“Many Tashi Delek to all Vajra Dharma brothers and sisters in Europe and Asia. I appreciate your sincere birthday wishes, but it is best not to celebrate it at a difficult time like this. I am sure you all have read and heard much important advice on Coronavirus from many great masters, politicians, doctors, government officials, spiritual leaders, and so on. So I do not intend to add more to the subject, but I would like to share some of my thoughts with each and every one of you.

Upon receiving your birthday wishes, it reminded me of my Guru’s instruction on impermanence. At the end of our three years long retreat, 25 of us received this teaching on impermanence from our Guru Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche. “Our life is as fragile as a bubble, it can burst any moment, once burst can never be reformed”.

Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche cried while giving this teaching, we all present there, we cried too. This shows that it is a profound teaching. We should always remember that with every second and every moment we are getting older and closer to death. This is nothing new, but we need to be aware of it since the time we are born. 

Our journey in this universe can end at any moment, so on occasion like one’s birthday, it is the perfect time to be reminded about it and contemplate the impermanence of all phenomena. Everything we are experiencing is subject to constant change, even the pandemic we are facing will fade away eventually. Our human life is constantly changing and finally, without exception, death will come. Our precious time and precious human body should not be wasted on non-virtuous acts like that of judging others, gossiping, jealousy, hatred, anger, greed, and selfishness. Instead, we should strongly observe, judge, and focus on our own behavior especially during this pandemic time.

I really appreciate all your well wishes and kind words for my long life.  This long life is only worth living if we are able to spend it on benefiting others and ourselves. There are numerous beings on this planet, but only we humans have the intellect to make our own decision to do good deeds instead of bad ones, unlike the animals and other beings. How we live our lives, is totally up to us. No external forces can determine our lives or work on our behalf. This should be very clear to all individuals. In this world, we share the responsibility for what is happening to each and every one of us, regardless of our race, color, caste, or place where we are living. That is why we should spend our time helping others, if not, then at least not harm, not to create disharmony or any conflict – mentally, physically, or verbally.  

I am sure each and every one of you remembers the teachings of your Guru, but if you are wondering what is the best practice to follow, it is definitely loving-kindness, compassion, and wisdom. This will help in achieving a healthy state of mind, body, and most important speech.

Now I want to share a few thoughts with my loving brothers and sisters from Sikkim. Many Tashi Delek to each and every one of you. I often contemplate how lucky and blessed we are to be born in Dakini Guru Rinpoche Hidden Holy Land (Kha Choe Guru Bayul Demojong). We are all well connected with this place because of good Karma. In our daily life, we seem to not remember that we are blessed with various holy caves and monasteries. The holy Kanchenjunga mountain, Kanchenjunga Deities, and Holy protector of Sikkim are blessed countless time by great masters, who had visited this holy land, like Bodhisattvas, Chenrezig, Tara, Vajrapani, 2nd Buddha Guru Rinpoche (at 8thcentury), his 25 disciples and many important Tertöns. 

This proves how special and precious our land is. We should not forget these facts, but instead should look after and appreciate that we live here, in this so blessed land, in Sikkim.

We, as an individual, have a great impact on our future in this holy land. If we are always blaming others for our problems and misfortune, and letting jealously and hatred to enter into our hearts, this will invite-only bad luck and misfortune to our land. Gossiping is so harmful too, as it can only bring conflict and destroy good merits. Therefore, as our time is limited, we should help to protect our holy land by creating positive and good energy among ourselves and cultivate good merits. We should grasp this wonderful opportunity and make it auspicious. 

In the future, we may not be lucky enough to be born again as a human, or let alone be reborn in this holy land. Nobody can guarantee this, so now it is time, that we should set a good example for generations to come. The future is in our own hands, not in the hands of any religious leader, politicians, or any other officials. We should help each other in such a way that even after we are gone, we are still remembered by others for good reasons. 

Often we call the name of Bhagwan because we know the story of their good deeds which they did for other sentient beings. They set a good example for us in their lifetime. We strongly believe in the law of cause and effect. Let me share an example when an eagle flies its shadow is seen, but when it soars higher the shadow disappears, eventually when it comes back to the ground the shadow is still there. Shadows, in reality, can never be separated from us, therefore if we do good we get good in return, but if we behave inappropriately that will also come back to us. 

Guru Rinpoche has said what we do the result is shown in this lifetime, there is no need to wait for the next life. Another example, if you plant a mango seed, we cannot expect apples, you reap what you sowed. Blaming and hating others will not solve any problems, but we should help and respect each other. With a negative mind, our focus is not clear. So please stay positive and create good relationships. Just like the moon’s reflection which is reflected clearly on still clear water, but on muddy water, the shadow is hardly visible.

Coronavirus has spread to many countries around the world. Thinking about it we get scared, but the doctors and nurses are working hard to help their patients.  They dedicate and sacrifice their time to these unknown patients, leaving their family, friends, and loved ones at home. The same goes for the volunteers, police officers, government officials. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for the great work done in the community. Our priority should be helping others, therefore helping others with a kind heart is a super religion. This does not need any philosophy. It is simple, yet very effective, we should pray and dedicate to them. In Sukhavati prayer, if we come across that when we see or hear someone doing virtuous deeds and we truly rejoice from our heart, we get the same good merits. 

My Guru once said: “You should do as many meaningful deeds, while you still can. Then when you die, you will have no regrets.”

It came out to be a long letter, I think this will be my birthday message to each one of you. Thank you all for the best wishes, many Tashi Delek.

 Best wishes.
Lovingly yours,
Sangter   

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