“If you are happy. I am happy. Right? I make you unhappy because I am not happy with you. Then you have your relatives, friends everywhere and they are all unhappy with me. So, that is a very ignorant way of doing things, because they do not know and recognize and believe in the ultimate and good potential, the ultimate and natural goodness of everyone and everything.”
“If you are a CEO chief executive officer of a very big company and if the company has ten big problems, then you should be able to say “Okay everybody quiet, close the door and just sit down and relax, and calm down. Do not shout at all the staff, just be calm.” Then you will see what is the problem is, and why this happened. Then you will find the solution to overcome that problem, is in the problem itself. So, you can solve your problem very nicely, very wisely and very efficiently. You do not create more problem by emotional hysteria, and you will never become more neurotic when you have a problem. Actually, instead, we will become more relaxed when we have a problem. Then you can see it, and you can solve it. So, this is other evidence of the primordial wisdom potential. And everybody has the primordial wisdom potential.”
“Honesty is the most important thing in the life. If you are honest, you have nothing to worry about. And if you are truthful, and do not lie, you have nothing to worry about. These days maybe you do not lie but somebody can lie for you. Yes. But if you are honest, you do not have to lie. You do not have to worry because if somebody lies about you, that is their karma, not your karma. Because if you lie once, you have to lie forever. To support your lie, you have to lie again. To support two lies, you have to lie four times. And then after some time, you forget the early one and then you expose yourself. But still, you have to lie. So do not lie.”
–12th Tai Situpa (Day One, Wisdom for a Meaningful Life, 9th January)
After the grand blessing opening ceremony of Graha Maha Padmasambhava, at which Guru Padmasambhava seemed very much present and pervasive, I also attended the two-day teaching event (9th and 10th January) at the new centre, by 12th Khentin Tai Situpa, entitled “Wisdom for a Meaningful Life” to Indonesians and other attendees from many countries around the world. These teachings were offered in response to a joint request and under the auspices of the All-Indonesia Federation of Buddhist Organizations (WALUBI) and Palpung Indonesia. The teachings were livestreamed on the Walubi Youtube channel and on Facebook.
As an offering, I share some quotes and summary here of the Day One teaching, which was full of humour, practical examples, anecodotes and stories, with Tai Situpa speaking in English with Indonesian translation. It was not an academic or scholarly teaching on philosophy or debate. In fact, Tai Situpa himself joked that when he was in his twenties he was “totally full of himself” having studied lots of philosophy and memorised the texts, and would argue and debate with anyone, pointing out their flaws (at which we all laughed). However, these days, older (and wiser) he said he does not even see anything negative with the negative, and the teaching focused more on emanating the inner “energy” of Buddha Nature, more than sophisticated philosophical analyses and pontifications. An embodiment of the teachings rather than intellectual prowess.
Also, there is a full transcript (raw/lightly edited, but not polished to perfect English, to keep the “tone/voice” of Tai Situpa) which can be downloaded for free as a 12 page pdf file here: Wisdom teaching Tai Situpa Borobudur January 2026 Day 1 transcript. . Day Two is next up!
I offer this to the 12th Tai Situpa, 9th Gyalton Rinpoche, the founding sponsors, and all those who attended, to use and read as they wish. In particular, I offer this to 9th Gyalton Rinpoche, without whose vajra connection, established last year in Taiwan, Vietnam and Europe, it is highly unlikely I would have come to the Borobudur Indonesia programme of one of his main gurus, 12th Tai Situpa. However, Gyalton Rinpoche was disappointingly (for me at least!) not there, and he had informed one of the organisers he was in Delhi, getting some medical treatment. Although, he seems to be fine as he recently posted some stunning photos from Gangtok on his Facebook page. In any case, I dedicate this offering and Dharma activity and transcript in particular to Gyalton Rinpoche and his long-life and health (see long-life aspiration composed for him by 12th Tai Situpa, which I translated here), and to the health and activities of his guru,12th Tai Situpa and Palpung and to the Graha Maha Padmasambhava!
Music? I Ain’t Got No by Nina Simone, That’s Life by Frank Sinatra.
Written and transcribed by Adele Tomlin, 17th January 2025. Copyright.
Teaching summary: let the Buddha Nature shine through
Although Tai Situpa is 70 years old and with issues relating to walking and health, he was able to teach continually for several hours, without a break, a sign of the bodhicitta flowing. During the short breaks, Tai Situpa also sang some “vajra” songs/dohas, related to Kagyu masters, such as a simple and moving one invoking Je Milarepa, whose image was in front of Tai Situpa in one of the many stunning thangkas hung on the walls. I found myself spontaneously joining in, with the central channel opening to a resounding vajra sound and AH. It was joyful and the spirit of Milarepa and Marpa entered the space expanse.
