The Relationship between Kalachakra, Shambhala and Rimé
By Khentrul Rinpoché Jamphel Lodrö
Ok, is anybody new to Tibetan Buddhism? Completely new? Did you read the books? Not really, not read books. Ok…only one? Ok Let’s prayer, I do pay homage to the spiritual ancestors, to express my gratitude for providing us with spiritual path. You just, you guys relax, just calm mind and watching the breath and remind yourself that you went through until this life, the opportunity to hear the priceless precious dharma and so fortunate. Just remind yourself that. And have appreciation. So I just express this on behalf of everyone, then we start the discussion.
04.08
So today’s topic “how Kalachakra and Shambhala are related to Rimé”. If anyone never hear “Kalachakra”, “Shambhala”, “Rimé”, then we have to explain. Roy will need to explain. I hope that everyone knows, what we are talking about. But the Kalachakra Tantra is the most extensive system, I could say in the world. Shambhala is realm, pure realm, another realm. So this is a representation of the thangka. Rimé is start from Tibetan words, “rime” means non-sectarian or impartial, unbiased, liked that. So we, tonight’s topic is how related, these three, eachother.
Why? Because these three are who I am and what I focus and then why. For this reason, today we are going to start, how related to each other, and then explore more and more in the next days. These three subjects are my focus and you may think, “why do I have to talk to you?” If somebody, engineer, specialist or something, some make objects, if he talks this, his specialism, would you come? Probably you don’t come.
Similarly, if someone is specialist subject is talking is, you not necessarily come. But why I expect you to come is because these three information is…but also I wouldn’t expect so many people come…for many reasons. But one of reason is this is not many people know about but still I’m talk about this because this is absolutely necessary in our humanity…you know, and we are I would say shortage of these three knowledge and this, that’s the reason our world is not perfect.
So maybe I start from Shambhala. Giving you example. How many people know what is Shambhala really is? I believe very few people know this. Almost zero. Ok. Think of that. At the same time, many people knows the name of Shambhala, not only just know, but people like that name and they use this name a lot, everywhere. You know, houses, dharma centres, shops and restaurants, hotels, everything! So we have to think why? Why do people like that name? Why do people like that energy, you know that energy? Yet, we have to think of that for a moment. There is something very special in it, but we say maybe we have not enough merit to know about very well. So that is why, I consider myself, I try to educate to people, what is Shambhala really is. But we are not afford to not know this information.
07.55
If I give you example, there are many, many pure realms. There are many, many Buddha pure realms. But Amitabha pure realm there is very special we have to know, very important to know. And we know a little bit, and many people know about that compared to Shambhala knowledge. That’s why in China, the numbers of people know that and they have a tradition of that. Yes? But if we don’t know that, how is disadvantage, think of? How many people, you know?
There are many ways of spiritual path. Like, so many people relying on this particularly, Amitabha pure land path. So if people don’t know, have knowledge of that tradition, that knowledge, then how many people fail on other spiritual path. Then relying on this. So similarly, if we don’t know about the Shambhala, then it is very big missing, basically, very big missing in this world. And I will tell slowly, how? Why?
So if I give very short example, all the Buddhas for reach buddhahood, from sentient beings to reach buddhahood, the only purpose is to liberate the sentient beings. No other purpose. That is equal for everybody. But when they are on the path to the enlightenment, they have, everybody have specific strong aspirations. So Amitabha Buddha’s strong, specific strong vow, or dedication is “I want to reach Buddhahood, because I want to create pure realm that anybody who calls my name, and anybody who have this strong aspiration alone, to reborn in Amitabha pure land.” That’s his aspiration. That’s why he took vow, “If this not fulfil this wish, may I not be enlightened.” He don’t want even reach buddhahood. That’s why he strong, incredible, based on this strong vow or dedication, so he reach buddhahood.
That’s why very simple people cannot comprehend many other things. They just have strong faith with zero doubt, just calling Amitabha’s name, just this single-pointed practice, they have special and exceptional way to reborn in pure land. Similarly, different Buddha’s, and different realms have specific different ways to reach.
11:02
Similarly, Shambhala…we must know Shambhala and then we must have this Shambhala way. Why? Because, firstly Amitabha pure land means Buddha-realm. Buddha have three kayas: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, Nirmanakaya. But usually, we talk about “may I born Amitabha pure land”. That one is nirmanakaya realm. Which means manifestation of Buddha-realm.
Shambhala do you think, if you say “Shambhala have Buddha-realm? Dharmakaya realms, nirmanakaya realms, sambhogakaya realms?” The answer is yes. That means “Shambhala have Buddha-realm?” That means yes! But usually, we talk about Shambhala and we have history about Shambhala relative with Kalachakra. We have this historical Shambhala. We are not talking about these three Buddha realms. We are talking about Bodhisattva realm.
Now, we not focusing on the Buddha realms. Just focusing on the historical Shambhala realms, the bodhisattva realm. Just focus that. We talking that. Not confuse. We not talking about pure realms, we talking about only the bodhisattva realm.
12.31
The next, why is so important for us to know this knowledge? Ok…the bodhisattva realm of Shambhala. Because if we are perfect practitioner, incredible yogic practitioner…let’s say which means…”perfect practitioner” means samsaric commitments, samsaric destraction, if we are…let’s say 90% of us focus is spiritual developments. Only 10% samsara…samsaric destraction. If like that we are, then we are “perfect practitioner”. But we just have to think of, “how many percentage of me is focusing on spiritual development and how many percentage of my focus is thinking of twenty-four hours, focusing on samsara.” Whether you intentionally or not intentionally, distracted in samsara. How much? Then we know, we are how much, what level of practitioner we are right now.
That’s why Amitabha pure land why is become special for us? Not because we are so great…not that reason. But the reason is we are so ignorance about enlightenment and we are so distracted in Samsara, that’s why the simplest possible way, the Amitabha pure realm. But the difficult part, the zero doubt and 100% faith also not easy.
Then Shambhala, what is differences? Firstly, not same as Amitabha pure realm, because bodhisattva realm. Amitabha pure realm is Buddha-realm, that means very, very far from ordinary people. Which means, usually, to be reborn in a Buddha-realm, you at least have to reach at the first bhumi level. The first bhumi level means, there are ten bhumis, the first bhumi is when you reach the first bhumi level. If I simplify that, what means is that you completely realise and stabilise the selflessness. “Selflessness” means there is no self of persons, no self of phenomena, emptiness. Easy way we say, “emptiness”. You realise and stabilise completely, not just realise, but realise and stabilise the emptiness directly. Directly means not conceptually. You realise in non-conceptual level and just you realise once not that. And you stabilise that. That is the minimum requirement.
15.30
Ok, then, when we say Amitabha pure realm is different. We say, “oh different, just prayer and have strong faith and then you born there. You don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to realise emptiness, nothing…just do this and you born there.” It is very hard to say no or yes, both. Why hard to say no? Because Buddha Shakyamuni mentioned in many Amitabha sutras, he said it, they will. And because of Buddha Amitabha he vowed, that’s why we can’t say “no”. Of course we should say yes and we should have faith.
But also difficult to say “yes”, because for normal people not difficult to say “yes”, but for academic people for them is big trouble. They never agree this. Why? Because you not fitted in the whole system of Buddhism. It is not logical for them. That’s why people say, minimum in general, in minimum you have to realise selflessness. That’s why it’s too far, it’s not believable for them. That’s why, scholars never believe. Academic people never believe this. I’ve never met, maybe one person who knows, but in general, they never believe this. They influence other people of course and difficult.
17.05
So what is the Shambhala realm is different? It is much different because it is bodhisattva-realm. Firstly, bodhisattva-realm, not Buddha-realm. It’s much closer to us. And aspirational bodhicitta, you can have it today. Even if you didn’t have it today, before you come here. You can generate it right now. Also, real bodhicitta, relative bodhicitta, anybody can have at anytime. It is just attitude. You don’t need to develop incredible yogic siddhis. Anything you don’t have to develop these special siddhis and special miracles. You don’t have to develop anything, just mental attitude. As long as you, this is like “I want to reach enlightened buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.” That’s it! That’s number one priority in mind, whenever you get it, done! You know Bodhicitta already. That means you are bodhisattva already. Bodhisattva have many levels, but you already have first entering bodhisattva already. That’s why is so close to us.
{Student: How far is Guru Rinpoché realm?}
I don’t know. The answer is I don’t know. Because I’m Shambhala, I’m…that’s my strategy, not Guru Rinpoché.
{Translator: One time I asked Rinpoché, and he said that’s more related to Dzogchen teaching. Might be to consult Dzogchen lama.}
I only memorise the prayer to go to the Copper coloured mountain realm. I memorise when I was a young boy. I memorise this and now maybe I forgot you know. That’s all I know. That prayer is more like internal, it’s not something external. That prayer is related.
Basically, like Shambhala and Guru Rinpoché pure realm, there is no…I never see huge information in Tibetan. Seems like not exist. Only little information..only hints everywhere. But there is not huge description and huge explanation. No. I never seen. That’s why, I Shambhala, I meditated many years and contemplate many years and then I research and what people think about Shambhala, what they written. Then slowly, together, I wrote book, “Demystifying Shambhala”. That book there. That’s why, for instance, if somebody like Tsultrim Lodrö or somebody, and then write on book on “Copper Mountain”, then much easier for you.
{student: Actually I heard that Shambhala…}
When you read my book that since…because many sections how different people interpret Shambhala. What traditional yogics they say. Even the yogics their explanation, there called “map to go to Shambhala”. They translate Indian masters wrote and translate by Taranatha. Even that basically I’m saying, the information you cannot take anything literally. That’s my understanding. If you take everything literally, you have big trouble, misunderstanding.
21.38
My understanding of Shambhala, is firstly bodhisattva-realm, not Buddha-realm, this historical one. And secondly, this is like specifically related to our Earth. That is why it is very special for us. That’s why, if we don’t know these things, it’s big missing. We big missing something.
