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Friday, March 17, 2017

What are the different ways we can work with emotions?

We and others like to think that the day we become Dharma practitioner, suddenly we become good person, nice person, good practitioner. I do not think it works like this, that it is that easy. It is not the reality. Reality is, it takes more time.

Hatred – maybe it takes five or six years to work with this, to
dialogue with this emotion. We need to become familiar with, we need to recognize how our emotions arise. And then, slowly, make them our friend, or become acquaintances with them, so that then we do not have to suppress them, force them to go away. In this way, they naturally subside, they become self-liberated. That is the way we should work with emotions.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje


Thursday, March 16, 2017

What is the correct way to use Dharma practice to work with emotions?


If you have emotions, but because you are supposed to be Dharma practitioner, you do not show or express these emotions, because you are embarrassed to express them, because you are supposed to be a Dharma practitioner, but you have not actually worked on them, so you keep on having them. So then people react by trying to suppress this, thinking “I am Dharma practitioner, I should not be angry, I should not be like this”. Instead of using methods to work on these emotions, the practitioner tries to pretend that these emotions do not exist. That is unnecessary – that is not the right way to practice.

That does not mean that you should give yourself free reign to express all emotions that come up. Then you become totally out of control. But we need to work on our emotions, slowly, step by step, work on the emotions and learn how to control them.

I think that we should have some kind of a dialogue with our negative emotions. We should relate to them, we should identify them, understand them, because we do not recognize our own emotions.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Does a Dharma practitioner have emotions?


Sometimes, people think that because we are practitioner of Dharma, we shouldn't have emotions. But it is clear that some practitioners have emotions – sometimes short-tempered, jealous, sometimes too much attachment. So when people see this, they comment – “you are Dharma practitioner, how can you be like that, how can you be angry, how can be jealous?”  

However, you cannot say that emotions are not allowed because you are Dharma practitioner.


His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje


Tuesday, March 14, 2017

What is the fourth factor in devotion as that path?


  4. Always have a pure and admiring attitude.
The fourth is that we should always have a pure, admiring, and loving attitude towards the guru. We need to do whatever our guru demands and accomplish whatever he wishes. There is nothing that is not included in these two.
Primarily the relationship between the guru and disciple is a dharmic one. If the guru tells you to do something worldly and you do not do it, it is probably okay. But if he teaches you something
dharmic and you actually practice it, then this reinforces the connection between the guru and disciple. 

It is important to actually practice the dharma that the guru teaches.

HH 17th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Monday, March 13, 2017

How long does the relationship with the guru last?


When we have devotion for the guru, it is not just for a single lifetime, but life after life and birth after birth, and we should release ourselves from the binds of hope and
fear.
The relationship with the guru should span many lifetimes, but if we do not do any of the dharma practices, then it will be difficult to follow him from life to life.
HH 17th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje



Sunday, March 12, 2017

What can we expect from our relationship with the guru?


3. Resolve to stop expecting or worrying.

We should not have expectations, nor hope to get something out of our relationship with the guru as if it were a business deal. 

We should recognize that our own devotion is our responsibility--a task that we must undertake ourselves. It should not be the case that if the lama treats us in one way we will have devotion and if he treats us in another, we will not.


HH 17th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje



Saturday, March 11, 2017

In cultivating devotion, how should one regard the guru?


2. Think that everything the guru does is positive.
The second point is from a positive point of view: we should see everything the guru does as a quality and as an opportunity to train our minds. I think this is the basic meaning. So no matter what the connection between the guru and disciple, do not let it go to waste. See everything that happens as a way to train the mind and improve oneself. Look for the opportunity to do that.

Basically, the trust between the guru and disciple should be indestructible; it should be stable and lasting, and something to have true confidence in. Even in society, when a man and woman really love each other, their connection cannot be harmed or destroyed by any other circumstance. It is like a vajra rock.

HH 17th Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje