that8s a sna3e5 An0 i( some!o0y came along an0 sai0 there8s no sna3e there# you might e en say# 6@ou8re nuts59 <ecause that8s how much you are hol0ing on to what you !elie e to !e true5 6$on8t tell me there8s no sna3e there>there is59 <ut it8s only a rope5 .5 An0 that8s how much we8re listening to that little oice5 That8s the analogy5 A5 ,e gi e it that la!el an0 then we totally !elie e in it5 That8s how we create so many i0entities5 )ull out something (rom that whole ast thing o( stu(( going on5 ,e pull out something an0 rei(y it an0 ma3e a !ig 0eal a!out it5 7n prison the guys are so sensiti e to !eing respecte05 A lot o( them came (rom !ac3groun0s where they weren8t respecte0# in their (amilies# or whate er5 <ut when your min0 ma3es this !ig thing 678 e got to !e respecte0#9 then you see e erything in terms o( some!o0y respecting me5 So i( you8re stan0ing in the chow line an0 some!o0y comes up an0 comes in (ront o( you# whooooooooNN(ights will start o er that !ecause the la!el !eing pro?ecte0 on that is# 6@ou8re not respecting me59 An0 once you pro?ect that interpretation o( what8s going on an0 soli0i(y it# that8s all you see# that8s all you !elie e# an0 you8re going to 3ill (or it5 An0 this is why so many (ights happen# not ?ust in prison# !ut in the worl05 <ecause we ?ust rei(y something# or interpret something in a certain way an0 ma3e it so incre0i!ly important5 An0 then it !ecomes important !ecause we8 e ma0e it important5 7nstea0 o( ha ing racism# we coul0 ha e 6!rown eyeNism9 where e ery!o0y who has !rown eyes is 0iscriminate0 against# an0 then you 0e elop this i0entity that 7 ha e !rown eyes# an0 they 0on8t li3e me5 All these !lueNeye0 peopleL5 Or may!e all the !lueNeye0 people are getting 0iscriminate0 against5 ,hate er it

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age %& o( %+

is5 <ut whate er we happen to pic3 out# then we can say they respect me or they 0on8t respect me5 An0 thenL $on8t you really see how a lot o( su((ering happens= .5 7t remin0s me o( the snitches an0 the star!ellie0 snitches (rom $r5 Seuss5 A5 :hNhuh5 .5 ,hen 7 was in high school 7 isite0 this el0erly woman in a country (arm an0 she ha0 some 0ementia5 7 too3 her to a <aptist church an0 7 was raise0 Catholic5 7 can remem!er her saying to me# 6@ou we 0i0n8t li3e those Catholics>7 can8t remem!er why# !ut we ?ust 0i0n8t li3e Tem59 A5 J5 O; 7 thin3 it8s time to go to the $alai Jama5 FRecitation o( man0ala o((ering5G So we were on the section 6How To Rely On A Spiritual "entor59 7n some te4ts# this topic is translate0 as guru 0e otion5 7 thin3 that8s a ery inaccurate translation# an0 can !e ery mislea0ing# !ecause the Ti!etan term is Sham-yen tempa Qsp=R5 Sham-yen means spiritual (rien0 an0 tempa means to 0epen0 upon or rely on5 So the i0ea on is how to rely on a spiritual (rien0 so that we ma3e it easy (or that person to lea0 us on the path5 7( you translate it as guru 0e otion# we get the i0ea that there is some mystical guru up there in the s3y an0 we are ?ust little ants# an0 our whole purpose is to sit there loo3ing with gaNga eyes in total 0e otion5 An0 then we get this thing a!out we surren0er to the guru# an0 then what we surren0er is not our ego# !ut our wis0om5 ,e Americans are ery goo0 at ma3ing i0ols# aren8t we= ,e ma3e some!o0y into this i0ol an0 then ?ust (all in lo e with our own creation5 An0 that creates a lot o( o!stacles to actually (orming a healthy# pro0ucti e relationship with some!o0y an0 ena!ling them to lea0 us on the path5 So ?ust e en ?ust the wor0s 6guru 0e otion9 gi e us the wrong i0ea5 The Thir0 $alai Jama says that the !est way to rely on a spiritual master is to practice analytical me0itation upon his or her e4cellent Iualities an0 !ene(icial (unction in your spiritual li(e5 How# 7 thin3 this is ery telling>the !est way to rely

