Education Program at Dharma Center

The resident teacher is a very learned geshe, and among the most experienced in astrology of all the monks from the three great monasteries in south India. More and more nuns are coming to the center, which has become a very good place to study.

I was suggesting that it would be good to start a four-year program, like the one the geshe already started in the Taiwan center. It would be good too if Geshe-la himself went over the program.

This method is good for Western people psychologically, because they have a limited number of years to study. That is easier for Western people, because it is not forever. They will have more courage. The idea is to give them a very clear goal, and for the course not to be too difficult. There would be examinations after each year, and that makes sure people really study. This means they have to memorize and learn, and understand what they have learned, so the exams are to help them. At the end, they would get a certificate from the organization.

The main thing is for them to become qualified teachers, able to offer courses and teach Dharma to people. Besides this, it also helps them in their own lives. It helps them very much in practicing Dharma, as there is less ignorance and more wisdom, which makes practicing Dharma much easier. Then by more correct practice, more correct realizations come.

One issue you raised was that people don't come regularly to the center, but only from time to time. In the West, there are a lot of obstacles in people’s lives. There are family obligations, and people have to work very hard to take care of their family, or even just themselves, because the lifestyle is very expensive here compared to other countries.

Not only that, but they also have a lot of distractions. Life is full of external desire objects, and there is also a lot of desire in the mind, which makes many excuses. So it is not easy for them to come to the teachings at the centers. It is easy to have a stronger interest in other things, like in desire objects, things having to do with the pleasures of this life and not so much with the happiness of future lives or even liberation and enlightenment. Also, after working long hours all day, they are tired when they come back home. So, people have many excuses.

There are so many obstacles in life, so many distractions from Dharma practice or even just from listening. Without question, the practice to focus on and the thing to actualize in the West is to deal with the objects of desire. There are so many advertisements. Even when you close your eyes, there is so much desire in the mind. Then when you open them, there is so much desire advertised, in the most effective way possible.

Therefore, even if just six people come, or even if just three people are able to come to the center to receive teachings, that is really amazing. That is incredible. It is unbelievable. They are very brave. They are defying the delusions, not following them. That is following Dharma.

The reason they come is either for their own happiness beyond this life or the happiness of this life. But which of these two reasons is to benefit others? This is not in every one’s case, but it can be generally said.

In any case, however small the amount of people who come to the center, we should rejoice. It is just amazing that sentient beings come to listen to the Dharma! This is something more precious than anything else in life. Even without practicing at all in this life, just listening plants the seed for enlightenment, so there is no question that it liberates from samsara and brings the happiness of this life, future lives, and enlightenment.