In February 2025, our Venerable Khen Rinpoche Kalsang Nyima gave the following precious and important teachings either before or after the evening pujas in the Wisdom Light Office of Hong Kong on Zoom:
| 1. | How to pray when visiting Bodhgaya | 16 February 2025 | |
| 2. | Reviving Buddhism in India | 26 February 2025 | |
| 3. | Benefits of practicing Dharma every day | 27 February 2025 | |
| 4. | How to get good luck | 28 February 2025 | |
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How to pray when visiting Bodhgaya
16 February 2025
Good evening.
I am now in the Mahabodhi Temple.
So, I will leave Bodhgaya for Varanasi at 3 a.m. tomorrow because I have to order eight stupas. These eight stupas will be made of stone, which will be the same as the stone stupas outside the Kagyu Monlam Pavilion. Therefore, I will need to discuss the making of the stupas.
On the day after tomorrow, I will need to go to another Indian village. I might be able to find some land there.
Afterwards, I will need to go to some holy places, including one which is called Kaushambi/ Kosambi, where there will be 500 Indians taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
I have been very busy during this Kagyu Monlam, and so I did not have enough time to join the pujas on Zoom.
But all of you are working hard for Dharma practice in the Wisdom Light Office. Thank you so much.
I am now going into the Mahabodhi Temple. Pray, think, wish, and visualize that you’ve arrived at Bodhgaya.
This is a Tara statue.
This is the Main Temple where there is a Buddha statue.
There are some special Tara statues inside this temple.
Focus on praying and visualizing yourself arriving in Bodhgaya. Practice like this.
So, I am about to reach the Bodhi Tree.
Here is the Bodhi Tree.
Buddha Shakyamuni reached enlightenment here under the Bodhi Tree. Pray that you may be able to do as the Buddha did at the beginning, generating bodhichitta.
May I be able to give teachings to all living beings as Buddha did after his enlightenment.
Pray strongly for these [wishes] now.
Here we have Buddha’s footprints, Buddhapada.
You can take a look at how many people in the world have come here to pray.
Please pray. Pray.
Here we have a Manjushri statue.
So many people are meditating here.
After Buddha Shakyamuni became enlightened, he walked here, and each of his steps gave rise to a lotus flower. So, people always offer some nice flowers here. How wonderful it is!
Many people are now in front of the Main Temple. You have got a very good blessing too.
Okay, thank you.
This teaching was given by Venerable Khen Rinpoche Kalsang Nyima on Zoom in the middle of the Chod puja that was held in the Wisdom Light Office of Hong Kong on 16 February 2025.
Reviving Buddhism in India
26 February 2025
Khen Rinpoche near the Ashoka pillar at Kaushambi
Khen Rinpoche poses in front of the pillar erected by King Ashoka in Kaushambi
Hello! Good evening, everybody!
So, after the Kagyu Monlam, I went to Varanasi to meet a person [here] to order the stupas.
Maybe you have seen the stupas near the Kagyu Monlam Pavilion. Those stupas are made of stone. So, similar to those stupas, we will make eight stupas.
So, a stupa will cost 300.000 Indian rupees. After a stupa is made, it will need to be sent by car from Varanasi to Sikkim.
People there said it will take them some months to make the stupas and maybe they can finish the work by late October.
After going to Varanasi, I went to many places in different villages in India. Most of the Buddhists there requested that some Buddhadharma schools be built for young children and some monasteries for them.
So, they took me to different places and lands. After I reached Kaushambi/ Kosambi (called ‘Kaushambi’ thereafter). Kaushambi is where Buddha Shakyamuni stayed for a summer retreat for two years, and the sangha split into two parties after that. Then Buddha left the sangha for a retreat on a small mountain for a year.
Kaushambi is where a palace of a Dharma king* was, and this palace was near the Yamuna River.
They requested me to build monasteries and schools in some places near Kaushambi.
We planned to give refuge vows to 500 people in Kaushambi. But someone who organizes the refuge vow ceremony has a very big ego, which has caused some problems in this group. Then I did not feel so comfortable. I explained to them that they need to and must respect Buddha, Dharma and Sangha very much if they wish to take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. People who organize the ceremony will need to have a pure motivation. Without that, it is meaningless to just take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. So, I canceled the plan to bestow the refuge vows to them.
After that, we visited another place with mountains that looked very nice.
They said that if the land is bought, the price can be very low. But there was no land offered to the monasteries and people just said the land could become very cheap. Every day we went to very remote places and came back very late. It made me feel very tired.
I think we left Kaushambi on the 22nd and went to some places. We reached a place where all the men were singing in a video that I sent [to the puja group].
A family there has made a place for Buddhadharma, which has a Buddha statue. They also have a small school with around 60 students. This place was quiet, and I got a lot of energy there.
Then I was taken to two places that morning. One of the places has a small river, and it was quite big. It would be very nice if a school were built there.
After that, we went somewhere near the side of the Yamuna River. The view was very nice with the Yamuna River, and that land was big, too. It would be quite nice if a meditation center and monastery could be built there in the future.
After visiting these two lands, we went to another city, Kanpur. There lived a family. We tried to find train tickets that morning, but we could not get any. Then I asked Fion to buy flight tickets to get back to Rumtek monastery. The flight tickets were a bit expensive.
We had to wake up at 1.30 a.m. because it was a bit far away from Kanpur to Lucknow Airport. There were so many people gathering around the Ganges River [at that time too].
Why did I have to visit so many places?
It is because Buddha Shakyamuni was born, got enlightened, and gave teachings in India. People from Tibet, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Burma visited India and learned Buddhadharma. Then they translated Buddhadharma from Indian languages into their own languages.
Many powerful Muslim kings came to India to destroy all the Buddhist temples and Dharma many years ago. Followers of Hinduism also destroyed Buddhadharma.
For example, when we visit the old Nalanda University, we can only see the ruins. There is not even a small house or a small monastery. All were destroyed.
So, Buddhadharma is very, very important for all living beings. We need to try to help Buddhadharma prevail in the world.
So, who takes care of Buddhadharma? Buddhists take care of Buddhadharma.
But Buddha’s teachings are very high and deep with so many different levels. Lay practitioners are busy with their jobs and families. They cannot learn all the Buddha’s teachings and go on a retreat in the monasteries or mountains for many years.
But right now, the sangha situation is very difficult.
Since 1959, all the monks in the monasteries in India were Tibetan refugees. But right now, most of the Tibetan refugees have moved to the US, Europe, and other countries. Therefore, the Tibetan population in India that can become monks is nearly gone.
So, all the monks in India now come from the Himalaya region from Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Why? It is because some families there are very poor and cannot afford to send their children to school. So, these poor families send their young children to the monasteries. Then the monasteries need to work very hard to look after these young children. When they become older, like at 15, 16, then the families will say, ‘Oh, my son or daughter has become very good now. They can go to work.’ ‘Oh, they need to get married.’ Then they will take their children back home because they did not really send their children to monasteries for Buddhadharma.
Every year, the number of young children becoming monks is falling because the financial situation of these families is improving as well.
So, India has a very, very large population. Right now, many Indians have become very interested in Buddhadharma. They think their grandfathers and grandmothers were followers of Buddhadharma. Hinduism was introduced from another country. Buddhism is India’s real religion.
Another thing is that the Brahmins enjoy a high social status in India and the Dalits are at the lowest level. This caste system has created many problems too.
When Buddha gave teachings, there was no difference between men and women and being at the high level and low level was not important. The most important thing is to have deep devotion, loving kindness, compassion and wisdom.
So, the Indians [who are following or would like to follow Buddhism] need a very good guide. But when they are doing something for Buddhadharma, the Hindus are unhappy. Maybe they will do something bad to the Buddhists.
So, on the one hand, the situation in India is a bit difficult. On the other hand, Buddhadharma’s future is very, very important.
That is why I told them, ‘There is no need to ask for some lamas all the time.