Let’s say if you have very important jewel. You have in your house, but you never seen. Entire your life and you experience poverty but you have incredible expensive jewel somewhere there. But you didn’t see, you didn’t see somewhere there, hidden place, something not. It’s like that kind of. We have this very special connection with Shambhala and people on this Earth, but we missing. We not talking about much. We distracted with money and other things. That’s why, that’s why is Kalachakra Tantra prophesise how our world will be if we practice nicely and connect with Shambhala. And this our world actually, we have trouble today. So many conflicts. These things will go away. These things only predicted in the Kalachakra Tantra. Through related with the Shambhala, not anywhere else in Buddhism…the sutras, the tantras, no. Anywhere.
That’s why, if we don’t know this, then we big missing. Basically, we missing very big two things: one, if we don’t know Shambhala then we don’t know the value of Shambhala. If we don’t know the value of Shambhala then we never be rimé. We always not-rimé. We always sectarian. Sectarianism and this harsh reality, bias attitude, bias, everything makes trouble in this world. But we do this because we don’t know the value of Shambhala. That’s one huge missing for the global humanity in our world.
And the other missing is we missing individually a lot. Why? Because everyone have to die. And then…we don’t know when. And when you die, you have not security. So the most, many people try to think of Amitabha, maybe some success, but some more not success because of the doubt. If you connect with the Kalachakra and the Shambhala lineage, then you have much easier chance to be reborn in Shambhala in the immediate next life. That is a very big missing if we don’t know that. These two. One is for the world and one is for ourselves.
24.45
And then, some people think this way, you know “Amitabha pure land is much easier, because just calling his name and have strong faith. That’s much easier. Okay. To go to Shambhala is so difficult because you have to know Kalachakra Tantra. So the Kalachakra Tantra is huge and so high and such huge and that is much more difficult.” You may think that. I say, “not like that”.
Because Amitabha pure land, yes, you say, yes strong faith and calling his name, that is easy, sounds easy, sounds easy, but is not easy to do. Why? Only problem is the doubt. You just have to think, “do I have zero doubt?” Anything in this world, we don’t have zero doubt, even what will happen tomorrow. We assume we have some plans for tomorrow, for next life. Everything we have, but always there’s some doubt. That’s why the doubt is the root of the six afflictions. Remember.
Some people think, “Why doubt is so bad? Doubt is sometimes good?” Doubt leading to wisdom. Some people think like that. Yes, some type of doubt leads to investigation and is good, but the doubt always capture our problem. Our affliction, that’s why root of affliction. That’s why difficult.
Kalachakra Tantra, yes very high, yes very high, very extensive, but extensive and high doesn’t mean is not approachable. Extensive and high means provide millions of methods. So that means you have millions of options. Something simple means no many options. So think of that.
26.58
I’m sure everybody in the mind thinking, “What then Shambhala really is? You still didn’t talk about?” So I think the easy way, is think of first, the entire world is samsara world and enlightened world. Everything, it’s not like “this is samsara” and next is enlightened world. It’s not that kind of. It is everything is what you see, what you experience. Based on what you are, who you are. If we are sentient being, we experience samsara. Within samsara if we are desire, human being, we just only experience desire realm. If you are form god, and you experience form realm god. If you are formless, you experience formless realm.
Even formless is means subtle form. Still not, even we call “formless”, its not totally formless. That’s why Shambhala, to experience Shambhala, its not somewhere to go and reach, and next door. It’s not like that. It’s anywhere is the door. The door could be anywhere. We have to have this connection in your mind, basically. We have to develop in our mind to this connection. Not something you go physically. Physically if you go entire your life you walk, walk, walk…you journey, you couldn’t go, really. The problem, the writings, sounds like place to go and reach there. If you take literally, then you have big problem. Slowly, slowly I tell you more and more teachings, why then like that. Why written like that.
28.59
What is differences, like say “buddha-realms”. Buddha-realms, there is no room for karma. There’s no room for karmic results. Which means even if you virtuous karma, have no room. Karmic result have not room in Amitabha pure realm. Not only just Amitabha pure realm, all buddha-realms, you don’t room for anything to do with karma. Right. But Shambhala have room for karma.
We are just full of karma. Yes. So our, negative karmas have no room for Shambhala. But we have room for virtuous karma. It have room for Shambhala. Why? Because not buddha-realm, because that’s why you have karma room. But only virtuous karma room. That’s why is million times easier than buddha-realm.
30.02
One indication we can see, if you read the stories. The practitioners, is hardly any hear somebody say, “I went to Amitabha pure land in my dream”…or in another experience…”I went to Amitabha pure realm and then come back, and Amitabha told me this.” It’s very rare, very, very rare. But so many times we hear of practitioners, Kalachakra practitioners, say “Ooh, they went to Shambhala, they do this, they come back this, they did this, they learned this.”
For instance even the Kalachakra mandala they building in Dzamthang, that one the four elements they made like higher and higher, but in the text said equal. But they made this high. Why they made high? Because one of lama, I think Ngawang Chopel Gyatso, he said he went in Shambhala in his experience. So he said in Shambhala have this Kalachakra, this mandala, they have this, so he argue with scholar. Scholar say, “No, no, can’t be this. Text say this.” And he say, “No, no, I saw in my experience.” So they are building this based on the lineage lama’s experience and not referring to the text. So like that, that kind of similar, many, many experiences.
