Telo Tulku Rinpoche |
Telo Tulku Rinpoche
Sanctuary, The Circle, Old Union, 3rd Floor |
Telo Tulku Rinpoche |
| Preface: On February 26, I received an email from Stanford Center for Buddhist Studies on Venerable Telo Tulku Rinpoche's lecture on "Buddhism Post-Soviet Union" at Stanford Humanities Center (Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6 pm) and lecture on "The Power of Compassion" at Stanford Old Union (Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:30 pm) with Guided Meditation at 6:45 pm. I didn't know that Telo was born in Philadelphia and is the reincarnated saint Tilopa (988-1069). Tilopa had Naropa (1016-1100) as his disciple and received radiant light from Nagarjuna (150-250). After reading about Telo's background in the Philadelphia City Paper (7-22-2004), New York Times (6-12-2004), and a 1994 film The Trials of Telo Rinpoche, I was excited in seeing Telo at Stanford's Old Union on his guided meditation and talk on "The Power of Compassion". Two of my friends and I left Foothill College Middlefield Computer Lab at 6:30 pm and got to Stanford at 7 pm. I didn't take notes of Telo's guided meditation which he conducted sitting on the floor with eyes open telling us to reflect on any negativities we experienced today, yesterday, or last week. In doing so, we learn what events upset our mind so we could remedy it. After a ten minutes break, Telo gave his talk on "The Power of Compassion" behind the podium of Ho Center for Buddhist Studies at Stanford and the Zen Circle logo. I noticed that there's a Tao Circle of a serpent swallowing its tail (Ouroborus) above the room, and look a photo during Telo's meditation and lecture. Below are my notes on Telo's talk to share with Buddhist students and those who wish to practice compassion. Underlined links and items in parenthesis are my additions. |
Telo Tulku Rinpoche: "The Power of Compassion"
I have an announcement to make. I'm going to run for President of America. Not in this life, but the next life (audience laughter).
There are six paramitas—
generosity (dana),
discipline (sila),
patience (kshanti),
effort (virya),
concentration (dhyana),
wisdom (prajna). Wisdom does not come
without the first five perfections. The Dalai Lama has
three major commitments in life—
1) to promote human values (compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, patience, and self-discipline);
2) to promote religious harmony and understanding; 3) to support Tibetans in their struggle
for freedom and justice. We have to put effort in our studies. Then we can turn these five paramitas
to wisdom. We need to apply the six perfections in any field of our daily life. When you're watching
a basketball game, you shout out to the players "Pass the ball. Shoot two points, three points.
Block that shot!" It's easy when you critique those playing sitting and watching the game on TV.
But if you're on the floor playing, it's entirely a different matter. Playing basketball is
really spiritual practice.
Q & A Session: Q: I have some unresolved childhood conflicts. I'm angry at my parents. How to heal it? A: How to deal with guilt and regrets. I could relate to that. I wanted to be a monk when I was 5 years old. My parents sent me three continents away to India when I was 7 years old. I was very rebellious as a teenager. I was angry at my parents and angry at the monastery. When I returned to the States [1994] and saw my cousins dressed in colorful clothing, I was envious. I had to wear the same orange monkish robe. My family was not rich, nor was it a poor one. I didn't feel that my parents loved me. I was angry at the monastic life, and renounced monkhood [and got married in 1995 at age 23]. I moved to Colorado from Philadelphia to be far away from my parents. They both had diabetes and wanted me to live close to them. I told them "You didn't look after me, why should I look after you." But I realized that I wasn't practising forgiveness and compassion to my parents. I had to give them a chance and be able to listen, to have a dialogue. I had to communicate with my mother. I told my Mom "Come to Colorado. I'll take care of you." She passed away a week later. I didn't bear hatred for my parents anymore. We bring peace not by gun point but through dialogue. Subdue your anger and negativities. Control your emotions and ego. If someone throw a punch at you, and you throw punches back, you may lose a few teeth. Now you can't eat spare ribs anymore because of the fight. It's best to communicate and express yourself to others. Your parents tried, but you may not see it. I hope this answeres your question. Q: Could you talk about Tilopa? [Dalai Lama saw Telo as reincarnation of Tibetan saint Tilopa (988-1069)] A: Next question! Q: Say something about what we should cherish? A: Cherishing and nourishing a flower. I like roses, but I select a rose to cherish and nourish. Do you cherish your physical appearance or your mental appearance. We judge a woman based on their external appearance. You see a beautiful woman and you want to take her to dinner. She may be the most beautiful, but it may not work out. Whatever you love, you have to cherish it and then nourish it. You have to dust the furniture to keep it clean. Q: Say something about Tilopa? A: Tilopa decides to be born in Philadelphia [Telo aka Erdne Ombadykow was born 10-27-1972 in Philadelphia]. I'm supposed to be the reincarnation of Tilopa. If we don't study the teachings of the sages such as Tilopa and Naropa, they won't help us. We praise sages because of their teachings. Look at Buddha as a doctor. The teachings Buddha gave are medicine. The Sangha are nurses. Nurses give you the medicine. Look at Jesus as a doctor. Q: What do you communicate? A: In monastic tradition, we debate to find the right answer. We need to compromise. If the answer they give didn't satisfy you, it may not have satisfied them either. Let's talk about it at dinner. Express yourself backwards in a compassionate way. Say "The explanation you gave didn't satisfy me." Then they'll find a better answer next time. Q: Is there such a thing as too much attachment to compassion? A: Very good question. I don't know. If someone is overly compassionate, what does it affect negatively? I don't see anything wrong with it. I've come across people who are generously compassionate. [Q & A ended at 9 pm]
********************************************************************************************** Web Sites on Telo Tulku Rinpoche
Wikipedia: Erdne Ombadykow 
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