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on a spiritual master is to practice analytical me0itation5 The !est way to rely on a spiritual master is not to ma3e them into an i0ol o( what you want them to !e# is not to ma3e this (uss an0 !eha e li3e a groupie5 He8s saying the !est way to practice this analytical me0itation in which we are trying to see the e4cellent Iualities an0 secon0 the !ene(icial (unction in our spiritual li(e5 He continues on (rom there# Consider the countless ways in which he or she is kind to you. He is the root of all attainment, the source of all goodness in this and future lives, the doctor who eradicates the disease of mental disturbances with the medicine of the harma. !lthough you have wandered in samsara since beginingless time, never before did you meet a spiritual master, or if you did meet one, you did not correctly follow the teachings, for you are not yet a "uddha. #hink, $ have now met a spiritual master and will try to practice as it pleases him or her.% So here thin3ing o( the way that some!o0y is 3in0 to you# an0 also thin3ing o( their goo0 Iualities>those are slightly 0i((erent things5 7( you8re me0itating to see the goo0 Iualities o( your teacher you thin3 a!out their ethical con0uct# their me0itation a!ility# their wis0om# their !o0hicitta# their compassion5 @ou really loo3 at the Iualities that this person shows as a human !eing an0 you train your min0 to see their goo0 Iualities5 That8s a ery important thing !ecause we usually practice analytical me0itation on people8s (aults5 ,e8re ery goo0 at 0oing analytical me0itation on their (aults5 They 0o this wrong# an0 they 0o that wrong# an0 they8re sloppy here an0 they8re irresponsi!le there5 <ut that 3in0 o( way o( thin3ing 0oesn8t 0o anything (or us5 ,hen we really spen0 some time loo3ing at our teacher8s goo0 Iualities# then it 0e elops a 0e elop a sense o( respect in us an0 a sense o( trust that this person has some special Iualities so i( 7 rely on them# they ha e what it ta3es to !e a!le to lea0 me on the path5 So seeing their goo0 Iualities helps us to 0e elop that sense o( trust in them5 "in0 you# this is a(ter we ha e chec3e0 some!o0y out ery# ery well an0 (orme0 a spiritual relationship with them5 So the (irst thing is# what we went through in the last session# we really chec3 out some!o0y8s Iualities to see i( they ha e them5 An0 a(ter we (orm that relationship with them ta3ing them as one o( our spiritual mentors then we train our min0 to consistently see their goo0 Iualities5 An0 we also train Foursel esG to see their 3in0ness to us5 So consi0er the countless ways in

