Reported by Ven. Connie Miller

It had been hoped that this meeting would have taken place among geshes currently residing and teaching in the FPMT centers. Due to a variety of adverse circumstances however, only four of our centers’ present or future geshes were in Dharamsala at this time. Two were able to attend this eminent gathering, and two were not, due either to illness or other commitments. Those who did attend were highly respected geshes, abbots and ex-abbots, many of whom have important positions within the monastic Gelugpa hierarchy, and who are able, in significant but indirect ways, to influence the general views within the monastic community concerning skillful ways of presenting the Dharma to non-Tibetan students, Western or otherwise, and the importance of this for the survival of the Dharma for the future. The following esteemed Tibetan teachers attended this meeting:

Ven. Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche; Ven. Khensur Nga-wang Legden, Sera-je Monastery; Ven. Khensur Ugyen Tseten, Rikon Monastery, Switzerland; Ven. Khensur Thapkye, Drepung Monastery, now at Dorje Chang Institute, N.Z; Ven. Khenpo Losang, Sera-je College; Ven.Khensur Drubtob Losang Tenzin, Lower Tantric College; Ven. Geshe Umse Dorje Tashi, Lower Tantric College; Ven. Geshe Thubten Jinpa, Cambridge Univ., U.K; Ven. Geshe Losang Namgyal, Dzalandara Centre, Iowa, USA; Ven. Geshe Sonam Rinchen,LTWA, Dharamsala; Ven. Geshe Konchog Lhundrup, Maitreya Instituut, Holland; Ven. Geshe Lhundup Rigsel, Kopan Gompa, Nepal; Ven. Geshe Tashi Tsering, destined for Chenrezig Insti­tute, Australia; Ven. Yangtsi Rinpoche, Losang Gendun, study­ing at Sera-je Monastery; translator – Ven. Thinley Wangchen, previously translating in New Zealand.

The list of eleven questions (see box [below]) was translated into Tibetan and distributed to each geshe.

Here are just a few quotations to give you a taste of that extended afternoon gathering:

Ven. Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche: … So that the West­erners may more quickly progress in their knowledge and in ripening the points of practice in the treatises of the stages of sutra and tantra, the Western disciples, have prepared some questions. They will express their viewpoints upon the study programs, about how one needs to impart the studies in the training to become geshes, and the mode of studying which are the best ways for the foreign students to comprehend and thoroughly practice the levels of both the sutra and tantra of Tibetan Mahayana traditions and thereby become able to accomplish great and extensive benefits for all the sentient beings as well as for the doctrine of Buddha.

For the Westerners to study for many years, to do this alone, if planned like this, makes them tired in the mind and bored, and they know that they have to finish many retreats and know that life is short. So in this way they seem to have opinions like this. Therefore, on the basis of the plans made by Lama within the plan of those seven years, in order to have as great a surpassing knowledge and practice, and so that whatever has been studied can become meaningful for the mind, we are requesting your advice. The Westerners, who have been to­gether with us for many years and have worked at the centers, would like to express their opinions, their experiences and suggestions about this and that being better modes to impart and spread the Dharma, and would also like to request some questions and answers. Then we request the abbots and geshes for their advice.

The opinions or experiences that are expressed by them do not just refer to the abbots and the geshes that are present here, but to all who are at the centers, those unable to attend and all those who may come to the centers in the future. What they have expressed is something in general, in order to benefit all those working in the spread of the pure Dharma, self and other. The Westerners are very direct in their expression, and are sometimes skillful and unskillful in their manner of speech, because they speak so directly of their views. Please take this into consideration. Thank you.

Ven. Geshe Umse Dorje Tashi: … In the West people have many different capacities. Dharma students with special men­tal capacity should learn the Tibetan language and study philosophy through the Tibetan language. Those with middle capacity can receive teachings through translation and put these teachings into practice. Those of inferior capacity should gain some understanding of the law of cause and effect and other topics, and then put these into practice.

