Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche ~ Vajrayana Buddhism in the Modern World, Berlin Talk

This is Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s complete and unedited public talk given at the Dharma Mati Berlin centre in Germany, on 25 February 2018.
The fuller title was: ‘Vajrayana Buddhism in the Modern World: The Challenges of Maintaining an Authentic Tradition’.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche shared his insights about the future of Vajrayana Buddhism in the modern world, addressing key questions such as:
-What is unique about the Vajrayana tradition and how can it best be practised in the modern world?
-In the face of current social and political trends, how can misunderstandings about the Vajrayana path be avoided?
-What safeguards can be put in place to protect the sacredness of the guru-student relationship?
Video mit deutscher Übersetzung: • Dzongsar Khyentse Rinp...
For more information about Rigpa events, visit: www.rigpa.org

[@ceruleandusk]

I really love the silent pauses he does sometimes.

[@austrianronin]

How blessed we are to have authentic teachers like you, Rinpoche. Please live long and keep turning the wheel of pure Dharma.

[@joeylukezich7825]

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche gives practical and profound teachings with a sense of lightheartedness and playfulness.

[@cwilkinsonwck]

Most don't listen with awareness, there mind is in constant thinking. Thank you sir

[@clairecade7272]

wow! so great. I love this man.... his authentic open heart. Refreshing

[@rontan8433]

Of so many Rinpoche's teaching recording, this has the best audio, the rest were plagued with bad feedbacks, extreme statics and bad acoustics. Very impressed with this.

[@omahhumvajragurupadmasiddhihum]

I never wanted to watch this because of how long it is, but it was so worth it! Thank you, Rinpoche! I'm not even involved with Rigpa, but hearing your explanations is quite illuminating regardless.

[@nadjaullaprtorius5283]

Deeply moved and with infinite gratitude I have once more received the vast teaching of incomparable wisdom and true compassion from H.E. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

[@jigmesamten5560]

My countless prostration and offerings to the great compassionate Guru Rinpoche . Turn the wheel of Dharma again and again for ignorant beings like me to get out of darkness. Thank you so much for uploading this awesome teaching.

[@okidokeee]

maybe castration would help?

[@elisabetesoares794]

Prof maravilhoso

[@angelasands8875]

This is vintage DJKR and so useful and valuable. So much gratitude to him

[@rangdrol]

Turn on closed captioning. At about 8:40 it transcribes "Chandrakirti" as "gender kitty". That's my second favorite computer transcription. My favorite is "obscurations" being transcribed as "obscure Asians". Edit: another one - "vimalakirti sutra" becomes "women are catty sutra"

[@Phjghh]

Hahahaha

[@alankuntz6494]

;)

[@luizguilhermeeirado2101]

Gratitude, Rinpoche and the sangha! 🙏

[@jimilashenga7769]

Thuchela Rimpochela for giving us this precious knowledge on Buddhism and Vazrayana particularly.Praying for your long life ...good health and Dharma activities.

[@coletten.3704]

Thank you for sharing this precious teaching.

[@kittymcflitty]

Thank you Rinpoche! 🙏🏼

[@djkclub5202]

With gratitude ...May Rinpoche live long, healthy, happy for the sake of buddha dharma

[@javierespinoza686]

we need more like this

[@belleheywood5063]

Excellent. Deep Thanks for your immense compassionwisdom in giving this talk, Rinpoche la. I pray that many countless beings have their confusion transformed into wisdom listening to you. 🙏🌺☀

[@sezginalisoglu6565]

All very relevant to modern world

[@MariaRodriguez-gc9jk]

Hearing you talk about guru must have devotion to the student; it reminded me of quite few Tibetan lamas who are very devoted to those students who make big donations to them and totally disinterested in those students who don’t.

[@reginadegiovanni6685]

Very brave questions and answers.

[@stephen0793]

Thank you so much Rinpoche

[@SamtenBhutan]

thank you for uploading

[@mellow5123]

Good talk. Thanks Rinpoche.