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which he is 3in0 to you5 So how are they 3in0= They are the root o( all attainment5 @ou might say# how is a spiritual mentor the root o( the attainment= A plant recei es its nourishment (rom its roots# 0oesn8t it= ,ithout roots a plant can8t stan0 up straight5 7t gets nourishe0 an0 it gets sta!ility (rom its roots5 So we get nourishe0 spiritually (rom culti ating a relationship with our spiritual mentor5 How 0oes that wor3= <ecause when we culti ate a goo0 relationship in our own heart# then we always ha e the (eeling that there is this person who is ery wise that either we can tal3 to them an0 as3 their a0 ice# or we8 e recei e0 so much teaching (rom them an0 we8 e !een aroun0 them so much that e en i( we can8t physically contact them we 3now the 3in0 o( a0 ice they8re going to gi e to us5 An0 so we always (eel supporte0 in our practice5 Through the teacher8s a!ility in teaching us what we nee0 to learn an0 at a particular time# an0 that teacher nurturing us in the same way that a plant gets nurture0 !y the nutrients coming in through the roots# so is the teacher the source o( all goo0ness in this an0 (uture li es5 This is tal3ing not only a!out the 3in0ness o( our teacher !ut also the !ene(icial (unction that they play in our li(e5 How is the teacher the source o( goo0ness in this an0 (uture li es= 7( 7 loo3 at my own e4perience when 7 loo3 at what 7 was 0oing in my li(e when 7 met the $harma an0 what was going on in my li(e# i( 7 ha0n8t ha e met the $harma an0 ha0 ?ust continue0 li ing the way 7 was li ing up to that point# 7 woul0 ha e ma0e a total mess o( my own li(e an0 7 woul0 ha e really hurt a lot o( other people# (or sure5 So we can see that e en in this li(e# ha ing the met the teachers who turne0 my min0 to the $harma# e en in this li(e# they8re the source o( the goo0ness5 So the way my li(e has turne0 out 7 owe completely to my teachers# !ecause without them 7 woul0n8t ha e met the $harma# my li(e woul0 ha e !een a mess5 That8s this li(e5 How i( 7 ha0 li e0 this li(e as a mess completely with my sel(ish min0 an0 my anger an0 my attachment an0 my ?ealousy an0 all o( that stu((# then (or sure my ne4t li(e woul0 ha e !een a mess5 An0 then all the li es a(ter that woul0 ha e !een messes too5 <ecause once you (all into the lower realms# it8s so 0i((icult to get out5 So ha ing met the teacher an0 hear0 the teachings# an0 then !eing a!le to a!an0on at least a little !it o( negati e 3arma an0 create some positi e 3arma# 0o some puri(ication# start to train my min0 to go in another 0irection# all o( that came a!out !ecause o( meeting my teachers5 Hone o( that woul0 ha e come a!out ha0 7 not

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met my teachers5 A!solutely none o( it5 Coul0n8t ha e gotten that (rom a !oo3# an0 anyway when 7 was aroun0 there were ery (ew !oo3s on <u00hism# in English anyway5 So all o( that came a!out ?ust !ecause o( my teachers5 Otherwise# who 3nows what 7 woul0 !e 0oing an0 what 7 woul0 ha e !ecome5 So really the source o( goo0ness in this an0 (uture li es# the 0octor who era0icates the 0isease o( mental 0istur!ances with the me0icine o( the $harma# well that8s really true !ecause i( you start to loo3 at your min0>!oy# my min0 is pretty sic3: attachment# ignorance# resentment# arrogance# haughtiness# con0escension>the whole nine yar0s; e erything8s there# ?ust all this ru!!ish in the min05 An0 so how is it that 78 e learne0 ways to 0eal with my min0 an0 tame it an0 get ri0 o( all this gar!age an0 litter an0 pollution in my min0= Again# it8s (rom ha ing met a teacher5 Some!o0y coul0 say# 6,ell coul0n8t you get that (rom a !oo3=9 7 0on8t thin3 so5 <oo3s are ery goo0 when you ha e a teacher (or (illing in what your teacher hasn8t taught you# or (or rein(orcing what they ha e taught you5 <ut we really nee0 the e4ample o( a li ing human !eing who is practicing5 A !oo3 cannot !e a role mo0el5 ,e nee0 to see how some!o0y is to really 3now that it is possi!le to trans(orm our min05 Otherwise# we rea0 a !oo3 an0 it soun0s li3e a lot o( nice theory5 So we really nee0 real teachers to learn the me0icine o( the $harma# to apply it to our own li es5 6Although you ha e wan0ere0 in samsara since !eginingless time9>thin3 a!out that: !eginingless time; no !eginning5 Eon a(ter eon a(ter eon !eing !orn# 0one e erything in samsara# a!solutely no !eginning# an0 we ne er !e(ore met a spiritual master5 Or# e en i( we 0i0 meet one we 0i0n8t correctly (ollow the teachings5 ,hat8s the proo( o( that= @ou8re not a <u00ha5 7( we ha0 met teachers in the past an0 (ollowe0 the teachings# we woul0 ha e !een <u00has !y now5 The (act that we8re not <u00has shows that either we 0i0n8t meet teachers in pre ious li es# or we met them# !ut we too3 them (or grante0# we were too !usy to go to the teachings# we thought that the teachings weren8t really meant (or us# they were meant (or other people who ha0 all those !a0 ha!its5 ,e thought our teacher 0i0n8t un0erstan0 us# we thought they weren8t (unny enough# we thought they ha0 the wrong political opinions5 1or one reason or another we 0i0n8t correctly (ollow the teachings# !ecause we8re not yet <u00has5