You can build a simple, small temple with a Buddha statue in each village. On days like birthdays and weddings of villagers, you can offer flowers to the Buddha statue. Then chant the refuge prayer to take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha together.
After that, you may have a school teacher or an old person talking about Buddha’s life story and then you will meditate for a short time.
Young people can dance or sing songs following that.
Maybe you will gather on the new moon or full moon day of each month.”
I chose two places, asking them to donate to buy the land. Yesterday, they reported their meetings to me. Some people work for the government. They offered one month’s salary to buy the land. So, this is how they work together to make things happen.
My feeling is that many Indians, not just 100,000 of them, will follow Buddhadharma some years later.
The reason I explained this to you is that I visited many different places every day on days when I could not join online. Every day, I finished and got back at around 11 or 12 o’clock.
There were so many mosquitoes at night. I brought the mosquito tents from Bodhgaya. Sometimes I could not get any food for a whole day. So, I got many biscuits from Celia and tsampa with me. I also paid for the car rental and the flight tickets myself.
So, this [trip] is very meaningful because we worked hard for [the future of] Buddhadharma. That is why I could not join Zoom.
I know all of you were waiting for me to explain where I had gone. I have spent quite a long time explaining this very important work to you. Thanks for paying attention and listening to this explanation.
Finally, I got back to Rumtek Monastery safely. This is very important.
After I arrived at Rumtek Monastery, I felt like seeing the work in Martam. So, I still went to Martam even though it was already quite dark.
So, I went to the retreat center in Darjeeling because we need to spend some money to buy things for the small monks. This morning, I also paid lots of money for work when I went to Martam.
Tomorrow, the Chief Minister of Sikkim will visit Rumtek Monastery. A few days before, people said perhaps the Chief Minister might visit Martam. Then a Rinpoche said the day before yesterday that this time might not be a good time because it is very busy. It might be better if we visit the Chief Minister in Gangtok after the Tibetan New Year. So, I will not bring the Chief Minister to Martam tomorrow, and I have not made any preparations for that either.
Okay, thanks so much for all your hard work practicing Dharma. Try to laugh together.
*Udayana Fort or Udayana Kila by King Udena (Udayana)
This teaching was given by Venerable Khen Rinpoche Kalsang Nyima on Zoom after the Mahakala and fire pujas that were held in the Wisdom Light Office of Hong Kong on 26 February 2025.
Benefits of practicing Dharma every day
27 February 2025
Today, Sikkim’s Chief Minister visited Rumtek Monastery and all the activities in the program were completed. The weather was nice as well. Right now, the Mahakala vajra dance is still going on.
So, thanks so much to all of you for coming to attend the puja here. Tomorrow will be the Tibetan New Year’s Day. So, all of you will offer flowers, fruits and some other things. You will make offerings.
Tomorrow will be a very special day. Scientists said the seven planets [of the solar system] will line up tomorrow. I think this phenomenon happens once many, many years ago. So, I think when we practice Dharma at that time, it will become very powerful.
When you are free, then go to the Wisdom Light Office early and do some of your own practice. When you wake up in the early morning, try to practice loving kindness and compassion to all living beings.
We will do the Tara puja tomorrow evening. Try to make a good dinner together before the Tara puja. During important celebrations, Tibetan monasteries will make rice with butter and yoghurt with ginseng fruits. Prepare whatever you have. After the puja, I will try to join you on Zoom when I have the time. Offer your body, speech and mind to your guru. Then that will be very wonderful.
So, all of you are very lucky because you can practice Dharma every day. Most people are only crazy and busy for samsara. Then this causes a lot of bad karma, bringing so much suffering. No matter how much they do, their mind will only become even more attached to samsara. It makes life totally meaningless. But these stupid people think they are doing very, very meaningful things.
But all of you can come to practice Dharma, loving kindness and compassion with bodhichitta to all living beings and focus on the meaning of the puja at that time. After the puja, dedicate the merits of your practice. This will accumulate a lot of good karma and merits and cleanse so much bad karma every day. During those moments, you can get blessings, energy, peace and relaxation, too.
