I just came across one of my favorite stories about Paltrul Rinpoche (1808-1887).

At one point in his life, he took on the role of attending to an elderly widow nomad. During such times, he would go by his given name and not his Dharma name of Paltrul. Paltrul Rinpoche would clean for her, cook for her, pack her things, and help her get around.

One day, upon arriving in a new city, Paltrul Rinpoche had told her that he needed to be excused for a few hours because he had some things to attend to. She agreed and let him go take care of whatever it was that he had to do.

Not long after this she heard that a great yogi had just arrived in town and would be giving teachings that afternoon at the Monastery. Quickly she got herself ready and headed to the Monastery to receive the teachings. She was excited but disappointed that Paltrul Rinpoche would not be around to go with her.

To her surprise, when she arrived at the Monastery, it was none other than her attendant that was in fact the great teacher…Paltrul Rinpoche.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff

There is a constant challenge out there for Dzogchen. That is how do you integrate Dzogchen into the West.

There are some that have abandoned the basic methods of Vajrayana Buddhism. There are others that have held steadfast to the traditions of Tibet. I am far from an expert on this matter.

But I can promise you that if we think that everyone needs to dress up like Tibetan monks and repeat practices in Tibetan, it will never take hold in the United States. I am certain that the day will never come when a large percentage of the US population will ever be doing this. I do pray that the day will come when the essence of the Buddha-Dharma is embraced by a large majority of westerners. That, in my opinion, is possible.

So I am supportive of blending the essence of Vajrayana teachings into our society. We need to embrace the culture of our homeland and work within the system as it exists.

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in “Dzogchen – The Self-Perfected State” States:

“…the truth is that for a Western to practice a teaching that comes from Tibet there is NO NEED for that person to become like a Tibetan. On the contrary, it is of fundamental importance for him to know how to integrate that teaching with his own culture in order to be able to communicate it, in its essential form, to other Westerners.”

The trick is to have some Western teachers who can do just that. Until that time, we are probably stuck with importing some of culture with the Dharma.

Many Dharma Blessing,

Geoff

37 Practices of a Bodhisattva Number 2

“Remaining too long in one place, our attraction to loved ones upsets us,
We are tossed in its wake.
The flames of our anger towards those who annoy us consume what good merit we have gained in the past.
The darkness of closed-minded thinking dims our outlook,
We lose vivid sight of what’s right and what’s wrong.
We must give up our home and set forth from our country-
The sons of the Buddhas all practice this way.”

It is important for us to remember that the stages of practice go from that which is focused on entering the path, which always begins with renunciation. Eventually we move on to more subtle obstacles including thoughts as they arise. But first one needs to work the big issues.

So where in the first stanza, we are told to study, contemplate, and meditate on the Dharma, here we are advised to leave our homes and the environments, which can most easily cause negative emotions to arise.

He breaks down the difficulties which arise into the traditional three poison: desire/attachment; anger/hatred, and ignorance/wrong understanding. Remaining with our loved ones puts us close to objects of desire and attachment. Remaining in our town puts us close to those who might be the objects of anger and frustration. The comforts and familiarity of our home towns can result in closed-mind thinking just by its nature of being familiar and normal.

It is for this reason that Gyalse Togme states that we must leave our homes. His advice is rather harsh on those of us choosing the path of a Bodhisattva.

More often than not, writers on this stanza like to soften what has been said.
Khenpo Sonam told us in a retreat that it means exactly what is said. Leave your home needs to be done according to the author. However, Khenpo Sonam also said that he did not necessary agree with this being mandatory in order to progress along the Path.

In such a case, we can attempt to do the best that we can. Retreats away from your home are a temporary way. Letting go of our attachments is another approach. The intent is to give the objects/people, which become the conditions for negative emotions.

Buddhism is not about fundamental rules. Just because one teacher advises his students to follow a certain instruction, does not mean that everyone who is Buddhist should follow such an instruction 800 years later.

It is helpful to note that author studied under the Kadampa masters who insisted on living a strict monastic life. The Nyingma schools, in general, never accepted this. I personally admire teachers who lived part of the world including having a wife, children, and homes. This includes Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and Chatral Rinpoche.

This is not meant as an apology. I can overlook the strict nature of this stanza. For me, I might agree that leaving everything behind is the best and likely the most expedient approach, but I will follow my teachers who have told me that it is not the only approach.

Mentally letting go, for me is necessary. Physically leaving is optional.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff

Today on our local public radio program, they had an hour about the controversy about whether one should say “Happy Holidays” or say “Merry Christmas.”

Hmm! Why is this an issue, I thought. As I listened to this, I heard that there is apparently some backlash for being politically correct in saying “Happy Holidays!” It seems that some followers of Christianity find this offensive to them because the Holiday Season for them is all about celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ.

It seems to me that that wishing well in a greetings should you be directed to the celebrations of the one we are greeting. If I am greeting someone that is Jewish around Hanukah, I will say “Happy Hanukah.”

When it is close to the Tibetan New Year (which is a time for celebration for Tibetans) I say “Happy Losar.”

If I am uncertain of someone’s religious practices, I think that “Happy Holidays” is very appropriate and courteous. I am not assuming anything except that they recognize that for all of us in the United States, we can consider the break in the normal schedule as holidays.

Tolerance is something we use a little more of.

Happy Holidays!

Geoff

This sound human body, endowed with full leisure of freedom and fortune – an excellent vessel rare to be found.

"This sound human body, endowed with full leisure of freedom
and fortune– an excellent vessel rare to be found.
Since now we have obtained one in no way deficient,
Let us work day and night without veering off course
To cross the ocean [of samsara] and free from us from
its cyclic existence.
Not only ourselves but all sentient beings as well.
First Listen, contemplate and meditate
The Bodhisattvas all practice this way."

The first stanza of the Way of the Bodhisattva is to remind us that we are truly fortunate to have obtained a human body in this lifetime. Since we have this fortunate birth, there is no time to waste. We have the opportunity to use this wonderful “vessel” to cross the worldly suffering and be free.

Our efforts to awakened is not only for our own benefit but beings as well. The practice of the Bodhisattva is the practice to the awakening of all sentient beings.

To summarize the path of practice for Vajrayana practicitioners is always through listening to the teachings from a qualified master, contemplate the teachings, and then to meditate on the essence of the teachings.

Through listening to the teachings one gains understanding.
Through contemplation we gain experience with the Buddha-Dharma.
Through meditation we obtain realization.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff