Question asked by Carolyn
Dear Teacher,
I have sorta 3 part questions which I hope you can help and I would like to listen to your views.
1) How to pracice Dharma correctly, especially when there are so many people issues around?
Is doing good deed practicing Dharma?
2) Buddhism is always talking about non attachment and letting go. When we make the wish to "Benefit and help all sentient beings attain enlightenment" Isn't this a form of attachment?
3) This question is a little longer. My mom believed she is being hexed. This was due to many many years aho where my dad offended a neighbor who lived below and above us. One day, my mom say the neighbor burning some green colored paper in offering. She believed from then on, that the neighbors are ganging up and hexing her. She visited a temple lately and shake the bamboo stick to get a reading and it further confirmed her believes. Even after moving house, the neighbor still ended up in the same block of flats right above us. Every time they pour water down, my mom believes she is being hexed. She chanted sutra everyday following a CD as she thinks it helps. My mom is now 72 and cannot break out of her thinking and I had only been introduced to you recently. I had also offered light to Guru Rinpoche for her. Is there anything else I can do for her? How can I help her?
Thank you for your guidance.
Dear Carolyn,
1. I have given a talk that answers exactly your first question a few weeks ago. Please listen to the talk. It addresses exactly why when things are difficult it inspires us to practice and deeper. Many of people’s questions have been answered in my videos, please take a look. I am sure it will help you:
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/i-was-so-happy-yesterday.html
2. Attachments lead to addition of selfish karma and adding to selfish mind. Selfish mind gets reinforced. Actions and aspirations that benefit others are not for the self and do not reinforce the selfish mind. Selfish mind creates causes for our negative karma and problems… So having a wish and aspiration to benefit others is not attachment. On the contrary, it begins to eliminate attachment to the wrong object-selfishness.
3. Invite a Setrap and have a roo over the door of the house. The main door. You yourself devote yourself to Setrap and the interferences if any will be dispelled for sure.
If your mother still insists, then you just quietly do your Setrap and don’t argue with her. Sometimes even after the wound is healed, there’s still psychological ‘damage’ or fears remain for a time.
I wish you luck and good blessings. TR