L A M A Y E S H E W I S D O M A R C H I V E

Lama YesheBecoming Your Own Therapist

An Introduction to the Buddhist Way of Thought

BECOMING YOUR OWN THERAPIST

Previously published by the LAMA YESHE WISDOMARCHIVE

Advice for Monks and Nuns, by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa RinpocheVirtue and Reality, by Lama Zopa RinpocheMake Your Mind an Ocean, by Lama YesheTeachings from the Vajrasattva Retreat, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

For initiates only:A Chat about Heruka, by Lama Zopa RinpocheA Chat about Yamantaka, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Forthcoming in 2000Making Life Meaningful, by Lama Zopa RinpocheThe Essence of Tibetan Buddhism: The Three Principal Aspects of the Pathand An Introduction to Tantra, by Lama Yeshe

(Contact us for information)

May whoever sees, touches, reads, remembers, or talks or thinks about these booklets never be reborn in unfortunate circumstances, receive only rebirths in situations conducive to the perfect practice of Dharma, meet only perfectly qualified spiritual guides, quickly develop bodhicitta and immediately attain enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.

LAMA YESHE WISDOM ARCHIVE BOSTON

Edited by Nicholas Ribush

www.LamaYeshe.com

A non-profit charitable organization for the benefit of all sentient beings and a section of the Foundation for the

Preservation of the Mahayana Traditionwww.fpmt.org

An Introduction to the Buddhist Way of Thought

BECOMING YOUR OWN THERAPIST

LAMA YESHE

First published 199810,000 copies for free distributionSecond printing 1998, 12,000Third printing 1999, 8,000Fourth printing 2000, 12,000

Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche 1998

LAMA YESHE WISDOM ARCHIVEPO BOX 356WESTONMA 02493 USA

Please do not reproduce any part of this booklet by any means whatsoever without our permission

Front cover photograph by Ricardo de AratanhaBack cover photograph by Ueli Minder

Printed in Canada on recycled, acid-free paper

Please contact the LAMA YESHE WISDOMARCHIVE for copies of ourfree booklets

ISBN 1-891868-00-4

10 9 8 7 6 5 4

EDITORS INTRODUCTION 9

FINDING OURSELVES THROUGH BUDDHISM 11

RELIGION: THE PATH OF INQUIRY 29

A GLIMPSE OF BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY 45

CONTENTS

BENEFACTORS DEDICATION

In memory of my ever-so-sweet brother, Albie Miller, born 6 June1951, died 16 October 1974. May the joyful exuberance, childlikewonderment and peace of mind that escaped you be yours againnowand always. May your dear heart be overflowing with unimaginablebliss, forever.

And in memory of my grandmother, "Boo" Fleischhacker, whosehonesty, generosity, kindness and caringand special love and respectfor animalsleft an indelible impression on my heart and mind. Herloving example made these qualities so very appealingan examplethat was as compelling as it was unassuming. May you reap countlessbenefits for all the goodness you brought into this world and mayboundless joy be your eternal companion.

And to all who have made these dedications possible.

Therese Miller Yarrison

PUBLISHERS NOTE

We are very grateful to Therese Miller for sponsoring this reprint ofLama Yeshes extremely popular Becoming Your Own Therapist inmemory of her late brother and grandmother, for their sake and forthat of all sentient beings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said that spon-soring the publication of Dharma teachings in memory of deceasedrelatives and friends was very common in Tibet and is of great bene-fit. Therefore, the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive encourages otherswho might like to make booklets of teachings by Lama Yeshe andLama Zopa Rinpoche available for free distribution in this way tocontact us for more information. Thank you so much.

We are also most grateful to our friends and supporters who havemade it possible for the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive to both existand function. To Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, whose kind-ness is impossible to repay. To Peter and Nicole Kedge and VenerableAilsa Cameron for helping bring the Archive to its present state ofdevelopment. To Venerable Roger Kunsang, Lama Zopas tirelessassistant, for his kindness and consideration. And to our sustainingsupporters: Drs. Penny Noyce & Leo Liu, Barry & Connie Hershey,Joan Terry, Roger & Claire Ash-Wheeler, Henry & Catherine Lau,Claire Atkins, Ecie Hursthouse, Lily Chang Wu, Nancy Pan, ThubtenYeshe Alexander, Tom & Suzanne Castles, Datuk Tai Tsu Kuang,Chuah Kok Leng, the Caytons (Lori, Karuna, Pam, Bob & Amy),Claire Ritter, Tom Thorning, Wisdom Books (London), Tan SweeEng, Salim Lee, Richard Gere, Cecily Drucker, Lynnea Elkind, JanetMoore, Su Hung, Carol Davies and Lorenzo Vassallo.

