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, 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Mahamudra Teaching, Nurburing, Germany

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, 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Mahamudra Teaching, Nurburing, Germany

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, 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Mahamudra Teaching, Nurburing, Germany

I’ve read about people who cured being sick or gained a lot of wealth by practicing Dharma – is that the purpose of Dharma?

Some people think that all the problems in their life can be solved by the Dharma. For example, if you are sick, then if you practice Dharma, that will cure you. If you have economic (financial) problems, you practice Dharma and all your economic problems will be solved. Things like this, many people have expectations like this.

The purpose of practice of Dharma is not to solve these kinds of life problems. It is difficult for the Dharma to solve these kinds of problems. I feel that the purpose of the practice of Dharma is to get rid of and solve the most basic problems of life, to address the most important problems of life.

Many people, even if we are healthy, even if we have good financial conditions, even if we are successful, that does not satisfy us or fulfill us. We can still feel lonely, empty, or unhappy.

It is these kinds of problems or sicknesses of the mind, these things can be solved by practice of the Dharma.

His Holiness, 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Mahamudra Teaching, Nurburing, Germany

It seems to me Buddhism is kind of magical, that it can solve all my problems – is that realistic?

Many people feel that the Tibetan Buddhism practice is a little magical or miraculous. They believe that if you receive an empowerment and practice, then something happens and solves all your problems immediately. In the same way, when you hear about Mahamudra, they think there is something special – that miraculously, everything is solved.

People have these kinds of wrong expectations about practicing Buddhism.

It is quite impossible that just because the Dharma, all of your problems in life can be solved.

His Holiness, 17^th Gyalwang Karmapa

Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Mahamudra Teaching, Nurburing, Germany