In this extraordinary series, Geshe Tashi gives us regular updates on the Coronavirus Pandemic amongst the Tibetan diaspora in India through the lens of Sera Monastery, home to around 6,000 monks. In response to emails asking after his welfare and requesting advice on Coronavirus and Buddhist practice, he generously shares his observations, thoughts and advice in his usual warm-hearted and accessible style.
In this update Geshe Tashi once again gives us a window into his daily routine, as well as some of his administrative duties as Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery at this time.
As part of the Practicing Buddhism in a Pandemic section, citing the war in Syria as a recent man-made suffering, Geshe Tashi reminds us that dukkha or suffering is always with us. Choosing more entries from the book, “1001 Pearls of Buddhist Wisdom”, Geshe la inspires us to open up, expand our compassionate awareness in larger and larger circles, to all those beings who, like us, have a mind. He sets us a challenge – can you guess who he is quoting?
His overall message is for us to keep an even-keel, to have perspective, to see the coronavirus pandemic as being part of a continuation of dukkha that was here before and will be here afterwards. In this way we can better maintain our mindful awareness of dukkha and the self-centred mind, while also maintaining our capacity to nurture and expand our love and compassion. We may not be able to make the big gestures, but we can always do the small things, gradually, bit by bit, training our mind in this way.
https://foundationsofbuddhistthought.org/
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering taught in London for over 25 years and is currently Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery in Karnataka State, India.