That make sense because you know like it’s the karmic, some karmically related, you know it’s easier to experience. That’s why for the sake of individuals, makes life through the death, to connect with the Kalachakra lineage and you practice Kalachakra as much as you can, sincerely. Then the minimum benefits have, as long as sincerely, that sincerity is required, regardless your capacity, the minimum benefits you will be reborn in Shambhala.
32.19
Ok, what if born in Shambhala, what is look like Shambhala? What I will expect? Firstly, Shambhala is tantrayana realm. Everybody, 100% practice Kalachakra. Everybody. If you compare Amitabha pure land, there is shravakas, pratyekabuddhas, there is bodhisattvas, there is Buddhas, there is normal sentient beings 100% faith, zero doubt, that kind of…they still have to develop there. Exist there. Its different teachings, different practices. They are pure, we are not pure, but similar to this world, so many variety. Everything is variety.
Shambhala, no. Everybody, one direction. Everybody, same direction. That’s why called same family. Shambhala made this, through Dharma king Manjushri Yashas. He achieved that Shambhala. Not from the beginning, not exactly like that, he achieved that, since then it is like that. So that is the difference.
33.40
When we say, okay, Shambhala is Vajrayana realm, what does that mean? We have to think of. Then you have to understand, first, what vajrayana means? Many people have even don’t understand what vajrayana means, even not accepting vajrayana. Why people not accepting? Because don’t understand. You not understand, of course you not accept. I always try to explain vajrayana means, simple terms. If we say “vajrayana” perhaps it is too difficult to explain, just say “tantrayana”.
“Tantra” in Tibetan say “continuity”, not breaking, there is no break. You have to think of what is not breaking? No breaking means when you practice tantrayana, if you practice very well, that means there is not breaking. Why? Because every step, mental state, there is way of practice. Why? Because sutrayana way, you say, “oh this is bad, abandon. This is good, I have to keep it. I have to collect. Good, good, good.” Vajrayana way, “no that’s okay, I can use this one. I can use this one differently.” Everything is skilful means, basically. Skilful means, you use everything in different ways. But I’m talking about if you practice very well. Of course if you can’t do that, then of course you have to do similar of sutra way, “oh, no no, I can’t do this. I can do this. I can’t do this, throw away. I can do this.” Of course, if you cannot practice very well, you have start that way. If you practice very well, everything becomes for your practice. Everything becomes like tool. Let’s say, if we have little skill, you can use one tool or maybe two tools. But, if you are very skilful, you can use everything is like tool, you can use. Similarly, tantrayana practice is how to learn everything how we use. Include emotions. Compared with we have plenty help. All these things.
But here, we have problem to practice, because firstly, we are born in the body. Could have many potentials of sickness and limitations. Even if not sick, we have limited everything. We depend on how long you can run, how long you can jump. Everything you have limited. On top of this, so many obstacles. You know, like external obstacles to people, you know like seems like all people is obstacle. All this system, you know like you have to pay bills, and politics…everything is like obstacle. And then internal obstacles, you know like emotions, these afflictions, so much we have. Within this, very little capacity we have. That’s why we cannot practice very well tantrayana. Because it’s just not enough skills. Not enough capacity.
So then what is Shambhala. You born much finer. It is not formed, not completely formless, it’s still form. To practice tantrayana, you need some kind of form. It’s form, but it is fine form and then you have no limitations. You know like, almost I would say, you have almost no limitations. You know, your health, there’s no health concerns. Nothing this concern. There’s no such thing yours, mind, I have to increase my wealth. Nothing. You don’t need wealth there. Why you need wealth for? We need wealth here because we have limitation. We have limitation, in the world, so then we develop this attitude, “Oh I have to collect, I have to collect, I have to collect.” yeah? “I have to have security for me!” Like that kind of…if you don’t have this, then you have no distractions.
And then, we have afflictions. Because we grow up in this society. Basically, who we are means you just full of habits, we just chunks of habits we get from everybody, we get from the society. But when you born in Shambhala realm, everybody is so perfect, you cannot pick up any negativities. So you are just so pure, so perfect and you have no obstacles so that’s why you have incredible inspiration.
Here, practice means we need effort. Basically here, we are too hot, we air conditioner on. Oh, too cold, we turn off. Everything need just degrees changing all the time. In Shambhala, you continue to develop, there is, this is the way of the life, this is the matter of your life. Not something not you are, but you have to force you. In this world, we do many things force ourselves, because of our save face for the people. Peer pressure, many things pressure you and you have to act basically. Entire your life you acting. But in Shambhala you have no acting. Completely natural, virtuous way of nature, naturally.
39.39
You may think “After I’m born in Amitabha pure land, or Shambhala, which one faster to reach buddhahood?” Definitely Shambhala. Do you know why? I mean for ordinary person, let say. The minimum, bottom level of person, to Amitabha pure land, you have many many aeons to reach buddhahood the texts say it. And Shambhala, they say one lifetime! Why? Why also logically it makes sense, because you practicing tantrayana. Everybody, there’s no obstacle, everybody encouraging, everybody so that’s why it’s fast. Even in this impure realm, some great practitioners they reach buddhahood in one lifetime. So in Shambhala, that makes sense for everyone, you know.
