That 2895-word Dharma Research Paper

Venerable Course Teacher.  Brilliant Scholar.  Geshe-in-training.  Good teacher.  Does translations.  Happy Monks Publication .   Buddha’s Sales Rep.  Very German Traditional.   Workaholic.  Button Pusher.   Middle-Aged Moody.   

Happy Saka Dawa – Day 12 + the awakening of a funny old memory.


When you wrote that 2895-word research paper:  “Relying on the Spiritual Teacher” , two monks appeared on the path to give you special attention.  

Draft-Paper Stage:  Khensur Lama Lhundrup.   Paper-Submission:  Course Teacher.   

Who do you choose?  The Perfect Teacher to rely on?

Draft-Paper Stage – Khensur Lama Lhundrup – Read the story  “You, Sleeping in Class?”

Khensur Lama Lhundrup Rigsel:  Lharam Geshe – did the most hilariously, funny graduation debate exam in front of 1000 + monks at Sera Monastic University.   Master of Tibetan Debate.  Precious Guru excites in me = “Affection + Respect + Fear.”  Big Love Bodhisattva. Grandpa-Soft.   Sure-Fire Buddha.   Trust factor:  >>> 100%.

Paper Submission Stage – Venerable Course Teacher

Course Teacher:  “Here is your Final Exam + Paper + Final Grade.  I like your work.  You went beyond the call of duty.  With your research paper.   Can you email me a copy?”

He liked it and graded that paper “100% + 10 bonus points.”

Me:  “Yes, of course.  A 600-word essay was not enough to do justice to that dharma topic.”

Course Teacher:  “Oh.”

Me:  “Venerable, I thoroughly enjoyed your class.  Thank you very much.”

Venerable Course Teacher:   Brilliant Scholar.  Geshe-in-training.  Does Translations.  Buddha’s Sales Rep.  Very German Traditional.  Workaholic.  Button Pusher.   Middle-Aged Moody.  Trust factor:  <<< 100%.  

Dharma Girl sings Abba-like :   “Thank you for the memories, for giving them to me.”  For Frodo and Fab Four, pink elephant and more illustrative metaphors.  For targeting me for lo rig debates with you in class.  For 11.5 modular courses of Basic Program.

Once upon a time, she was that girl not afraid to lose a classroom debate to a Brilliant Scholar; who made Venerable Course Teacher laugh so hard when she enquired into the need for an “Affliction Metre” to emotionally regulate things – before, during and after retreat.

He wants dharma military boot camp; I want summer flowery garden study retreat.

“Do the Milaripa.”   Seriously?  Yes, but, I am not looking for Marpa.

Sorry, Venerable.   Me:  Faulty Vessel.   Not “Sera Je Material.”   My apologies.

Abba-like, she sings you this gratitude song, “Thank you for the dharma, for giving it to me.”

“So, I say,

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me.”