Karmapa tosses the object at Nalandabodhi

Karmapa’s Quantum Compassion or  Quantum prank!?

Tossing the Object at Nalandabodhi, Seattle.

It was the last web-streamed teaching of Karmapa’s  U.S. tour.

Nalandabodhi is the organization created by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche to support his students in their study of Buddhist philosophy and the practice of meditation under his direction. 

Karmapa’s overall topic was  a call to compassionate action, and near the end, 

 he made a distinction between doing an action to benefit beings, vs. existing as one who actually embodies the nature of being genuinely beneficial.

He concluded his teaching with a pith instruction.

 ....“if we set ourselves up as the person who wishes to benefit others, and set the goal of benefiting others separate from that,

 then we will never accomplish the fully genuine expression of benefiting others...

"I think, in general, there still seems to be a sense that there is too much distance between what we say and what we do.

 “It’s important to not just content oneself with saying things. And not just satisfy oneself through understanding things.

"But actually take what was said, and take what was understood, and apply that as meaningfully as we can, to our own minds, and then begin to bring it into our experience, through practice, and through effort. 

"This means taking away the separation between the dharma and the person. We don't want the Dharma and the person to be two separate things; we want them to merge together..."

They say the Karmapa teaches on many planes at once--and here you can plainly see it!

The Karmapa lifted a small object from the table...

And transferred it to his right hand.....

As the translator continued: "In another way, you could describe this as lack of separation,  between the action and the performer of the action."

The translator did not intone the word ACTION like a movie director offering a cue—yet  the Karmapa tossed the the object at that very second—

  

The demonstration was executed smoothly and naturally. So subtle it could almost be missed, although you could hear a surprised murmur wave through the audience. The timing was flawless. The object sailed like a living koan or tiny buddha—whisking away any residue of dullness that words and theories can cause. Immediately after, the Karmapa offered a kind of spiritual equation:

"So, as short of a distance as we can make, between the action and the performer of the action... to that degree, we will truly come to understand reality, and manifest genuinely positive results."

As you can see for yourself, there was very little distance between the action and the performer of the action--in fact, they were seamlessly united--from the moment the action was born until the moment it ceased. And henceforth, it seems anyone who witnessed or was effected by this specific  action will seamlessly associate it with the performer of the action.

For me, witnessing this visual demonstration, while simultaneously hearing the instruction, was an empowerment! It awakened a sense memory of all the times, for whatever reason, since I was a child, when I had a goal and acted in accordance, with confidence and unity of my being with the goal—in a simplicity, with a true desire, with a full awareness, with all my innate abilities, fully acting, and at the same time, letting go of control.

Like a slam-dunk basket! And a lot of other things.

The unexpected action and the swiftness of its execution, and its perfect unity with each word --(please try to see the vid for yourself)—opened a door that no matter of complicated or special practices could open.

It said—if not now, when?

It said—come on, you know what to do, so just do it!

It said—yes, you do so know how to  love and care for others,  stop pretending you forgot.

It said—go ahead and smile.

“Extending love and concern to others, is the essence of being alive as a human....If you seize whatever opportunities you have to develop compassion, that would be beneficial.”

 Thank you for devoting your life and efforts to this, your Holiness Karmapa, and coming here to be with us and share with us. May you be well and happy, may you achieve what you wish, with no obstacle between you and your students!