Raging thoughts like turbulent waves

Sometimes it's so hard to contain negative emotions. The world seems to crush down ever so often. We have been taught that all these negative thoughts of persons/events that upset us are all due to our own mind. Everything is caused by us, no one else. Yes, that I know. But it's the 'tuning' of our mind that is the most difficult. So hard to overcome it. It is our (lack of) ability to transform our mind. We meditate on it. We go for retreats. We (try to) think happy thoughts. We even go (window) shopping to distract ourselves sometimes.  

It's unbelievable that it is often the ones closest to us that can cause us so much unhappiness, sadness and grief. Or, is it? It is precisely our craving for the attention and love and support from those we deem as 'loved ones' that make us miserable. Having expectations - expecting everything to have a reciprocal action, be it something tangible or intangible - cause us to be so unhappy. But I guess this is natural. This is samsara, the very bane of our cyclic existence.

Not too long ago, I received an encouraging note from a friend. It was so touchingly written. I felt so happy. But in the next moment, within a span of 24 hours, a misunderstanding occurred, just before friend's birthday. It took me two weeks to get over it.  Another incident in the past, I think I took 3 years to get over it.  It makes me feel very fragile - that life is so unpredictable. There are so many issues to grapple with and to overcome in order to control and manage our monkey mind.

All these incidents happened ever so often. In a way, it got me thinking.... how the very closest to me are actually not that close. Instead, those not so close friends, acquaintances and even strangers seem to treat me even better at times.  With Dharma practice, I seem to contemplate alot more than I used to. Last night, I even tweeted, "Sometimes I wonder why I can see through everything so clearly. But how nice if everything remains in a veil of delusion?".  Sometimes the truth is so hard to accept. But as I keep mentioning recently, ripening of obstacles may not be all bad. It is in fact, good news.  
 
This morning, I received an email from a Dharma brother. He has sent me a Groupon voucher for a meal. It is an advance birthday gift. What a pleasant surprise.  Although we do not meet often, we do share our views of Buddhism and stuff. However it is still a surprise he remembered. While I pay extra attention in choosing and lavishing gifts on those I love, nowadays I seem to receive many little gifts from the people I least expected instead.  It is a funny world.

For now, I have decided to create an album in my Facebook, called The Gratitude Box, where I will post photos of all the gifts I have received from anyone, big or small. It is not so much of showing off or placing emphasis on material stuff, but rather, I hope in a way, it will help me be grounded and be reminded of the kindness of everyone I meet.  I should learn to treat those who treat me well with extra respect, and for those who didn't, I should not dwell too much over the lack of. And I know I have the blessings of the Buddhas and protectors who watch over me. I need to study and practice harder.


Garchen Rinpoche said, 
"The cause of all suffering is the self-centered mind, and all the negative emotions. When you recognize this, your faults will be exhausted.When you recognize that the only cause of happiness is a pure and loving mind, your qualities will increase like the waxing moon." 

"An intellectual understanding is already a great merit. However, an intellectual understanding will not dispel the root of our suffering, our negative emotions. It certainly helps, but in order to truly pass beyond suffering, we must practice, gain a living experience. When we gain a personal experience, we will directly see how love is so precious. Knowing this, based on experiencing it directly, one will not let go of it at any cost. Not letting go of love, we will habituate to it to the point when it becomes effortless and always remains naturally. Then we have created perfect peace and happiness and have finally passed beyond suffering."

Garchen Rinpoche's teaching on ice blocks and water

Garchen Rinpoche was teaching "live" from Los Angeles on 25-27 Nov 2011, about the Amitabha Buddha practice. This picture was a screenshot I took. I have transcribed and summarised a small part of his teaching here.

Garchen Rinpoche said that all humans have the Buddha nature. However we do not know that we possess that Buddha nature.  Take the analogy of ice blocks and water.  We humans are like ice blocks, frozen and deluded. Because we do not know we have Buddha nature, we are like ice blocks; when we meet together and interact with each other, we can hurt each other.  On the other hand, the water does not have such problem.  This is the ultimate difference between sentient beings and the Buddha.

