Question/Answer Session at Shandong University
November 11 afternoon, 2011
1. Question: I teach philosophy at Shandong University. Those study western philosophy are particularly interested in Buddhism. I am puzzled by one thing: For example, if I am on the road and run into someone who is in need of help, but I also have something very urgent to attend to. If I help him, this urgent matter will be delayed. If I do not want to have this matter delayed, I will not be able to help him. How should I do
Answer: This teacher has asked a very good question! In this situation, the key element lies in how significant your altruistic mind is.
When the life of someone else is in danger, and if your altruistic mind is very strong, then you would try everything to rescue him even if you have to hole up your own business. On the contrary, if a person”s altruistic mind is rather insignificant, he will hesitate with this and that concerns even when he actually does not have any urgent matters – he would not reach out and help.
Therefore, it is difficult to generalize on a proper decision. It depends on how much a person loves and cares for others.
Question: I have another confusion: there are way too many con artists nowadays. If a beggar asked me for money on the street, do I or do I not give him
Answer: While practicing generosity , Buddhism does not require that we must give without observing if the person is a fraud. Generally speaking, when we practice generosity we should ascertain with wisdom to see if the recipient is indeed poor. It is alright not to give if we run into a conman.
But some people are rather stingy, thus they assume all the poor folks are fraud. This is not very equitable. Basically it is not hard to tell if some beggars are fraud. If you really cannot tell, the decision should be based on if you have compassion at that time.
2. Question: I am a graduate student at the School of Life Science, Shandong University. My I ask Rinpoche how do we maintain the practice of Bodhichitta
Answer: There are many methods to practice Bodhichitta such as the practices of the intention and application aspects of Bodhicitta. There are also practicing methods such as considering others as equal to oneself, and exchanging oneself and others. The specifics are detailed in “Three Bases and Three Virtues” and “ The Words of My Perfect Teacher “.
Simply put, you may contemplate on this anywhere: May I offer my own happiness to all sentient beings, and may I bear the sufferings for them all.
Some feel this is too frightening. Would I be infected if other people have communicable diseases
In fact it is not like this, and you need not worry. Quite the contrary, you may gain inconceivable benefit with the great power of Bodhichitta.
Question: How do we find accurate direction in the path of life
Answer: We do not live only this life. It continues life after life. Therefore I suggest we all try to understand some principles in Buddhism, this will not harm you at all.
I myself have read “Tripitaka” and many books, both ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign. Through comparison, I find Buddhism indeed has an guiding effect in our life beyond imagination. As such, I believe it is the wisest to look for the path of life in Buddhism.
3. Question: I am a student specializing in Chinese Medicine at Shandong University. May I ask if I must give up myself in order to be altruistic
In that case, don”t I need to find my true self before giving myself up, just like a person must learn how to love himself before he can love other people
If so, how do I find the true self
Answer: It is entirely possible to follow the path of altruism to find the true self.
Grasping to a self is the source of all sufferings according to the…
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