Regarding the translation of texts, all centers should take responsibility for initiating translation work. In Tibet many masters came together to translate texts. Thus the translations of texts were authentic. In the future, if we do not take care of translations, then some damage will occur to the teachings be­cause of wrong translations. By consulting the texts and au­thentic teachers and geshes, then we can check the authentic­ity of such works ….

Ven. Geshe Thubten Jinpa: … It is important to work out philosophical explanations that will not require students to take empowerments, of how the visualization process in tantra functions, in order to inspire people. The culture in which Western people are brought up is permeated by psychology. Consequently the entire culture is very individually oriented. Anything that doesn’t relate to you directly as a person doesn’t make much sense to you. A very self-centered conception of the world. Sorry! What we need is a parallel in Tibetan Buddhism that would touch that aspect of Western culture. I think you can find that in tantra. Something that would be very inspiring and would draw people ….

Concerning translation: personally, I would like to request those Western students who have university-level education and who are very sharp, to be more altruistic, not to consider only their own spiritual advancement, but rather to learn the Tibetan language and to work hard and spend more time studying and translating ….

Ven. Geshe Losang Namgyal: … Concerning the need for teachers to be more equanimous in their feelings or treatment towards Western and Tibetan Dharma students. I am empha­sizing this point, because through my own experience I have understood the tremendous amount of difficulty that Western Sangha face in the Western community.

Everyone should keep this point in their minds. Perhaps we could find ways to overcome the great difficulties of the Sangha members by setting up monasteries or retreat places supported by the centers, providing monks and nuns with the opportunity to pursue their practice and studies, and simultaneously reliev­ing them of the financial worries that lead to problems.

Centers could also provide jobs by setting up translation projects. There are many commentaries, lower tantras and important books yet to be translated ….

Ven. Geshe Sonam Rinchen: … Concerning the understand­ing between the teacher and the disciple, the need for better communication. Tibetans come from an entirely different background of cultural upbringing. Due to that cultural setting we have different ways of thinking and modes of perception from those of Western people. Whenever a Western student makes a point, or raises an issue, it is very important on the part of the teacher to really get to the depth of that matter and try to find out what he or she really meant. It is very important both on the part of the teacher and the disciple, to be very clear and precise about their views and understandings. Unless we have made our view explicit, we won’t be able to make any bridge.

Though it looks like we have a large gathering of Western Sangha here, in reality when you return home, often there is only one Sangha member. So you are on your own. I consider you to be the equivalent of the arhats of the past. They shouldered upon themselves the responsibility to lead the community spiritually. In your own crowd you are like arhats, fulfilling the spiritual needs of your particular community where you reside. So I would like to express my appreciation and thanks ….

Ven. Geshe Konchog Lhundrup: … Up until now all the ge­shes who are sent to the different Dharma centers abroad are checked to make sure that they are qualified. I think that it is not possible for geshes to lack the necessary motivation of compassion for the students. Some may be more skillful in presenting the Dharma and some less skillful. Any lack of skillful means is the geshe’s own shortcoming; the students who have a relationship with the teacher should point these things out and help to correct them. There is no ground for the teacher to take offense, as it is for the benefit of all ….

Our own venerable Lama Zopa Rinpoche concluded the meeting with the following remarks:

“I think that from this meeting there have been many points that have been extremely beneficial, what the abbots said, what the geshes said. Some topics are more beneficial to some; other topics more beneficial to others. I feel like that. However, I feel it is very good. This is the first time that we have had such a meeting, even though we have thought about it for a long time. But I think that the discussion that has happened, the advices, the points of view of the Western students, together. I think good to hear these points. So I want to say thank you very much. And if we can do like this again in the future, I think very nice.”

All in all, a most significant initial dialogue concerning the essential issues involved in our all-encompassing task of propa­gating and perpetuating the Dharma in the world for the benefit of all mankind.

FPMT Geshe Conference: Points of Discussion

1. Non-Tibetan students’ needs are not the same as the needs of the Tiebtan students: they often come to the Dharma as adults with already well-trained intellectual capacities; and therefore a clearer and more concise presentation of the subject matter being taught is needed in their case.

2. Non-Tibtetan students of the Dharma want to receive teachings with a practical application in daily life and in meditation. Teachings could be prepared and taught from this point of view, with an emphasis on experience.

3. Not all the students can/should/wish to study extensively or on a long-term basis. Some are more interested in meditation and in practices. However those who are interested to study extensively or long-term should be given the opportunity and support to do so unhindered, in order to become teachers and lineage propounders.

4. We request that each geshe be responsible to thoroughly prepare each discourse together with his translator prior to each class, so that the translator can adequately prepare the required materials, outlines, scriptural citations, etc. in advance.

5. We request more exchange, more time devoted to questions and answers during teaching sessions. Not only teaching texts using scriptural citations, but also teaching from a personal and experiential point of view.

6. We request that more encouragement be given to students, more support and more personal guidance in practice, through providing incentives to practice and study such as:

1. Individual (personal) projects
2. Examinations, oral and written
3. Regular interviews and guidance concerning progress in meditation and practice that brings encouraging results;

7. Fund-raising for one’s own khamtsen/monastery should not be the principal or the only reason for coming to teach in centers abroad, to the detriment of teaching effectiveness and teacher/student relations. Careful thought should be given to the skillful ways of finding sponsors without upsetting centers members and people new to the Dharma centers. It is important that geshes feel equal responsibility to actively support their non-Tibetan disciples as much as their disciples in India.

8. We request that geshes demonstrate as an active interest and openness to learning something from non-Tibetan cultures, sciences, philosophies, religions, etc. We as students also need to study and compare other Buddhist (for example, Zen, Theravadin) and non-Buddhist (Christian and other religions, Western scientific and philosophical) systems. In order to do this, it is necessary for the geshe to know some of the language. As long as the geshe has the wish to come and spread the Dharma, then either before leaving India, or after, it would be good to study some English. Even if the geshe understands just a little language it results in less strain and upset for the translator and others. Everyone – both self and others – become happy. There are less difficulties for the geshe and for others too. Then gradually the geshe can become able to teach without a translator, having pure independence.

9. Some geshes seem to think that foreign students are not suitable vessels for the Dharma, that they have no intelligence or knowledge, and are therefore useless to teach. We ask that geshes not have this attitude please, thus lessening teachers effectiveness, but instead that they recognize that many foreign students come to the Dharma with a store of knowledge and experience, having been trained intellectually.

10.  Westerners expect much quicker results. This can be a positive and negative trait. Please teach such philosophical subjects, such as Drub.tha, Abhisamayalankara, Madhyamaka, and so forth, not only classifying and counting lists of existants, but rather principally showing how they are methods to subdue the mind, by teaching them in terms of lam-rim, lo-jong, etc. and making the students recognize them as actual instructions in the Graduated Path. Please lead disciples in this way on the Graduated Path to Enlightenment.

11.  When Lama Yeshe taught Dharma to his students, his primary motivation was compassion and the wish to benefit. With this as the basis, he taught according to the wishes of others’ minds, teaching them according to his own experience of hearing, reflecting and meditating. This was perfectly appropriate for each person and very beneficial for their minds. So it is important that all of us from our own side in FPMT Dharma centers, with good motivation, teach in this way, taking his activities as our example and doing as he did.

This proposal is requested by foreign students who have had the above-mentioned experience. Thank you very much.

Compiled by Ven. George Churinoff, Ven. Thubten Pende, Ven. Sangye Kandro, Ven. Wendy and Ven. Connie Miller.

Approved by the Spiritual Director of the FPMT, Venerable Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, March 1990, Tushita Retreat Centre, Dharamsala, India.