Hence we must know how to supplicate to the Buddha, to obtain his blessings, protection and strength. We must supplicate to the Buddha because the Buddhas have promised to look after us. Therefore we must give rise to faith and devotion and in that way, we come close to receiving their blessings. 

It is like the example of a child who is very hungry. If he is hungry and yet his mouth is always closed or does not open his mouth, how can he take the food to fill his hunger? And no matter how much a mother loves her child, she cannot help him if the child does not open his mouth to take the milk. In the same way, the Buddhas cannot bless us if we do not make the effort to supplicate to them and to reduce our suffering.

Where is the 'self' we believe we have?  There is no 'self' in the body, and there in no 'self' the mind. We always thought of 'I'. We think there is the existence of the self-grasping 'I'. Yet we cannot find the 'I' externally. If we continue searching for the 'I', we continuously create samasara, we continuously create suffering. When there is no self, we give rise to the altruistic mind.  The mind will feel at ease whenever there is no self. Then there is peace in mind, and you will have happiness which arise easily.

The extraordinary Garchen Rinpoche, the Living White Tara in Singapore

One of my favourite gurus came and just left Singapore.  I am so blessed to have had the chance to meet him personally, at almost the end of his visit here.  I had thought I would not be able to see him this time. His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is one of my dearest gurus, and whenever he is in town, I would surely pay him a visit. I have already known him for a few years.

This time, when I met Rinpoche in his room, I did not know why but I cried and cried even before I spoke to him. I even forgot to do prostrations. I kneeled down immediately, palm clasped and cried and cried. Garchen Rinpoche is like a dearest Grandpa and Grandma all rolled into one. He hugged me tightly. He quickly asked me to sit beside him. I said no no (I should be kneeling down in front of my guru, lower than my guru). Then he wanted to get up and move to the 3-seater sofa so that I could sit beside him. Again I refused. I should not be sitting side by side with my guru, the embodiment of the Buddha of the Three Times. Garchen Rinpoche then reached out to get me some tissue paper and tried to speak to me in very very basic mandarin.  Then he held my hand and put it on his heart, and closed his eyes for a long while. I knew he was praying for me, blessing me and assuring me at the same time, with overflowing compasssion.  Then he gave me some personal advise, even when I have not uttered anything at all.  He also gave me a White Tara statue and a few other gifts. He gives different disciples different gifts according to their karmic affinity, I guess. How can I not be touched by such a clairvoyant master, a Bodhisattva, the Living White Tara?  In addition, I also renewed my refuge vows with Garchen Rinpoche this time.

To the uninitiated, Garchen Rinpoche is an important high master in the Drikung Kagyu tradition. One of his previous incarnations, Gardampa Chodengpa, was born in 1180 A.D. He was recognized to have been an incarnation of Aryadeva Bodhisattva, a disciple of Nagarjuna. At birth he was able to hold a staff and he chanted the six syllable mantra. In another incarnation as Gar Choekyi Nyima, he chanted the Chakrasamvara mantra more than 13 billion times and became a Mahasiddha. He could perform great miracles, such as curing diseases, preventing wars, eliminating hunger, etc. 

In this lifetime, Garchen Rinpoche was imprisoned by the Chinese for 20 years and put in a labor camp during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Garchen Rinpoche kept on practicing in secret, according to his guru's instructions until he achieved the wisdom-mind realisation which was "an emanation of a Bodhisattva". He was practicing, in "retreat" for 20 years! When Garchen Rinpoche was released from prison in 1979, he took it upon himself to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries, re-establish the Buddhist teachings, and build two boarding schools for local children in eastern Tibet. Read about his biography here.

A Dharma brother shared with me his encounter with Garchen Rinpoche, who granted him personal refuge during his first meeting with him. When Garchen Rinpoche gives refuge, it is a little different from the norm; he would cut a little bit of your hair, blesses you with prayers, and then he would apply a very special balm to your head.

Garchen Rinpoche said that the hair he cut from you will be placed in a bag with White Tara in it, and whichever holy places Rinpoche goes to, he will do circumambulation and prayers with that bag. When he met His Holiness the Dalai Lama the previous time, he also brought along the bag of hair to be blessed, so that all his disciples and students can receive the equal merits and blessings he receives from His Holiness. 