[@huiching6030]

Yes, the Buddha set down many kinds of teachings to enlightenment for sentient beings of different capacity. Visiting brothels and running harems for the spiritually "high born males" or even practicing like Vimala is not a requirement needed for enlightenment. There are various other practices and there are 2 kinds of tantra; Indian and Buddhist. I used the latter. Don't use tantra if you are not well equiped/prepared. That is my advice to my sisters in the Dharma.

[@kusali11]

This is brilliant 🙌

[@markusnicklas4627]

thanks for sharing

[@huiching6030]

YES. I was told to KEEP IT QUIET when I actually did not jump into tantra on my own! Likened to becoming a "young lady" on menstruation. Visualization just pops out everywhere I thought I have gone mentally ill, as in psychiatric description; with hallucination and delusions but one must bear in mind, it is INTERNAL, not external. They were so similar to mental illness. I am speaking from experience. Till today, I could not tell you who exactly is my guru.

[@irenan6585]

Exactly, mentally ill, as in psychiatric description,with hallucination and delusions ... . If you had had a guru, you wouldn't have had that, the internal not external ;-)

[@markusnicklas4627]

"guru yoga should have never been publically available", wow!

[@user-st6rq7tu6s]

Om Mani Padme Hum

[@huiching6030]

Monk Gelek: very good practice! A fine example of taking 3 Scopes on the Path!

[@TP-hy1kk]

wow that's great I appreciate you

[@JeremyFeldmesser]

Wow, Excellent video. I have seen this "embellishment of the truth so much that we get lost in the embellishment and miss the point of the truth" in many places, even in Buddhist places of study.

[@huiching6030]

"guhyaanam" secret/most confidential: to go with the flow of the mind set of a person is not so difficult if you are a practicing psycho-therapist. But it is only therapeutic if it is done professionally and it takes patience. I personally not so patient. I did not know that to agree to a person seeing differently from the tantric practitioner's point of viewing is necessary from the guru's point of view: "Wednesday". I see your point there. Yea, I agreed to something when my precious teacher took me as a student. Then, my precious Mahayana teacher must be... well.. whatever my guru said, I carried it and placed it for safe keeping on top of my head! That should be the way of a tantric practitioner.

[@irenan6585]

The way of a tantric practitioner is...no duality, Rinpoche says.

[@angelica64790]

Rinpoche is a very outstanding full of compassion-wisdom Teacher(Lama, Guru, etc.) I have only a minor disagreement : Western scholars do have their " ankylosis "in the field of understanding the transcendental or the magical or beyond dualistic part of existence both in samsara and nirvana. We must check I believe continuously the way we look at things!

[@markusnicklas4627]

lucky me, that I invited Karmapa to a certain german center that Rigpe Dorje supposedly founded in the late seventies, but I did not atend his visit when he actually showed up

[@huiching6030]

The obvious contradiction between various sutras is, of course, literary it is not the same. But for the realized teacher and practitioner they see it differently; it is a skill I would call it "spiritual mental bridging or mapping". That is why in Vajrayana you need a commentary and an authentic teacher who sees things/words in the sutra as they are. It is not only in Buddhism we have tantra or only Buddhist practice tantra. I believe Hindus and Muslims do too at a higher level. I once came across something on a Koran someone lend it to me to read. As I was about to open the cover to read, I saw a transparent man sitting on a mat on the cover, as if waiting for me as a guide! Maybe, that must be another religion's practice of diety-yoga! I returned the Koran to the owner. All vajrayana practitioners need a "noble" skilled authentic guide. That is why bodhisattvas are called the "ariya" sangha!.... keepgiggling

[@jampalwangpo259]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🙏🙏

[@huiching6030]

NO, I DON'T THINK THE VAJRAYANA OF TIBET IS BASED ON FEUDAL OR CULTURAL. It is the in-born make-up of the Western scholastic mind trying to understand Vajrayana and paints Vajrayana according to what they understood in terms of their schemata of what is Vajrayana, otherwise they cannot understand. So, this is faulty understanding and discernment from the very beginning. I begin as a practitioner with no labels; tantric visualizations popping up automatically. I don't do Tibetan rituals unless when I am following a Tibetan group with friends. I am not "superstitious". I am scientific. I analyse and do a lot of questioning and studying Buddhist scriptures. I can relate very close to past Tibetan masters like Yeshe Tsogyal, MakCik Labron, Lochen Shuksup and one other Sakya female spiritual master to the Trizin family. I understood their practice and try to mimic them. But I am not a Tibetan. See? I don't think it is cultural or feudal. I am not the kind of person to follow dressed up and practice like an Indian because the Buddha was an Indian!

[@lobosonam7954]

Hui Ching I can't agree more than this...’Pathetic Western Scholars’

[@dkdg5150]

Great

[@omtashi1]

🙏🙏🙏

[@huiching6030]

Dzongsar JKNR! you should not be so worried about people quoting you "cows don't think" as anti-animal. My actual hobby, sometimes was to either to quote or to unquote any statement anybody I fancy, to turn it upside down! It seems there is a zero point in the centre and to the left is minus and to the right is plus. I can argue pros and cons till infinity I think, and I still can hold ground! That is the beauty of Independent Origination! Emptiness! I prostrate to thee, Primodial Awareness Buddha Samantabadra!

[@conniecook8095]

Hui Ching Focus less on your criticism of the teacher and more on allowing your mind to open to it all.

[@huiching6030]

which teacher are you referring to I am seen criticizing? Sogyal? Dzongsar? I won't waste my time lo... anyway thanks for yr concern...

[@Chevy4109]

Hui Ching lol they cannot tahan la...

[@AleksandraLewtak]

I wonder how does the demarcation line between Vajrayana and Tibetan culture look like. How to distinguish, when entering this path, actual important instructions from disturbing concepts?

[@conniecook8095]

Aleksandra Lewtak Begin as a beginner and stop asking questions like that. Intellect won't answer you.

[@AleksandraLewtak]

Thank you for your advice, however I think it's an important question and I will keep asking it. I hope Rinpoche will answer it one day.

[@conniecook8095]

Aleksandra Lewtak It is a good question. My apologies. Blessings to you.

[@irenan6585]

Rinpoche has already answered your question several times by now Aleksandra; study, think critically, analyze the teacher...lots of effort before it gets effortless. THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED VIEW IN BUDDHISM,AND ESPECIALLY VAJRAYANA, ONCE YOU GET THE VIEW, YOU WILL KNOW (THAT;S HOW THEy TEACH YOU). One gets the view from a realized or knowledgeable teacher/ guru's pointing out instructions. To get to this point one needs to study, think critically, analyze the Guru. That's what Rinpoche DJK says, or that's how I understand it); The more you invest yourself in these three, the more you get. Once you get the "View" that's it!

[@irenan6585]

Rinpoche has already answered your question several times by now Aleksandra; study, think critically, analyze the teacher...lots of effort before it gets effortless.

[@nynlodee6152]

🙏🙏🙏🙏💕

[@markusnicklas4627]

yes, indeed, damage is done, but it also provides possibility getting to know e a c h other better, so, if it helps, I am getting on my knees, shedding tears, begging you at least to consider spending some time thinking about where you came from, your family, your ancestors, what you think, that you know about them and if you are as boldly analyzing these issues as doing analysis on a guru ... yes, of course, I am German and thats good.

[@thelmaaviani]

Peesonal note, guru yoga, Sogyal Rimpoche

[@ramoesgaston9966]

This news good. RG for BUMMA

[@viralvideos-bf7is]

🙏🙏🙏🌺🌺🌺

[@huiching6030]

because of the 2 Truths, we have so many misinterpretations. This is good because people are contemplating and making discernments. Great! If this is possible Emptiness is also possible otherwise it is a "no through road"! hahahahaha... you agree? Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche?

[@AlokSingh19903]

👌

[@mrsdeyanira2009]

Ya no se puede detener. Quienes queden jamas lo usaran

[@drukmala]

I DON'T LISTEN TO ANY " RIGPA " videos ........but YOU ARE FREE TO TALK TO ME DIRECTLY . I WAS THERE BEFORE THEM ANYHOW IF YOU REMEMBER WELL .

[@johnhawes5238]

How do I find a true guru ?

[@johnwhitneypettit6945]

Jai Maharatna...but please pick your friends carefully Maharatna. Bless the German people for not losing faith in Buddhadharma and studying and reflecting well.

