The Gyalwang Drukpa

If each country or each centre can commit to 5million or 10million mantra in the next 10 days, then I think we all will be able to accomplish 100million for the sake of all beings. So I will ask my office to count again and give me the record on 17th May 2009. Compared to the number of beings we human beings have been killing directly and indirectly because of our greed, desires and ignorance, 100million is a very small number to complete. It is of course best to be vegetarians, but how many people can commit to this 100%, the answer is not many. At least as spiritual practitioners who are supposed to be practising love, compassion and wisdom, we should try to commit forever, as an example to others, since it is not difficult to find vegetables nowadays, unless we really have no choice. But this is only my opinion, no one has to respect or follow.

This is why I often say that in this degenerate time, there are countless opportunities to do the negative things and limited opportunities to do the positive things. When we are alive, we should use every moment of our breadth not only to do good, but also to think good, to wish others well. Most of the time, we are too involved in negative activities that are encouraged by our ego. Even when we are doing good things externally, we may be thinking very crooked things in our heads. Some of us will perform good deeds to get fame, to be well-known and to get some attention from business partners, etc.

I sometimes look at the pollution in this world, in the air, in the sea, where many beings suffer unnecessarily due to our human's selfishness. There is only so much the bunch of us can do, but if we as each small community don't do it, there is no hope to depend on others also. Of course in this financially difficult time when many people are affected in terms of money and income, it is difficult for everyone to consider the welfare of others, but when everyone is doing well financially they are also too busy enjoying. We need to think that we are breathing in the same air, drinking the water from the same source and we are supposed to be more intelligent than other helpless beings. As citizens of the earth and the universe, we should at least be responsible for the home we are staying, we have no choice. I read some news about scientists finding living beings in other planets and also there will be a chance for us, human beings, to live in other planets, so they are as if giving us the hope that even if we have dirtied the earth, our planet, it's okay, because we can always go to another planet and mess it up. I hope whoever having this idea should know that all kinds of flu, like swine flu, bird flu, may be next time even cockroach flu or ant flu, will not give you the chance to even go beyond your own house. Even if you go to live in other planet, your karma will be like a shadow following you.

I feel very sorry for my students, my friends and my devotees in the Himalayas because they are not very much educated in the sense of for example, use of plastics, they love using plastics, it has become like an addiction. We cannot explain to them about the earth getting sick, they won't understand. So rivers, streams and lakes are polluted. I sometimes am even ashamed to say that every time after our monks and nuns go for a picnic or a camp anywhere, even in holy sites, after they leave, you will find a bunch of disposable cups, disposable plates, empty instant noodle packets, empty biscuits packets. There is no sense of understanding at all. When they wash their clothes, they need to use the strongest soap that gives most bubble, but this kind of soup pollutes the water most. Yet we human beings are very childish and very foolish.

I am trying to prepare 10,000 canvas bags to give away to those of my people when we meet them as we walk in the Himalayas, I hope we will find some companies or individuals to sponsor them, to help to educate the Himalayan people and to educate the people about the danger of using too much plastics and not reusing or recycling them.

I don't like to give long list of what to do and what not to do, it's too much to follow. The best is to think of your own benefit first, now this Swine Flu is going around, are you afraid? Even if you don't eat pork or don't kill pigs, if your bad karma ripens, you still get it. Scientifically, this global warming thing is caused by us, human beings, so we have to suffer as a result, but other sentient beings also suffer because of us, as I said before, this is because of our collective karma of being born on the same planet.

I am hoping through this walking pilgrimage in the Himalayas, I am able to encourage my people in the Himalayas a little more than usual. Since I normally travel by air or road, most of my devotees in these remote places have not much chance to meet me and I have not much chance to visit them and to say hello to the local deities. So this is a wonderful chance. I have initially thought of giving a teaching on "Words of My Perfect Teacher", if I have time and energy, along the walk, but this may change depending on the circumstances. Nonetheless, for the time being, I think remembering the kindness of our beloved Gurus through this sacred text is very important, I really hope I am able to share my understanding on this subject during this walking pilgrimage. Those of you who have time should try to come for the full pilgrimage and those of you who don't should at least try to come for the last part. I don't think I will be able to do this kind of journeys very often due to my health and my age, even if I want to do this every year. Many of my friends and students say they have no time, I think if they put together the time they use to day dream, watch TV, etc., they could have done at least 10 times of this walking pilgrimage. As I say many times, human rebirth is very precious, use it wisely. Next time, even if you wish to go on a walking pilgrimage, favourable conditions may not be there any more.

Many people have written to my office saying that they want to hear more stories. Whenever I can remember or whenever I find a few books in my messy office and room, I will see what is appropriate to share with you.