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EXTRACT Can We Change Our Karma? 06-Sep-2017

33 views · Published 5 October 2018 · 8:45 · Indexed 18 October 2026

Channel: FPMT · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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During a retreat in 2017, a student asked #LamaZopaRinpoche about a bad hurricane that had just caused great damage to parts of the Caribbean and Florida Keys: 'If it is the karma of the people on the islands to experience the hurricane, how can we change their karma?' 
Here is a summary of Rinpoche's response, which you can watch in the video:
Rinpoche explains that we pray so that we can purify the negative karma so that the violent weather isn’t experienced and so the landlord beings do not create harm. Praying to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and to the Guru has the power to change things and help people who are in danger.
After all, why do we take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha? 'That is a big question. Forget about the hurricane, [and think about] just yourself and how [Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, and the Guru] can guide you,' Rinpoche says.
The lamrim explains there are four reasons why the Buddha can guide you, which Rinpoche discusses. 'The Buddha himself is free from all dangers—so skillful in liberating others from all the sufferings, all the dangers—no discriminating thought, compassion to every sentient being.'
Rinpoche emphasizes that it is very important to study the lamrim. 'If you never study then [it's] difficult to understand. You must study [it], over and over, many times,' Rinpoche says, because each time you go over a part of the lamrim you will notice something different.
Rinpoche responded to the question before doing tsog. He tells all the retreat participants, 'Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, the merit field, [they] know what we are doing now, what we are asking. … So when you pray you have to know that [this is] not blah, blah, blah. … Then also when you pray you must be aware [that] they know what you are doing now, what you are asking.'
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The above video is extracted from a teaching given on September 6, 2017, at the Light of the Path Retreat in North Carolina, US.
Find out more about #LamaZopaRinpoche at http://www.fpmt.org

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