Dear Dead End,

I am truly sorry for the situation you find yourself in. In Buddhism there are many practices that can help, from alleviating our immediate problems to our deepest affliction which is ignorance.

Ending your own life will indeed cause you more negative karma. You have said that you have divorced your husband, this shows that you are trying to take control of your the situation as best as you knew how and are trying to take responsibility. As you divorced your husband however, your children became your responsibility. No matter how they act now, they can change. They just need to see that there is a better way to behave than they are now.

If you are able to change and show them how to live a good, harmonious and compassionate life, they will be able to see how they can also live.

For now,I suggest that you engage in the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa and the practice of Dorje Shugden.

An explaination of the Guru Yoga can be found here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html. This will be helpful in stabilizing your mind and dealing with negative emotions, where as the practice of Dorje Shugden will assist you in removing your obstacles.

Apart from this you should study up and apply the Buddhist teachings such as the Lam Rim, which will help you on a deeper level. You have my sincere wishes.

Dear Eli Levine

Becoming an authentic practitioner of Mo takes effort, perseverance and a lot of training as you invoke upon the enlightened energies of the Buddhas for the purpose of divination. To learn more, may i humbly suggest you watch the following videos on youtube. H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has given a comprehensive teaching on Tibetan Divination, which will be beneficial for you to watch.

Title: A Complete Explanation of Tibetan Divination
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE2Wma9UzHI
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UENta5MeSI
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BAY7gU4QLA

Dear Dolkar,

Yes you are right. The images should be burnt after being dissolved. Dissolution should be done by someone who knows how to do it correctly. Alternatively these images can be inserted into statues or stupas, in this way you would not collect negative karma by disposing of the images in a disrespectful way. In fact this way you would actually gain merit.

Dear Dorji,

The reason high lama’s learn the Dharma again in their new reincarnation is for two reasons:

The first is to show others how to study, learn and practice the Dharma in the correct way. The best way to learn something is to emulate the practice of those who are already masters at it. Just like when you want to learn art for example, the best and most effective way is to learn from those who have already mastered art. So these high lama’s are showing us how to study, what to study and how to practice, hence we can develop faith in them by seeing how much they have accomplished.

Secondly, they do this to keep the lineage of the teachings alive and in this world. Lineage is important as it carries blessings that can help practitioners. For example of there is a teacher with a certain lineage who passes away but does not pass that lineage to anyone, then the lineage is broken. But if the lineage is kept alive, by being passed on to another then when that high lama reincarnates he/she can receive that lineage again. As they already know the teachings, they are able to clarify the meaning of the teachings and teach it properly.

An example of this would be the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas. Over time the Dalai Lama would pass on the teachings to the Panchen Lama, who in turn would pass the teachings back to the new reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. This way there is no break in the lineage of the teachings. The blessings flow and people benefit from the teachings.

Dear Bradley,

In relation to malas, what they are, how to use them and their purpose, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has given a very comprehensive teaching some years back. Please follow this link to watch the teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srI1vH6bGXg. I hope this will help in answering your question.

Dear Kunga,

There are actually two meanings to the word ‘Karma’. The first simply means ‘action’, in this case the Zodiac does not have any relation as it is down to your own self-will to make decisions or take actions.

The second meaning, most commonly thought of when referring to ‘karma’ is the results that you experience from actions you have taken in the past or in past lives.

In short, yes there is a relation between the Zodiac and Karma. Due to the way karma works, which includes the interconnectedness of all things, people can be born with similar traits. As the energies in the universe exist in cycles, according to Buddhism, certain time frames indicate a set of karmic potential an individual is born with and this can manifest in life as shared or common traits.

Overtime these traits were formalized into a system of 12 Zodiac signs and were eventually given names, such as horse, sheep, etc. This was done so that it would be easier to understand astrology.

However, this is only one side to karma, which is very complex. For example, you have the karma to live in the country you are in and so does your neighbour. You both happen to live in the same country, but what about a person living in Africa? That person has a different karma. Similarly, those born within the same year have karmic potential to have the same traits.

But as i said early, this is only one aspect of karma. For example, you and your neighbour have different karma when it comes to family or work. While you may want to know more about karma, the Zodiac can only provide you with limited help. You should study about karma more to understand how it works, and knowing that you can change your karma and even change the personality traits you have for the better.

See the link here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html. This was is a post by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche on the Chinese Zodiac, which you might find interesting.

Dear Kim,

Thank you for the information. We appreciate it very much.

Dear Rainbow,

In Buddhism, we believe that everything we experience, pleasant or unpleasant, is the result of causes and conditions created by us in the past. I think we should not be too dependent on “feng shui” as it is an imperfect science and feng shui masters or astrologers can also make mistakes. While feng shui can show us certain aspects of our life and our character, it cannot automatically solve our problems. To deal with your difficulties, it is better to rely on the Dharma, the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha taught that to gain material and spiritual wealth, we need to overcome our outer and inner miserliness. In other words, we must abandon our greed or thoughts of “prosperity” as well as our selfishness. Practise generosity by doing charity or giving offerings to the sangha. Be a kind and caring person for others. The Buddha believed that hard work is the luckiest star. It is better to rely on yourself and overcome your problems through your own efforts.