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So we thin3# 6How 78 e met a spiritual teacher>wowA 7( you want to say hallelu?ah# this is something to say hallelu?ah a!outA 78 e met a spiritual teacher an0 7 will try to practice as pleases him59 How this thing a!out to practice as pleases him>let8s tal3 a!out this a little !it5 <ecause this term 6pleasing the spiritual mentor9 comes up a lot5 How 7 0on8t 3now a!out you# !ut that phrase use0 to 0ri e me totally !uggy5 ,hy= <ecause it remin0e0 me that you ha e to please So05 $o you ha e that same 3in0 o( reaction= @ou ha e to please So05 7( you 0on8t please So0# So0 can !e pretty wrath(ul# an0 there is hell(ire an0 0amnation an0 all this other stu((>so you !etter please So05 7 use0 to see it>tal3ing a!out conceptions an0 e erything>that8s what 7 use0 to pro?ect on that5 Or another thing 7 use0 to pro?ect is pleasing my parents5 61or Cherry to !e a goo0 little girl# she !etter please her parents5 7( you 0on8t please your parents# you8re a !a0 little girl5 @ou 0on8t want to !e a !a0 little girl !ecause your li(e8s going to !e misera!le i( you are59 So you !etter please some!o0y# which means (iguring out what you thin3 they thin3 you shoul0 !e5 So these two meanings o( pleasing some!o0y ma3e it ery# ery easy (or us ,esterners when we come into <u00hism to ha e this in our min0 when we hear in the teachings 6please the spiritual master59 So either we thin3 o( it as a (ear(ul thing li3e with So0>we8re going to get punishe0 i( we 0on8t 0o it# or we8re going to thin3 o( it as 78m only a goo0 person# 78m only a worthwhile person i( 7 please mom an0 0a05 That8s the only way 78m worthwhile as a human !eing5 An0 we so easily pro?ect one o( those two meanings onto this phrase 6pleasing the teacher59 7 remem!er Jama Popa use0 to say that phrase so much 7 ?ust use0 to cringe each time !ecause it was li3e 6Ooooo# 7 0on8t want to practice the $harma to please any!o0y# 7 want to practice the $harma !ecause 7 thin3 the $harma is !eauti(ul5 7 0on8t want to try to har0 to please my teacher# please the <u00ha# or please So0# or please mom an0 0a05 7 want to get ri0 o( thatA 7 want to practice $harma !ecause 7 lo e the $harmaA9 7 actually went in an0 sai0# 6Rinpoche# this phrase pleasing the teacher is ?ust completely yuc3y5 7t8s li3e nails on a chal3!oar0 (or me59 Tal3 a!out reacti ityL

