The future...

via Inspiration from Great Buddhist Masters

~ Interview with the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa,

1979

Question:

Some prophecies predict big changes, disasters and even the end of the world within a few years. What do you think about this?

Karmapa:

I don’t think speculation about the future is useful. Rather, we should dedicate our time to practicing Dharma to free our minds and recognize the nature of primitive and timeless consciousness. Just as pouring cold water into boiling water reduces its restlessness, through practice the mind becomes more and more calmer. In addition, it allows us to contemplate the impermanence of all phenomena and therefore use this topic in our meditation practice. We shouldn’t get lost in many arguments, but rather allow the fear of unmeaning dangers to help us understand the impermanence and the transitional nature of all composed phenomena. We will then apply the capable means of Dharma.

Reflecting endlessly on these difficulties is only feeding them. I hope things will work out, but our job is to cultivate a compassionate mindset and understand that suffering is inherent in the conditional world.

Recently, I practiced Tara very intensely and prayed to this yidam to intervene in a conflict between China, Vietnam and the Soviet Union, which risked to intensify. During my retreat, China withdrew from the country and the two parties fortunately made peace. Therefore, it is recommended to pray and above all to appeal with intense prayers to Tārā as a means to ensure peace.

Other than that, I don't think there will be a great war. Rather, there will be smaller and smaller conflicts, turbulence, wars and so on. We must remember that the reason we think there is more conflict in the world today might be because the media talks more about it than before.