I’ve been meaning to mention to you that it’s best to avoid eating meat. Of course, sometimes people have no choice and have to eat meat. But, in your case, it’s best to avoid eating meat out of compassion.

A student wrote to advise that after hearing about Rinpoche’s stroke, he became a vegetarian.

A student wrote to thank Rinpoche for inspiring her to become a vegetarian. She said this had benefited her and she wished for it to benefit every other sentient being, particularly all the animals killed in a terrifying way for people to eat.

Student: For seven years my husband, six cats, and our old dog have lived in an old farmhouse. As you probably know, these kinds of houses attract mice and other small animals.

That is great. You can carve or write the mantras on a board or in copper, and then tow it behind the boat. Or you can go to a bridge and let it drop into the water while reciting the mantras. Do the same with prayer wheels.

Even if you farm and kill animals, you can take refuge without taking any of the five lay vows.

Usually, building a temple is no problem at all. There is incredible benefit for the sentient beings that get killed during construction: worms, insects, and so on. They are never reborn in the lower realms, and receive a good rebirth.

Without freedom one will take rebirth again and again, without one second’s break, continuously, because one’s own aggregates are contaminated, full of delusion and karma.