Donna Quesada: That was lovely. It brings you beneath the stories that we tell ourselves in our mind.
be of benefit to all sentient beings personal peace is really the main cause of intra-personal peace
So, when you talk about “going into your true nature,” we are at peace, but the stories keep us circulating in a place that’s not real, you know… that’s kind of it’s own made-up thing…
Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche: Totally, yeah, it’s true. Yes, because that is made up. We believe we are sort of…we convince our selves it is true, that that’s the reality… that’s tangible, we’re convinced. And then that is appeared. When we look at the turnaround and then we look and we use our logic and our resources and everything, we look closely, like sometimes I joke, you know, today this content is to show us, Oh yes, this table or this cup is not really appeared the way it looked, using your naked eyes because they’re using microscopes like that, and, Oh that’s not really in the way you think.
So, therefore, when we look… that’s the truth. We think that this is solid but the microform, kind of, physically in that kind of view… that’s not solid, as it appears to our naked eyes. And therefore, when we look a little bit closer in any situation, they are like that and becoming a particle… becoming everything is a part and then, everything becomes unconditional.
We have freedom from understanding the reality of the nature of all things and that freedom is just that… not just a freedom from something… somebody gives a little bit, like you know, feel-good. And that freedom is from our own experiences and our own journey to find the truth, and that is, I think, very powerful, but not necessarily for anyone, but anyone who wants to try that kind of mental experience of things. How can we let go of things that we can’t understand, with the use of our intelligence, and how we’re discovering things. Then there’s, I think, a lot of potentials, and in order to serve humanity and individual communities in trouble… and that’s, I think, that’s what I really, truly believe…
Donna: Well, let me jump in and ask you about that. What about someone who’s watching and saying, “Oh, that’s fine in the confines of your own home for minor disturbances of every day, but you don’t understand… look at what’s going on in the world! How do we balance this individual awakening with our call to social action?” For example, look what’s going on in Ukraine! Or as you know all too well, what happened in Tibet. That’s something that always bothered me so much. How do we deal with these global challenges?
Lama Lakshey: Right. Therefore, in the two things I think we will look. One is, yes, we look into the world under wider situations, like for example, then we look within ourselves on what we can do. What we can contribute for better individuals or what can I do to support all the children in Ukraine, and to all the individual sufferings? What can I contribute? What can I do? And then, anything we can do on the real concern of all the humanity… and also, the brothers, sisters and the world. So, when we question What can we do?
The other thing is because when we can look, if I’m angry, if I’m upset, is that to give help to the situation, or not. If I’m mentally helping, for example, even I, physically, yes… I don’t have much potential ability to make changes for things, but it’s my mental attitude. I can think about them, I can do, If you’re like any believers… and do prayers for them. Otherwise, I offer some kind of mental wish for the best for them. And so, like that, and hold our own self to being peaceful. And when we say sometimes, “individual peace is the cause of inter-peace.” So like that, therefore, if one’s self is disturbed in the mind and too angry with the situation of what’s happening in the world, or in great fear of what’s happening in the world, it bring a lot of suspicion and anxiety. Those are… if we use human intelligence… not too helpful for ourselves, or for anyone, but with our mental wishes and compassion, we move with reality, within the common sense, then that’s is very helpful, very beneficial.
But with disturbing emotions, whatever we move is not a good move. That can be anyone and with that kind of productive emotion or compassionate emotion, that kind of emotional move is, no matter what person, then it is a good move. And so therefore, this is important when we think about that in any of our physical moves or mental moves. If it’s something very disturbing, then that is not a very good move, no matter what we think. And so, everyone at the end of the day, you’re some kind of religious or not religious, you’re some kind of believer, some sort of spiritual or not, but anyway, everyone is a human being and everyone wants to be happy. Everyone want to be healthy and everybody wants to have a good life.
So, therefore, when we see that and when we hold on to our anger or hatred or some sort of fear towards those, all these kinds of emotions are not so helpful for us. But we can be concerned about the situations and then look at our resources and what’s the best we can do, and how we can help. That’s in order to help others. And of course that’s very important that our mind is healthy and that we are physically healthy. You know, a healthy mind and healthy body, then we can do something for the benefit of others.
If our mind is full of distractions and not very healthy, then there is not so much we can do. And our mind is really interesting because almost like sometimes, like a driver for us. The mind is a driver, like we are almost like a car and the mind is driving us. Therefore, it is the driver. You need to know how to really have skills in order to self-drive, right? So, that kind of thing, and then I think anyone can think about it a little, and how can we benefit anyone…everyone?
Just like everyone is the truth, just like everyone’s like our own self. Even sometimes with our own self, there are certain things we cannot change. We cannot do anything, but the need to be living with our best. With that sometimes the doctors are discovering some symptoms or some disease and sickness all like that. And some people cannot change that… they have to live with that. But to live with that is something optimal, the best move and what you can do. And living with that depression and anxiety is not helpful. Living with that and some kind compassion, loving-kindness, and something productive, meaningful, and then, yes, maybe the doctor discovers you have a very major disease or symptoms, but that person’s not ready to talk about that… anxiety, depression… That person can be living with good optimal… So, that’s, I think, very much individual, our needs and wisdom.
Donna: I like that analogy of the car. How can we be of service to the world if we are just a bunch of angry screaming people on the front line?
Lama Lakshey: Right, right. There is a danger, right?
Donna: Yeah.