With White Tara in the bag as well, we are also constantly getting blessings and protections from Mother Tara at all times.  Garchen Rinpoche has assured and even promised us that he will be with us in all future lifetimes until we achieve Buddhahood. How blessed is that?

The special balm (called Blessed Chokor Jodrag) is made from the greasy residue of the precious Gyanagma prayer wheel at Gar Monastery which contains all the words of the Buddha that was miraculously built by the Great Hearer Licchavi Vimalakirti. The balm confers Liberation Upon Smelling and can be applied on the nostril of the sick, dying or deceased. Through the blessings endowed in it, one will be able to repel contagious diseases and be protected. The prayer wheel at Gar Monastery was miraculously hidden away for hundred of years, then uncovered, and then again hidden away at Yeshe Tsogyal's cave when Tibet was invaded by China. Then after the war, when Garchen Rinpoche was released, he re-installed it back at Gar Monastery in Tibet and it has been spinning since. 

Garchen Rinpoche cutting my hair, blessing and apply holy balm on my head during refuge

Before he left that day, Garchen Rinpoche reminded us, "please always pray to Tara. Inside this prayer wheel there is 150 million Tara mantras. I am always turning it for your sake, for the sake of all sentient beings. In one second, this 150 million Tara mantra is rotated once and there are immeasurable benefits ripened. I was involved in a car accident once and it overturned three times but I survived, all because of Tara. I was only very concerned with my prayer wheel when the accident occurred... I covered it with my hand to protect it..... I have accepted your money offering and I owe you debts, so I turn this prayer wheel for you". 

How kind is that??  Read my post last year about this Great Bodhisattva.

Another great news is, the movie about Garchen Rinpoche is already out, titled "For The Benefits Of All Beings", directed by Christina Lundberg, a beautiful film including charismatic storytelling by Garchen Rinpoche himself, interviews with peers and students, historical context using archival footage, unprecedented public and private access to Garchen Rinpoche in over 15 countries, and stunning visuals of Tibet.

 Below is the trailer of this film. Watch the entire film in DVD if you can.

May my precious guru, Garchen Rinpoche have a long and healthy stable life. May he continue to turn the Wheel of Dharma for the benefit of all beings who are suffering in wretched Samsara.

Om Tare Tuttare Ture 
Mama Ayuh Punya Jnana Pustim Kuru Svaha!

Garchen Rinpoche in my dream on the eve of Vesak

This morning at dawn, I woke up at 6.30am, fell asleep again and had a brief dream.

In the dream, I think I was in a Buddhist centre. There were many small groups of people in different parts of the place, all busy with their own stuff. All of a sudden, a lady saw me and hurried towards me. While she was trying to tell me something, I was trying to recall if I knew her. I do not know her. She told me the old clothes I had given to a particular needy person were too big for her. I could not remember anything about this.

Then as I continued to wander around, I was rushing for something which I did not know what. I just knew I had to find the bathroom to take a shower. Bumped into an aunt, her hand stretched towards the red ruby pendant I was wearing on my neck and asked where it was from. I had to ignore her as I was late for that something. Then when I found the bathroom, a huge burly guy was guarding the bathroom. He was scrutinizing me from head to toe. I was a little intimidated but I knew I HAD to take a shower fast.

Then someone shouted, drawing our attention to the huge TV screen. On TV was a beaming Garchen Rinpoche! He was standing and turning his signature prayer wheels. What was unusual was, he was wearing a long and thick winter trapper which was white and grey in colour. Garchen Rinpoche was smiling so widely and waving at us. End of dream.

Garchen Rinpoche is a highly realised and unassuming master/yogi and one of my highly adored gurus who is well known for his great kindness. He is the one guru who accepts a hug from you and hugs you tightly like a grandfather would. He was imprisoned by the Chinese government for 20 years in which he gained vast realizations in his practice during that period.

Garchen Rinpoche is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the 13th century. In another lifetime, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna.

Garchen Rinpoche is closely connected with White Tara, with whom he had many personal encounters. White Tara is a Buddha belonging to the Lotus family. She is the goddess of compassion and is connected with longevity. One calls on her for health, strength, and longevity. I was very fortunate to be able to receive the White Tara initiation from Rinpoche a couple of times.

