..續本文上一頁times this can also seem too tedious. In that case, one can do the extremely short practice of resting the mind in dharmata (chos-nyid in Tibetan, “suchness”), which refers to emptiness and means that the true nature of every appearance and experience in dharmadhatu, the vast expanse, always remains as such.

　　Disciples who practice chod in the West certainly wish to appease all enemies but often disturb their neighbours while trying, who become madder and madder the more one plays the instruments. In those less fortunate surroundings, one engages in the entire practice without using the drum, trumpet and bell. Another unfortunate situation can arise, described in the story I want to tell. Once an unkempt chod practitioner walked through India and found a right spot to practice. The wild-looking yogi saw a little boy who was crying and asked him, “What is the matter

　　” The little boy trembled at the sight of the longhaired yogi and wailed all the more. The yogi wanted to make the little boy happy by cracking a joke and teasingly said, “I”m going to eat you up.” Utterly terrified, the little boy ran home, screamed for his mother, who called the police. They found the man, searched through the dirty bag he had and found a skull cup. Yes, we need to be cautious.

　　Actually, there are so many reasons to rejoice, especially about the fact that one received the Dharma teachings and can practice, which is very good. Lord Buddha taught that we need to tame the own mind. The practice of chod enables us to become free of emotions and delusions, which means to tame the mind. This is why one practices Dharma, and it is very helpful. There are no rules and regulations that say one must be moderate and shy - one can practice Dharma as much as one wants. Anyone who is less proficient need not worry or feel badly. If university students flunk their exams, they are frustrated and feel that their studies were a waste. Dharma is different, because even the smallest practice is beneficial. We need to know this.

　　In Sutra it is said that hearing and practicing the Dharma is truly exceptional. But what about someone who is stopped from reaching the spot where the Dharma is being taught

　　 Lord Buddha was asked for his opinion about this. He answered that the intention leaves an extremely good impression in the mind of someone who is hindered from receiving instructions. That person will one day receive the teachings and attain full awakening. All the more reason for those who receive the teachings and learn to practice now to be really happy.

　　Questions & Answers

　　Question: Rinpoche said that one should not offer one”s body before having perfectly realized the motivation. The Western medical tradition is asking us to donate our organs when we die, but people who do not have the perfect motivation and are not aware of the implications involved will experience pain and regret when their organs are transplanted, at a time when the mind has not fully separated from the body.

　　Thrangu Rinpoche: I did not talk about actually giving away one”s body, organs or limbs while alive. In the Bodhicharyavatara, Noble Shantideva spoke about not giving away one”s bodily parts or organs while still alive and that such acts of generosity would cause much pain and regret to unenlightened beings. To clarify this statement, living dismembered, without a hand, for instance, is not really recommendable because handicapped people are usually not happy. So that would not really be good. Shantideva said that one should only be just as generous as the Buddha if and only if one is sure and certain that one will not regret it afterwards. Giving one”s organs away after one has died is really good because then one does realize that the body is of no use to …

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