For example, sometimes you have so many problems when you work in your own office. Your mind feels very tired, losing energy. But you go to the Wisdom Light Office to focus on Dharma practice after work. Then your tired feeling slowly disappears. Your body and mind get so many blessings and good energy. It is similar to your battery, which is running low and you charge it [with Dharma practice]. Then your battery becomes full again.
Of course, there are times when your crazy mind cannot focus on Dharma practice during the pujas. Then you will receive fewer blessings and less peace.
So, you all are super lucky.
This teaching was given by Venerable Khen Rinpoche Kalsang Nyima on Zoom after the Mahakala and fire pujas that were held in the Wisdom Light Office of Hong Kong on 27 February 2025.
How to get good luck
28 February 2025
Photo courtesy of the official Facebook page of Rumtek Monastery
So, today is the Tibetan New Year, Losar.
Thanks to many students for buying flowers, fruits and other offerings yesterday and today.
Thank you so much for preparing and cleaning the Wisdom Light Office [as well].
Thanks to the Zambala cook and her husband for preparing a very delicious dinner by coming over here early.
Thank you to those Dharma brothers and sisters who helped prepare the dinner, too.
You also cooked butter rice and torma with yoghurt. They looked very yummy.
But I am not here. I saw photos of the dinner with many different types of food. They looked very delicious.
All of you joined the Tara puja and took refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and practiced bodhichitta. After the Tara practice, you dedicated your practice. Wow. That is very amazing. Thank all of you very much.
So, please bring over a happy new year cake and cut the cake.
So, the most important thing is our Dharma practice. We do not need suffering, but we have made so much bad karma. So, only Dharma practice can cleanse our bad karma. We need happiness. Generally, we can only gather good karma when we practice Dharma.
Our mind has so many bad emotions and five poisons. They always bring problems and suffering to us. Only Dharma practice can cleanse them.
We have very strong selfishness, always making other people uncomfortable and suffer. It always disturbs our good relationship in a family and with our dharma friends. So, this selfishness can only be severed by loving kindness, compassion and bodhichitta.
We always wish and hope we can become very famous and need to be very powerful. We need some super powerful wisdom, etc. But all these good results can only come from loving kindness, compassion and Dharma practice.
Therefore, Dharma practice is very, very important. All of you can come [here] to practice Dharma. It can benefit us and other living beings so much.
We always think that we need to have good luck. But it is when your mind can focus on practicing Dharma that you have good luck.
So, most people feel very uncomfortable and unhappy with bad luck. They think bad luck comes from the external environment. But when our mind follows the five poisons, in particular bad emotions and selfishness, we are already getting bad luck.
For example, a family stays together. Everyone looks at each other thinking positively. They have simple food and simple drinks in a simple house. But they can still enjoy themselves very well. Everything looks very simple. But they are happily together with a good relationship. It is amazing.
Why? It is because their minds can focus positively and respect each other, and so they can get good luck.
Many people love to visit Japan. For example, you arrive in Japan and stay at a very large hotel. You can eat a very big buffet. But at that time, people follow their bad emotions and selfishness without caring about each other. So, you are not happy and cannot relax without any reason. You only suffer.
When you arrive at nice places in Japan with beautiful mountains and a pleasant environment, you stay at a five-star hotel and enjoy a very large buffet. But your mind follows the negative side with bad emotions and selfishness without caring for others. You then get bad luck and cannot get any happiness. You cannot enjoy being with your family because your mind follows the negative side.
Therefore, Dharma practice is very, very important to us. It is because dharma practice can cut our bad emotions and five poisons. Dharma practice can open wisdom, loving kindness and compassion with bodhichitta. So, we are super, super lucky to be able to practice Dharma. You need to know that you are super lucky to be able to practice Dharma. So, laugh happily together in this new year.
Please try to laugh together. Do not be lazy.
Thanks to all of you very much.
Happy Losar!
This teaching was given by Venerable Khen Rinpoche Kalsang Nyima on Zoom after the Mahakala and fire pujas that were held in the Wisdom Light Office of Hong Kong on 28 February 2025.