Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 41-minute talk, Geshe Dhawa Gyaltsen opens with the fundamental reason to study death: consciousness doesn’t vanish but continues into rebirth according to one’s actions—virtuous conduct brings fortunate rebirth, harmful actions bring suffering. He frames the core teaching through a striking metaphor: the mind’s nature is clear and undefiled, like clean water or cloudless sky, temporarily obscured by delusions. Training the mind through virtuous action is the antidote that removes these obscurations. He walks through the three stages of the rebirth cycle (death, intermediate state, conception and development in the womb) and addresses direct questions about memory of past lives, the relationship between sleep and intermediate state, and a challenging case about compassion and abortion. Practical and grounded.
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File: 02 DaD no date.mp3
UUID: e60922fb-26ca-4faf-b043-fc071da6ac9c
Teacher: Geshe Dhawa Gyaltsen
Collection: Death and Dying (Geshe Dhawa Gyaltsen)
Date: 1982 (exact day not recorded)
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 40.7 minutes
Words: ~3,343
The reason why it is important to identify the different signs of death and why it is important to understand particularly the various occurring sciences signs during the period of death is because when we die and after death, we will not vanish like other insentient things. Our mental, what’s called, consciousness, the continuum of the mental consciousness which unceasingly travels from one life to another, from what’s called death to the intermediate state. And from that, taking the actual what’s called rebirth according to one’s creation or accumulation or commission of actions. So after death, we take rebirth. So when we take rebirth, we find there are many different rebirths.
And from those rebirths, we also find some person have very good rebirth in sense have are are wealthy, attractive physical body, possessing attractive physical body, loved by all other peoples, and so on. So some person’s rebirth, which they have taken in the sense that their physical body carries ugliness, ugliness or ugly. No one loves to them. And other people don’t relate with such person with harmoniously, with dearly, with pleasantly, and so and so. So now if you think, what are is what is the difference between these two rebirths?
Although the rebirths are both as human. So the differentiation between these two is because of the causes. Due to performing the virtuous actions such as practicing the perfection of generosity, perfection of observing morality, perfection of patience, and so on, which are the causes of better rebirth. And due to the performing negative action such as generating anger and show directing that directing that anger towards other. Feeling hatred towards other.
Becoming arrogance, becoming what’s called jealousy, and overestimating and underestimating someone and despising the people. Those are the causes for taking the worst rebirth or lower rebirth. So the main point why it is necessary to understand and to identify very precisely and accurately the process of death is important. From this point of view, we know after death, we will want vanish, and we have to take some reward sooner or later according to our actions. So who performs the action and what will receive as a result of that action have to be examined, have to be Take rebirth accordingly, because the nature of the causes are positive and negative respectively.
Mhmm. Therefore, all the results are all the results are following the same nature of their causes. In this way, now in this way, the circling of death entering into the intermediate state and birth existing. So in this way, we are circling around and around due to those created what’s called creation of actions. So we need to understand a little bit what’s called mode on those topics.
The nature of our the nature of the the nature of the mind is not oneness with contaminations, with afflictions, or pollution. It is like a stainless space, cloudless space, and it’s like what’s called mudless water. The nature of the sky is clear, clean. But due to temporal, what’s called, existing of cloud, we what’s called? We can’t see its nature clearly because the cloud obscures the nature of the sky.
Same as the nature of the water is clean and clear. Whereas when it is what’s called turbid, when it is contaminated by mud, then we can’t see the clarity of the water, which is its nature. So those contaminations, those what’s called obstacles are temporal existence that doesn’t exist permanently and ultimately, they obscure its nature when what’s called meet with other conditions, and they also go off when they meet other circumstantial conditions. So in the same way, the nature of our mind is clear and cognizant. It is not one with it’s not oneness with the delusions, afflictions, and contaminations.