As I wrote about in the Grand Opening ceremony report, Prajna Murdaya one of the sons of the founding sponsor and person friend of Tai Situpa, Murdaya Poo, spoke briefly about the detail and effort that went into the making of the building (with clay from Borobudur) and several Buddha relics in the statues, as well as the painstaking effort they made to create the artworks and statues exactly as Tai Situpa had instructed, with gold paint and five traditional artists from Bhutan and Nepal (for my full transcript of his speech, see here).
The main teaching: morning session
The 12th Khentin Tai Situpa Rinpoche started the teaching by discussing what is meant by “wisdom” and an analysis of the Tibetan words for Prajna (Sherab: wisdom/excellent knowing) and Jnana (Yeshe: primordial awareness):
“The first thing is wisdom. What is wisdom? The English word wisdom I am used to it as a translation of Jnana in Sanskrit, and in Tibetan as Sherab. Okay. So, Sherab, she- means knowing. Rab means superior. So, knowing clearly, knowing accurately that is she-. So Yeshe, ye- means primordial beyond time, forever. So ye- and she- means again knowing. So perfect accurate primordial knowing. In Sanskrit, Sherab means Prajna. So, Prajna is translated into Tibetan as Sherab and Jnana is translated into Tibetan as Yeshe. And the word She is there. Yeshe, primordial wisdom, Yeshe. That is a very short introduction of the linguistic definition of the English word for wisdom.
What does it mean? Does it have something to do with wisdom? Whenever I hear the word wisdom, I know they are talking about Prajna or Jnana. Okay. So, I have a question for all of you when you say wisdom does it mean in your mind some kind of intelligence and wiseness, something like that?”
“This primordial wisdom essence is the basis of all sentient beings’ manifestations. Good manifestation and not so good manifestations are all related to it. Good manifestations because compassion comes from it and loving kindness comes from it and understanding comes from it. Sympathy, empathy, all those wonderful things come from it. How? Because when this primordial nature essence is little bit understood and a little bit felt, and a little bit shining, like peeping out, then peeping through a small hole, shining, this is all the good. So, all the negative things are a byproduct of not knowing this and the ignorance of this. So not knowing that your essence is good and perfect, and not knowing this then you have all kinds of confusion about yourself. Ignorance, jealousy, anger, greed, stinginess, and all kinds of things come from not knowing you are naturally good. All sentient beings are naturally good in their primordial nature, you are good in your primordial nature.”
[Transcriber’s not: I have also discussed this distinction in more detail and length (and more academically) in the Introduction to my first book, Tāranātha’s Commentary on the Heart Sutra (2017) and also in this brief Introductory website article (2020) here: Translation note: the difference between prajna and janan and their role in understanding the Buddhist view. See also my short 2025 article on The Importance of the Accumulation of Wisdom/Primordial Awareness (Prajñā/Jñāna).}
Rinpoche then spoke about the importance of honesty and not lying. Which he emphasised does not mean we should then say everything that is true (author’s note: unless one is doing “tul-zhug”!) [1] but that we should not deliberately lie and deceive others.
Other topics covered were how human nature is not essentially negative and bad, but the opposite, which is why humans and all beings in essence want to be happy, loved, joyful, wise because those Buddha Nature qualities are inherent in our minds.
Tai Situpa gave the example of how the Buddha nature potential in all of us, means we can and should be able to solve any perceived “problems” in a relaxed, calm and wise state, if we approach them in that manner while in touch with our essence. However, if people are running around or emotionally agitated, angry, jealous and so on, or projecting and exaggerating the “problem”, then the problem does not get properly solved, and may even get worse!
Also, that “good manifestations” arise from the Buddha Nature shining/peeping out of darkness, whereas negative situations/manifestations arise from not knowing we have this inherent, basic “goodness” and acting in ways contrary to it and towards others, producing “bad manifestations”.
“This primordial wisdom essence is the basis of all sentient beings’ manifestations. Good manifestation and not so good manifestations are all related to it. Good manifestations because compassion comes from it and loving kindness comes from it and understanding comes from it. Sympathy, empathy, all those wonderful things come from it. How? Because when this primordial nature essence is little bit understood and a little bit felt, and a little bit shining, like peeping out, then peeping through a small hole, shining, this is all the good. So, all the negative things are a byproduct of not knowing this and the ignorance of this. “
The next topic considered how war and human conflict is thousands of years old, since the time of homsapiens, and full of killing, anger, and destruction, all based upon ignorance of anger, aversion, jealousy, greed and so on. Tai Situpa gave a more personal and everyday example of how such destructive habits occur in “road rage” incidents:
“So, people have to commute to work some of them even going for a weekend holiday and they’re supposed to be enjoying it but they get into road rage. They get into a fight, and get into all kinds of terrible encounters with other human beings. So, all of these things are totally avoidable”
He also made the important distinction between wisdom and knowledge:
“Wisdom is always coming from inside. Wisdom is not knowledge, which is very good, but knowledge does not work like wisdom because one has so much knowledge but then when the crucial, serious time appears you forget.”