It is exactly one year since I last saw Garchen Rinpoche. This dream of him on the eve of Vesak.... I wonder if he is arriving in Singapore soon. _/|\_

Post note: 

Right after I posted the above entry this morning, I received an announcement that Garchen Rinpoche will be coming to Singapore in October! Wow, I'm totally amazed.  Yippee!

Practicing patience

Saying that one should be patient and withstand trouble,

doesn’t mean one should be defeated and overcomed. 

The whole purpose of engaging in the practice of patience 

is to become stronger in mind, stronger in heart. 

And you also want to remain calm. 

If you lose patience 

and your brain becomes confused with emotion, 

you will lose the power to analyze 

and figure out how to overcome 

the negative force that is opposing you.

- His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Garchen Rinpoche, the Living Buddha!

Last week, when H.E. Garchen Rinpoche arrived, there was a huge welcome for him at the airport, as I blogged about it earlier 'A bodhisattva arrives". 

Here is a group photo we took with 74-year-old Rinpoche after his personal blessing to each and everyone of us who was there. Garchen Rinpoche, among many holy incarnations, was Mahasiddha Aryadeva in ancient India - the lotus-born disciple of Nagarjuna himself.

Two days after Rinpoche's arrival, I had a short dream of him. I was walking alone to somewhere, and out of nowhere, I saw a car arriving and stopping right in front of me.  When the door opened, I saw Garchen Rinpoche stepping out of the car, and a few lamas were quickly rushing towards him to hold him and to support him, as Rinpoche carries a walking stick (being weak on his legs). In the dream, I gasped (stunned to see Rinpoche) and quickly bowed my head with clasped palms as I saw him.  As usual, Rinpoche's wrinkled face brightened into huge smiles, and he started waving at me, as his lamas surrounded him and led him into some place.

Then just as abruptly, as I stood there, with a blink of the eye, I was transported to another place. It was like a forest or jungle with tall trees and soft grass with blooming flowers and birds chirping. I could see the sea and mountains at a far distant and there was even a faint rainbow. Then I woke up. The dream was so vivid. It was the most breathtaking scenery I had ever seen. It was so peaceful and colourful and breezy, like a breath of dawn. A certain calm that immediately hit me and tamed the soul.  I could not describe exactly how it was like and I tried to find from the internet for the closest picture to depict what I saw. What I saw was many times more beautiful than this picture I found. I was really exhilarated to have had this dream of Garchen Rinpoche at such a time that he is here in Singapore.    

For the 2-3 days I attended the White Tara Initiation which he bestowed upon us, as well as the puja of Amitabha Buddha. A puja to supplicate to the 35 Buddhas was also conducted, specially dedicated to the victims of the Yushu Qinghai earthquake. This was requested by Rinpoche to aid the victims, as he said the people of that region has a special connection to him and had strong faith in him. Within these few days, $20,000 was raised by Dri Thubten Dargye Ling in Singapore for this cause.  

One would not know the impact and connection all his students and devotees have with this Living Buddha, Garchen Rinpoche, until one witnessed how he was so warmly received by the crowds. Rinpoche was endearing and compassionate, unbelievably kind to each individual, whether you are a monk or a lay man, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are a celebrity or just a commoner. His students offered khatas to him, smiled, hugged him and some cried. You could see the joy and happiness radiating on their faces and could not help but be extremely touched. Rinpoche's radiant presence inspires and delights students as the loving mother gathers her children close with  loving, encouraging, laughing, prodding, singing etc.  I was fortunate to get the opportunity to have a personal photo taken with Rinpoche, one of the few gurus who has touched me deeply.  Before biding him good bye after the puja, I asked one of his lamas how to say in Tibetan "Rinpoche, I would like to wish you a very long life", and when I saw Rinpoche, I told him that. Rinpoche was very happy and said something to me in Tibetan, which I could not understand, of course. Nonetheless, I was extremely happy.

During the White Tara Initiation 2 nights ago, Rinpoche requested  us to have faith in Tara, to say our prayers earnestly to her, for her guidance and protection. He said he has had personal encounters with Tara in dream-like state, and also related how he has received her protection many times throughout his life, every time when he was on the verge of dying.