But temporarily, due to the existence of this, what’s called, delusions, afflictions, contaminations. They obscure. They block our clear clear what’s called? Our clear mind or clear consciousness. But they are not, what’s called, oneness to our minds.
So they aren’t exist what’s called? They aren’t so they aren’t exist, what’s called, permanently or ultimately. So therefore, our mind is not oneness with collisions, with what’s called afflictions. Although it may obscured by those contaminations. So the question comes, how can we remove those pollutions who temporarily obscure the natural mind?
So here comes the practice of two part which is the true end to those obscurations, those afflictions. To start with an actual antidote, we have to train our mind. We have to what’s called transform our mind through practicing virtuous action, virtuous deeds. So from the very beginning, taking initial step, we we need to familiarize our mind to perform those which are positive, those which are virtuous, and to remove, to what called refrain from those which are negative, from those which are by nature delusions. So in this way, we have to train our mind in proper way in order to achieve the better what’s called?
rebirth in next, which is the result of our actions. So we need to train our mind in two parts, which is the cause of sorry. Which the antidote to the delusions and afflictions. So in this way, from the very beginning, we need to train on those basic virtuous actions which are easy to adopt and easy which are easy to refrain from the negative things. So in this way, we encircle through death entering into intermediate state state and actual taking birth.
So the discussions on the intermediate stage and birth are very extensive, we were not able to go very detail on those topics. So now I have given very short and brief explanation on what you call this, death and about intermediate state. Now here comes what’s called birth birth. So here is from one ankle, it is quite what’s called each to every hand, each to understand. Because when mother conceives first, very first moment.
Okay. When okay. When what’s called when mental consciousness enters into the mother’s womb, at first, very difficult to the first one, that it will be a first moment of that continuum. So when mother conceives baby at first, that what’s called? That condition.
And after after spending of a week in wombs condition are completely different. So when mother conceives a baby, so that baby after every week, what’s the word? I mean, Sorry. You want to know oral language? No.
I mean, how the right place so that it’s. No. No. I’m just yeah. I know.
But I feel sometimes. Yeah. So that very moment, at first moment, and baby who spends seven days in the womb are completely completely different in shape, in what we call functioning with nadis, what we have discussed in the morning, and other what called eye sensitive organs, and so on and so. Because after each and every week, baby, the baby developed in a great extent. Then all these, what’s called limbs and other parts of the body, they appeared in its own shape, although not whole, what’s called, matured.
So this happens during those, what’s called, period. So so the what’s called entering the consciousnesses and other elements and other object sense are just similar, except there will come reverse as we have talked in the morning. The dissolution of the consciousness and so on and so. Same, but it is. So you what’s called is sort of on a process in developing the what’s called bond child to the aged person.
In the same case, it has to be developed in womb until he comes into his own shape. So this is quite easy to understand, and we don’t need to go very extensive. So you you will understand very well on this point. He again would go through all those procedures, what we have done in the morning. So it’s quite clear.
So these are the three stages of taking rebirth. Death, entering into intermediate stage, and then birth. So now I have already roughly and briefly given some what’s called? Buddhist point of view on those points, on those topics. So we may we may we may contemplate over those and try to relate one’s mental continuum during our contemplation.
Now as I was told to talk particularly on death and dying, so although there are many way of finding the signs of death, there are many ways of finding signs of death, and there are many ways of checking one once he who has received certain signs, such as for your knowledge, what’s called transmission of consciousness, this is one way of what’s called this is one method to find out how that process occurred. And there are many other investigations finding the signs of death on various different methods. So if who are very interested, especially to understand on those this topic, maybe try to find out some, what’s called, reliable sources which give you more accurate knowledge. So now what I want to say here is whether, alright, whether we accept or not that one is practitioner of different faith or whether that one doesn’t accept as practitioner of different faith. No matter if his action, if his deeds are virtuous, that will be enough.
