It's All About Love and Generosity
When I was filled with worries for Mingyur Rinpoche, one of my friends lifted my (down) spirit by sharing with me her positive and touching outlook of Rinpoche's retreat. I have no doubt that what He did is for the greatest benefit for extensive number of beings. This retreat is not simply His wish to do Dharma practice alone. It might easily be His way of reaching out to the many rural folks, who might not be able to gain "access" to qualified teachers or are non-Buddhists (India is a Hindu country). This was her account:
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"India has alms tradition, not to worry. This is exactly what alms tradition is about -- to teach people about generosity. Many practitioners in India do that -- my elderly Thai teacher did that all by himself in India. He was given food and shelter. Any excess food he got, he shared with the poor. I still remember him speaking about it with crisp laughter and joy. Alms is not about being selfish or a "small vehicle (Theravada)" thing. It is about teaching the people generosity.
The more I reflected on this, the more I have heartfelt and unspeakable respect for Rinpoche. He "lowered" Himself to mingle among the poor -- and the poor are usually generous in sharing food. The act of giving creates tremendous merits for these givers. Rinpoche is very 伟大 (altruistic) by giving them the opportunity to practise generosity. He is a realised being, yet He appeared among the ordinary villagers not in the form of a great master, but as an ordinary poor monk asking for alms. For those who are kind-hearted to give (and this is unpretentious giving, not knowing that He is a great master), it is selfless sharing. Rinpoche is giving them the opportunity to practise and make merits. Isn't that wonderful ? Isn't He 伟大? Isn't He doing what the Buddha Himself did 2600 years ago? Rinpoche is a true Shakyamuni's monk.
He is doing what a true Bodhisattva is doing, by giving opportunity to rural India , while at the same time, He is showing by His example to the rest of us (urban people) what a true Follower of the Buddha should be doing -- by practising non-attachment (by leaving His family and possesions), reaching out to vast number of people (who support Him daily by giving him food, maybe shelter, medicines and other necessities too) by showing them loving-kindness and giving them the opportunity to practise love and generosity. Maybe He is also teaching them BuddhaDharma. The decision to reach out to the people in this way takes tremendous courage, wisdom and energy and only a true practitioner, like Rinpoche, has the merits to do so. He is showing the rest of the world it is possible to do so.
I am very sure, Nyolshul Khen Rinpoche (Mingyur Rinpoche's teacher who inspired Him to tread this path of a wandering yogi) had reached out to many, many people at the banks of River Ganges and in the "death houses" at Varanasi. He had also touched the lives of the poor and destitute, who were facing death with fear -- I am sure Nyolshul Khen Rinpoche gave them comfort and encouragement. He would have prayed with them, helped them cope with their fear and despair, and maybe shared with them their joy and laughter, food and medicines. This is a true Bodhisattva in practice.
Rejoice for Mingyur Rinpoche. Pray for him. Do not worry for him. Support him by sending Him our positive energy daily. He is a true Bodhisattva, who is reaching out to the people, who is leading by example to show us what it means by working for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Rinpoche may be suffering from physical discomfort. But His mind is strong and it will get stronger and stronger as each day goes by.
I now realise that Rinpoche's retreat is NOT ABOUT HIMSELF. It is about all sentient beings and he is doing it in the most practical manner (my eyes are tearing now, this is very great beyond words). I bow to Rinpoche with all my heart and my mind. May He be safe and may He faces no obstacle. Rejoice for Him! Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!
******************************
"India has alms tradition, not to worry. This is exactly what alms tradition is about -- to teach people about generosity. Many practitioners in India do that -- my elderly Thai teacher did that all by himself in India. He was given food and shelter. Any excess food he got, he shared with the poor. I still remember him speaking about it with crisp laughter and joy. Alms is not about being selfish or a "small vehicle (Theravada)" thing. It is about teaching the people generosity.
The more I reflected on this, the more I have heartfelt and unspeakable respect for Rinpoche. He "lowered" Himself to mingle among the poor -- and the poor are usually generous in sharing food. The act of giving creates tremendous merits for these givers. Rinpoche is very 伟大 (altruistic) by giving them the opportunity to practise generosity. He is a realised being, yet He appeared among the ordinary villagers not in the form of a great master, but as an ordinary poor monk asking for alms. For those who are kind-hearted to give (and this is unpretentious giving, not knowing that He is a great master), it is selfless sharing. Rinpoche is giving them the opportunity to practise and make merits. Isn't that wonderful ? Isn't He 伟大? Isn't He doing what the Buddha Himself did 2600 years ago? Rinpoche is a true Shakyamuni's monk.
He is doing what a true Bodhisattva is doing, by giving opportunity to rural India , while at the same time, He is showing by His example to the rest of us (urban people) what a true Follower of the Buddha should be doing -- by practising non-attachment (by leaving His family and possesions), reaching out to vast number of people (who support Him daily by giving him food, maybe shelter, medicines and other necessities too) by showing them loving-kindness and giving them the opportunity to practise love and generosity. Maybe He is also teaching them BuddhaDharma. The decision to reach out to the people in this way takes tremendous courage, wisdom and energy and only a true practitioner, like Rinpoche, has the merits to do so. He is showing the rest of the world it is possible to do so.
I am very sure, Nyolshul Khen Rinpoche (Mingyur Rinpoche's teacher who inspired Him to tread this path of a wandering yogi) had reached out to many, many people at the banks of River Ganges and in the "death houses" at Varanasi. He had also touched the lives of the poor and destitute, who were facing death with fear -- I am sure Nyolshul Khen Rinpoche gave them comfort and encouragement. He would have prayed with them, helped them cope with their fear and despair, and maybe shared with them their joy and laughter, food and medicines. This is a true Bodhisattva in practice.
Rejoice for Mingyur Rinpoche. Pray for him. Do not worry for him. Support him by sending Him our positive energy daily. He is a true Bodhisattva, who is reaching out to the people, who is leading by example to show us what it means by working for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Rinpoche may be suffering from physical discomfort. But His mind is strong and it will get stronger and stronger as each day goes by.
I now realise that Rinpoche's retreat is NOT ABOUT HIMSELF. It is about all sentient beings and he is doing it in the most practical manner (my eyes are tearing now, this is very great beyond words). I bow to Rinpoche with all my heart and my mind. May He be safe and may He faces no obstacle. Rejoice for Him! Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!
posted by peacenirvana at 5:13 PM
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