Rinpoche was imprisoned by the Chinese government for 20 years. While in labour camp in 1959, there was once where there were literally many fighting weapons raining upon him, hitting him and hurting him. He knew he was in danger and on the verge of death and asked Tara for protection. He managed to escape without any injuries.

Another time there was shortage of food, and many were sick and dying of hunger. Rinpoche again prayed to Tara for help. In the end, he managed to survive without food for a long time, all with the blessings of Tara. 

Yet another time, Rinpoche fell into the water and he knew he was drowning, yet was miraculously saved by Tara again. Then there was another time, when he was travelling in a car with a few others, Rinpoche was holding and turning his prayer wheel. They met with a car accident. The car overturned and was badly damaged, but Rinpoche and those with him, escaped unharmed and nary an injury.  Amazing.

Garchen Rinpoche has repeatedly emphasized on the following teachings by Buddha in his talks:
- Do not do anything unwholesome,
- Do plentiful wholesome deeds,
- Tame your mind completely,
- These are the teachings of the Buddha.

"诸恶没作, 众善奉行, 自净其意, 是诸佛教"

Rinpoche again posed for me when I walked him to the car, and he waved, before he went back to rest for the night. Not unlike what I saw in the dream. 

It is a very rare opportunity in samsaric lives to meet a genuine Bodhisattva/Buddha. And to have received blessings from a Living Buddha, a realized master (Rinpoche has already achieved realizations of the inconceivable wisdom mind), is truly a rare chance. May all whom Garchen Rinpoche has taught, blessed and touched, practice the true Dharma path and develop the faith towards authentic teachers.

A Bodhisattva arrives

In those days when I just started and was new to Tibetan Buddhism, I did not just attend Dharma events from one centre. I attended many teachings, pujas and initiations given by quite a number of Rinpoches or masters from the 4 Traditions of Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug, who were visiting Singapore. Mostly the programs would be held in different centers or rented premises like Teochew Building and temples. That was the beginning of my Dharma path. I was fortunate to have met so many great masters and to have connected with them. I later began to attend regular teachings and pujas from Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC is an affiliate of FPMT) where my root guru is Lama Zopa Rinpoche as well as Gaden Shartse Dro-Phen Ling (DPL is the direct collegiate affiliate of Gaden Shartse Monastery), where my other gurus are the late Lati Rinpoche and 101st Gaden Tripa Rinpoche. Both centres follow the Gelug tradition.

Among all the earlier visiting gurus of the other traditions, one who has touched me deeply is the revered H.E. Garchen Rinpoche.

This great lama-master has just landed in Singapore today. I was at the airport to welcome Garchen Rinpoche. Even though I follow the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, I always have a deep respect for Garchen Rinpoche who is a Drikung Kagyu lama. As Rinpoche is weak on his legs, he arrived in a wheelchair with his signature mani wheel. He looked to have aged from the last time I have seen him (which was about 2-3 years ago), and he has just had a cataract operation on his right eye.

Quite a number of his students were there to welcome him, many shedding tears. Rinpoche was blessing everyone who offered him the khata and also blessing everyone with his head and even hugs.  It was an emotional scene.

Garchen Rinpoche is among the few great masters whom I remember fondly of.  I had the good fortune of meeting him and receiving his teachings a few times previously when he visited Singapore. Even when he is giving teachings or meditating, or praying, he is always turning the mani wheel. Rinpoche is a very jovial and kind master who is always laughing and is very warm to everyone. I remember the first time when I met him, I was on the stage to receive his blessings, he was standing, he blessed my head with his, held my hands, and gave me a hearty hug with his wide smiles, as though I have known him for the longest time. I was surprised and really touched by this unassuming kind guru.  That is why whenever he visits Singapore, I will make it a point to see him.  The late H.E. Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche called Garchen Rinpoche the Buddha, already an enlightened living being.

Some background of Garchen Rinpoche.  He is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was Siddha Gar Chodingpa (heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage). In another previous life, he was Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. In the 7th century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo.

Garchen Rinpoche was imprisoned for 20 years by China during the Cultural Revolution. Despite practicing secretly and enduring much hardship, Garchen Rinpoche is well known for attaining the profound insight and vast realizations of the wisdom mind, as well as for his great kindness.