And Amitabha pure land, I’m talking about the minimum level, the text say aeons and aeons, minimum level. Maximum of course, you can have anything anywhere. Even this impure land here.
{student: Is Shambhala eternal?}
Probably, this historical Shambhala, that same form, you know that same form, probably not for ever. It is specifically to related to this earth. Our earth is not forever. Okay, do you have any questions?
41.27
{student: Some people say that Shambhala is related to alien culture or UFO, from other planet….speaking in chinese.}
{translator: This lady is asking if she is practicing tantrayana also maybe like mahamudra or some other but not practicing Kalachakra, can she still go to Shambhala. }
Only degrees of chance differences. Anybody practicing anything related to loving kindness and bodhicitta have chance to be reborn in Shambhala. But how this chance is big and small is degrees huge differences connect with Kalachakra lineage and practicing that way loving kindness and compassion or the other way. It’s different degrees chance. The reason of that is because the essence of the Kalachakra practice is genuine love and compassion. And then become limitless. Start from normal people’s very limited loving kindness and then become limitless. That is Kalachakra essence of the practice. Shambhala is the result of this, that’s why perfect of peace and harmony. Shambhala is perfection of peace and harmony. Why because of the result of the limitless loving kindness and compassion. And Kalachakra come from this Shambhala, the lineage established from Shambhala, that’s why Shambhala lineage, that’s why differences, even if you practice the same essence, from practice through this knowledge, through this transmission, through this lineage, you practice, even you practice same thing, but different lineage, is difference of degrees of chance.
43.48
{student: …if you go to Kalachakra empowerment and then practice with that, you can still go to Shambhala or you have to practice only in this lineage?}
Of course, there’s..the Kalachakra is the same, the Kalachakra is the same. You cannot have different Kalachakras. The lineage is almost same. Lineage is always like a tree. The root is the same, and then you have many many branches. And then sometimes become same, another lineage becomes same, and then again differences. So the Dalai Lama’s lineage and my lineage is the same. So joined, root joined same, then we go away and then its again connect from Dalai Lama to me and again same. Everything is just like that. The only difference is this Gelukpa and any others, they don’t provide further practice. They just don’t focus, that’s the only difference. They do empowerments, they do the ceremony, but don’t do much after that.
And no one is doing really. Only Jonangpa do for monks. They doing for the monks, but not lay- people, no foreign people. Nothing, zero. That is my focus, for lay-people, for foreign, anybody, my wish I can transmit to all the major languages in the world. That is my book, on the Kalachakra Path.
My hope is everybody focus, many people, not only me, everybody help to focus and everybody have this knowledge and they not lost opportunity. And everybody practice. That’s my hope. But until now, is not many people providing anything. Very little. Just people perform ceremony, but then do nothing. No follow up.
46.03
Maybe I tell this, this is good time to tell. I have plan. I have plan, all my books, translate to major languages. I make international sangha everywhere. So everybody is doing same practice, same book, same format. So they become like Shambhala. Similar, semi-Shambhala, everybody of one family. Then I want, what I want to do, is give this opportunity for lay community to practice what the monks and yogis what they are doing, in the monastery. Centuries and centuries, they only keep for the monks. I think that now is time to for everybody. That is why I dedicating ten, fifteen, future maybe twenty books, so that’s what I want to provide.
That’s why, even this time, then I want to go to Tibet. I want to create meditation centre. Even in Tibet and the West, everywhere, in every continent if possible. Then, people go to Tibet for instance, but there are huge monasteries, they have huge fancy halls and statues and everything, you can…generous people helping them. But there is no accommodation city people can stand. And there is no transmission, and program to study and practice for foreign language. Not exist. So I want to establish this. That’s my aspiration.
So this time, in April, I booked talks in Australia, I applied to visa, I got a visa and I cancelled them, and I go and look for some land. But the land is for purpose for this. Why? Because no one is doing. So I want to do this. I want to do this dedication for lay people. Because sometimes, lay people is more sincere. Why? You know. Because, Dzamthang, that building this mandala, 636 inside statue, 60 meter high, and you go walk everything, so that is the future. And my prediction is in the future, people go there, many, many people go there as tourist. And look, “ooooh and imagine” and then go away. I want to take the sangha there, and tell them “this is this. This deity is your body in here this channel. This is related with this star and universe. This if you practice this, then this happen and become like this.” Then you go back to quiet place and you practice. That’s my aspiration.
Also, there is you know like, monks, very good monks, they meditate many years themselves, the six yogas of Kalachakra. And they stay in very small cooties, some twenty years, some thirty years, they meditating their entire lives. I want to integrate with them. Not just them, stay like hermit. International sangha connect with them. How do you connect with them? We have to have accommodation there, comfortable, so they can stay there. And then you can invite them, beg them please come. Meditate with us. I do that.
The real practitioners, nobody see them usually. It’s disconnected with this world. Nobody receive the blessings from them. I want to make that connection. That’s one of my aspirations. Nobody knows, even you go there as tourists and you look at fancy buildings, stupas and everything, but you don’t see them. It’s real practitioners you never see them, because nobody recognise, nobody notice nothing. Because they are not showing off.
