There is so much suffering in the world. So much of it self inflicted. So much of it inflicted upon others. All of it simply our karma ripening. The causes and conditions we created over many lifetimes coming together to create the life we experience. Understanding karma may not make the pain any less, it may not make the persecutor or the oppressor go away. You need only to look at the plight of the Tibetan people to know that. A true understanding of karma will provide something for you that will give you a freedom you never thought you could have. It will take all power away from the oppressor, the persecutor, the bully. Once you have a realization of the truth of karma you can longer be a victim, pushed and pulled by the powers around you. You will see and understand that all things that come to you in this life come to you because you created the potential for them. If you want to know how you lived your last life, what kind of person you were, you need only to look at your condition in this life. If you want to know what your next life will be like you need only to look at how you are living this one. It is all up to you.
I pray that Mike's Mom came through her surgery today.
I will be spending 3 weeks with the Tibetan monks of Sera Je monastic university. I have not visited them since 1993. While there I will be shooting my next documunentry about the Venerable Geshe Tsulga and his life with his students in India as well as Venerable Ngawang Trinley receiving his Geshe degree. I'm very excited about this opportunity to see some old friends and meet new ones.
