10 chapters for 400 devotees

By Tenzin Namgyel, Kuensel Online, Nov 24, 2009

Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche completed a 4-year series of lessons on November 22

Thimphu, Bhutan -- His Eminence Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche gave teachings in English on ‘wisdom’ to about 400 Bhutanese devotees in Thimphu from November 20-22.

Wisdom is the 9th chapter of the Mahayana Buddhist text, Jangchub Sempai Chenjug (Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life). The text was written in Sanskrit verse by Gyalshey Zhiwala (Shantideva), a Buddhist monk at Nalanda university in India around 700 A.D.

Wisdom, Rinpoche explained, is a completely natural mind. The nature of wisdom is indestructible and so is emptiness. Emptiness, wisdom, nirvana, enlightenment and mind are synonymous and some of the components of wisdom are generosity, patience and honesty, he said.

Explaining the two kinds of truth in Buddhism, Rinpoche said that ultimate truth is that it does not exist on its own and that itself is emptiness. In relative truth there is existence of six realms: nirvana, etc.

Citing an example of owning a car in a dream, Rinpoche said relative truths are all illusions and therefore life is like a dream but the dreamer does not realise that they are dreaming. Relating the dream of a car, he said, wisdom has a capacity to understand and make sense of life.

Wisdom is within ourselves but we need to recognise it. How do we do so? By listening to essential instructions of the guru and following the vows of bodhisattvas.

Responding to a question by a particpant on the difference between wisdom and intelligence, Rinpoche said intelligence is being clever, smart and having the capacity to understand and memorise things easily, but wisdom has nothing to do with intelligence.

For example, a person, who neither gets hurt while being criticised nor carried away by praise, has wisdom.

Wisdom is also called non-dualistic mind. The cause of suffering is a dualistic mind, which has a tendency to think something is true when it is not.

We do not want suffering, but we are actually attached to the cause of suffering, said Rinpoche. Suffering does not only mean physical pain or misfortune, but also the suffering one has to go through to get money to buy a mobile phone, for instance. Then there is suffering to take care and protect the mobile phone from loss and damage.

To be happy is not the aim of Buddhism but the aim of beings. If you are looking for happiness, then you are looking for sufferings, said Rinpoche.

Dualistic minds see impermanence as permanent. We care for our body as if it will last forever. We care for our arms with moisturising creams, but how long will it continue? Wisdom is non-dualistic mind, the mind that really sees truth. All phenomena is like a dream and subject to change. Most of us today do not realise this and go on making money. Life is like a dewdrop on the grass, no matter how we try to fight off age. What we need to do is to realise this and be truthful, honest and kind to others, said Rinpoche.

Everything in life is determined by view. Views establish values. Bad views cause war, inflation and disharmony, while good views lead to Buddhahood. Of the nine views in Nyingma traditions, shame and fear of wrongdoing is the foundation of all Buddhist values.

The teaching of the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life was started in 2005 on the request of Bhutanese devotees. The ten chapters of the text were completed on November 22. At the conclusion, Rinpoche said his dedication was for the wellbeing of the earth, its beings and the leaders of Bhutan and the Bhutanese.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP