My question is about giving to charities and to the dharma center. I understand that both are important but do not know the best way to think about which should come first – or how to know when one should come before the other in priority. Can you explain this? Thank you.

Dear Dharma Masters,

Do Ghosts exist according to buddhism, Buddhism negates the presence of a soul,in that case are they merely energies or tricks of the skandhas ?

My humble thanks.

Good afternoon Pastors,

I think I am experiencing doubt and confusion about the teachings which, I know, is not healthy. I suppose it may have directly come from my upbringing in skepticism rather than faith. But how does one country this effectively, especially when they don't have a teacher to guide them? Part of me thinks that it may be because I am only 25 and don't know what I'm gor oing to be doing next year, let alone in this lifetime. How can one conquer this doubt permanently and easily so that I can move forward with some greater confidence? Is this a car of things getting harder before they are better?

I hope you can help. You're the only viable Sangha connection that I have. Thank you!

Good day , I am often confuse the differences between Thinking too much

Good morning, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and Pastors

Since my mom passed away three years ago, I keep on enduring and hiding my pain deep inside my mind until lately i got a sleeping problem. When I am trying to fall asleep, I start to feel the sadness deep inside my stomach area, my arms and feet feel the burning sensual and my body start to tremor. I had consulted several doctors and done my full body check up. The doctor said everything is fine.

Until lately, one of the doctor said my sleeping problem were causing by my anxiety disorder. I started to realize that maybe i am worrying too much and afraid of dying. I am a buddhist and i understand the Impermanence of our body.

I don't know how to overcome and get out of this mind problem. I hope to get some method or advice in Dharma way from H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and Pastors.

Best Regards
Lim

Here are the questions that bother me:
1. I decided to do the daily practice on Opening Eye Chenrezig (Migchey Chenrezig). My motive was to gain wisdom which comes through "divine eye", or "wisdom eye". I also wanted to get out of suffering cycle (samsara), but rather as a long-term goal. Is my rather selfish motive ok?
2. I noticed that I became angry, when someone wants to interrupt me during practice mentioned above.
Am I becoming more negative, or does my mind is going through purification?
3. Also, I don't repeat OM MANI PEME HUNG, but OM MANI PADME HUM. I like that sound way more than others. Is it ok?
4. Sometimes I feel that my practice can sadden, or anger someone, or some beings. Is it just my wrong view? Does the wishes for all beings to be happy can be bad? Maybe it sounds stupid, but I sometimes feel like that, being sorry that I could disturb someone else's suffering.
5. My faith in Chenresig/Avalokiteshvara was losened, when I read article about it, as a buddha who acts maliciously, that Chenresig prevents others from attaining full enlightenment, forcing people to take vows which they won't be able to fulfill forever. For example: vow to don't become fully enlightened until I cease suffering all of beings everywhere.
This man says that he is in contact with God, and that he has realized Divine Eye. He said also that by using mantra OM MANI PADME HUM practitioner gets attacked by nagas or other beings who want to do harm. This man told me, that my soul is one of Karmapa (Yeshe Dorje) who lived during VI Dalailama time – maybe he wanted to brainwash me?
Can you shed light on assumptions like these? Were in history also people who stated similar things?
I feel really disheartened. I am simple lay practitioner who still walks in the dark, and follows blindly almost everything.
6. Is it ok to learn from various buddhist schools? I like to read or listen to Theravada lectures, but I also like Dzogchen, and tibetan buddhism in genereal. I like Dalai Lama talks, Tsem Rinpoche inspires me too.
I read that Lama Tsongkhapa studied all these paths, so is it right for me if I'll follow his example?
7. I find also interesting observations in books that are non-dharma. Psychology books, but also partially even in new -age books. Although many informations in them are wrong, some has relevance to me. Is it wise to include them as a sort of another viewpoint?
8. I still find joy in sensual pleasures such as listening to music. Should I stop ding things which makes me happy, and simultaneously don't make unhappy someone else?
9. I am also a little bit attached to sort of superstitions – I wear by myself gemstone called sodalite. I read about it's metaphysical properties and I do keep wearing it, hoping to be better person in daily life. I also practice sort of meditation which aims at clearing, stabilizing and bringing back harmony to my own body and aura. Sort of good wishes directing towards myself. Is it right to follow things like these?
Thanks in advance for answers

Thank you for your reply Pastor 🙂

Just to clarify, is it ok for me to have the chakra before taking refuge then?

Best Regards

各位敬爱的讲法师, 你们好 ! 因为我英语不好, 所以我以中文发问, 请见谅 !
我想问, 听了多次仁波切的开示和部落格 , 仁波切建议我们每一年至少做一次宗格巴大师闭关或念诵100千篇缘悲经, 但我也进行着金甲衣护法闭关献金酒100千篇和心咒100万篇 !
请问我可以进行宗格巴大师闭关和金甲衣护法闭关一起进行吗 ?
如果可以就太好了!
如果不可以, 为什么 ?
因为完成此闭关, 我将会进行曼达拉供养闭关100千篇 !
希望得到各位的回答, 顺祝各位安康 !

Dear Pastors,

Is it necessary to take refuge before one can start chanting mantras? For example, I would like to start chanting the kurukulle mantra (mainly to improve my relationships) but I have yet to take refuge. In addition, is it true that if one prays to the Goddess Kurukulle, she will remove people who are 'bad' for you in your lives? I just ordered a kurukulle chakra from the site as well..

Thank you very much. Really appreciate this space 🙂

Best Regards,

Dear Pastors, I think there was a little confusion about my last questions. When I say I didn't have teachers, I meant that I have no Dharma teachers other than what I hear in passing or what I learn on my own. I would also like to bring Dharma, not Buddhism, to secular Western society and government. Any help or insight into my character or situation world be very much appreciated. It's not fun getting by without formal guidance. You all have done the best job at helping me understand myself and my situation, so I continue to talk to you.