And that is what’s called that’s the thing what we want. Suppose if someone is tying with some monk’s sign that I’m a great practitioner, and if he does positive things and what’s called beneficial things to others and himself, that is real, the virtuous action, what we need. And he can be asserted as a pakshena. Whereas that person doesn’t act properly, virtuously, which benefits self as well as other, it doesn’t mean only living in such a community will prove one as a practitioner. Because his way of acting is completely reversed what he has asserted.
Asserted. So this case one, an answer if he’s one says, I am not a practitioner at all. No matter, this is assertion. But if he acts virtuously, tries to benefit others through what’s called spiritual way of life, that thing should be done. And that is the main thing which gives us result as what’s called?
It gives a result in positive ways. So that should be adopted. We should maintain that way of, what’s called, that way of conducting and that way of relating with others. So this is the thing what we need. No matter what he says from his own mouth, Thing is that we have to investigate deeds.
If something is good for others and for self in order to achieve something positive, that is the virtuous deed, and that gives you the merit, and that gives you the good result. Even you you say that you are great and you are warm, what’s called, wonderful and marvelous. If you act worse than that, it doesn’t mean that you are great or wonderful. So we can’t judge someone merely one’s assertion. The most important is to engage into some deed in order to benefit others.
So we should do our best impossibly in order to get better rebirth in next time. Some questions. Is there any similarity between this intermediate state and reverse and falling asleep, being asleep, and reawakening every every day. Oh, I see. You want to know the similarity between the what’s called?
Sleeping time and awake. Or you want to know the similarity between the sleeping time or intermediate state. What? Mean falling asleep, like the way the consciousness Sorry. Manages ten and and in the morning it comes So the the smaller cycle and the big cycle.
This is because you can make some possibility in giving instances as what’s called this sleeping consciousness and intermediate states. Because when you fall asleep, your sense consciousness, alright, your sense consciousness, they become unsavievable. Okay? So during that, you don’t do any functions. Alright.
So when you wake up, you remember your previous days’ activities, and you continue some sort of work. In the same, there is for instance or example. So when we, what’s called, lift our body by the subtle consciousness and enters into this intermediate state, that will not engage in other any other activities which we have done in our previous lives. So when we take some rebirth, again, we engage into some what’s wrong? Other jobs or works.
That is only some there’s some possibility to express those bird intermediate state and birds by giving the examples of sleep and what’s called and what’s called this? Sleeping and awakening. But there’s no we can’t put the real similarity between these two. Yes. Intermediate state being entered into the Yeah.
What do you call it? It’s conception, is it? We conceive. Conceive. Conceive.
That’s all concession. So that’s true. The mental consciousness goes in conception. Is that right? Yeah.
Now I assume this this state is is aware of where it is then. Sorry. When when the the mental consciousness, right, goes into the womb conception Yeah. It’s aware up until the time of physical birth. Is that correct?
So subsequently once the birth process is carried out to the physical birth to the consciousness as we experience now, That previous consciousness isn’t remembered. Isn’t remembered? Isn’t remembered. Does that mean? Okay.
Just a first of all. Okay. You know very well that the mental condition is or scope enters in the womb. So when due to some as the lapse of some time, that consciousness conceives other physical form, Not perfectly shaped, complete shape, but he receives some sort of limbs, some sort of solid this and that. So when in that, what’s called, form, when wind passes, inner wind passes, then he can move his limbs here and there.
When he that baby was able to move his limbs, he can feel the different types of feelings, whether pleasure, what’s called, pleasure or what’s called? Then in disease, anyway, neutral. So he feels that sort of feelings that comes when about to give birth. So that also baby has consciousness, form, feeling, and so on during the wombs. What?
Which? Up until this the time that the the in the world. The baby can’t remember what it felt. No. What he said during the in In general speaking, it varies person to person because we find some person in India as well as in Tibet, those who can really tell their former life very clearly.
So those person should remember. Otherwise, there’s long gap between them. So those people can remember. They can tell and their memories is quite clear. But other than those who haven’t got any sort of realization may forget because we find some very young baby, you know, if he tells something, you know, he forgets very easily.
