The lucky one is (s)he who has spiritual discrimination. A clear sign that one has made progress on the path. There’s so much empty jargon. Many people pass around their learned and personal wisdom, which indeed, is precious and to be respected. It’s progress! Spiritual discrimination is seeing the difference between that communal sharing and an accomplished and qualified Guru to follow. The entire spiritual community is strong, and growing, yearning, expressing, sharing, and loving! Hurray! Yet we must find a true Master.
I see the Lamas of Palyul, for instance. Taught and trained, profound and accomplished Lineage Masters, only here to enlighten us. These great Lamas live and die to liberate sentient beings from the sufferings of Samsara, return life after life for that alone. That is something different from the great ocean of seekers, thinkers, poets, philosophers that we meet online and in life.
In Vajrayana we hear: “Why cross the ocean of suffering in a ship captained by one who has not yet themselves made the journey?” Or “Why invest in a belief that has not produced even one fully Enlightened Buddha?” Or “why travel a path not yet even one century old, and one cannot see the result?” If a man creates his own path, should YOU follow? If we do not know the value of their path, not having seen the result, why go there? Why cross in a ship untested? Maybe it is flawed! So we are advised to practice method and follow Lineage tested and proven over centuries and traceable lifetimes.
I read a claim by a man that he had changed Yoga to make a way to get enlightened immediately. The man looked middle age. Big ego. It is so much better to share one’s insights freely, love each other, learn from each other, but discriminate on path and guru. Or else we just have a bunch of well meaning sweeties walking around in spiritual circles, blind leading blind. It is kinda silly, especially when there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas taking rebirth consciously, solely for the sake of all beings. That’s cosmic Love!
Not just talking heads, yada yada. A Guru must provide method to attain, or what good are they? You can’t talk your way to Liberation! Sweet, loving, syrupy, flattering words are wonderful to see and taste. But are not the food of the Sublime Awakening!
If a “teacher” butters you up with flattery, pretty words, crazy promises, or says their blessing ALONE will Liberate-RUN! They are politicians! They flatter and cajole for their own egocentric reasons. You will yourself receive no benefit at all. Except for a swollen puffed up ego.
The path of results, of Liberation requires daily effort, practice, mindfulness, and compassion, constantly developing! A living path! A true path, like Vajrayana requires that you CHANGE. Utterly, completely- as we are awakening to Buddhahood. Old ways are abandoned. That old ego’s gotta go to make real progress! It ain’t for sissies. If one has been spiritual for 20 years and remains the same, there is no benefit.
Are you willing to change? Learn something new? Take a giant step that may -WILL rock your world? That is the student I value most. We cannot remain the same, in our comfort zone, no new intake, same old spiritual mumblings and hope to attain Buddhahood.
If you were my own sweet babe in my arms, I would not teach you different. There is a lot to buy and sell, but nourishment is RARE! Your true nature is the fundamental ground, Primordial Luminosity. You are Buddha! Do not throw yourself away! Awaken! AWAKEN to your Nature! Lord Buddha said as He left this world: “I have given you METHOD! Now work out your own Liberation!” And that is exactly how it is.
Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche
In Dharma, one of the most important jobs we have is to fight and pacify our inner poisons. They are our inner demons, and that is the work. At the same time we must enrich and grow our virtue, our good qualities. This is a mirror to the way Guru Padmasambhava entered Tibet.
When Guru entered Tibet he was met with Demons and local demi-gods. The Bon religion existed there and these demons were associated. Guru Rinpoche defeated all of them with debate and miraculous powers, including flying above them. He won over some demons and made them holy protectors. Those unwilling to be oath bound were destroyed.
Then Guru Padmasambhava could enter Tibet. There he gathered translators and worked. Guru Rinpoche translated Dharma from Sanskrit to Tibetan. Due to His power, purity and virtue Tibet became a great land of Dharma.
We must do the same thing in our own minds. Conquer our own demons and make the way for Dharma to take root. Then move forward and develop.
So Dharma is not a bland tutti-frutti faith and path. Vajrayana is meant to change one’s habits, non-virtues, so it is powerful. It can cut!
Vajrayana is potent, and should not be mixed with anything else. It cannot be changed or it loses its potency. And I can tell you it is not for the weak. It requires self-honesty and pure intention. It requires us to abandon the mentality of materialism and ordinary view.
Self-honesty can be brutal. Ask ANY recovering alcoholic. We are all addicts to samsara. We like the hit, the buzz, all of it. So there is real inner work to be done. Can’t just sit and contrive “blissing out”- anyone can do that. The idea is this IS relative reality.
We ARE experiencing old age, sickness and death. So there MUST be a remedy SO POWERFUL to awaken us to Buddhahood! It ain’t Kansas anymore.
Spiritually we must break lifetimes of habit and confusion! That takes work, a dedicated life. That is why Guru Padmasambava said Vajrayana is the right way for THIS time called Kaliyuga, the time of degeneration. And Enlightenment is more easily gained. As samsara is thick, so is the door of Liberation more firmly opened to those who work it.
This is the essence of THIS method. If you were my very own babe I would not, could not tell you different. This is the wisdom and clarity of the great Bodhicitta, the milk of awakening. From the very heart of Dharma, the Precious Guru, it is offered to you.
Om AH HUNG BENZAR GURU PEMA SIDDHI HUNG! Samaya EH MA HO.
