I think we can say that dharma is not something that you ‘do’ as such. Rather, it’s something that due to various causes and conditions happens or arises in our mind. It’s like how we experience a sudden change of mood and become sad. This change of mood, this ‘being sad’, is not something that […]
Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center, Teaching given to the Chinese students, 21 July 2019
What is dharma? Dharma is not something in the book that you read, nor is it something new that you need to learn and keep in mind. Anything that is not related to your mind is not dharma. So what is dharma? Dharma is everything that you see and experience right now, it is all […]
Teaching given to Chinese students at Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Center, Nepal, 14 August 2019
My constant and most important prayer is that I may be able to ignore myself and my own needs, and to always hold sentient beings at the centre of my heart – to keep others in mind and to forget about myself. When I’m seized by moments of mindfulness, I recite or bring to mind […]
The way we think is all important. Whichever way we usually think is the same manner of thinking that will be triggered when we encounter events, circumstances, etc. If our way of thinking is negative then what we encounter will feed that, whereas if we think positively all we encounter will further that way of […]
“Several people have advised me against scolding western dharma students, but I’m unable to give up on you so easily.” Drupon Khen Rinpoche to his students in Samye Ling Retreat Centre, Holy Isle, UK – 2011
Teaching to the retreat staff, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal, 20 July 2019
I wish that after many years of training a student in the dharma, from the outside they will appear unsophisticated, uneducated and maybe a little simple. On looking at them you wouldn’t get the impression that they were anything special; they would be humble and easy going. But inside they would be rich in learning […]
Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal, 9 May 2019
While I do sometimes worry what will become of me after I die, it doesn’t trouble me too badly. What worries me the most is wasting the time I have now, before I die. Each day is an opportunity, an opportunity that we can never retrieve if we let it go to waste. To not […]
9th One-Week Meditation Retreat, Hong Kong, June 2019
I honestly hope and aspire to one day be able to practise the greater vehicle, mahamudra, dzogchen and other secret mantra practices. But in this life, if I am able to have an authentic practice of the lower vehicle I would be absolutely delighted and think I am doing something amazing. Actually, it’s what I […]
I only fear two things, I am scared of my lamas because they have been so good to me. They have helped me with my way of thinking so that now I know I won’t be overwhelmed by the hardships of this life, even if I do hit hard times I do not dwell on […]
2nd UK Kagyu Monlam, Kagyu Samye Ling, Scotland, 13 June 2019
What is meant by the true dharma? It is a certain way of mind. It is not something outside of one. There are two areas of dharma: the dharma of scripture and the dharma of realisation. We can say that the methods found in the dharma that correct our way of thinking are the dharma […]
Namo Buddha Seminar, 16 April 2019
I know you all love your mahamudra and dzogchen, don’t you? There’s probably not one of you in this room who have not had an introduction to the nature of mind. So I have a question for you: Who introduced the nature of mind to you? Who introduced mahamudra to you? I’m sure immediately the […]
Teaching at Tara Rokpa Centre, Groot Marico, South Africa, 1st September 2017
Question: The belief in past and future life is intrinsic to being a Buddhist. I’m not looking for definitive proof, but the seed of doubt in my mind noticeably affects my practice. Please could you help me to destroy this doubt and deepen my motivation. Answer: Generally this is a difficult but also very essential […]
Excerpt from the weekend teaching in Kagyu Samye Ling, October 2018
A good student will appreciate and feel fortunate to have their faults pointed out by their lama, because they are trying to change and improve themselves. Since they are a good student they will know that their ultimate nature is good and pure, and that the faults are transient or incidental. So they will not […]
Discussion in a local Buddhist study group in Taipei, Taiwan, 24 October 2017
Student’s Question: How should we respond if some of our family members challenge our belief in Buddhism as being just blind faith? Rinpoche’s Answer: The way I think about it is, if our families say that our belief in Buddhism is just blind faith, they are right. I’d tell them they’re spot on and […]
An excerpt from Drupon Khen Rinpoche’s final day teaching on The Seven Commitments from Kongtrul Rinpoche’s Heart-Nectar Advice, given to the shedra students at Namo Buddha. 8th July 2018.
We should think constantly about where we are placing our efforts each day, and what good comes from it. Then we should think about what changes we might need to make. The dharma teachings given in the texts and oral instructions are there to help us change ourselves; this is the way we should think […]