50.26
Yeah. So now, I’m going to talk about what is Rimé, related to Shambhala. Start from “rimé”…what does mean “rimé”? Think of the opposite of rimé, which means not opened, not open your heart, not open your eyes. Very closed personality. Yeah? Very closed mind. Don’t explore, don’t explore other possibilities, not tolerate other people’s culture, other people’s personality. Not coping with other people’s personality. You just only want one way, fixed and you think very narrow and you not open. Not open eyes, not open heart. That is opposite rime.
In that way, not just thinking of religion or spiritual path. Or just for living, just for life, is not good way to live. Is make you weak. You living your weakness, not you building your strength. For instance, let’s say you studying school, university. You research many people, different cultures. Let’s say your university have many different races and different cultures. If you can mix up everybody and you know very well their culture, you know very well their personality, their mentality, it actually building your own strength, building your capacity. So when you finish your study, and you do job, you have much more capacity. But if you locked yourself, only your something you comfortable, like with your culture, some of well…if you’re Chinese, you go with a few Chinese and never experience other people, other mentality and culture. Even the food sometimes. Some people open to try any food. Some people “Oooh, no, no, no.” Just one food. So that means you not expanding yourself, basically. It’s not good for you. I’m not talking about the spiritual path, I’m talking about just normal living point. That’s one, openness.
53.08
The other thing, kindness, you know like kindness, nice personality, family, kind to anybody, anything you can help, that kind of person. Actually, when we think “kind to the people”, we thinking “Just for others, not for me”, but actually you doing for others, same time you building huge strength for yourself. Even if you think externally you know like, if you are incredible friendly person, kind and helpful, positive kind of person, how many easy to develop friends. If you have friends, how many chance you have connection for future. If you are the opposite, what is the advantage? Nothing. You weaken yourself, you locking yourself.
Similarly, if I look at the history of Tibet, there is periods of time and they are non-sectarian times and then periods of time they become sectarian between traditions. So the period of times when they are non-sectarian, that time there spiritual development, that spiritual attainments is incredible, unbelievable. When they become sectarian, then say “Oh!” for instance, let’s say when Sakyapa rules, you know when you sectarian means you become more worldly. Sectarian you are bias, “oh this is our tradition. We are superior. We have to control other people.” So become you are more worldly, more sectarian and then you become more political. Political is about samsara. You become politic and you become like this, Sakyapa rule Tibet in previous time, the Kagyupa ruled previous time and then Gelukpa ruled. This time, sectarian times. That time less, basically. Looks like huge, everything fantastic, fancy outside, but inner development much less.
This effecting in the modern time, modern time, okay foreigners, foreigners coming to Tibet and buddhism practicing, but if you have this kind of sectarian, “oh what is your lineage. What is your tradition?” You make very big boundaries between, and you not open each other, is actually the opposite rimé. It’s very bad. You lessen your capacity. You not open your eyes, you not open your heart. Which means you make yourself smaller. And tense, rigid and neurosis basically. So rimé is the opposite of that.
Everything is about you have big vision or narrow minded, open heart or closed heart. That’s the difference. So it is same as Tibetan tradition have sectarianism and fighting with political, worldly mixing, same as every religion, has these things happen. We know. Everywhere. That time and the consequences always bad. Always there is open, openness and genuineness and sincerity, and always the community wherever is nice, is semi-shambhala. It is the person who has inner developments is faster.
Rimé is not a tradition. It is a philosophy or approach, or viewpoint say “It is not I’m good, my tradition is good. My religion is good. My philosophy good, the other no good.” It is not like that. It is saying all have good and bad. All different degrees. Also individual understanding, individual suitability and in general suitability. That is rimé.
57.30
Some people think that rimé is like mix everything. You have to have equal everything. You think everything is equal. No, you don’t have to. Why? Just think, its the same as medicine. “Okay, is medicine good?” In general, you have to say medicine is good. You can’t say medicine is very bad as poison. You have to say is good, poison is no good. In general. But for individually, you cannot say, this is…you know somebody’s poison maybe is medicine. Somebody’s medicine is maybe poison for somebody. You understand these two angles, then you are rimé. That is the viewpoint. You have to understand these two angles and that is rimé view. When you understand this, then you can the behaviour, you know the behaviour, you can, you need to develop a few things.
First openness, you prepare open, you prepare anything you open. Anything you hear, anything to experience. You don’t expect is perfect. You don’t expect what you like, but you prepare for the hear you don’t like. Or you prepare, you can experience what you don’t like. You know, it’s difficult, or anything, you just prepare yourself. That’s number one state.
When you hear as nonsense, or is ridiculous experience is anything from other people, you just have to tolerate, the second state. You just tolerate, say “Ok. It is okay for a while. It’s temporary. That’s okay.” Maybe if it’s really ridiculous and it’s really nonsense, you will not put up this forever, you not waste your life with this, but it’s okay for now, for a while, I can tolerate. Which means training myself. I’m building my strength. Think of that, that’s second step.