[@EmptyFormsShining]

where are the 19 pages?

[@RigpaVideosTV]

Here for example: www.buddhistdoor.net/news/dzongsar-khyentse-rinpoche-issues-public-statement-on-recent-criticism-of-sogyal-rinpoche

[@rontan8433]

It seems like an interrogation session Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche had been subjected to, rounds after rounds difficult questions esp. about Sogyal Rinpoche. Next time another speaker will think twice before visiting your centre.

[@RigpaVideosTV]

Hi Ron Tran, when Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche accpeted to visit our Rigpa centres and teach there, he requested all participants to send questions in advance. He read all of them and selected which ones he wanted to answer, so this format of teaching was entirely his own design ;-).

[@markusnicklas4627]

when certain lamas reminded me about the origins of my culture, I started doing research on the primordial mythology and so called paganism and in most famous parts most violent introduction of christianity. I know that I am simplifying, but putting vajrayana on top of that, not caring for even considering such facts ... rather than discussing go for Carlo Ginzburg

[@phunstoktashi1946]

All the head of Tibetan Buddhist schools ( Sakya, Nyingma, geluk and kyagu )should take heed to His Holiness Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche teachings in this videos. All the head of the school are doing great disservice to dharma by mixing power, politics, social, culture, tradition, custom and religion in the name of serving Tibetan public but instead lining their pockets, power, prestige and position. It’s critical time they listen to what he is saying here. Please teach real Dharma and don’t mix things with our custom and culture from old Tibet, which is disgusting and repugnant. Those days are long gone, so shouldn’t even think of reviving it. Please teach real dharma to general public.

[@JINPAASSOCIACIO]

Enseñanzas del maestro en castellano no tenemos opción??

[@buddhistphilosopher800]

No.

[@conniecook8095]

Is it necessary to repeat prayers in a monotone? Aping a chant? Cannot this prayer be spoken from the heart? I would like to ask Rinpoche.

[@huiching6030]

Yes, Vajrayana buddhism has gone to the "wild wild west and take root"! What needs to be clarified must be clarified but I doubt it could be clearly understood, i.e. explanations accepted readily. I myself personally have doubts. Why must all the "rinpoches" took rebirths around India and Tibet, and now even in the West too! Why can't they take rebirths in Suvarnabhumi, the golden isle where once Atisha's guru take root!... keepgiggling... why? Why there was no "rinpoches" in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia or even in Australia considering the latter is very near to Indonesia? Why nobody search for Atisha's rebirth? Tibetan buddhism don't have Atisha, Dharmakirti, Asanga, Vasubundhu? Everybody who is in Tibetan buddhism knows about Milerapa, Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal.... hahahaha .... Tilopa, Gompopa... and they, these Rinpoches like you... Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche... you Rinpoches all travel to the West and leave ME here! Serves you all rinpoches right! ... keepgiggling ... you rinpoches think we over here in the East has less merits?

[@irenan6585]

You are not right about this either...Tibetan Buddhism is close related with Atisha, Dharmakirti, Asanga and Vasubandu...study a little, think critically, contemplate...all of it.

[@davidozz4068]

The questions in the end are an eye-opener to me personally. How to bend something what is wrong into something good? Sorry, not a satisfying attempt by him at all. Kinda shocking even.

[@Rosedeclemence]

I think comments ought to be disabled on this video. Just sayin.

[@huiching6030]

tantric secrecy: well, it can be abused by unscrupulous tantric masters, isn't it? Especially one who have so many paramours and each paramour keeps a secret against the other! power! power! power! an imperial harem! .... keepgiggling... but it is still mind training to "un" train the mind against suffering? .... keepgiggling

[@huiching6030]

thank you... you are very compassionate, Connie... thank you... yes.. it is Samsara. I am quite concern with those women who complained. I am a woman too, and a psychotherapist. I hope they seek some therapy help.