Dear Jenny,

I would like to recommend to you the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa combined with the chanting of the mantra “Migtsema” daily. Lama Tsongkhapa’s practice is effective for overcoming problems faced by people today. You will quickly overcome your bad thoughts and actions and will develop qualities such as generosity, patience, compassion and wisdom. This practice is simple and easy to do and will be extremely beneficial for you. The mantra contains the energies of three Buddhas: Kuan Yin or Chenrezig (the Buddha of Compassion), Manjushri (the Buddha of Wisdom) and Vajrapani (the Buddha of Spiritual Power). For more information on the practice, please read H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s book “Tsongkhapa. A Simple Guide to a Powerful Practice” published by Kechara Media and Publications and listen to Rinpoche’s teachings in this blog from the video: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html.

Dear Samudra,

According to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, “wearing Buddha pendants is an expression of our wish to be close to an enlightened being. Also the Buddha pendant represents the goals we have in life and our higher spiritual aspirations.” Thus, wearing a Vajrayogini pendant has the benefit of not only blessing the beings who set eyes on Vajrayogini’s image, it also creates the causes for one to achieve her qualities and full enlightenment. For the purpose of blessing others, the pendant should be worn outside, not beneath the clothing. But if one is lucky enough to receive initiation to Vajrayogini’s practice, then the practice should be kept secret. This is why practitioners of Vajrayogini or any other higher Tantric Buddhas always keep the image of their yidam hidden as it is a secret practice. The image of the yidam does not refer to the pendants worn for protection and blessings.

Dear Kiran,

I suggest you listen to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s explanation of the Yamantaka practice in this blog: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/advice-to-a-yamantaka-initiation.html. According to His Eminence, Yamantaka’s practice has the purpose of purifying negative karma within one lifetime, overcoming anger, giving protection against spirit harm and black magic, removing the self-grasping “I”, as well as achieving perfect memory, clairvoyance and penetrative insight.

Dear Danny,

If one just goes through the motion of reciting a sutra, without understanding, without sincerity and effort to overcome one’s delusions, then definitely there will be no results. A sutra contains the Buddha’s teachings and will bless those with sincere minds to understand, meditate and penetrate the true meaning of the sutra to gain realisations and eventually achieve enlightenment. Milarepa went through hardships to purify his negative karma and meditated for many years to achieve enlightenment. Reciting a sutra has the benefit of developing concentration which is necessary to develop insight. To develop concentration, one’s mind must be virtuous. Then when one chants the sutra with mindfulness and concentration, one can penetrate its meaning. All this requires a lot of effort on one’s part.

Dear Lobsang,

You have asked a similar question earlier which has been answered. Please scroll down to find the answer to your question.

Dear Aditya,

A Pure Land is neither a mythical place nor a concept but a dimension of existence. It is defined as a realm of the Buddhas where those who are reborn there can continue to cultivate their practice and achieve enlightenment. A Pure Land or Buddha Land is a pure environment in which there is no true sufferings. Emptiness refers to the ultimate nature of all phenomena, that nothing is inherently existent. It is necessary to develop wisdom realising emptiness in order to transcend suffering which is the nature of samsara. In a Pure Land there is no true suffering, so there is no necessity for such a realisation.

Dear Daisy,

When we pray, the Buddhas definitely hear us. When we do our daily sadhana or prayers, we can visualise the Buddhas in front of us and they are pleased with us. According to H.H. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche in “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand”, when we visualise the Buddhas, we do not visualise them as two-dimensional like a painting nor like figures solid like clay statues. They are rainbow bodies, whose nature is clear, bright light. They are there in person, and radiate brilliant light. When you are doing something meritorious, think that the Buddhas are extremely pleased with you.

Dear Kathy,

The fear you described sounds more like timidity or shyness. This is probably due to self-consciousness and lack of confidence. There are many people like that. Self-consciousness arises from one’s ego, from fear of what others might think of one. Therefore, learn to be less self-conscious, and more assertive and confident. One way is to focus more on others instead of on yourself. In other words, abandon self-cherishing and concentrate more on the happiness of others. Learn and practise the Dharma well and you will see the change in yourself. Here is a quote from H.E. Tsem Rinpoche which might be of help: “We all have fears that make us avoid, hide or sometimes just not do anything. Responsibilities are difficult. But doing nothing and achieving nothing out of fear is a much heavier burden. Failure is frightening. But we are already in the state of fright now by not doing anything, so what is there to lose? Much heavier to be irresponsible than responsible. Much better try and fail because in trying we already won. One is a open ‘killer’ and one is a silent ‘killer’ of our peace of mind. But everyone is different. Trying brings long term peace. Responsibilities means we can achieve something for others and that is worth it”. ~ Tsem Rinpoche