So most people, they forget what is being happened in womb. For babies sometimes mothers’ noise in the womb are played in a tape and it pacifies them. So it must be that they Pacify them? The baby. Pacifies the baby to listen to that tape that was taken from the noises of the mother’s womb.
Mhmm. So it must be that it’s something similar, something that they remember. Okay. So in general, all the, what’s called, childrens, all all the babies who are born out have great suffering, and they do cry because we know the suffering of birth. That is terrible, unbearable suffering.
Even we use our very we think our hand is soft and we we touch. But due to the delicate what’s called? Delicacy of the baby’s skin and softness of their skin, they feel very rough. So they have very unbearable suffering during the birth. So most people, most baby, they do cry except those who come on this earth knowingly do the realizations.
Yes. So when that examination was done when the baby was already almost all matured in womb, then it might be very harmful for the baby. But from what’s called but in text, Buddhist text, there was nothing was I mean, good or bad was mentioned because we don’t utilize such practice before. So I can’t clearly say definitely, but it is quite certain that it might be harmed. It it it harmed the baby badly and seriously.
So the thing is that now when doctor examines the baby, so when he finds that he has a very serious wrong, this and that, It should be understand when the baby was quite well developed, don’t they? In the wombs. In the wombs. Want the baby. So they have the baby killed while it’s inside the body.
Yes. This I understood. Yeah. But we would like to know the whether Okay. Just the thing is that, you know, what we assign is that, you know, when doctor do the examination, alright, when doctor do the examination, when the baby is quite well developed in the womb, say, all the limbs and have the ability to move.
Okay? So when at that stage, if he or I don’t know. Who does abortion, he does it that harms to the baby. To the caution? He has already formed.
That’s why he has movement. So that really harm the baby badly and seriously. Although it wasn’t there clearly, what’s called mentioning, Buddhist texts, good or bad, because there’s no practice before that. I would like to ask another question on that subject that if in those old days in the texts a woman wouldn’t know such a thing about her baby if it was deformed or deformed or not. And she usually also couldn’t terminate it but would kill it even if she wanted to.
These days a woman will know, doctors will tell her, your baby will be probably blind or deaf or its back will be open, it will never walk or it will be retarded, you know, or no arms and legs or two heads, whatever. Once you’ve been also say to you, it’s your choice. You go on and give the baby birth and it lives a life of suffering. Or you kill it and it has a short life. We now have that choice that does not exist before.
Mhmm. Then it might be more cruel to bring the baby to birth into a life of such suffering. Do think it will more It might be more compassionate to abort it. Do you think it’s more compassion? This point of view, it is end of the matter.
It’s end of the talk. So I can’t comment any thing on this point because it is beyond our sort of topic. So I won’t say I won’t comment anything. And if you’re seeing as you said, because if you give birth, you have to experience whole life’s sufferings. So better to kill.
Then it is another matter. You are thinking from another angle. So who he thinks in that way have their own reason. So, otherwise, I can’t say anything. This is what it’s called discomfort.
Yes. Oh, I see. As I said before, our causal mental continuum has to become unceasingly from our own mental continuum. The gradual cause of mental continuum cannot be contributed by other things. But circumstantial condition may help a little bit in supporting others’ what’s called mental continuum, but that doesn’t mean that his causal condition is parent’s mind or other’s mind.
It has become from what’s called previous life unceasingly from our own mental continuum. So otherwise, we find if in a family their father is very intelligent, say very intelligent, sometimes we find their offspring are also intelligent. It suppose it shows that the little relation, not casual, but conditions, Anyway, I will say subsequent condition may be derived from parents, but not causal condition or not casual cause. You know? Clear?
So that’s why. So now we should stop here because we have got we got in a very good point, having good family, very intelligent father gave very good intelligent offspring, so better to stop this point.