Introduction.

We want to produce Buddhism, not consume it. We want each of us to develop into a temple and not create one somewhere outside. We want to allow each of us to possess the ability to really benefit others. Because we do not want to believe or believe in a fanatic way, we really want to develop everyone’s potential and everyone’s power. You have to understand that you have to stay conscious and to keep producing Buddhism in your lives.

You are Buddhism. Buddhism is not something outside, it is not something else. Buddhism is the way you eat, drink, make love, think, feel; all this is Buddhism. Never have there been so many educated, independent people with so much ability as we find today. This has never happened before. For the first time in history we are on a world-wide scale, held together by friendship and idealism that can produce this wonderful thing called Mahamudra communities. Where we are all really close together, we are already friends, trusting each other back from former lives. There we are really capable of hearing through thousands of ears and seeing through thousands of eyes and learning through each other’s experiences. This has never happened before, we must make it happen. If Buddhism, a view which goes beyond the next paycheck, a great liberating view, is going to live in this world, it has to come from us!

The thing to do is go out and be independent, strong, and shine on all beings; find your own inner strength. We find strength in our groups and centers and we always remind ourselves of the importance of what is going on. The whole outer world is trying to take us away from the important things in life. They are trying to tell us to buy this and we will be happy, go there and do that and you will be happy. Then when you have gone everywhere, done everything, seen everything, when you die you still cannot take it with you. For this reason, please make yourselves strong, rely on yourselves, trust your friends, and work together. Do not start consuming Buddhism, produce it in your own hearts, in your own beds, or wherever else you express yourselves. Give as much as you can, find your inner power and your inner abilities as much as you can. In all the centers we have, the whole group carries the blessing and then this blessing condenses and accentuates itself through the people who are there. It brings them together and it comes alive.

Lama Ole Nydahl - San Francisco 1995.