Lama Zopa Rinpoche
55OTzl52A
55OTzl52A
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
This time, with this human body, it should be different. We have a different body, a different<br />
life, a different way of thinking from the animals, so it should be different. But since there is<br />
no Dharma in our life, there is no real difference between the animals and us. Our mind is<br />
the same as that of animals and insects in that we are all only working for this life. The only<br />
difference is that this time we don’t have horns or a tail. But besides not having a tail or<br />
horns, we are no different at all from the animals and insects.<br />
To use the traditional examples, if we have a boat capable of crossing a river or an ocean, we<br />
should use it. Or, if a group of heroes ready to help us destroy an enemy has gathered, we<br />
should use it. That of course does not mean to harm others, which is what normal people do<br />
in the world. Here it means knowing the Dharma, using it to subdue the mind. The enemy is<br />
the inner enemy; there is no external enemy. If we have anger, delusion and so forth in our<br />
mind—the inner enemy—we will always have external enemies. If there is no inner enemy,<br />
there can be no external enemy.<br />
Nagarjuna said,<br />
Killing the inner enemy of anger is like killing all external enemies.<br />
When you have heat, water and fertilizer you must plant your crops;<br />
When you have a skillful horse you must take the opportunity to travel to distant places.<br />
Killing the inner enemy of anger is like killing all external enemies; if we have no anger we<br />
can have no external enemies. Therefore we must practice Dharma while we have the<br />
opportunity. This is analogous to the need to plant crops whenever the right conditions<br />
come together: heat and water and fertilizer.<br />
There is also the analogy of the skillful horse. If we are lucky enough to have a skillful horse<br />
we should take the opportunity to travel to faraway places. Of course, these days we can go<br />
by car or plane. But anyway, this is really the time to do our best, to make our life most<br />
beneficial for sentient beings as well as ourselves by learning Dharma, knowing Dharma and<br />
practicing Dharma.<br />
While our cow is giving milk, we must milk her. We must not just waste the opportunity by<br />
not taking it. Whenever opportunities present themselves we should take them, otherwise<br />
they will just be wasted. These are all examples. When in the land of wish-granting jewels,<br />
take them.<br />
Due to past merit we have received this precious human rebirth, with its five senses intact.<br />
Furthermore we have met the Buddha’s teachings, we have met a guru, a virtuous friend, and<br />
we have every opportunity to practice Dharma. Now is the time. This is the time for us to<br />
make our mind free, to develop contentment and inner happiness, to overcome our<br />
confusion and problems. While at present we might be experiencing much disturbance and<br />
suffering because of our attachment, we can replace all that with peace and happiness. We<br />
must practice Dharma to achieve the happiness of all future lives all the way up to liberation<br />
and enlightenment. There is no other way.<br />
150