Question asked by WLY
Hello again pastors!! ● If our goal to become enlightened is to help, serve, and guide all other beings, why haven't the other Buddhas done it already? And if they already have, what's the point in US becoming enlightened? ● If our space is limited, is it okay to have our Dharma Protector ABOVE our Yidam? ● If I have a child for example, would there ever be a point where I allow them to do too much Dharma practice? Let's say that want to do things like pujas, big altars, serkym, and the whole list of extravagant activities, and if it doesnt interferes with their school, would their ever be a moment where they are doing to much Dharma practice at too young if an age?
● Does sarcasm count as commiting lying? Even in a joking manner when both people understand that you're joking. Same with a white lie, sometimes I don't want to hurt others' feelings, want to ease an arguement, and so on, but I had to resort to using a lie/"white" lie. Do these actions count as negative karma?
Hi WLY,
Nice to see you back.
1. Other Buddhas have already done this. That is why the emanate in many different forms, to help sentient beings in different ways. They can also emanate as human beings around us that selflessly help others. An example of this would be some of the high lamas, who are considered to be the emanation various Buddhas. Other examples, though unrecognised, would be a person who selflessly benefits others in normal life. At our level, we wouldn’t be able to recognise such emanations, but higher levels beings can. The point of us becoming enlightened is that we can save ourselves from the cycle of samsara. What samsara is, how it’s negative, how it works and the benefits of how we can get out of it, is all described in the Lamrim teachings, particular the Lower and Medium scopes.
2. If space is limited, it is better to have the Dharma Protector below the Yidam, not the other way around. This is because Yidam practices help you get out of samsara, it’s the actual method. Where is Dharma Protector practice is to create better conducive conditions to engage in Yidam practice. So the Yidam is always higher than the Dharma Protector.
3. In regards to doing too much Dharma practice for a child, generally any and all Dharma practice is beneficial. However, for children, this should not effect their school life or extra-curricular activities that they are involved in. It should also not affect how a parents teaches their child about life in general. In fact, Dharma practice should assist in that, for example teaching the child that harming others is not good, lying is bad, etc.
4. Sarcasm is not classed as lying as long as both people are aware of it and it’s just for fun. However, if sarcasm is used with a bad intention to hurt someone else, etc., then negative karma of the speech is accrued. In regards to white lies, the motivation is good, but the act is still lying. Therefore, you do accrue the negative karma of lying, but to a very small amount. Here what is important is your good motivation not hurt another person, ease an argument, etc. So that motivation also generates good karma. So the one act of telling a white lie, generates a small amount of negative karma and also a larger amount of good karma.
I hope these answers help.