But that is I’m talking about the worst scenario. It’s often not that happened. Often, anything you open and you willing to taste, always you learn something from, something good, something, many things, good things happen unexpectedly. Especially come to the spiritual path and this spiritual path is kind of like foreign for you, and many forms of sellings, you don’t know which one is really authentic. You don’t really know which one is the best. Someone say, “Oh this is the best!” So you have, you need this a lot to explore many things. And you have to try to experience. Not closed.
But that doesn’t mean you have to do this forever. You know. But if you do this, and at least you learn something, each time. And you have something to compare, if you have something compare, then you have two good things. One is there is more chance you won’t forget what the more suitable for you and you appreciate that because you explore the others and so you know that this is the best for me, so you appreciate. If you no experience, nothing, then you don’t know, you don’t really appreciate, you know like, “oh somebody told me to do this, so I’m doing.” It’s just like a doormat, doormat. There is no room to develop your confidence.
1.01.25
Rimé is more like view, is unpartial, unbiased. You are open, that’s why you doing these things. You not fixed on one thing. That’s why it’s rimé. That’s view, that why your behaviour also more tolerant and open. But you don’t have to do this forever. This is for steps. Steps to the truth. There’s many spiritual paths everywhere. These all paths for individuals suitability, but also degrees of truth. So if you do that way, you find the most the truth finally. But if you locked from the beginning, but then you lock yourself. Just think of locking in your room yourself, or you have explore everywhere. What is better in normal life? Same thing.
Easy way, what I did traditionally, “You belong this monastery. They say you got some blessing cord from this monastery. So you small boy, you belong this monastery. Okay, I stay at this monastery, I’m meant to be monk, I don’t know if I really want to be monk or not. But it is traditionally that, then you stick with monastery entire your life.” That’s it, like marriage. So that is traditionally, normal way.
I didn’t do that. Firstly, I didn’t monk until late teenage. Then after, I went monastery, while I stay in monastery, they not full time that time, busy. Few months they have some activities, then the other months they don’t have. So I went another monastery. I went this way, many, many monasteries and I learn from everyone. This was good for me. When I stay Gelukpa monastery, they criticise Nyingmapas. They only know Nyingmapas weakness, but they don’t know the strength. When I Nyingma monastery, they only know weakness of Gelukpa, they don’t know the strength. So I always have to be, if I’m Geluk monastery, I have to be on behalf of Nyingma. I have to argue them and so when I Nyingma, I have to be on behalf on Gelukpa and have to argue them. For me, it was good for learning. I learn all of these things, but finally, do I have to mix these all together? I don’t need mix. I find, finally I find the Kalachakra Path is the most precious and that’s why I stick with this. So that’s simply yeah?
1.04.32
That’s why I went nearly twenty countries now, I went in short time. I came to Australia in end of 2003. Then I learn English, then I try to write these books and twelve years I didn’t go anywhere. I just locked in one place, because I can’t speak, I don’t know anybody. So where I go? I just focus this, this, this and then, my English learn same time to writing book. Can you believe that. That means, one copy have to go through fifty times or hundred times, again and again. When I develop a little bit English, then I realise oh mistakes. Then I realise more English and I realise more mistakes. Go so much through this. I become old.
After these books, I travel now almost twenty countries I travel, I see everywhere these sectarian problem. Not rimé problem. Everywhere. I see this disease of Tibet, transmitted in Tibetan Buddhism everywhere. It is a little bit harsh to say, but it is. I want to teach everybody not do this. It’s not good for you. It’s not good for anybody. You know, you basically you, something samsaric pattern you developing in the Dharma. It’s not good. It’s slows your spiritual path. So that is why I can see this? Because I know this, I experience this in Tibet. And now I experience this in wherever, doesn’t matter east and west, everywhere. I think western people are little bit open. Because, yeah, but still there is disease. The disease is everywhere. That disease you have to be careful.
If you meet this disease, then no chance for Shambhala. Why? Because Shambhala is perfection of peace and harmony realm. Harmony and sectarian there is no relationship. Non-sectarian and harmony is relation, related.
1.07.11
One thing I forgot, maybe tell you, very clearly, that rimé, first you open and you explore and you taste everything. Through this, the purpose doing this is you find something the most suitable for you. And you develop confidence with this. You don’t need to search anymore and you don’t need search anymore means you can really focus on this. It’s same thing in your life, you dating many, many….let’s say you dating many, many people, its good to explore. But then finally you find your partner, the most really you love, love eachother. You love is not enough. Love each other, that’s the problem. Love eachother, genuinely, even is old and you love, that’s okay in the worldly sense, that’s okay. Which means very loyalty and really feel, I really feel a part of each other. Then you trust 100% and you have really confidence no cheating, right? Then you settle down. Now you should not look anyone. You not distracted. It’s similar. You need to explore a little bit, but the purpose of explore is you find suitable spiritual path, so you have confidence. So you can focus, so you can achieve. You can have developments. That’s the purpose. Not searching forever.
