Into the Heart of Life by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Read Free Book Online Page A

Understanding. More and more we become present in the moment, here and now, instead of away in cloud cuckoo land.
    At the beginning we try to quiet down the tumult inside, become centered, and give ourselves some inner space so that our spiritual life and our daily life become the same thing. Outwardly, nothing has changed. But inwardly, everything has transformed.

Questions
    Q: If people close to you generate negative karma through their actions, can you do anything to lessen the negative karma that they create for themselves?
    JTP: The Buddha actually said that we are all heirs to our own karma. However, one could do purificatory practices and keep these people in mind. For example, if one was doing Vajrasattva meditation, imagine that Vajrasattva is on their heads and purifying them also, and dedicate the merit to them. In addition, one could do positive deeds, like rescuing animals, or giving to some worthy cause, or whatever else, and dedicate the merit to them. Beyond that, there is not much we can do.
    We are heirs to our own actions, and people are in that situation where they are creating their own karma. Perhaps the most we can do is give our own example. This will let them know that their conduct is not the way we think life should be led, and that what they are doing is not the kind of action of which we approve. Beyond that, what can one do? One cannot force anyone to do something if they don’t want to do it. We are not responsible in that sense for others. We are responsible to our children to set them a good example, but what they do with that is up to them. Likewise with our partners or anyone else—we cannot lead their life for them. We can try to set the example of what we believe to be the right thing to do, but beyond that, whether they follow it or don’t follow it, that’s their responsibility, that’s their choice. We do have a choice, and if they make the wrong choice then it’s not our fault. Perhaps you could leave a few interesting novels of a spiritual type around the place and hope they pick them up!
    People are going to do what they are going to do. All you can do from your side is to send them loving-kindness and compassion, do some purification on their behalf, and set a good example.
     
    Q: You talked about purification. I’m really interested in the karma that I keep producing.
    JTP: Are you a Buddhist of the Tibetan school? There are a number of purificatory practices in Tibetan Buddhism. For example, apart from Vajrasattva, there is the practice of Nyungné, which is a two-day fasting ritual based on the visualization of the thousand-armed Chenrezig, or Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. That’s very powerful for purification. But it would be difficult if you’ve never done it to perform it by yourself. So for that it would be good to organize a Nyungné gathering.
    The prostrations to the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas is another purificatory practice. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the reason we are in such a mess and haven’t realized ultimate reality yet is because of the heavy clouds of obscurations which are caused by our previous unwholesome karma. Therefore, the quickest thing to do about it is to clean up, and so there are a number of purificatory practices in order to get out the scouring brush and really get to work.
    Usually, the most we can do is take a little teaspoon, but these practices are more like those big plows—snow-plows—which kind of shovel all the garbage out. If we do these practices with real conviction and with heartfelt dedication, they work very quickly. Then the signs, such as dreams, appear that we are purifying a lot of past negative karma. But of course, the important thing is not to create any further negative karma in the present.
     
    Q: Can you be specific about abortion? For instance, if someone has had that in their past, and wants to purify that. How would you do that?
    JTP: In the Tibetan tradition, there are the four