Finally, we would also like to thank the many kind people who haveasked that their donations be kept anonymous and the volunteers whohave given so generously of their time to help us with our mailings.

EDITORS INTRODUCTION

Lama Yeshes teachings are unique. Nobody taught like Lama.

Spontaneous, from the heart, in the moment, direct; every word an

instruction to be practiced. Lamas English was unique. Nobody

spoke like Lama. Highly creative, Lama expressed himself not only

verbally, but physically and facially as well. How to convey this miracu-

lous transmission on paper? As I have noted elsewhere, those of us pre-

sented with this challenge do the best we can.

As Lama frequently liked to point out, his teachings were not dry,

academic, philosophical discourses but practical, down-to-earth meth-

ods for looking within and understanding the mind. Lama always

challenged us to find out who we are, what we are. In his inimitable,

provocative style, he would dare us to examine our preconceptions

fearlessly, in the hope that we would see for ourselves how everything

comes from the mind; that we create our own suffering and happiness;

that we must take personal responsibility for whatever we experience,

good or bad.

In this booklet we offer three talks by Lama Yeshe on the general

topic of Buddhism. They were public lectures given more than twenty

years ago to mainly Western audiences. Nevertheless, as Lama also

liked to point out, Lord Buddhas timeless teachings are as universally

relevant today as they were when they were first given, over 2,500

years ago. Therefore, there is no doubt that now, a mere two decades

down the road, Lama Yeshes teachings are as globally applicable as

they were back in the seventies.

Each lecture is followed by a question and answer session. Lama

and his audiences always enjoyed the give and take of these lively

exchanges, and pretty much anything went. For most people, it was

their first ever encounter with a Tibetan lama, and they brought along

several years worth of questions. As is apparent, Lama handled every-

thing with great compassion, humor and aplomb.

Although these talks were called lectures, I think Lama would

have each of us use them as a mirror for our mind and look beyond

the words, find ourselves, and become our own psychologist.

I would like to thank Cheryl Bentsen, Rand Engel and Wendy Cook

for their insightful comments, which greatly improved the edited

version of these talks, and Mark and Linda Gatter for their help in

the design and production of this booklet.

BECOMING YOUR OWN THERAPIST

When we study Buddhism, we are studying ourselves, the nature of

our own minds. Instead of focusing on some supreme being,

Buddhism emphasizes more practical matters, such as how to lead our

lives, how to integrate our minds and how to keep our everyday lives

peaceful and healthy. In other words, Buddhism always accentuates

experiential knowledge-wisdom rather than some dogmatic view. In

fact, we dont even consider Buddhism to be a religion in the usual

sense of the term. From the lamas point of view, Buddhist teachings

are more in the realm of philosophy, science or psychology.

The human mind instinctively seeks happiness. East, West

theres no difference; everybodys doing the same thing. But if your

search for happiness causes you to grasp emotionally at the sense

world, it can be very dangerous. You have no control.

Now, dont think that control is an Eastern thing, a Buddhist

thing. We all need control, especially those of us caught up in the

materialistic life; psychologically, emotionally, were too involved in

objects of attachment. From the Buddhist point of view, thats an

unhealthy mind; youre mentally ill.

Actually, you already know that external, scientific technological

development alone cannot satisfy the desires of your attachment or

11

FINDING OURSELVES THROUGH BUDDHISM

solve your other emotional problems. But what Lord Buddhas teach-

ing shows you is the characteristic nature of human potential, the

capacity of the human mind. When you study Buddhism, you learn

what you are and how to develop further; instead of emphasizing some

kind of supernatural belief system, Buddhist methods teach you to

develop a deep understanding of yourself and all other phenomena.

However, whether you are religious or a materialist, a believer or an

atheist, it is crucial that you know how your own mind works. If you

dont, youll go around thinking youre healthy, when in reality, the

deep root of afflictive emotions, the true cause of all psychological dis-

ease, is there, growing within you. Because of that, all it takes is some

tiny external thing changing, something