Contemplations on “Fragile Ego” 1st part
Summation: Do not be ashamed to be confused on the path as a student, clarify your confusion instead. Do not be aloof towards student as a teacher, connect to accept responsibility and explain things correctly or leave the room.
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There is an interesting phenomena out there.
In this age of freedom of information when one can buy any book on amazon and if that desired book is published as restricted, one can bypass the amazon altogether and download a PDF, if one desires.
In this age ideas and their validity have some chance to be established.
Without doubt all understanding is always based on each person’s background, their level of readiness so to speak.
A metaphorical idea in this is that if we assume for there to be several languages out there, in order to read in other then your native language you need to know that other language already.
And in that way to be prepared to engage with the ideas.
This works as an example very well when words in a way of language get translated but ideas remain challenging and require work in understanding.
And so we have two interesting directions in regards to where it all is going when some one is “looking in”.
Let’s make a mixture of where we land if we put together law of cause and effect, the karma then Christian based spirituality and Buddhist spirituality.
Within Buddhism we do have very expedient path of what some call a “short cut” of Vajrayana, expedient path of liberation in one life.
However easy this path may seem for the whole thing to take off just right every little component has to be in place and perfectly aligned with the rest.
Comparing basic Buddhist practice to walking along the road, path of Vajrayana is alike a launch of a space mission which has a chance of total complete failure at any stage.
And so as Buddhist when we are so well aware of the karma it can be really very positive to say understand ideas offered in many public talks by masters of high profile.
These go along these lines: “One does not need to convert to Buddhism” so to speak, it is more important to have a good heart. Which has a perfect result of assisting anyone on that path in their efforts of accumulating good karma.
If taken with aspiration to liberate or just follow Buddhism, that too should without doubt arrive at the right time.
As all results are based on causes and anything can arise, the wish to enter path of liberation is a direct cause to going in just such a direction.
Above advise becomes actual skillful means. – Have a Good Heart.
Then however we have a more interesting direction which has no relationship to maturation of the students. It is feeling of possessiveness in regards to the teachings.
Feeling that one has developed an understanding because of long and what is often said “arduous” study.
There is expectation of respect of sorts. Now should it be too pointless to point to the obvious. This is why so much discord and frustration takes place all too often in western spiritual circles.
Westerners in their naïveté demand something genuine in any degree, but that is well liked.
Some like it only if it is confirming, some like it when it very manicured.
But in the quest to find something outside that is “all that” one of the interesting clashes takes place when a spiritual guide does not seem to offer much in return for high throne, prostrations, donations or any degree of aloofness.
Now we arrive at the next step relevant to the followers of Buddhism that are in one way or the other on Vajrayana path already.
This point I am about to make is the reason why this article is written in fact.
We do get at times public message that if one is to enter or in some way to study “Highest” parts of Vajrayana or Dzogchen / Mahamudra doctrines one is likely to become confused.
There are so many points I can make about that!
In a lighter way of half joking we all at some point confused left and right direction at one or another situation in our life.
And this knowledge is very forcefully imposed onto our lives since early childhood. In most cases nothing new.
So, it is not really in any way shameful to attempt to try to get it right, right hand, left hand, right turn, left turn.
It is assumed that it is normal to work through that type of confusion all in order to “keep going”.
How come we are expected not to have any confusion on the spiritual path? Or are expected not to work with it?
Great master Longchenpa said that all spiritual traditions that teach beings right from wrong are of benefit.
And remembering that we should always quite simply try to find “our way” no matter how confused we may be or appear to others.
There is no shame in trying to find the way, there is a possibility for finding shame in giving up.
And so, if some one who is credentialed does not offer direct instruction traditional or from experience but rather points out that you are possibly confused for likely walking the path, well this is just unhelpful arrogance.
Second point that is more serious and related directly to the actual higher vehicles is that there is necessity of study, yes.
However the very entrance into the path is some one in the role of the spiritual master leading by example, no more no less.
That very idea of some one there, that idea or a personification of idea in fact is very traditional. And one of important points for why it is there is so that confusion could be clarified into wisdom.
Unmistakably on every step of the way as much as possible.
That person is not there merely to: “pull rank” but rather they are the “responsible adult in the room”, taking care that you come out on the other end without becoming sidetracked.
And if one were to put effort into application of any direct advice received then it is clearly seen as primary to any other possible study, because it illuminates the confusion to dawn as wisdom for that person, right there, at that time.
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Kyabje Penor Rinpoche has established retreat center in Upstate NY in 1998 within the annual summer one month retreat a type of lineup developed within which after a particular prayer, not every day but often, Rinpoche would give spontaneous advice that came to be known “Heart Teachings”.
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