Dharma Teachings via the Internet
Rinpoche made the following comments regarding implementing an idea about using the internet to transmit live teachings from one Buddhist center to another, so that the students could receive the teachings given by a resident geshe at the center.
Before studying philosophy, one should start with the lamrim first in order to gain an introduction to Buddhism, to generate a deep understanding of Dharma, and then one can study philosophy. At least one should have studied the middle scope of lamrim, or studied renunciation of samsara, and then one be interested to learn Buddhist philosophy.
We can use an internet connection with whichever center has a good interpreter. The interpreter is a key issue: when there is a good interpreter, an interpreter who has learned Dharma, then during his/her translation, the teaching becomes even clearer. If he/she knows the subject well, it makes the subject even better. Even if there is a good geshe but not a good interpreter, the message cannot get through, students cannot get the details of the Dharma. Recently in the USA, there was an interpreter who was better than a geshe because he added laughter to his translation.
In general, we can apply the method of using an internet connection from any center, so that, for example, a study group can study Dharma even though it would be difficult for them to find or host a geshe locally. Some places do have difficulty in taking care of the housing for a geshe, a monthly allowance, food, and so on. Of course, it is good to have a geshe and interpreter in the center because that helps to bring people to the center for consultations, pujas, initiations, consecrations of statues, and so on, not just for teaching. The geshe can help with many things, it depends on what qualities the geshe has. The quality of the geshe brings quality to the center. For example, Geshe Lama Konchog knew astrology and knew how to check for appropriate dates.
However, the key issue is the lamrim teaching, that the geshe sets an example for people, that people get inspiration from the geshe, feel his compassion, humility, and experience an example of morality—there are many benefits, not just study.
When there is no geshe in a center, the experienced students can organize discussion groups to go over the lamrim. There are two reasons for them to organize this:
- If they want to learn
- For them to help others
New students should learn lamrim first before philosophy so that they have more motivation to join the philosophy class, otherwise it is easy for them to drop out of the philosophy class.
Also, we can put some basic questions and answers about the Buddha's teaching online. Lamrim teachings would be quite good for this and quite good for beginners, the questions being asked are quite similar. Then, when people press a button on their computer, they can get an answer to their question. For philosophy, that may be a bit difficult.