[@irenan6585]

It seems there has been mutual abuse in this case. Ignorantly letting been abused in whichever way for so long by someone, is equal to abusing the abuser equally. The EGO is so powerful and conceitful. So, there is never one culprit in a given situation. Why all the blame on Sogyal Rinpoche? He has equally been a victim. Frankly , he doesn't seem to be well seasoned at all in what he is supposed to be. At least he was courageous enough to invite some real masters to Rigpa and compensate for his ignorance. And after all these celebrity status, now, in his old age, I don't think he properly understands what's actually going on, why all this fuss :-) So, all my compassion goes equally to him and everybody else who took part in this samsaric drama. But, as DJK Rinpoche says...this is good for Dharma, what doesn't kill you , it makes you stronger...I believe he say that.

[@plwk]

1:26:15 That is not accurate Rinpoche. China had a Mantrayāna / Vajrayāna legacy & transmission from the inception of Buddhism during the Hàn Dynasty when Esoteric texts and practices first arrived to its zenith but short lived time as the 'True Word Sect' (真言宗) during the Táng with the three Indian luminaries like Vajrabodhi, Śubhakarasiṃha & the renowned Amoghavajra before it faced decimation from the Great Wǔzōng Persecution in 845 A.D but survived in Japan as Shingon-shū under Kūkai. During the Yuán & Qīng, Tibetan Buddhism in its principally Kagyu & Gelug influence enjoyed imperial patronage like their earlier Tang counterparts and widely known up until the post modern age and even seen by some as 'competing' with second in popularity only to Chinese Buddhism. Similarly, Japan was said to have some early Esoteric stuff like China before the Tang but its 'formal' narrative starts with Shingon-shū under Kūkai & let's not forget Saichō with his unique blend of Tendai-shū & Mikkyō. I would guess that Tibetan Buddhism arrived on Japanese shores in the modern period, especially with ongoing friendship visits between HHDL, Karmapa & Kōyasan for instance.

[@huiching6030]

Cinderella stories? My mother called me Snow White. I like Snow White. She has 7 dwarfs as friends. I can practice and "digest" tantric teachings without choking?

[@irenan6585]

hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@lobosonam7954]

Hui Ching I thought you were genuine in your views but now I have a vague feeling that if you go by at the same pace, might see yourself dripped into the mud sooner or later...🙏🏻

[@huiching6030]

"why did the students not analyse Sogyal Rinpoche when even eating they analyse the calories and food content?". Simple. I am not enlightened. I am just doing some close inspection: analysis! Sogyal Rinpoche is practicing diety yoga using the four activities of which one of them is magnetizing the three realms!! ....ahahahahaha ... that is very funny! ... keepgiggling...... Well, once if he can give such a good commentary on 4/6 bardos, ... well, I ... he can! Let us ask Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche if miracles do get out of the bag which most people from the West won't believe! I am mad, so I believe..... keepgiggling

[@lobosonam7954]

Hui Ching I think you really should read your own comment and try understanding or making any sense out of it!

[@martine2al]

How do you define what Buddha really meant to teach? Are you a Buddha, per se, to know what he really meant to teach?

[@johnwhitneypettit6945]

Snap! Bodhyaishvara

[@user-mw5ki5lm7y]

circuMflex太好環境 打笨蛋法王

[@Smart_Money12]

Sorry but my projection watching half this .... With respect Rinpochen please don't Disgrace Tibetan language. Before tibet have no written Language and sometime budhha dharma reaching toward Tibet . So Tibet king command intelligent students to learn and invent to convert Nananda schoolars dharma in own Tibetan language. Then tibetan invent language according to preserve Buddha dharma. As in India Buddha dharma was destroying.

[@Crime-Politics]

Why do these people - in all their preaching in the West on compassion - never tell them to abide by the Geneva Conventions, and provide for the orphans from their wars? What a load of happy-go-crazy BS.

[@DTTaTa]

Crime ≠ Politics what?

[@okidokeee]

I really wonder why Rigpa chose exactly THIS teacher for cleansing themselves, more or less the ONLY one who does not openly and directly condemn Sogyal´s crimes! It´s a complete and utter SHAME, and you know exactly who you are there at Rigpa

[@petrairene]

Erm WHAT??????????? I have contact to a whole spectrum of US Americans through a hobby online forum and the people who dislike Trump there by no means all read the Washington Post and practice Yoga. Plenty of normal working people dislike what the guy sais, does and stands for.