Relying on the Spiritual Teacher

Did this research paper as part of my final exam in holy retreat at Kopan; because Venerable Course Teacher + German so demanding.  He liked it.  Gave “100% + 10 points”.  Ha ha ha.

I wrote this as a first-year-naive dharma girl student.   Jangchup Lamrim in South India, HH The Dalai Lama warned us several times:  “Choose your teachers carefully.  Up to 12 years.  Before you practice guru devotion.”  I became newly aware:  this concept is not for beginners.

HH the Dalai Lama gives one of the best teachings on this Tibetan Buddhist path in Chapter Three:  “Relying on a Spiritual Teacher”  from Illuminating the Path to Enlightenment (Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive 2002) .

Enjoy the photos from my hometown province – Beautiful British Columbia – 39 outdoor murals from the old logging town of Chemainus; First Nations totem art at the Museum of Anthropology; beach creatures at Ucluelet; summer blooms at Capilano Suspension Bridge .

You, Sleeping in Class?

“Everyone’s Teacher”.   Khensur Lama Lhundrup Rigsel.  Kopan Monastery.  

Sera Je Lharma Geshe.  Master Debater.  Father.  Walks around holy campus.  

Talks to every new student.   Mischief manages our turbulent emotions.  Emotionally regulates things.   Says,   “Be kind.  Patient.  Courageous.  Oh yeah.”

Happy Saka Dawa – Day 13 + the awakening of a funny-happy-old memory.

Kopan Monastery – September 2007.   Two weeks remaining to cram-study for our Basic Program Year 1 “Big Final Exam,” Our Highly-demanding + German Venerable Course Teacher had decided all his students would also write a graduation essay on a lam-rim topic we would each randomly select from folded slips of paper inside a Tibetan singing bowl.  

He said, “600-word essay, please.”

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?

MBA: My Battle with Afflictions

The ground shook beneath me, I lost my balance:  

Demon Mara appeared to challenge me.

He wounded me, but I wounded him back:  

Blood on my trainee Manjushri light sabre.

‘I may have severed a few limbs of afflictions,

Yet, the Demon is alive, regenerating 

New limbs for his next attack.  I shall destroy

This Demon of Self-Cherishing:  he will not live!’

Demon Mara laughed like the mockingbird,  

‘You thought you could terminate her, 

The Girl Who Loved Too Much,

It was only a flesh wound, you know.’

Bloody and torn, trembling she laid, 

Her Manjushri light sabre beyond her reach.

She cried: ‘Lama, my Lama! Why?’  

The sun fired the desert sand like gold.  

Choden Rinpoche Passes On「卻登仁波原寂 」

Choden Rinpoche 卻殿仁波切「拜訪尊者」Visits The Dalai Lama

May all Rinpoche’s holy wishes be fulfilled 。May we all meet Rinpoche’s reincarnation and study Buddhadharma from him 。Until all of cyclic existence has emptied.  

Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung

Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung

Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung   Om mani padme hung

Read Choden Rinpoche’s story  “The Life of a Hidden Meditator” .

Source：Sera Je Monastery Choden Rinpoche’s Khangtsen

臺灣聞思寶藏佛學會 臺中市講修增廣佛學會 聯合編譯發佈 敬上  2015/9/7 - 2015/9/13

西元  2015 年 8月29日 於印度新德里瑞迪森飯店、「達賴喇嘛尊者」接見色拉傑洛巴康村最上「怙主卻殿仁波切」時、怙主卻殿仁波切向達賴喇嘛尊者「祈請概要」如下：

「為了整個教法與眾生、尤其為雪域西藏的教法與眾生的依怙、祈請尊者長久住世 。惟願尊者盡快返回西藏再度回到布達拉宮、將幸福的陽光普照所有藏人 。我將平時所積之善根都做此迴向、祈願尊者亦如是迴向 。弟子至誠祈請尊者生生世世的轉世都能以大悲之門攝受 。為延續此殊勝的緣起、弟子供養代表攝受的緣起之物 —— 黃色佛珠、請尊者慈悲納受 。」