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So 7 struggle0 with that phrase (or a long time# an0 what 78 e come to conclu0e is that now 7 ha e a totally 0i((erent iew o( the phrase 6pleasing the spiritual mentor59 "y iew now is that when you really see some!o0y8s goo0 Iualities# an0 you really trust them# an0 you really alue what they8re 0oing (or you in your li(e# an0 you 3now that there is no!o0y else on this planet who can 0o what they8re 0oing an0 that they8re 3in0ness is a!solutely !eyon0 anything you coul0 e er# e er thin3 o(# when you really un0erstan0 that a!out your spiritual mentor# then o( course you want to please them5 <ut it8s a totally 0i((erent meaning o( pleasing some!o0y5 @ou8re not trying to win their goo0 (a or5 :sually we want to please some!o0y so they8ll li3e us an0 thin3 we8re smart# an0 thin3 this an0 that a!out us5 <ut this is totally 0i((erent5 7t8s more that you please to show your lo e an0 respect5 An0 also# when we thin3 a!out it# what is it that pleases your teacher= 7t8s not that you were the (irst 0isciple to run an0 get the cup o( tea that we wante0# an0 you el!owe0 out all the other 0isciples so that you coul0 get the tea to them (irst5 J5 An0 7 say this !ecause sometimes aroun0 teachers the 0isciples can get into such incre0i!le possessi e ?ealous trips5 6Oh we wants me to !ring the cup o( tea# get out o( hereA 7 want to !e in the holy space with the guruA Set away# you crummy other 0isciplesA9 Jet me tell you# this happens all the time5 7t8s li3e these people are on incre0i!le# ?ealous ego trips5 So i( you thin3# what is it that pleases the spiritual mentor# is it that you !rought them the cup o( tea an0 !ecause you8re special an0 you got to !ring them the cup o( tea= 7s it that you please the spiritual mentor !ecause you ga e them a huge 0onation= An0 o( course that8s how you go through your whole li(e !y !uying people8s (a or5 ,hat is it that really pleases your spiritual mentor= 7t8s your practice# isn8t it= An0 it8s not ?ust that you8 e sat on your cushion5 Any!o0y can sit on a cushion5 Our 3itties sit on a cushion5 7t8s not ?ust sitting on a cushion# it8s trans(orming our min05 That8s what really# really pleases our spiritual mentors is that we8re in the process o( trans(orming our min0s5 ,e might !e going through the 0ay an0 we notice# 6O;# there8s a !a0 moo0 in there>what8s happening=9 Applying that me0icine to that !a0 moo0: that is that pleases the spiritual mentor5 Hot trying to !e a goo0 little groupie# !ut really trying to put the teachings into practice5 So it is more kind to give bowl of simple food to someone dying of hunger than to give a handful of golden coins to someone who has every lu&ury. 'or this reason it

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is said that your personal spiritual mentor is kinder than even the "uddha himself. #he 'ive Stages( states, )#he self-formed "uddha is a being gone to perfection, but kinder than "uddha is your own teacher, for he personally gives you the oral teachings. Contemplate how your guru is kinder than all the "uddhas of the past, present and future.% So it says that it is 3in0er to gi e a !owl o( simple (oo0 to some!o0y 0ying o( hunger than to gi e gol0en coins to someone who has lu4ury5 ,e8re the person 0ying o( hunger5 Our teacher gi es us some teachings5 ,hate er teachings they are# it8s li3e when you8re hungry# anything is going to wor3# isn8t it= ,e8re hungry>we really nee0 the $harma5 That person who teaches us that $harma# who gi e us a little !it o( teachings when we8re li3e a star ing person who recei es a little !it o( (oo0# that person is 3in0er to us than some!o0y who gi es a han0(ul o( coins to some!o0y who8s rich5 That8s li3e the <u00ha gi ing the teachings to his 0isciples# !ecause the 0isciples o( the <u00ha ha e incre0i!le positi e potential5 They gain realiDations ery# ery Iuic3ly5 So it wasn8t too har0 (or the <u00ha to teach them5 There are all these stories in the canon that the <u00ha ga e one tal3 an0 they instantly realiDe0 impermanence# sel(lessness# an0 ery soon therea(ter they !ecame Arhats5 So the <u00ha in some ways ha0 an easy ?o! !ecause his 0isciples were so Iuali(ie05 An0 here comes Sha3yamuniLhere comes our spiritual teacher !ecause we 0i0n8t ha e the positi e potential# the merit to !e !orn as 0irect 0isciples o( the <u00ha# so here comes us>we8re li3e these star ing people an0 our teachers gi e us some (oo05 7t8s Iuite power(ul !ecause it8s in that way that they say our personal teachers are 3in0er to us than the <u00ha5 7( you loo3 at in another way you can say the <u00ha is 3in0er !ecause really# without the <u00ha# we woul0n8t e en ha e a whole lineage o( teachings# we woul0n8t ha e a personal spiritual teacher5 So i( you loo3 at it in that way# the <u00ha is the 3in0est !ecause without the <u00ha turning the wheel o( $harma we woul0n8t ha e anything that came a(ter5 <ut i( you loo3 at it (rom another way in terms o( us an0 our own personal# particular situation# we 0i0n8t ha e the (ortune to !e !orn at the time o( the <u00ha5 So who is it that is teaching us= So that person is 3in0er to us than the <u00ha in the sense that we 0i0n8t ha e the opportunity to ta3e the teachings 0irectly (rom the <u00ha5 So the role that our spiritual mentors play (or us in our li es is li3e the role that the <u00ha playe0 (or his 0isciples in their li es>teaching# gui0ing# inspiring#

