The
Convenient Truth I Learned From a Buddhist Master
“Beware the
barrenness of a busy life.” ~ Socrates
Are you
running around in search of that holy grail of inner peace?
Maybe you are
so busy in search of it you pass yourself out? Well, I came across an
incredible, kind and charismatic teacher that taught me a thing or two about
this kind of behaviour and where the real wealth lies.
This weekend
I attended teachings with the Tibetan Buddhist master Ringu Tulku Rinpoche at the Hitlon
Hotel in Kilmainham, Dublin. A long name with lots of confusing titles so
let me explain it a bit for you.
The term tulku is for an enlightened being who
decided at the time of death to be reborn as a human; they come back to
continue their work helping confused folks—like you and me—who are stuck in the
dramas of samsara. They choose to do this rather than stay in what could be
described as a type of Buddhist heaven. Another type of tulku is a person who has certain
characteristics of an enlightened being. Generally, people like the Dalai Lama
recognize them and give them their title.
The title Rinpoche is an honorific title
automatically given to tulkus, and high-level teachers can earn it over time.
In other words, if you are lucky enough to attend teachings by someone named as
Tulku Rinpoche, who is within a reputable monastery or lineage, then chances
are you should really pay attention. They could have the key to finding that
holy grail of inner peace.
If I am being
honest, there are some Rinpoches that I gel with instantly and some that I just
don’t. I always used to wonder about that until this weekend. Ringu Tulku told
a story about how a student went to a high-level master asking for meditation
instructions, but the master told him to go to one of his students instead, as
they had a better karmic connection.
That
resonated with me and made me feel at ease for not being so enamored with some
masters. My guilty conscience was set free!! (I was raised Irish Catholic, so
guilt is my hangover from that period. I actually heard a great turn of phrase
last week when chatting to an Irish American from Chicago. He called himself a
‘recovering Catholic’…I second that!)
Tibetan
Buddhism can be a complex thing with very deep teachings that go straight over
my head. So, when during a particularly heavy teaching Ringu Tulku put down his
book and admitted he used to know this stuff but didn’t anymore, I was once
again put at ease. He went on to explain how he had learned it by heart for
exams, but once the exams were over he did a brain dump and never looked back.
He then
proceeded to turn the teachings around and go back to his easy style of
teaching through analogy and stories, answering our basic questions around our
internal struggles and the practice meditation. It was gold dust and I felt
very blessed to be there.
When I
reflect on it, there were two teachings that really stayed with me that I would
like to share in the hope that it be of benefit to you also.
Firstly, he
said we are all like poor people sleeping on top of a treasure unbeknownst to
ourselves—and that treasure is our inherent Buddha nature.
But rather
than recognizing that, we occupy ourselves with things to do in search of it!
Priceless wisdom, don’t you think?
The second
teaching he delivered through a story that a child told him and it goes like
this: There were three monsters and they wanted to take away the happiness of
all people. Deciding where the best place would be to hide it, the first
monster suggested at the bottom of the sea. The other monsters said that
wouldn’t work, for people would just keep digging till they found it.
The second
monster then suggested they hide it in the sky, far away in the galaxy; but,
again, the others said mankind would find it for they would keep sending space
ships up to search for it till it was uncovered.
Then the
third monster said he had the perfect place to hide the happiness of mankind,
for it is the only place they will never
look—inside their hearts.
That struck
such a deep cord with me, for I believe it to be true. On my personal journey
of meditation and self-exploration, I have come up against resistance from
those that claim to love me. My choice to explore and find that happiness by exploring
my heart space has terrified these people. I honestly think it does the
majority of people and that is a real tragedy.
To believe
that doing this kind of work will bring more pain is like the poor man
ignorantly sleeping on top of the treasure, for it is quite the opposite. Our
hearts are that Holy Grail. They are the riches
we sleep on every night without realizing it.
 |
| Rinpoche with some of his Irish students in India |
To really explore the
terrain of the heart I think we need help. We need to find someone who can help
us see our own blind spots, who will be our lighthouse in the storm, who will
impart their wisdom on to us.
That someone
can be a therapist, a Buddhist master, a spiritual teacher or anyone else you
personally find—for when the student is ready, the teacher always appears. And to help
them help you, meditation is the magic ingredient; it will make you strong
enough to follow through on their guidance.
Ringu Tulku
shared something along those lines too. He said that the only three things we
need to achieve lasting peace are meditation, wisdom and the right kind of
lifestyle. In other words, if we are a bank robber that will disturb our peace
of mind for fear of being caught and we won’t be able to meditate.
Start to
meditate. Allow someone into your life who can share their wisdom
with you until you harness your own. Finally, live a lifestyle that allows you
to go in and find the true happiness that is the treasure of your heart.
Author Lisa Tully Lisa runs spiritual tours to India. Taking
people to attend teachings by the Dalai Lama & learn meditation, she does
this work to open hearts and expand minds. She also takes people into the
shamanic world of Tibetan Buddhism & their future predicting oracles. Visit
her & join up to her newsletter at Spiritual Quest Adventures.
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