Satisfied Buddhist - Domo Geshe Rinpoche

The Buddhadharma gives a huge number of religious offerings available, emphasizing one particular concept or another of the Buddhas teaching within different cultures. We can see that Christianity also has many sects and ways of looking at the teachings of Christ. Even in a small town,there are differing views of who Christ is based upon the tenets of a particular sect of Christianity.  Not long  ago, I went to a church basement rummage sale at a small town near us. The ladies of the church also prepared food for selling by donation. I thought, “Oh, this very fun. I'm going to get a sandwich and sit down with people to say hello and see what they are like.” Sitting down across from two elderly ladies I said, “Hello. Are you from this area?” They replied, “Yes, yes.” I asked, “Do you belong to this church?” “Oh my, no!” they whispered, looking around rather suspiciously. “We attend the church on the other side of town.” I felt like I had done something wrong by quizzing the...

We shouldn’t mistrust the world if we are in skillful harmony with society’s organization…. but with the additional requirement that we adapt that imposed structure into our own life by exercising personal values. Laws preventing us from carrying out each and every personal desire can limit the boundaries of personal freedom to do anything we want. That implies that there are certain levels of o ur idea of total freedom that we cannot explore. Of course, we can all agree that everyone should follow certain rules and there needs to be a balance between personal needs and the needs and freedoms of others. Therefore, we avoid impinging on the freedom of others by voluntarily limiting the full expression of our own freedom. Out of my modifying personal values mentioned earlier come my own choices, such as who I might vote for to represent me in political office or on a committee. Perhaps I will vote for someone who thinks like me and who also cares about the needs of others. On the othe...

The way the everyday mind works probably doesn’t give good grounding to help with end-of-life care at home for a family member: the medical aspects as well as watching for subtle signs to make them more comfortable. It is a very difficult job for a family member caregiver. Others who occasionally visit don’t know what is happening and due to anxiety often will overcompensate by complaining strong ly about the care of the patient that makes it hard on everyone. No one, (visitor and caregiver alike) looks forward to their visiting day. It seems as though an end of life caregiver must be like Solomon from the Bible, never making mistakes, always saying the right thing, and never running late, but it just doesn’t work that way, does it? If others are blaming due to their own unease, they will always find something to condemn. Let there be peace surrounding the person at end of life and deal with anxiety through meditation and prayer. ~ Domo Geshe Rinpoche ~~~ ************ “Die Funktionsw...