Dear Silk

In Buddhism, we learn about the first noble truth, the truth of suffering which we all can observe, and will experience..sooner or later. We see birth, sickness, aging, and death for all forms. No one can escape these experiences. Noble truths which Buddha taught applies to all irregardless of time, culture, age, race, etc. We don’t have to just believe by faith but it is easily observable.

What is important is to recognize the sufferings we all go through at every stage of our existence. We may have forgotten certain very negative experiences we have had because it happened very long ago but nevertheless, it happened and we had to go through it

Timing of birth and death various. Lifespans of all beings varies. Still born babies are no exception and is subject to this truth just the same. It’s lifespan in this particular form is very short. Just like the still born babies, death will come one day for us just the same…

Where do the still born baby go? Where do we go when we die? In Buddhism, the body is temporary but it is the mind that continues thus, the teaching on reincarnation. Where we are today is due to our thoughts and actions committed the moment before, yesterday, the day before and so on. Where we are tomorrow is based on now. Where we go after death depends on what we do in this life. Thus, we have the teaching on karma which explains the causes of all our problems including how it affects our lifespan when we die and when we take rebirth and what type of rebirths.

What we do to others or not, what others do to us or not all contributes towards the karma we take with us.

Reciting Om Mani Padme Hum, light offerings, animal liberation, take vegetarian vows are beneficial for us to do for still born babies or any one who has passed away. Engaging in purification practices are beneficial for us all as we have caused harm directly or contributed in some ways towards the sufferings of others.

You might find these teachings helpful to understand reincarnation and the workings of the mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3PqGNdP-Ks&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcGSk4x6cg&feature=plcp

Dear Unknown

It’s not clear what you meant by “ghost just come to you” but i hope this information I wish to offer helps in some ways.

There are many types of beings, form and formless. Spirits exists everywhere be it we experience them or not. The word “haunted” is used more so for places where such activities are felt in a strong way. Some spirits make their presence known and some not. Some spirits are harmful and some not. Some spirits will cause disturbance and some not.

Dear Andrew

Don’t we all wish that day will come and in our lifetime! I don’t see this happening any time soon but what i can see is we will get there sooner by starting to stop all negativities, anger. The causes for happiness and the end to guns starts right here with us.

Tsem Rinpoche shows his emotion when he talks about his teacher, the illustrious master Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Rinpoche miss him so very much out gratefulness for the Dharma and care he has received, for the amazing being Zong Rinpoche was in Tsem Rinpoche’s life.

However, we feel pain for various reasons when we loose someone who is close to us. For us, it is an expression of attachment. The reasons may varies but for most of us, we feel pain because we feel sad for ourselves. We are taught to keep as calm as we can when someone is passing on or have just passed away. These moments are crucial for the person who is passing. These moments shouldn’t be about us but we should do our best to create the most peaceful and calm environment for our loved ones.

Dear Winston

Thank you for leaving a comment to offer Rinpoche resources if he so wishes to visit your country. There are no plans of Rinpoche going to Liberia.

Thank you for visiting this blog site and please continue to do so.

Dear Patricia

Thank you for leaving a note here. It’s very nice to hear of people who have known Rinpoche from many years back. I hope you are doing well in Toronto.

We normally do not live stream classes conducted by students of Rinpoche. However, do check out Rinpoche’s many teachings made available online here on this blog as well as youtube.com/tsemtulku

I will hand your email address to our Kechara Care department to add you to our database for communication and updates of key events so you can join us online when made available. In the meantime, do join us in this blog’s chat where you can connect with many of Rinpoche’s students for information too.

Dear Mathieu

There are many great masters on youtube. Rinpoche alone already has over 700 videos on youtube.com/tsemtulku. There’s a lot of teachings to put into practice. It’s wonderful to hear that you are hungry for dharma. I pray that you will find a guru where you can directly study under.

Dear R

All forms of attachment doesn’t benefit our mind development and achieving renunciation is the key to freeing us from suffering. Thus ultimately, this applies to all forms of sexual relation and related conducts be it straight or same sex relations.

However, it is not something to be achieved over night though it is possible for some individuals. The view we take instead is to focus on the path to accumulate merits and to engaging in purification practices. The view we take is since people will engage in sexual relations, the emphasis is on respect, care and to use the relationship to support and nurture each other for good and beneficial deeds.

Dear Calvin

We derive most from any worldly activities in life when we work hard at it and is consistent over time. Similar to taking vitamins and good food. Over time, we experience the effects on our body.

Dharma practice and prayers are so much more important which can help all aspects of our life. i highly encourage you to learn more about dharma to understand the benefits. Ones you understand more about the benefits, it makes all sense to continue your practice for the rest of your life and not stop.

In summary, you are experiencing the benefits now, so do continue with it.

Dear May,this is history and if you google Buddhism you should get good accounts of how it declined although there is a revival in India now.
The main contributing factors are:
1. Influence of Hinduism which appeals to the cultural background of Indians similar to how Taoism is so popular for Chinese masses.
2. Buddhism becomes elitist and for the scholarly and ordinary folks cannot relate to it so well due to absence of rituals etc unlike the appeal of Hinduism which allows for external all powerful gods which can help remove obstacles for common folks struggling for survival.
3. Vast destruction of monasteries, temples and places of worship and study by invading Huns and Turkish muslim conquerors.

Dear Calvin,
It is not possible to ‘ diagnose’ your condition from what you said. Since it started when you did meditation , my advice would be to stop doing it.I don’t know what meditation you are doing.Perhaps you did not do your meditation properly. I hope you have received instructions and guidance from a qualified meditation master,or come under the tutelage of one especially when you engage in more advanced techniques.As for reciting the mantra, I really don’t think its a cause. If stopping the meditation sessions don’t help then stop the mantra reciting as well and see if that will help your condition.Let me know how you are progressing.

Hi james,
According to strict interpretation I believe it is a sexual misconduct, definitely for ordained monks or nuns. However, at the level of taking it as a lay person as a precept, for now it need not be interpreted to its fullest extent but understood to mean not to commit adultery etc.
It is not so much the physical act but that such indulgence for sense pleasures lead to attachment. It is also a sign of a weak mind which will have zero tolerance for taking on challenges and sacrifices when one walks the spiritual path.When you apportion more time to study dharma or engage in a buddhist practice ( can follow any of the simple practices in this blog ) you will find you can reduce your habits gradually as there is more purpose and meaning in spiritual practice and goals than chasing after worldly pleasures.

Looking for a spiritual path, a centre and teacher are relevant questions of concern. Do read this book by Tsem Rinpoche who addresses these questions and more. http://vajrasecrets.com/books/english-books/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale.html

In the meantime, do continue to read the teachings from this blog site as well as watch teaching videos from youtube.com/tsemtulku The more you learn, things may become clearer for you. Do watch teachings on Setrap practice to clear obstacles for you to meet your lama and to have a dharma centre you can be involved in.