#14 INDIANA!

 

Being with the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington Indiana, and an hour with Geshe Kunga.    I didn't even realize that Mongolia is a free country; I had to look that up.  I wish it were the same for Tibet, but their practice is quite contiguous, and has a similar history with a few more secular takeovers, fortunately not culminating in Tibet's present day genocide. 

The fellow in the black and white was sort of the Dalai Lama of Mongolia, the Bodg Khan.  Currently, with Russia on one side and China on the other, it is fortunate that Mongolia can count over 50% of the population practicing what is primarily a Gelugpa form of Tibetan Buddhism.

On to today's teaching, which was from the 'Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun', a 15th century commentary on the Seven Point Mind Training of some 400 years prior.  To summarize the whole thing:  You can train your mind to help you be a good person.   

The session started with Om Tutare; the Green Tara chant, which helps heal beings, and, it was noted, is a good one to do in this time of Covid. 

Following that, Geshe said the following, which I'd like to express in bullet points: 

1. We can reset our mental attitudes, we can identify our negative attitudes and eliminate them. 
2. All of our happiness and suffering come from the mind.
3. Our mind is a container, full of precious things, like altrusim or trash, like self-centeredness. 
4. In Buddhist practice, we use Upaya (skillful means) and Vidya (wisdom) to take out the trash. 
5. Love is fine, but it is not ownership, we must not be self centered. 
6. Our existence requires self care but we must have equanimity (neither forceful or apathetic) to get our needs met. 
7. Do not let mind lead by attachment or desire.   Wisdom mind is cultivated, clear, and aware. 
8. Five more points:   Like a seed, we need INTENTION to clear the mind, we must TAKE ACTION to nourish body, speech and mind, and thing positively about self and others, have REMORSE for our negative actions, and to deal with setbacks, PRAY by asking for support from the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and become FAMILIAR with the mind's positive capabilities. 

Perhaps I have oversimplified the talk, but the message is quite plain.  It creates optimism in me to see this Buddhist culture survive, although there were only ten people on the zoom/facebook live.  

From the Dhammapadda: 

Mistaking the false for the true
And the true for the false,
You overlook the heart
And fill yourself with desire.

See the false as false,
The true as true
Look into your heart.
Follow your nature.