Tai Situpa shared a humorous anecdote to exemplify this about a martial arts enthusiast, who in the 1970s wore bell-bottoms and big heeled shoes. He said that when a fight started, he took of his shoes that “looked like bricks” but instead of fighting with them, he ran off as quickly as possible. Wisdom in action, or knowledge in flight?! ha ha ha
Afternoon session: our parents, karma and the difference between sentience and organic/non-sentience, and the importance of focusing on the Buddha nature jewel within
In the second part of the day, the 12th Tai Situpa started by talking about life, and being born as a human being. Sharing some information about how in Tibetan culture, the offspring are defined as the mother (flesh and blood) and father (bone):
“In my culture, if the mother moved to the father’s home to get married then we have the father’s surname, and if father moved to the mother’s home to get married then we will have mother’s surname. If they both went out of their house and formed a new house then we have to make a decision whose surname they will put on their children and also what will they call this new family. Normally, these kinds of people will come to me and ask me to give a new family name.
So, very interesting, anyway now the father and mother and our consciousness. So, the father’s karma is to be with the mother that will go back many lifetimes. It is not accidental. It goes back many lifetimes and the mother to be with the father, it will go back many lives and for us each one of us to be the son or the daughter of that father, many lifetimes of karma with the father. And to be the son or the daughter of that mother many lifetimes of that mother. So, it involves hundreds of thousands of lifetimes of connection between our father, our mother, between them and with us to become their son or their daughter. So, it is a very big process, a very strong connection.”
Then Tai Situpa discussed about agnostics, atheists and scientists’ beliefs and their perceptions of reality and reasoning for their beliefs and how when it comes to explaining sentience and karma, even related to non-sentient plants like an orange tree, the scientists fail to adequately explain the infinite causes and conditions and karma of how the seed becomes an orange tree and the difference between a sentient being and an a non-sentient/organic plant:
“Karma is a Sanskrit language. Karma means action. And the action of wind which blew the orange seed into the right soil or karma of a person purposely picked up the orange seed and put into the right soil with intention of growing an orange tree and all those kinds of things. So, action is needed. He says yeah that is true but still it is not karma. Then I say yes, if you think the fully matured orange is the same as fully matured me 22 years old fully matured me, then you are right. But I do not think I am like an orange I am a human being. I can think. I can make oranges grow. I can even put different oranges together and make a hybrid orange. So, I can make a green house in a place where orange does not grow. I can make oranges grow in a desert which is too hot naturally. Or in a very high place, where it is too cold, I can make it grow, but can oranges make that for me? I do not think so.”
He explained how he respects everyone from all walks of life, but in terms of his own needs, a small room with an attached bathroom (very important!) is all he needs. No need for gourmet food, or even a cook, especially he said “if they are stubborn and non co-operative”!
The topic changed to one of how people have difference focuses in life, some on money and material things, some on family and relationships, or on feelings, or more practical and so on. However, too much focus on one things means we miss the most meaningful thing to focus on:
“When they focusing on all of those things they might not focus on the most important aspect of life, which is the looking inward, which is a precious wish fulfilling gem. We all have inside our body the temple of buddha. So, the buddha inside we are not recognizing and we are not evolving ourselves to see and be more aware of it to start with. “
To conclude, 12th KhentingTai Situpa ended by referring to his precious guru, the Gyalwang Karmapa who had been with him since the age of five years old, and was still with him even now. Concluding with the importance of understanding that a meaningful life is one in which our Buddha Nature essence is understood and remembered, not just for ourselves and for others.
“My only intention is to make all of your lives meaningful as possible and for all of you to do that, I do not know how to do it. Except you have all the means for it inside you, your primordial wisdom. I just want to make sure you recognize it; and understand it first. Then, you recognize it, then you awaken it. Awaken sounds sometimes a little strange like you become possessed. It is not like that. It is “awakened from inside”, the wisdom awakens from inside. Compassion awakens from inside and then your life is meaningful. Not just for yourself but for everybody.”
Full transcript (including speech by Prajna Murdaya, the founding sponsor’s son, see here: Wisdom teaching Tai Situpa Borobudur January 2026 Day 1 transcript.
Endnotes
[1] This is something I agree with wholeheartedly, without truth there can be no real wisdom. Yet, I also wondered about how well it was being applied in that community and generally in the Tibetan Buddhist communities of teachers and followers. After all, having been labelled a trouble-maker by so-called Buddhists, without any discussion about the “trouble” with myself directly, or any actual investigation of the truth, the problems continue for them and those they passively ignore or shun. Also, it is said that deception can also be half-truths or even silence aimed at covering or ignoring important truths.
I am happy that you are enjoying my guru’s teachings. His style is quite unique and of course I love him. Cathy and I are going to Delhi for his Mahamudra teachings in April.
Hello Fred. I wrote the transcript so others can enjoy and benefit too. Although be careful when saying “my” guru apparently this can be a sign of attachment ha ha ha 🙂 Wishing you and Cathy well and safe travels in April!