Q: Does being a vegetarian or not affect our progress on the path?

H.H. Karmapa:  Yes and no.  Yes it is effective as it can inspire individuals to be decent and honourable or noble.  It can inspire others due to the way one’s conditioned mind works, so in that case it is effective.  On the other hand, no, as the fact is you are still harming sentient beings equally.  The advice is that one can eat meat where the animal died naturally and one also avoids killing animals.  However, planting vegetables means you kill countless insects for example.  So it depends on one’s point of view.  There are some things in life that are unavoidable, so when it comes to that then one should try and take things positively.  What Buddha has taught in the Vinaya, is also for everyone and not just monks. 

The advice is that we do have to eat.  If we don’t we will not survive and will lose this precious opportunity and will not be able to benefit sentient beings.  So we do have to eat but there is a right way to eat.  It’s not always easy but we do it for a reason and never change from that reason.  We do it so we can sustain the body so we can do lots of positive things.  We are not eating because we enjoy it – but because we want to sustain the body.  Of course it’s hard to take away the enjoyment, but one can get used to it - gradually!

Q: Is it ok for students of the Karma Kagyu to attend teachings of the Drikung Kagyu?

H.H. Karmapa: To observe knowledge is always fine, but if it concerns following a path, one should stick to what one has already begun.   Both paths are equally great and get to the destination but you cannot be on both.

Q: Why do we get Bodhisattva names? How can we find out the deeper meaning of the names we receive?

H.H. Karmapa: They are auspicious names.  If one keeps the Bodhisattva promise intact, then normally the first name that one gets is the name you will be recognised as when you become a future Buddha.

Q: I'm finding it really difficult to relax and clear my head of negative thoughts, it's really getting me down and I really want to overcome it and be able to relax, be happy and enjoy life.  Do you have any advice that may help me to learn how to do so?

H.H. Karmapa: Take things gradually and practise Shine – calm abiding meditation.

Q: When someone hurts you, and keeps hurting you, how do you keep holding onto feelings of compassion?

H.H. Karmapa: Examine why do we get hurt? First of all without any guide, use logical understanding to find a cause.  Very often, if one does it very logically we will find the cause is our own ego clinging.

Q: I want to ask how to deal with strong desire in daily life, when it comes really rapidly?

H.H. Karmapa: If one follows the Buddhist path – the method is as always prevention.  Before it happens we do a pre-emptive strike.  Before it happens we can already imagine the whole scenario, we can have an inner film, and then we will find the answer.  Once it has happened – there is nothing to do.  In the four noble truths, The truth of Suffering is there to be understood – but nothing more.  

What else can one do?  If you are already caught by a disease, what else is there for one to do?  Nothing – except to take it positively and try and understand the cause.

Q: What do you think about people selling Buddhist teachings,  for example $50 per hour over the telephone?

A: I think it is happening in different places.  You can get it on TV and over the telephone. Normally the teachings are not there to be sold, but it depends on circumstances.  If it’s for beneficial purposes like to help the sick or old, or for a pilgrimage, then that’s OK but generally the teachings are not to be sold.

Q:  Should people from other religious backgrounds become Buddhists or is it a source of confusion?

H.H. Karmapa: It’s an individual’s right and should be based on their own opinion.  Our responsibility is to be ready if they would like to see exactly what Buddhism is so that they can examine it for themselves and then they can see if it is a benefit for them.

Q: Any words of guidance and direction for a person new to Buddhism?

H.H. Karmapa: First examine the teachings carefully.  In a thorough way, see if it is logical, see if it is reasonable; see if it makes any sense at all.  When it does – then take things gradually.

Q: When one becomes enlightened, do they feel the suffering of the world's population, or does an understanding of knowing how to cope with it (also gained through becoming enlightened) mean one is able to overcome possible sorrow they may feel?

H.H. Karmapa: As a truly enlightened being there is no suffering, there is no feeling in a way.  It is not because they are numb – but they don’t feel it.  Why?   Because even the feeling of suffering itself is not real.  Suffering is just a concept or projection of mind – nothing more.  So when one is enlightened one understands that it is a concept.  When one is free of both gross and subtle concepts – there is no need to feel suffering.   Helping sentient beings is already effortless.  It’s natural – automatic.

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