But from the beginning, you have open. Otherwise, unstable. You think, you know usually people say, “This is my tradition. This is my root lama, or something. This is my root lama, my teacher.” You have to think of why? What is the reason? You just did some ceremony? Or someone gave you some card? Is it really is? You cannot be anybody else? Or why it have to be this person or they have to be this lineage? Did you explore? You have to think, “Is this really?” Who is, which one is your real practice, which one is really your spiritual master. You have to connect with your heart. Not kind of obligation. Obligation is good if you serve the duty, better than not subdued is better, this cannot identify your spiritual connection. Have to be from your heart. Have to have confidence.
Remember, I said, degrees of truth. All different spiritual systems, let’s say “Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism.” Yeah, whatever you say these things, nothing is black and white. Everything have degrees of truth. Think of Shambhala back. Shambhala, for instance, Shambhala, from the beginning, even in Shambhala have many religions. Many spiritual systems, there is not the same everyone. But the Bodhisattvas, tenth level Bodhisattvas, the Dharma Kings, they know all religions is not perfect. But it’s okay, better than no. They know that. Degrees of truth. Also they understood, if Kalachakra Tantra is introduced to Shambhala, that will be the perfect. That’s why they slowly slowly develop and he can request finally to request to Buddha to teach Kalachakra Tantra.
Kalachakra Tantra actually taught for Shambhala, not for us from the beginning. Not only this, he can convince 4 and half million, no..can’t remember…many, many sages he convince go to teaching, and Buddha taught Kalachakra. And then come back, took seven hundred years approximately to establish very well Kalachakra Tantra in the capital of Shambhala. It’s not straightforward, very quickly. And then later, he convince more and more leaders, more intelligent people understand, convince to Kalachakra. Then slowly, finally, before I said, the whole nation become Kalachakra practitioner. But they took a lot of effort.
Why? Because all spiritual paths good but the final, the ultimate truth only contained in the Kalachakra Tantra. That’s why they did. So we are not perfect like Shambhala, but we have to do similar way.
1.12.17
Okay so, yeah we explore more other nights and then if you not miss all of them, then you understand finally everything. So today, maybe we have to stop here and if you have questions I can answer you. What is the topic tomorrow, remember?
{students: How Kalachakra makes all practice and commitments easy}
Oh yeah, okay is commitments easy usually? There is often, I encounter problem with people, two extremes: one they say, “I not go teachings and empowerments, because there is commitments. I don’t want, I can’t take commitments. It’s too much.” That’s one extreme. The other extreme, “I go everything, no commitments, nothing, zero.” That’s another extreme. I want to teach both is wrong. There is middle way. That’s I’m going to teach. The middle way makes easier, and Kalachakra Tantra makes easier. Why? Because Kalachakra Tantra is King of Tantra. If King said, “It’s okay you do this.” Nobody saying no, still you have no problem. It’s similar.
The extreme, when we say people say, “I don’t want commitments, but I want blessing.” That means I do nothing…I no work..but I want income. The other one say, “I don’t want to go, because I can’t take commitments.” That’s worse. Why? Because you thinking is like samsaric trouble. Some company or some business trick you something you signed, there is big benefit and then you get trouble later. You thinking that way. Spiritual path is never ever be like that. Because it comes from the great kindness and compassion of those Buddhas. It cannot be like that, you get this one deity, instead advantage, no never. Even if you break vow, even if you break vows is far billion times better than you never took. That’s I’m going to talk details.
1.14.51
{student: My friend told me that he learned it, then he practice four hours a day for three years, is it the practice time so long?}
There is many things. Firstly, we have to think of twenty-four hours, how much I am doing samsara and how much I am doing enlightenment. Yes? Then you compare, is that longer or shorter? That’s one thing.
More important, in my doing, I don’t know what I’m doing really, or do I making any progress? That always have to focus. Time is only guideline. I present everything, like time takes to chant the sadhana, the commentary, everything is a guideline. Everything is a tool, but the purpose of the tool is you achieve something. You done something. And done something, the purpose of done is benefits. You always look at what the benefits. What is making the transformation? You have to think of that, not just fixing on the time. That make sense?
These things very very people fixed, so many long habit. So my job, I consider, I fixing these things. Since in Bodhgaya, since everywhere actually, two years I’m fixing these things. People who have long habit, this way fixed and this way fixed. They confused. Sometimes people confused, but sometimes people don’t even know they are confused.
Basically I’m saying, no matter how little time you are using for enlightened path, is not “oh that’s so little and forget about it, give up.” It’s not that. It’s meaning is don’t have unrealistic expectation. You just aware of how much time you focusing you doing and so you cannot expect a huge result. Still better than not doing. That’s I’m saying you know.
But the people’s idea usually, practice means sadhana. This sadhana I do four hours or this three hours or two hours or whatever, they think that. My approach not that. Yes if you have commitments of some hours that is quite good. But using different things, you can practice sadhana yes a few hours. But also you can read commentary and you can contemplate. Or you do, many forms as possible. Many forms as practice, as possible. And do you with your mood which one is suitable today for me. Your mood, your emotion, your energy, you know. If too tired, then maybe just listen is better. If not too tired, then read and contemplate. Or, meditate. If perfect energy, then meditate. So you have to have many methods and many ways of practice. Not just one way, boring, fixed all the time.
{translator: Can I summarise by saying you should bring rimé into your practice? Open mind…}
Yes, yes.
1.18.30