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encouraging>all o( that5 An0 so we train our min0 to really see the preciousness o( that5 An0 7 thin3 that that8s actually something Iuite important !ecause i( we see the $harma as precious# then o( course the people who teach us the $harma are going to !e precious to us5 7( we 0on8t see them as precious# it8s li3e ungrate(ul can we !e= <ecause in gi ing us the teachings o( the $harma# they8re gi ing us much more than any!o0y else on this planet can gi e us5 E en i( the richest person in the worl0 ga e us their whole (ortune# what 0oes that 0o (or us= ,e always say# 6Oh# 7 want to !e a millionaire; 78m going to win the lottery59 ,hat goo0 is a million 0ollars going to 0o you# really# when you thin3 a!out it= @ou get a million 0ollars an0 OOOOOOOOOO5 7 rea0 an article once in a paper a!out these people who won ?ac3pots an0 how the rest o( their li(e playe0 out5 Very o(ten it 0i0n8t play out ery well# an0 they weren8t ery happy5 <ut i( you see what our spiritual mentors gi e us they8re gi ing us the tools to create all happiness in this an0 (uture li es# all happiness (or oursel es an0 all happiness (or all sentient !eings5 So they8re 3in0er to us than our parents5 They8re 3in0er to us than our spouses5 They8re 3in0er to us than our !est (rien0s5 They8re 3in0er to us than whoe er it is that we8re the most attache0 to on the whole planet5 <ecause the people who we8re attache0 to cannot lea0 us to li!eration5 Thin3 a!out it>the people that you lo e the most# that you8re the most attache0 to# can they lea0 you to li!eration= $o you want them in the room with you when you8re 0ying= :hN huh5 So who is it that is the 3in0est= 7t8s the ones who lea0 us to li!eration an0 enlightenment# the ones who teach us how to trans(orm our min05 So when we realiDe the alue o( the $harma in our li es# then it !ecomes much easier to see the alue o( our spiritual mentors5 7( we 0on8t see the alue o( the $harma# an0 yet we try an0 ma3e oursel es ha e (aith in the spiritual mentors !ecause it says that in the !oo3s# then 7 thin3 it !ecomes ery 3in0 o( insu!stantial; it8s not sta!le5 7 remem!er Jama @eshe use0 to say# 6Oh they tal3 so much a!out how you shoul0 !eha e aroun0 your spiritual mentor# !ut i( some!o0y comes up to me an0 ?ust says# TJama# $harma means a lot to me; than3 you ery much58 That person has correct un0erstan0ing59 Rather than people who say# 6Oh please let me open the 0oor (or you5 )lease# woul0 you li3e this= )lease L you 3now how you 0o when you8re nice little groupies5 <ut really seeing the alue o( the $harma will help you see the alue o( the spiritual mentor5 7( we 0on8t see the alue o( the $harma# then the $harma 0oesn8t mean much in our li es5 $harma is a ho!!y# a nice ho!!y that

