On this auspicious day, the Buddhist Channel had a “Spiritual Tea-break” with two profound gurus, Khenpo Pema Rinpoche and Khenpo Namgyal Rinpoche. Here are excerpts of the interview.

Buddhist Channel (BC): Tashi Delek Rinpoche. Why is Chokhor Duchen important for Buddhists to acknowledge?

Khenpo Pema Rinpoche (KP): Chokhor Duchen is for us to recognize the importance of the Buddha. Without the Buddha, there would be no teaching. We already have the seed of Buddhahood within us, but we have not awakened to see it. So, with the Buddha teaching the Dharma, we have this opportunity to be awakened, to discover our Buddhahood. This is the message of Chokhor Duchen.

BC: What else can we do to ensure that the Dharma wheel continues to roll on?

KP: We need to follow the Buddha’s teachings by going back to their source. Practice is not the same for everyone. Some people practice one way, some another way. For example, some prefer meditation, and some prefer sutra learning. Not everyone practices the same way. But it is important to find ways to practice that suit our own preference.

BC: Therefore, one needs guidance to find the right practice for oneself, so to speak. One way to ensure effective Dharma learning is to have some guidance by a guru. How important is the guru-student relationship?

KP: In Tibetan Buddhism, the guru-student relationship is important. It is not just any relationship, but one that enables the transmission of Dharma. The transmission is done step by step, when the guru knows that the student is ready to receive the level of teachings that he can accept at that moment. This is not a normal relationship but one that allows the guru to gauge the readiness of the student to receive teachings. The guru’s aim is to dispense teachings to the student and is always sensitive to changing conditions, which require skilled handling of the relationship. This can only happen if there is a close association between the guru and the student.

BC: So the student also needs to have self-discipline or personal drive to commit themselves to the Dharma. With so many daily distractions, what advice would you give to laypeople to commit themselves to Dharma training?

Khenpo Namgyal Rinpoche (KN): We must first investigate our course of action. Before we take any action, we must do some research and know why we are doing these things. Without doing research beforehand, we ourselves won’t buy into practicing the Dharma. If there is no personal buy-in, how can we get any results from the practice? This is important to understand. You must know what you want. Our daily distractions, such as listening to music, shopping, and so on, provide only momentary happiness. These things come and go very quickly, but if we keep on chasing these things, we will never be satisfied. We will always be chasing the feeling of happiness, which always goes away. And so with investigation, once we see that our life is very, very rare (as a human being), we will not be attached to pursuing these (petty) things. Understanding things this way is the Dharma, and you begin to see the true meaning of life. Most laypeople don’t see these things, and they don’t know how to get out of this cycle. That is why having a teacher is important, in order to break the students’ habits and get out of this cycle. A good teacher will help the student develop step-by-step. With understanding and awareness, the student will never get bored and will commit to Dharma practice themselves.

BC: Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that Tibetan Buddhism has a more systematic way to learn Dharma. Does this help the student learn Dharma better?

KP: Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada are all the same with regards to teachings and practice. However, in Tibetan Buddhism, there are many more different approaches since not everyone practices the same way. Some prefer systematic studies or an academic way, some prefer worshiping the bodhisattva way; it all depends on their inclination. Tibetan Buddhism allows for this variety of approaches. So the differences between the schools are just emphasis on the cultural and philosophical aspects. By and large, they are all the same.

BC: For some laypeople, not everyone is into study and practice. Many prefer to just worship, such as praying to a statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) and just chanting mantras. Is this enough?

KP: Again, different people have different inclinations. People come with different thinking, different knowledge, and different practices. So the right thing to say is, whatever you are doing, are you happy with it? If yes, that is enough. What is important to know is the person’s motivation and intention to learn Dharma. If the motivation is clear and the sincerity is pure, then even a small act continuously done in good faith will be good enough to produce good karmic seeds. Many don’t realize that some people don’t want many things in life. So even in the small moments that they use to practice the Dharma, like chanting and worshiping a deity, for them it is enough. They are already full. There is no need to hold big things. Just by holding the small things, with pure sincerity and the right motivation, by giving one’s entire heart to that holding, however small it is, that faith in Dharma is unshakeable. So motivation is very important. I share a story of an old lady who worshipped a tooth, thinking that it was the Buddha’s tooth. It was not. But in her mind, she held the thought of radiating positive thoughts about the tooth, day and night, generating wholesome energy and good karma. Even though the object was not what she knew, her motivation was a correct one. Later, she became a Bodhisattva. This story teaches that it’s not the object that is important, but the application of one’s mind. So sometimes, we do not have to learn everything. Just focus on one thing, do it with the right motivation and pure sincerity, and good results can also come.

The session ended with more than an interview. It became an insightful Dharma sharing, full of wisdom and illuminating teachings. Everyone came away feeling blessed, as it is uniquely rare to have “tea-breaks” conducted with such spiritual richness.

Malaysia Grand Tripitaka Recital

Khenpo Pema Rinpoche and Khenpo Namgyal Rinpoche are in Malaysia to lead the Grand Tripitaka Recital from 14th to 27th July, 2024, to be held at Level 14, Manhattan V, Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Rinpoches will lead the reciting of the Kangyur (Tripitaka). The event aims to dispel misfortune and obscuration, achieve peace, harmony, and unity, and accomplish two-fold merits. Members of the public are cordially invited to join in the auspicious event.

For inquiries and registration please contact +6017 8228 633 or email: my.tripitaka@gmail.com.