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Spirituality After 60

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The only emotions I would manifest were anger, intolerance, resentment and depression. If I had dared to love, it was a case of being extremely guarded and conditional. In some cases with people very close to me, that love became obsessive due to the fear of losing them. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Spirituality After 60


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Spirituality After 60
2
  • As I reflect on the eventful day in July 2007, I
    either smile with bliss or shed tears of both joy
    and sadness.
  • It was on the 3rd of July 2007 that I was brought
    to a Tibetan Buddhist temple (gompa) at Sunwaymas
    by a friend for a Dharma teaching by H.E. the
    25th Tsem Rinpoche. Prior to this meeting, I had
    read in a national newspaper about this young and
    modern Tibetan monk and I was very impressed with
    what was written.

3
  • So when I heard about Rinpoche, I thought it
    truly was terrific that a monk could be so modern
    and unconventional, and yet hold the essence of
    Shakyamuni Buddhas teachings with such purity.
    On meeting Rinpoche and hearing his teaching, I
    knew that my search for a Spiritual Guide was
    over and that I had found my Guru whom I had been
    seeking in order to understand the Buddhas
    teachings. I wanted to practice to gain peace in
    my life by recognizing the meaning and our
    potential in freeing ourselves of suffering.

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  • At that point of time when I met Rinpoche, I had
    gained a small level of success as a business
    person and with that, I had also developed a way
    of life and a mind that was hard and unforgiving
    because I believed that in winning, something
    needed to be sacrificed and something lost. Sad
    to say, I lost my humanity. The qualities of
    forgiveness, kindness and care for others, all of
    which I once possessed, had wilted away.

6
  • I had built a wall of protection (which in
    hindsight is more a wall of destruction) and
    began to lead my life in an unwholesome manner.
    The only emotions I would manifest were anger,
    intolerance, resentment and depression. If I had
    dared to love, it was a case of being extremely
    guarded and conditional. In some cases with
    people very close to me, that love became
    obsessive due to the fear of losing them. It was
    rather suffocating for the both of us, I would
    say.

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  • Coming to Rinpoche with such deeply ingrained
    perceptions and emotional makeup was indeed a
    great burden for Rinpoche. Rinpoches goal for
    his students is the path to Enlightenment, not a
    feel good Buddhist practice. And just like a deep
    splinter in ones flesh, removing these mental
    defilements was surely going to be a painful
    process.

9
  • In the initial stages, I was totally immersed
    into supporting the Dharma to grow and did
    whatever I could to fulfill my personal desire to
    get the job done. Rinpoche noticed that and
    skillfully went along with me, even though he
    knew it was not the best way to achieve the true
    essence of Bodhicitta.

10
  • Along the way, my negative karma arose and
    obstacles came at me with great ferocity. Instead
    of fully understanding the methods to avert the
    calamities of my negative karma, I succumbed to
    them and started to falter in my path. While I
    was in great confusion as to my dissatisfaction
    in my Dharma work and space, Rinpoche manifested
    my faults and put them in my face, like a great
    mirror for me to see my failings.

11
  • Instead of understanding Rinpoches skillful
    methods, I resented what I saw and was unable to
    relate to the profound teachings Rinpoche was
    giving me. The fact was I recognized my faults
    but could not accept the reality of them.

12
  • This inability to shift away from my egoistic
    state of mind made me crawl into inactivity and
    harbor negative thoughts of the people I know in
    Kechara.
  • It went on for a long three years and today as I
    pen this article, I realize how much my Guru
    loves me, to the extent that he would risk my
    negative thoughts towards him just so that I can
    become a better Dharma practitioner.

13
  • My realizations may be late but I know that if I
    truly practice Guru Devotion and the essence of
    Buddhism, there is still a chance for me to atone
    for my wrongdoings that I have inflicted on my
    Guru.

14
  • As my kind mentors advised, I need to surrender
    myself to my Guru, be alright with whatever is
    asked of me and trust Rinpoche 100. I need to
    realize that what I perceive can be fixed by me
    is not the correct method. Most of all, to let
    go of all long-held wrong views and perceptions
    led by my ego of not wanting to fail.

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  • As Rinpoche says, Dharma is not easy so too is
    finding peace and true inner bliss. If I am so
    fortunate to have Rinpoche as my Root Guru, to be
    deserving of Him then why not surrender to His
    teachings? Life would be so much easier and
    emotions would be contained within a Wall of Love
    and Compassion instead of that wall which I built
    with hate, anger, jealousy, resentment and
    depression.

17
  • May my sharing be of benefit for all those who
    would read this so that they would not waste as
    much time as I have in their spiritual journey
    which brings lasting joy and happiness. Hopefully
    from reoccurring good rebirths, we will always be
    near a genuine Guru and the Dharma.

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  • For more update, visit us

http//www.tsemrinpoche.com/
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