I look forward to attending his teachings, initiations and pujas. Below is a touching movie clip of "For The Benefit Of All Beings" made on Rinpoche's extraordinary life story. Do watch the English version of the clip in Youtube as I was unable to embed it here.  Below is the mandarin version.

Special Advice from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche

Lobsang Garden 洛桑园 has posted a special advice from His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche on Long Life Practice on Dec 22 .

Rinpoche requests the worldwide sangha to recite long-life mantras on December 22 as much as our personal circumstance permits. In 2008 in the northern hemisphere, December 21 is the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight, and Rinpoche says that the next day, "when daylight and warmth begin to increase again," is a most powerful time for reciting long-life mantras.

He said we may recite the mantras of any of the three long-life deities, who are the same for all the Buddhist lineages—White Tara, Amitayus, and Namgyalma—but that it is sufficient to recite White Tara's mantra. He said she protects us from the eight great fears and from rebirth in the lower realms and that the benefit of practicing her mantra is immense, since she protects us in this and future lifetimes.

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was known in the 13th century as the Siddha Gar Chodingpa, a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient India, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. In the 7th century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo.

Rinpoche was imprisoned for 20 years during the political turmoil of China's Cultural Revolution Enduring hardship and practicing secretly, Garchen Rinpoche attained realization of the lama's wisdom mind. Garchen Rinpoche is known for his vast realization, as well as for his great kindness.

Rinpoche is one of the greatest masters whom I respect, and whom I have the fortune of receiving his teachings a few times before when he visited Singapore. He is always holding his signature prayer wheels. Even when he is giving teachings or meditating, or praying, he is always turning the prayer wheels. And Rinpoche is a very jovial and kind master who is always laughing and is very warm to everyone. Rinpoche will be arriving in Singapore next April for teachings.

Please say your prayers on 22 Dec as it is also the Winter Solstice (in chinese it is "dong zhi"), where in Chinese customs, it is a day for thanksgiving to the gods, and protectors for taking care of you for this past year. In Chinese beliefs, it is also the day marking the start of the coming new year (although the Chinese Lunar New Year is officially on 26 Jan 2009), it is believed each of us has grown a year older after 22 Dec, and it signifies the year of the Ox has already arrived, technically speaking.

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche

March and April were months where great masters came to Singapore.

- His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche

- Healing Lama Kangyur Rinpoche

-Geshe Lama Konchog's reincarnation, 4-year-old Phuntsok Rinpoche

- His Holiness 101st Gaden Tripa Rinpoche

- Powerful healer Ganor Rinpoche

In May, another of my respected guru, His Eminence Lama Zopa Rinpoche will be coming next week! And the warm and most humble and smiling His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is here too. Yesterday he gave me the Medicine Buddha teaching and puja, as well as empowerment. He also gave us 2 mantras which he instructed to be hanged above the door of the house. In the Kutagara Sutra it is said that if the crown of one's head passes once beneath this mantra, the misdeeds of a 1000 eons will be purifed. In the Forceful Waterfall Sutra, it is said that to see this mantra once purifies the misdeeds of 300,000,000 eons.

Garchen Rinpoche is very warm and unassuming. His Eminence is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was known in the 13th century as the Siddha Gar Chodingpa, a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient India, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. In the 7th century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo.

Garchen Rinpoche is well known for his vast realization, as well as for his great kindness.

Animal kindness

Today I suddenly thought of His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche. I had dreamt of him a few nights ago, smiling brightly at me, spinning his signature prayer wheel. I read this article, and suddenly it reminded me of my friend who is afraid of and the murderer of LIZARDS!

A Tibetan Buddhist high lama brings a message of positive thinking and respect for human life. By EILEEN SCHULTE © St. Petersburg Times, published Sept 4, 2001.

Never stomp on an ant, even if it is about to bite your big toe. If you spot a roach on the kitchen counter, stop for a moment and consider not pressing the button of death on your can of Baygon.

Instead, why not contemplate escorting your unwelcome guests out of the house or away from the picnic area in a kindly fashion? After all, according to Buddhist teachings, any one of them could be the reborn soul of someone you knew and maybe loved in a previous lifetime, someone who obviously -- because of their current station in life -- was not particularly good and kind toward others.

