Journey Through Cancer – Chapter 43 – Teachers and Technology

Last night I was working on high tech lessons from our teachers. One was a CD with mp3 files of Khenchen Gyaltsen and Khenpo Tsultrim chanting the first two sections of “the Preliminary Practices of the Incomparable Drikung Kagyu” which I copied to my desktop computer and then identified each track. The second was an mpg file of Lama Konchok Sonam chanting the Amitayus Long Life Sadhana that I plan to watch to make notes of the actions for the practice. I even converted that to a DVD that can be played on some of the newer DVD players.
We are most blessed that Tibetan Buddhism has come to the West with such wonderful teachers. However, there are only so many teachers and America is so large that we sometimes see them so seldom. On the other hand we can use the technologies we have to make the most of the visits we do get.
I can use these to help me learn to chant in Tibetan as well as review teachings from such great teachers. During the time of my radiation therapy, I was able to listen to lectures by H. E. Garchen as well as Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe. While I value everything I am able to learn this way in addition to the great books that are becoming available in English, I realize that they are not a complete substitute for personal teachings and transmissions. Nevertheless, if the choice were between receiving teachings by these newer technological means or not being able to receive them at all because the teachers are not nearby, then we are most fortunate that we have any way to study the Dharma.
I know that all through the process of the diagnosis and treatment of my cancer every book that I read, every teaching and empowerment that I received, every recorded lecture that I heard, every online video of a Dharma talk, every one of these helped me through it all. Moreover, these helped to make this a positive spiritual experience. Furthermore, they turned it from the working out of my own karma to something that can benefit other sentient beings. Even more, they made it clear that the best use of the remainder of my life will be in service to the Dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Perhaps, in the future I can use my technical knowledge and skills also in service of the Dharma. I do know that as easy as things like Skype are to use, we can get teachings despite the distance from our teachers. However, I have to beware the eight worldly dharmas, especially being happy if you become well known or being unhappy if you are not well known as well as being happy if you are praised or being unhappy if you are not praised. Nevertheless, for the good that can be done I have to trust in the help of my sangha and especially my elders in monastic life. This is about more than just me. It is about serving all sentient beings.
It is precisely this that has elevated my “journey through cancer” from the working out or purification of my own karma to something that can help others. Furthermore, this is what elevates all of our life experiences to something that benefits all sentient beings. Isn't that really what we are supposed to do if we have compassion, bodhicitta?
Whether I “sweep the monastery,” set up for a teaching or configure a computer for a video conference with one of our precious teachers, the whole point of it is serving the Dharma. Just as my years as a taxi driver turned into a benefit to my abbot when I became a Russian Orthodox monk and his driver. Similarly, anything that we have ever done, any skill that we have mastered can serve the Dharma as long as we keep from the eight worldly dharmas. On the other hand, if they are a problem to us, it would be better to forget all those skills, and devote ourselves to the study and practice of the Dharma.
For myself, I can only see the benefit in any of the things that I may do if they increase altruistic motivation, promote enlightenment, give birth to bodhicitta, or enhance our compassion. I guess that is the measure for the activities to which I should commit myself. Quite significantly, I find that my aspiration for monastic ordination passes this very test.