Lama Lakshey: Sometimes on the freeways, and some people even have very little traffic… are not patient. And the reason is because that person is very much self-focused and doesn’t realize that everybody is stuck on the road and feels like “I’m stuck in the road.” Then they’re honking and trying to go this and that way. And then in the end, they cause collisions and then damage others, damage oneself. But if you realize that everyone is on the road, there’s nothing that can be done and just be patient and enjoy, wishing for everyone to flow as the traffic gets better. Think about others not just think about oneself. Then while you’re stuck in traffic, we know that it’s very disturbing, you can be patient, you can be relaxed, you can enjoy the traffic. But if you don’t realize that, you think, “I,” in the situation and the traffic, and no one else knows what’s happening and that is a danger. Then that person has lost patience and that makes it so that they damage themselves and others’ lives, as well. So, therefore, yeah, it’s like we are drivers.
Donna: You talk about cherishing yourself in some of your teachings and I really love that. You know, there’s been a lot of talk in the self-help world about self-love. But this is not an egoic, not a selfish kind of self-love. When you talk about cherishing oneself, it’s about a healthy kind of self-care and it’s not so different than what we’re talking about. You know, taking care of our mind and taking care of ourselves, so that we can have the joy that’s available to us in this moment, even in the middle of traffic.
Lama Lakshey: Absolutely! In the Buddhist definition of becoming a Buddha, the real goal is to be of benefit to all sentient beings. But we don’t all have the same potential to be of service. We are limited.
So, like that, therefore, if we do not take care of ourselves, we are not good to take care of our physical and mental well-being, then we don’t have any opportunity to help, even if we want to. So, therefore, sometimes personal peace is really the main cause of intra-personal peace.
Because if we have good mental well-being and we know in our family and our community, everybody can get us good energy and be warm and cozy, the care will benefit everybody around. But even where mental disturbance, or another kind of conflicting emotions, even family members, even our pet, will not really interested in coming close to us! Everybody will be picking up that energy. So, therefore, our physical health, our mental health, is very important, in order that… not just a self-centered attitude, but to be of benefit to others, for the benefit of the community and the family, or friends, and of the world.
So, therefore, I need to be compassionate, be a good person, a very warm-hearted person, and that kind of cherishing of self… very important. And especially, very active people, and the people who influence are very positive in the world, their health is very important. So, I always pray for the good to the people, warm-hearted people, a long life. And they have remained very healthy and then a happy and a productive life, then they can influence other people and be better.
So, like that, that kind of self-focus is very important with the kind of understanding, our health is a healthy body, a healthy mind, to bring about benefits for others, our loved ones, our community, our pet, and our neighbors, and for the world. So, therefore, self-cherishing, self-development, virtues, to develop the self are very crucial, very crucial.
Donna: And in our last moments together, Lama Lakshey, what would you like to share with the world?
Lama Lakshey: Thank you, thank you for having me and giving me this opportunity. I really appreciate it, for I think in the world, and we are all at the end of our dear sentient beings. We all have feelings and we all, everyone, wants to be happy. No one in this global, in this planet, wants to suffer. That includes animals, including sentient beings. So, therefore, if possible, do not intentionally harm anyone. And whenever possible, be willing to benefit someone. Doesn’t matter if it’s little things.
Like… somebody, like worms that come out after the rain, and dry in the sand. If you, on the way we walk, if you see there is some worms drying in the sun, just bury them underground. It’s that simple. Because they don’t want to dry in the sun and they come from under the earth. That is simple. Like that… the kindness is very simple. And then there’s one homeless, too, on the street. If you have one cash, $1, it’s with kindness, with the unconditional wish to give with care.
And the older somebody is, there… and if you have the opportunity… smiling in their face with kindness. And then anything is possible. Always be willing to give happiness. And then try to not harm anyone because it doesn’t matter if they look small. Sometimes we are humans, bigger, stronger, more smart than many animals, and then we look down…they are little and they are “just animals.” But that’s not true. Because if there are aliens, someday they’ll show up in this world, and they are stronger mentally and physically, and they think, It’s just humans, and who cares? And then, we think physically we cannot do battle with them. Mentally, they are much more advanced. So then, we are really in a difficult situation, right? Then, sometimes I feel that animals, humans… when we treat an animal…
And so, that’s not only humans or anyone… just respect as much as we can. Everyone is equal. Everybody has a right to be happy, and everybody has a right to overcome their suffering. So, therefore, it doesn’t matter the color, the shape, the gender, and the tradition, the beliefs. Everyone has a right to overcome their suffering. Everyone has a right to achieve their happiness. So respect everyone as equal as much as we can. And that is my message that I wish for, and that’s my everyday prayer to everyone, to have the same right. And so, we respect everyone as equal, as much as we can.
Donna: I want to thank you for mentioning the animals. I’m a big animal lover, and it always baffled me when people would say, Oh, but humans are still suffering… as if one excludes the other! We don’t have to wait until everybody is saved to be kind to the animals because that doesn’t come at the expense of humans. It means we save what we can, what’s in front of us.
Lama Lakshey: Absolutely. Thank you, Donna. Thank you so much for the opportunity
Donna: Thank you, Lama Lakshey. It was just a pleasure and an honor to spend this time with you.
Lama Lakshey: Thank you.
Donna: Thank you so much. Bye Bye.
Read and Watch Part 1 Here: Awaken Interviews Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche Pt 1 – Happiness Comes From Contributing To The Wellbeing Of All Life
Read and Watch Part 2 Here: Awaken Interviews Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche Pt 2 – Drop The “I” For Mental Strength