Thank you for your help or attempts to help.

dear pastor, I have a simple question which is pertaining to Pujas. What pujas are this , I have the name in tibetan :
i) Dukkar Tongstar
ii) Jamphel Tsenchok Gamang
iii) Trukchuma
iv) Dukshe Gamang
v) Jela Yela

as I want to do these pujas but I would like to know their english names as it would be easier for me to check the price and order the pujas in Vajrasecret . In Vajrasecret the puja names are in English . Can anyone help me to translate.Thank you a million

Dear Pastors, may I consult you please, can I say the mantra: Om Yamantaka Hum Phet without an initiation and could there be some results from its chanting? I don't have loong for this mantra but it is written on the envelope of one Yamantaka chakra I have – so is it safe and helpful to say this mantra?
Thank you very much in advance!
P.S.Please correct me if the spelling of the mantra is incorrect.Thanks!

Most honored pastors:

I was wondering if it is possible to have the effects of initiations carry forward from past lives onto the present one? I have been coming across what are labeled as the mantras of Ekajati and maybe even Yamantaka, as well as a book on the "self-initiation" into Yamantaka practice. These things are available to the general public. I did not have to cheat or steal in order to receive them, and I'm curious as to what is causing me to come across these pieces of tantra practice. How is it that I'm not losing my mind over these things? Is it odd that I have arrived at a satisfying and safe understanding of the root essences of Ekajati (the Unlimited Expanse of the Universe), and Yamantaka (the Undefeated Essence of Wisdom)? I'm just wondering if there is anything else I should be doing other than maintaining a solid feeling of inner happiness and serenity?

Your wisdom would be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Dear Pastors,

My old roommates have left things in the house such as furniture, salt, pots and pans. Is it bad to use them?

Dear Your HE Tsem Rinpoche, I am a new follower of Master Jin Bodhi following a recommendation from a neighbor following about of vertigo. Following numerous visits to the centre for healing and was taught to do prostrations on a daily basis I have since recovered. Similarly my husband joined me in prostration and surprisingly he has found relief for many of his medical problems. He has since been religiously doing prostration for an hour a day and at the same time did the Om Manni Padme Hom meditation on a lotus position in front of Lord Budhha, The medicine Buddha and Kuan Yin. As we are both English educated we chance upon locating your website and Youtube and have been picking up many wonderful teachings from your HE. We have a son who has been suffering from insomnia and anxieties attacks for years. We have over the years seek various forms of spiritual, traditional and western medicine to find a cure for him but unfortunately the cure is always temporary and then relapses. We have been encouraging him to do prostration and chanting the Om Mani Padme Hom. However as being very impatient he gives up rather easily as he could not find immediate benefit, we have been advising him that this takes time as his problems are decade long. This has also put tremendous strain on the family as he will call us early hours in the morning when he can't sleep or stress over some small stuff. Would deeply appreciate your HE advice whether we are advising him the right way or is there more we can tell him to do to help himself. Sorry for the long mail .Looking forward to hear from you soon. Cheers and have a good day.

Dear Pastors, when we get lung is this forever or we can't interrupt the mantra chanting for a day if we want to maintain the lung intact? Can we lose a lung(loong)? or once it is given it is within us?
Thank you very much for your reply in advance !

Good evening Pastors.

One more question (for now). How does one get rid of memories of past relationships or people you genuinely loved and cared for? Almost 6 years ago, as of today, I met a woman whom I fell in love with, but who didn't love me in return. I've tried correcting all of my actions whenever she has reentered my head, and yet nothing has helped get rid of her memory or what I would consider sincere love for her. I have ceased communicating with her, out of respect for her needs and wishes and I'm afraid to even look at her now in real life or through photographs. Yet I cannot stop feeling and thinking about her, all the same, and I would love for this pain to stop.

Please, what is causing this pain to arise? I know the standard answer is some form of attachment or influence of some past karma. However, all the other women I have had feelings for have slipped away in time naturally. This one is lingering quite potently in my thoughts and feelings. How does one eliminate this kind of root attachment?

Again, I have broken off contacting her and have not communicated to her properly in almost 6 years, yet I'm still being attacked by feelings for her and wanting her. What can I do to stop this, considering how long it's been? Your help would be significantly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and effort.

Dear Dharma Masters,
What does buddhism state about suicide? I have been reading contradicting contents in many places. Some seem to be taking a Hindu or Islamic stand that life is sacred and one does not have the right to meddle with it. Isn’t suicide itself a result of evil past karma of various kinds? The fact that one had killed or tormented many beings makes one end his or her life is more convincing, although insensitive.

My humble thanks.

Pastors, Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, I have had to work without an official lama all of my life. I have had many teachers, but no lama to work with. How does one find their lama, if there is one in this lifetime? How can I find a lama, especially if I am highly skeptical of them?

I want to help others. I want to bring Dharma into the secular world, especially in governments and societies. How can I go about this?

Dear Pastors/Dear Rinpoche, a few months ago strange problem appeared to me. While chanting mantras I started to bend my month and pronounce them in a ridiculous but almost totally uncontrollable way. Is there a solution to this problem as now I can’t say normally many many mantras. I can say normally without lisping only a few mantras. I have commitment to say 6 mantras and I’m lisping all of them very bad now. I don’t know what should I do. This lisping even started to transfer to my everyday speech and I can’t say big amounts of the above necessary for me mantras… I hope this is not a curse or something like that…
Thank you very much for your reply in advance !