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A Vajrayana teacher grasps the sword of Manjushri and cuts through my bullshit .
Citta
Veteran
...like a hot knife through butter.
I have told this story before, but I needed to hear it again. If you do not...please skip it.
The monastery was rife with rumours that Rinpoche could levitate, among other woo-woos.
He had been seen doing so. To be sure it was difficult to find anyone who had seen this themselves..but everyone knew someone who knew someone who had...
I decided to ask him about it.
" Rinpoche "..I asked " is it true that at night you levitate down the corridors crossed legged ? "
There was a silence...then a sigh. " ( Dharma Name ) " he replied...go away * and stop being silly ".
I am tempted to think ( probably wrongly ) that my question was a tiny contribution to his decision, some years later, to write a book which specifically addressed the tendency among some western converts to avoid the real work of sober focus, and developing one pointedness of mind, and becoming a bit kinder, and instead promoting the woo-woos and shiny flim flams. Or becoming fundies.
The book is still available. It is considered by many to be a seminal work in the western world's understanding of Buddhism.
* It may have been a bit stronger than 'go away '....
I have told this story before, but I needed to hear it again. If you do not...please skip it.
The monastery was rife with rumours that Rinpoche could levitate, among other woo-woos.
He had been seen doing so. To be sure it was difficult to find anyone who had seen this themselves..but everyone knew someone who knew someone who had...
I decided to ask him about it.
" Rinpoche "..I asked " is it true that at night you levitate down the corridors crossed legged ? "
There was a silence...then a sigh. " ( Dharma Name ) " he replied...go away * and stop being silly ".
I am tempted to think ( probably wrongly ) that my question was a tiny contribution to his decision, some years later, to write a book which specifically addressed the tendency among some western converts to avoid the real work of sober focus, and developing one pointedness of mind, and becoming a bit kinder, and instead promoting the woo-woos and shiny flim flams. Or becoming fundies.
The book is still available. It is considered by many to be a seminal work in the western world's understanding of Buddhism.
* It may have been a bit stronger than 'go away '....
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