Still, they deserve love and compassion just like everyone else.

That was just part of the message followers were taught at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater, headed by an individual followers believe is a true holy man: His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche.

Most of those in attendance already knew all human, insect and animal life is sacred; Rinpoche simply re-enforced the message.

It was just before 2 pm when Rinpoche -- a baldheaded, barefoot man clothed in flowing red robes with a yellow Nike tank top peeking out from underneath -- walked into the all-purpose room. When they saw him, his followers instantly fell silent and turned toward him. Bowing their heads and closing their eyes, they cupped their hands in front of them in prayerlike fashion. Even two pet dogs in the room, a black Airedale and a tan German shepherd mix (yes, they, too, were invited and treated with the utmost respect), stopped sniffing around and lay down next to their masters as though something important was about to happen.

But through their actions, they showed respect to the Tibetan Buddhist high lama, or priest, a man who they are taught has lived many important lives and is enlightened. They believe he has chosen to be reborn, coming back to earth repeatedly to help others gain wisdom.

Negative thoughts, Rinpoche said, are your worst enemy. "Negative emotions are the driving force (in) doing non-virtuous deeds," he said. "Try to get rid of negative emotions. (You) want to reach enlightenment as soon as possible to help other beings, not for yourself. That is very important. The most precious thing is a human life. The true nature of the mind is the ocean. The negative emotion is the waves," he said and smiled. "Kindness is better than all the riches on the planet."

And if you unintentionally step on and kill a bug, Rinpoche has a bit of advice: Say a prayer for it.
----------------------------------------------------------
I first met Rinpoche almost 2 years ago when he was here for a teaching. Garchen Rinpoche is the incarnation of the acharya Aryadeva Bodhisattva, a disciple of Nagarjuna (an Indian philosopher, the founder of the (Middle Path) school of Mahayana Buddhism, and arguably the most influential Buddhist thinker after Buddha himself). I remembered Rinpoche among all other Rinpoches, because he was the warmest and most endearing lama I have ever met. As I clasped my palms for his blessing, he was smiling widely and gave me a warm hug, knocking his head gently against mine, and both hands clasped my cheeks and blessed me ever happily. It was as if he knows me, a stranger, for a long time. Perhaps we know each other in our past lives?

Reconnecting

Last week Tue, there was an Avalokiteshvara initiation given by HE Garchen Triptul Rinpoche. I had initially wanted to give it a miss as I have already taken Avalokiteshvara initiation a few times before.

On Mon night, I had a dream. I dreamt that I was in Teochew Building (the place where the initiation was to be held). There was suddenly a high mountain which was opposite Teochew Building. It was covered with green grass and the gentle breeze of morning dew filled the air. It was a very calm feeling looking at the mountain from where I was standing inside Teochew Building.

Many incidents happened in the building but I only remembered two. I dreamt that I conducted 2 long interviews for 2 job applicants in a room. And it was so long that I was held up in the meeting so I was late for my initiation. Also I dreamt that a man opened a door for me in one of the rooms. Then my Master appeared wearing beige long shirt and pants with faint dragon prints. But she immediately turned around and literally ran off. The man looked somewhat related to my Master. He has very slight wavy hair and tanned skin. One thing caught my attention was that his eyes were filled with sadness. Hmm... I found this very weird.

When I woke up, I knew I had to attend the initiation. His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was known in the 13th century as the Siddha Gar Chodingpa, a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient India, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. HE Garchen Rinpoche was a very friendly and humble, he was smiling widely all the time. He was also spinning the prayer wheel throughout the ceremony. At the end of the transmission, due to his kindness, he stood up and personally bless everyone present. When it was my turn, Rinpoche greeted me with a happy laugh, as if he knew me or recognised me. He put both hands on my head to bless me, almost hugging me tightly as I uttered "Thank you Rinpoche". I knew immediately there should have been a close connection with him in my past lives. I don't know how I know, but I just knew it.

"Enlightenment is as if you have been away from home for many years, when you suddenly see your father in town. You know him right away without a doubt. There is no need to ask anyone else whether he is your father or not." -- Master Foyan