It works the same way in the world as it does in the Dharma. If you are just doing something ordinary but you have a lot of support, you have a lot of people behind you, you have a lot of money, you have power behind you, it is easier to accomplish your aims. It is the same thing to rely on an authentic lineage. That is the support we need to bring our practice to fruition. It's extremely important, in fact, it is essentia,l that our practice of the Dharma be in accord with the pure teachings of the Dharma and that we follow the correct path, the genuine path. What will make the pure Dharma go astray, or make our pure understanding of the Dharma go astray, is when Dharma becomes mixed up with politics or if the people involved are somehow deceptive.

  This is how we get off track.

  I have been in this country, in America, for 22 years and we've offered a lot of butterlamps in that time and many people have great faith in this offering. They make requests for prayers that are connected with the making of these offerings, and will request a certain amount of butterlamps and ask us to pray for their health, or to pray for someone who has passed away. Or, if they can't find a job or a place to live, or whatever personal situation they feel where they need some assistance, we help and offer the lamps and pray and we have found this is a very good method. It works very well and people are very happy with the results.

  There have been no complaints. People call when they are on their way to take a plane trip to India or California, wherever they may be going, and ask us to pray that they arrive safely or that they arrive swiftly, and easily and it's always worked out.

  People may say their children are sick, their father, mother or grandmother is sick, they may have cancer, AIDS, or many other problems, and when we pray I think it works for most people. Nobody has complained to me.

  I am very happy that everyone here at KSC offers these butterlamps every week. I promise that this will bring everybody long life, good health, great merit, and will also be of great benefit to Hollywood, Florida. It will bring good success to Kagyu Shedrup Chöling. The members will be very strong. I see very clearly from last year to this year that everybody's face is different, healthier, and I think that the merit is working.