Hello Dharma Friends,

Tomorrow is the last regular schedule event for 2024. Thanks to everyone who supported JTCL with a donation to end the year!

22 DEC, SUN

11am – 12:30pm

• Final 2024 Regular Dharma teaching followed by vegetarian potluck.
• Winter break until regular schedule resumes January 12 2025.

Scheduling is subject to change, please refer to the website calendar for the latest schedule: https://jtclcalgary.ca/calendar/

You can also attend virtually on Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4102590148?pwd=RkphclNKK21LUEQySmk1UVdSWnlMUT09

Previous teaching summary

The talk began with an introduction to Buddhism and in what ways it differs from other religions. Geshe la explained that Buddha’s teachings are compiled in over 100 volumes of sutras. He described how Buddha wasn’t born enlightened, but went through many past lives as various beings, including animals, before being born as a prince who gave up his kingdom to find solutions to suffering. 

Key points about suffering and happiness were discussed: 

• All beings want happiness but don’t know how to achieve it 
• All beings want to avoid suffering but don’t know how to free themselves from it 
• Buddha discovered both the causes of suffering and the methods to become free from it 

The metaphor of Buddha as a doctor: 

• Buddha is like a doctor/healer 
• Humans are the patients 
• Our “sicknesses” are desires, hatred, anger, jealousy, etc. 
• Buddha provided specific antidotes for each type of affliction 

The three realms of existence: 

1. Desire Realm (lowest) – where we are now, attached to sensory pleasures 
2. Form Realm – beings without physical bodies but attached to beautiful forms 
3. Formless Realm – beings free from attachment to form 

Regarding karma and actions: 

• Every action stems from motivation/intention 
• Actions can be virtuous, non-virtuous, or neutral 
• Virtuous actions always result in happiness 
• Non-virtuous actions always result in suffering 
• Neutral actions result in neither 
• The results of karma may appear in this life, next life, or many lives later 
• There are purification practices for negative karma 

Geshe la emphasized religious tolerance, citing a master named Chandrakirti who taught never to claim Buddhism is superior to other religions, but rather to adopt beneficial teachings from any faith that is supported by logic and reasoning. 

The talk concluded by discussing the importance of merit in studying dharma and the need to combine both intellectual understanding and practice, not just prayer alone.