What is the importance of religion in our lives?

It is not so important to me about religion. 

What is important is, that at a fundamental level, we are all the same in being human.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

When is it proper to consider oneself a Mahayana practitioner?

We sometimes, somewhat pretentiously, declare ourselves to be Mahayana practitioners, because we feel that the Dharma we practice is Mahayana. But it is not enough that the Dharma is practice be Mahayana – the person practicing it must be Mahayana.

The question of what vehicle we are practicing is a question of how much responsibility, how much of a burden the person is willing to and can actually carry. Unfortunately, we tend to ignore that fact, and look only to the name of the tradition we espouse. This is a mistake.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What happens after receiving vow of refuge?

It is not enough to simply have received the vow of refuge, one has to subsequently engage in its training. 

This means the elimination of adverse conditions and the cultivation of conducive conditions.

His Holiness, 17th  Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What conduct contradicts taking refuge in the Dharma?

For example, a large number of people go to Kagyu Monlam. We bring along with us a lot of gossip... We spend too much time speaking of the faults of others, or trying to push one another's buttons. Also... much of our conversation seems to center around complaints and misgivings. 

But when we do this, we really need to turn inward and look at what we are doing.

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What can be done to bring the practice of Dharma into daily life?

As ordinary beings, of course we all have faults. We are not just ordinary beings, we are Dharma practitioners, which means that we have a responsibility. We have the responsibility to not focus on one another's faults, but to focus on one another's virtues, and this is like the life-tree of our Dharma.

We may say "I take refuge in the Dharma" but do we actually focus on what is good in others, on their virtues? If we do not, if we focus on others defects, then our taking refuge in the Dharma is really just words. 

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What does it mean when things go badly, in spite of having taken refuge?

The temporary appearance of the protection of the Three Jewels not being evident is simply a result of our own failing to pray to them with sincerity. It is impossible that the Three Jewels could lack blessing. 

Recollecting the importance of trust, no matter what happens, whether things go well or ill, entrust yourself entirely to the Three Jewels, and never despair.

His Holiness, 17th Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

How should one uphold one's taking refuge?

Always recollecting the qualities of the Three Jewels, think of them with faith, and diligently pray to them. 

Do not accumulate wrongdoing through careless gossip or denigration of others. 

Regard all images of Buddhas bodies, speech, and minds, as well as all who wear the robes of the Sangha as Three Jewels and treat them with respect and veneration. 

Do not place any image of the Three Jewels on the bare ground or where they will be damaged. 

Do not even think of selling or pawning images of the Three Jewels.

Have such respect for the Three Jewels that you do not step over even a fragment of a tsa-tsa or a single letter from a text.

His Holiness, 17th Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

What does one have to do to genuinely go for refuge?

For going for refuge to be fully authentic, it must possess four attributes:

The first is an understanding of the qualities of the Three Jewels, as described, for example, in the Sutra of the Recollection of the Exalted Three Jewels.

The second is to understand the superiority or difference of the Buddha, as opposed to other teachers, the Dharma as opposed to incorrect paths, and the Sangha as opposed to the communities of other traditions.  

The third, is to be fully committed to going for refuge with an attitude free from reservation, based on one's understanding of the qualities and superiority of the Three Jewels.

And the fourth is, even at the cost of one's life, never to seek any source of refuge other than the Three Jewels. 

His Holiness, 17th Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

I became a Buddhist because I want to be happy. Why do I still have suffering?

...while all beings want happiness, what we get is suffering. The reason why we don't get what we want, and why we get what we don't want, is because our wishes and our actions are contradictory to one another."

"While we wish for happiness, we do not engage in virtuous actions, the causes of happiness. While we wish not to suffer, we do engage in non-virtuous actions that are causes of suffering. Therefore, we are reborn in the three lower realms and suffer terribly there. So we need to understand and fear the intense and prolonged suffering of lower rebirth."

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa
Ogyen Trinley Dorje

How do we know if we are Buddhist or not?

"It is not sufficient for us to simply include ourselves among the ranks of Buddhists and adopt the name or title of a Buddhist. 

To be included in the ranks of Buddhists, we need to be developing and bringing about a good or extraordinary result."

His Holiness, 17th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje