Merigar East August 21, 2013
We are practitioners of Dzogchen and I always say that we have responsibility for all sentient beings. Not all of them are on the path and even though they have no relationship with the cause of liberation, we are on the path, and sooner or later we will have total realization. We have that responsibility to create benefit for all sentient beings.
You know how to use this method [for the cause of liberation] with different aspects like tagdrol [liberation through touch], thongdrol [liberation through seeing] etc., any different methods related with the function of our senses, to create benefits for sentient beings. I have already taught how to do that in a correct way so you should not think, “Oh, that is thödrol [liberation through hearing], which means that if I pronounce something, if I make that sound, it will make a good cause of liberation for everybody”. It doesn’t work that way. If you use this, there is a way of using it. You should be in the state of contemplation. If you have that possibility, that capacity, when you use this mantra, by being in that state, you can make a cause of liberation. If you do not have this capacity, there are other methods – you transform, just like Samantabhadra etc. – you learn this method and use this mantra.
There are also other things, for example nyongdrol [liberation through tasting], thongdrol, tagdrol, but you don’t just prepare a piece of paper and it works. This is only an object of preparation. You should empower it, related with your state of contemplation, and then you can do something for others. Many people think something like, “Ah, I want to make some very nice music for the Song of the Vajra and perform it publicly. I’m creating benefit for all sentient beings because they will hear it.” But it doesn’t work like that. You should be very careful and do these things in a correct way otherwise they have no benefit.
Evolution begins with us as practitioners
Then we should go in a more concrete way. We have good intention towards all sentient beings, and even though we cannot apply something gigantic for all sentient beings, in this moment we are human. We live on this globe. There are so many people. So it is very important that you know how the principle of the Dzogchen teaching is. Knowledge of Dzogchen teachings goes beyond limitations. Try to get into its real nature. I always say that we should develop evolution – that means developing my knowledge, not remaining in dualistic vision too much, not being conditioned by that. And developing my knowledge then that becomes a good example in this society.
Many people say that we need peace in this world. But how can we have peace in the world when everyone is limited and will not open up a little, always thinking of ‘me’ ‘we’ etc. Political parties are the same, countries are the same. If we need peace, we need evolution and evolution must develop in the condition of the individual, not revolution. We always have the idea that we want to change someone. This is called revolution, but it doesn’t work and it has no benefit.
Evolution means that one by one we know the principle of the Dzogchen teaching, we relax, we should do our best and work with people according to the circumstances. We know that limitation is negative, but relatively, if we do not apply limitations, we cannot live in this society. Everything is limited – this is our condition, our dualistic vision. We are not yet in the state of Samantabhadra and for that reason, we must be present.
We know that everything is limited but it is indispensable. I eat two or three times every day. This is also a limitation and I cannot go beyond that because I have my physical body and I should respect it. But I know that this is not really the main point. It is relative. For example, when I die I don’t need food. My consciousness continues but my body finishes in the cemetery.
We know that everything is relative. We cannot see ‘relative’ – “Now I am not going after limitations, I don’t want ‘relative’”. We should pay respect and work with ‘relative’. We must be very aware of it. This is related to the teaching.
Some people say, “Try to do evolution”. But nobody does evolution. People cannot understand what evolution is. But if you do practice, if you discover your real nature, knowing what the relative condition and the real condition is, then you can do it.
Some people have conflicts and think egoistically, “That person is creating problems for me, but I am innocent.” That is not true because Buddha said that everything is interdependent, so if you know that, it is not difficult to understand. If you have nothing to do with that person, why do you have problems? If you have a problem it means that there is a relationship. In this case you shouldn’t think that you want to make a revolution. You cannot convince another person at all. You can observe yourself and free your tensions. It is not difficult to discover your real nature, your condition. If you have this kind of problem and free your tensions, you feel much better. You are happy. If you develop your tensions more and more, you feel much heavier and are more charged up and confused.
The Dzogchen Community is the seed of evolution
It is very important that we pay respect. In general we pay respect to all dimensions. All sentient beings have their dimension, particularly human beings. And particularly people who are near us, we are practitioners together, we have the same knowledge, this is called Dzogchen Community.
Many people think that the Dzogchen Community is like any kind of dharma center, but it is not like that. Other kinds of dharma centers are more related to social conditions. In our society, if there must be some kind of group, the group makes money, carries out certain activities, and this is how it develops.
