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Reagrding Prosperity and Spiritual Materialism: One might listen to the 2006 Dalai Lama teaching in Miami (available for download on-line) during which he discusses the need for Westerners to better understand the relationship between materialism, leisure time, and the Dharma. It is a liberating discussion, rather than one of judgment, veiled jealousies, or the use of critical "Buddhisms." It was a pleasure to personally witness his 21st Century Vajrayana inflection of these realities that some consider taboo. The rise of Buddhism in the West is inseparable from his legacy. My hope is that Dharma efforts worldwide will liberate billions of human beings, and that World Peace will be achieved through every means necessary including materialism.
Advice of Jamgon Kongtrul (Trungpa's Guru) to Trungpa, "In India, Buddha was born a prince and became a monk but that in the West, a monk might have to become a prince." Dragon Thunder, Diana Mukpo (Trungpa's wife), pg 75. Very best to all,
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