Оригинал разговора на английском:
Jane: Namaste, Geshe-la.
Geshe Thupten Negi: Namaste.
Jane: Please explain to us how it is best to spiritually prepare for the Kailash Kora?
Geshe Thupten Negi: Spiritual preparation for the Kailash Kora means that you should keep a certain intention in your mind. When you go to do the Kailash Kora, you should think: “I am taking all sentient beings with me. I will lead them and bring them to the Kailash Kora together with me.”
First you should keep all sentient beings in your heart. After that, your body, your actions, and your speech — whatever you do, whatever you dedicate, whatever prayers you make — should all be dedicated for them.
You should pray for peace on this earth and bring peace to this world. If someone is able to reach Mount Kailash, or even if not, at least they can release their negativities, purify themselves, and create good fortune. That is why you should think: “I am going to the Kailash Kora for all sentient beings.” In this way you represent all sentient beings. This is the best spiritual way of thinking. You dedicate everything for all sentient beings.
There are many different dharma activities. For example, when people go around monasteries in kora practice, there are different ways to go. It doesn’t matter so much whether you go clockwise or anticlockwise — the Bon tradition goes anticlockwise and Buddhists go clockwise — but the most important thing is your intention.
If your intention is good, it doesn’t matter which way you go. Your intention should be: “I am doing this kora to support all sentient beings, to clear their negativities, their problems and struggles, so that everything can become purified.”
When you are walking, your body is acting. When you are praying with your mouth, that is speech. These are the three doors — body, speech, and mind — and they should all serve and be dedicated to all sentient beings.
So intention is very important.
Jane: Thank you very much, Geshe-la. Does that mean we need to have an intention before the kora? Or can we just go without intention?
Geshe: No, everyone always has some intention. Without intention nobody can move. Whenever people move or act, there is already some intention appearing in the mind. So the important thing is to keep a positive intention, not a negative intention.
Sometimes people go with different intentions. For example, someone may wish to become healthier, or more spiritual. Someone may go because they would like to have a child but cannot yet. Someone may wish to become richer. Someone may want deeper spiritual practice or meditation.
Anyway, there is always some intention.
From a spiritual point of view, the important thing is to keep a positive intention. Negative intention is not spiritual intention. Spiritual intention means positive intention.
Jane: For kora you mean?
Geshe: For kora or for any action.
If people don’t know about dedicating the practice for sentient beings, even then walking the kora can still be beneficial. You are moving, climbing, breathing the mountain environment, and that can support your health and wellbeing.
But spiritually, people can keep the broader intention for all sentient beings.
Jane: Now, is it possible to go not only with a spiritual intention but also with some material intention? For example, someone might wish to buy an apartment.
Geshe: Yes, that can also be a good intention. An apartment is a place where people live and stay. Wanting a good place to live is also a positive intention. Intention should be something that you can realistically achieve.
Some people keep their intention too high, something they cannot achieve. Then later they feel regret. When regret appears, it does not help. So it is better to keep an intention that you can achieve and not regret later.
Jane: Is enlightenment a good intention for kora?
Geshe: Yes, enlightenment is a good intention. But you should not regret later thinking, “I went to Kailash but I did not become enlightened.” You should simply keep going on the path without regret.
Without regret, intention is good.
Jane: Thank you.