First off, of course, it was horrible to come home right after the Colorado shootings. My feeling about Americans as we encountered them all up and down the east coast was so positive and affirming that to have another of these shooting incidents happen was just inconceivable. Iris and I discussed our experiences of the people while we met them in the past two weeks because it was uniformly very very good. Everyone we approached or came into contact with was helpful, kind, thoughtful and responsive. Of course, there were one or two people who couldn't hold back their expressions when faced with a woman of a certain age who had a shaved head and wore odd clothing, but, still, even they were never even close to disrespectful or rude. Whether we needed help with directions or anything else, all the people we approached were at least friendly if not outright happy to take time for us. And suddenly within this same time, in the same country, one young man shoots 12 people he doesn't even know and injures many others.
There is no reasoning with that and there is no sense in it, but there is karma -- action, cause and result. And that action and its results will keep playing out until it's exhausted. How long that will take and how much suffering will be created for all sentient beings while it continues is simply tragic. Because we are so interconnected, all of us, when we do something harmful to ourselves or others, we harm all sentient beings. Not one of us is left out of that horror. And, conversely, when we do something beneficial for self and for others, no one is left out and all sentient beings reap some level of happiness rather than suffering. It's just like that somehow, and because of that every positive action any of us can possibly do has importance far beyond what we will may even know in this lifetime.
To have found so many many good solid caring people during this journey is extraordinarily affirming of what most of us in this country are about. And, to find Dharma practitioners who provide sacred sites for others to use for the accumulation of merit and wisdom is beyond any words I can muster. Here, then, are more photos of Kunzang Palyul Choling's Stupa Peace Park. May simply viewing of these sacred structures in these photos bring peace to any and all who suffer.
In Dharma,
LKC
Hi Lama,
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear you have your strength back. I find, as this body gets older, that I don't have the strength I used to have, especially after working long hours at the hospital. Someone said that as we get older the "lung" or central energy diminishes, but some people seem to have tremendous amount of energy, even if they are old. Lama Norlha is one of them. Thank goodness that there is some free time to rest this old bag of flesh and bones.
I'd like to say that this forum is becoming a place where we can stay connected, especially for those of us who do not live in Florida. It is interesting that you mention karma in your post. When I first came to the dharma, it was one of the things I learned that made perfect sense.Until then, some things were unexplainable, like senseless killings and murders, children getting raped, or born with debilitating physical defects. Children especially, I could not understand why this was happening to them. I do not see karma as a punishment, but as a ripening of past actions. If we plant a tomato plant, we will get tomatoes, not avocados. Similarly, our thoughts, speech and actions ripen into similar results. It's hard to accept, but Buddhism is all about growing up, not running away or blaming others for what happens to us.
Lama, I have a question about stupas. Are all stupas built the same way? What I mean is, when built, do they all have sacred substances placed inside like tsa tsas, relics of Buddhist masters etc. The reason I ask is that someone could build a stupa that is just the outer shell, but does not follow a specific blue print. If so, then it wouldn't be authentic I would think and it would not have the same "like" energy you mentioned in your first post. Is this a correct assumption?
Thanks for posting the pics and sharing your thoughts with us. The stupas in this park have an interesting arrangement. I will read more about it. Lama, I sent you an e-mail to kc@kagyu..., but I don't know if that is the right place to send it. If you could read it when you get a chance and let me know.
In dharma,
Chonyi Drolma