39 Bearing The Hardships And Helping Insects 27-Apr-2004

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that bearing hardships while doing this retreat purifies negative karma in the same manner as when doing a nyung-nä. He mentions how bodhisattvas bear hardships for other sentient beings, even if it causes life danger. They enjoy it so much because they can see the benefit for others.
Rinpoche says that he wants to speak out on behalf of all the millipedes, worms, and other insects. He says that it’s important to help insects circumambulate holy objects. He mentions several stories about insects that collected merit in this way and then later attained a higher rebirth. In the same way, we can bring countless benefits to insects and animals by taking them around relics, statues, stupas, and scriptures. It directs their life towards enlightenment, it’s only going up.
Rinpoche states that the essence of Buddhism is compassion. Buddha was inspired by compassion to achieve enlightenment, complete the two types of merit, and show us the whole path to enlightenment. Thus, holy objects have so much power because they came from Buddha’s compassion.
Rinpoche talks about the realization of remembering the kindness of each insect by recognizing that it has been our mother numberless times. We should feel like that with every sentient being-whether it’s a person or an insect-anyone you see, then immediately you feel that they are so kind, precious, and close to your heart.
Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at fpmt.org/