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age %8 o( %+

ran3s eIually with playing gol( an0 going out to 0inner with our (rien0s an0 e erything else5 An0 so i( that8s the importance in our li(e that the $harma hol0s# when that8s how we relate to our teacher5 All $harma is eIual to my social li(e an0 my company parties an0 my acti ities (or the 3i0s# so 78ll parcel my time out (ully amongst all those things# an0 78ll listen eIually to the a0 ice o( my (rien0s an0 my colleagues an0 my spiritual mentor# there8s no 0i((erence !ecause they8re all o( eIual alue in my li(e5 Then how 0oes your li(e turn out i( that8s how you alue things= Thin3 a!out it>how is your li(e going to turn out i( the $harma is eIual to e erything else you 0o# an0 your spiritual mentor is eIual to e ery!o0y else# or e en a little !it lower !ecause the people we8re attache0 to# we spen0 much more time with them an0 will sacri(ice things (or them5 <ut sacri(ice (or our spiritual teacher= :hNhuh5 So you see that that8s all a re(lection o( how much we hol0 the $harma as alua!le5 Or 0on8t hol0 the $harma as alua!le5 An0 then to the e4tent with which we hol0 the $harma as alua!le# that8s the e4tent to which we8re going to practice it5 To the e4tent that we practice it# that8s the e4tent to which we8re going to get the results an0 come closer to enlightenment5 So you see how all these things are tie0 in= Appreciation (or the $harma# appreciation (or our teacher# ha ing energy to practice# gaining results (rom the practice>all these things are ery# ery tie0 into each other5 So i( we ?ust ha e the min0 o(# 6,hy am 7 not getting anything (rom my practice=9 we shoul0 see# 6$o 7 alue the $harma highly=9 an0 6$o 7 alue my teacher highly# so that actually ta3e time out to go (or teachings=9 <ecause i( 7 0on8t 0o that# how am 7 going to learn how to me0itate# an0 how am 7 going to ma3e progress on the path= 7t8s thin3ing a!out all those things together5 #o receive spiritual instruction, "uddha made offerings of possessions, service and practice. 'or e&ample, in a previous life he offered *++,+++ pieces of gold to a master to receive the ,can(t understand word-. $f there is birth, there is death. stopping this process is bliss itself. $n another life as a king he sacrificed his wife and his only child for a single verse of the harma. /n another occasion he made his body into a lamp and burned it as an offering to his spiritual mentor. $n these and other ways he abandoned wealth, possessions and other objects of attachment. Since you are a follower of the "uddha, you should do likewise. $f you have heard many teachings from your spiritual master, is his or her kindness not immeasurable0%

Chenresig Retreat# ,ee3ly Teaching #8 Emptiness; How To Rely On A Spiritual Teacher VTC Sra asti A!!ey 1e!ruary *2# %&&' )age %+ o( %+

7n or0er to recei e spiritual instruction we loo3 at the e4ample o( the <u00ha# the 1ully Enlightene0 One5 ,hen he was an or0inary !eing li3e us# how 0i0 he practice= ,ell to recei e spiritual instruction>this is !e(ore he got the teachings >he ma0e o((erings o( possessions# ser ice an0 practice5 So let alone i( you o((er !e(ore recei ing the teachings you shoul0 0e(initely o((er recei ing the teachings5 )ossessions inclu0e material goo0s or (inancial 0onations5 Ser ice means olunteering your time# putting your (eet on the groun0 near!y where your teacher is an0 o((ering ser ice5 Or i( your teacher sen0s you to 0o ser ice an0 0o a pro?ect somewhere else# 0oing that as a way o( o((ering5 So it8s putting your time an0 energy into o((ering your ser ice to your teacher5 How sometimes we can thin3# 6,ell my teacher is !ossing me aroun0 telling me to 0o this an0 this>they8re so !ossy5 They want me to 0o this# they want me to transcri!e this Fsoun0 en0s a!ruptly in mi0NsentenceGL Soun0 en0s at *:EE:*&5'# e en though the total recor0ing length shown !y E4press Scri!e as *:28:BM5*G