2020

Message at the Conclusion of the 2020 Live-streamed Vajrakilaya Retreat
Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche checked in on the live-streamed Vajrakilaya retreat sessions almost every day and was delighted by the fact that so many students can join together in one mandala on the computer, as he puts it, “without having to show your corpses to each other.” For the conclusion of the practice, he sent this short message, which he gave in his unique English.
Message at the Conclusion of the 2020 Live-streamed Vajrakilaya Retreat

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Habits: Our Best Friends or Biggest Enemies
You think you are free? Everybody thinks, “I am a person with freedom!” Are you sure? You are under the thumb of your habit. Your habit makes all your obstacles. Your habit makes the handcuffs to keep you in samsara. Who’s gonna call that free?
Habits: Our Best Friends or Biggest Enemies

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If You Think You Can’t Practice The Right Way
Sometimes students say, “I can’t do the practice! It’s so difficult! I try to go straight, but then I always go the wrong way! I can’t practice nicely!” So what? Just practice! Only buddhas practice really nicely.
If You Think You Can’t Practice The Right Way

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Practicing Vajrasattva: On Facing the Future, Supports for Practice, and Complaining
We have problems naturally! Right now we are alive—that means our natural problem is that we will get sick, we will get old, and then we will die. Nobody needs to come do it to us, either; no enemy needs to come and kill you particularly—we just make it ourselves, through our karma, through our situation. Our situation is we were born and, therefore, we are going to die.
Practicing Vajrasattva: On Facing the Future, Supports for Practice, and Complaining

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If You Have a Body, You Need to Practice!
If you have a body, that means you need to practice! If you have a body, it means you were born. It means you already faced birth. Even if right now your body is okay, every day you are getting older. You still have old age, sickness, and death to face. Because we are facing those, we need to practice!
If You Have a Body, You Need to Practice!

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Of Course Pretending! Just Do the Practice!
Please tell everyone to practice. Doesn’t matter if it’s long or short. Try. Really practice and pray from your heart. Sincerely! That ‘sincere’ is the most important!
Of Course Pretending! Just Do the Practice!

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Happy Losar (Tibetan New Year)!
What does ‘losar’ mean? You are alive! You connect to buddha, dharma, and sangha! Outer, inner, and secret, all the layers. Sutra and tantra, both. That is your losar!
Happy Losar (Tibetan New Year)!

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“The Poor Rich” of Worldly Business and The Dharma Riches of Practice
Part 2 conclusion of heart advice to some senior students that Rinpoche asked to have shared with the general sangha.
“The Poor Rich” of Worldly Business and The Dharma Riches of Practice

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The Fresh Buddha: Practice What You Already Possess
Part 1 of heart advice to some senior students that Rinpoche asked to have shared with the general sangha.
The Fresh Buddha: Practice What You Already Possess

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Respect Your Time, Respect Each Other’s Time
In this teaching, Rinpoche says: “Don’t waste others’ time. You think your own time is precious. Others, equally! You think your own self is precious, your things are precious, your people are precious, your time is precious. Others are equally there! For them, they are precious, their things, their time, equally.”
Respect Your Time, Respect Each Other’s Time

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Dreams, Lies, and the Rotten Milk of Samsara
In this teaching, Rinpoche says: “Ordinary beings, we are nothing but lies. We lie to ourselves. We lie to each other. Look at yourself—do you know what you are?”
Dreams, Lies, and the Rotten Milk of Samsara

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Only The Dharma Is New: New Year 2020 Teaching
Rinpoche’s New Year message: “They say, ‘New Year.’ Actually it is the same, same. What is new? Why do we call it new? A new year means getting older, nothing new! Body absolutely has nothing new. Just older, older, and more complaining.”
Only The Dharma Is New: New Year 2020 Teaching