Listening also includes reading Buddhist books – for example, you could start working your way through the 23 totally inspirational works by Venerable Geshe-la. How about that for a meaningful and fool-proof life plan to acquire wealth?!
3. Listening to Dharma teachings is a weapon that destroys our enemy of confusion.
We need a sword of wisdom to cut through the never-ending hallucinations of samsara. One bit of advice I find useful: When reading or listening to stuff that I find confusing or provocative on the internet etc, when I am not sure who or what to believe, one thing I ask myself is, “What would Buddha believe?” We are Buddha’s followers, so follow him.
4. Listening to Dharma teachings is our best friend who will never deceive us and from whom we receive our best advice.
Time is short and it is easy to waste it. Unlike the greatest conspiracy theorist of them all – our own self-grasping mind – listening will only ever tell us things we need to know for greater happiness and freedom.
We might come to prefer hanging out with Dharma more than anything else. We will never feel lonely again with this friend around.
5. Listening to Dharma teachings is a relative and friend who remains loyal even when we are impoverished.
6. Listening to Dharma teachings is the supreme medicine that cures the disease of uncontrolled desire, anger, and ignorance.
Indirectly, listening also helps us overcome all physical diseases. It certainly helps us deal better with them.
7. Listening to Dharma teachings is a powerful opponent that destroys great faults.
8. Listening to Dharma teachings is the best treasure because it is the foundation of all fame and resources.
By listening, we create positive mental actions that are “hundreds of times more powerful than verbal and physical actions,” according to Venerable Geshe-la. These create the karmic causes for everything we could ever want.
9. Listening to Dharma teachings is the best gift through which we can benefit all living beings.
I think we’d all like to help as many people as we can, given the choice? Through listening to Dharma, we become a source of refuge and strength for others, and a good example of how to be happy and carefree. Eventually we become a Bodhisattva and then a Buddha, helping everyone every day.
10. Listening to Dharma teachings is the best method to make countless living beings happy.
Please memorize, contemplate the meaning again and again and then put it into practice day by day, month by month, year by year.
I will also pray for you and your families.
With much love,
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso”
Summer is winding down and we are about to enter our Fall scheduling – indeed, I don’t know if you’ve seen the forecast, but next Tuesday temperatures are set to plunge 50 degrees and it’s going to snow! (Only in Colorado!) Longer nights and colder days give us the perfect opportunity to cozy up to our local Buddhist TV station. Hopefully you’ve come to see that we try to provide something for everyone. (Help us out — tell your friends that too if you can. And fill in Alex’s Survey to give us valuable feedback.)
It’s a great idea to make a schedule that we can stick to – if you haven’t done so already, for example, how about joining in on Thursday nights?, where we will be taking a consistent in-depth look at Introduction to Buddhism, with the support and encouragement of fellow Sangha. More info: http://kmc-co-backup.local/buddhism-in-depth
Those of you who have been attending for a while, you might even think about joining our Teacher Training Program on Sundays! – for all the reasons listed above, our world could do with more Dharma teachers. Click here for more on the study programs of Modern Buddhism. https://kadampalife.org/2019/06/04/modern-buddhism-study-programs/
Last but not least, while the weather holds out we are holding LJ’s ‘Relax and Enjoy!” class in the yard at 1081 Marion Street from 5:00-6:00pm on Fridays! More info here: http://kmc-co-backup.local/fridaydropin
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about anything I’ve written here. I really look forward to our Fall together. Write me at rt@kmc-co-backup.local if there is anything I can help you with.
Much love and prayers,
Kadam Lucy