Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Chapter 7: Diligence
Session 8
Stanzas 11-13
In verses 11 – 13 of chapter 7 on Diligence we continue examining laziness and how it manifests in our life. Rinpoche talks about the way we tend to rest into our comfort zones when things are going well, and how this traps us into using up the great merit from the past that brought us this privileged life.
He discusses the probability of our having lived many times before, how we can imagine those past lives and the reasons that our current laziness or lack of diligence can impact negatively on ourselves and others in the future. These verses draw on the previous ones, reinforcing the necessity to remain alert and useful for our selves and others, so that at the time of death –especially when it is unexpected– we don’t feel regret for our negative actions, or inaction. We can live usefully even in small ways and these small acts will accumulate as drops in the ocean of merit.
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Dear Ringu Tulku Rinpoche,
To introduce my 3 questions below, let me explain you: I’ve not yet seen your teachings about bodhicharyavatara. I ve already read a lot of books of many buddhist masters and that helps me a lot. I’ve discovered some of our teachings only in this July and participated to the Summer Camp .And as my english is not very fluent, it’s easier to me to write my questions.
1) To deepen my previous qusetion and your reply during the Summer Camp, what are the differences between the concept of “universal consciousness ” and the dharmakaya which is pure awareness?
2) During the summercamp you did an analogy between consciousness and water, the consciousness is continuous as the water can be. I’m reading the french translation of “stillness speaks” from Eckhart Tolle and he said (if my translation french to english is quite well): ” As water can be solid, liquid or gaseous, we can consider that the consciousness is frozen in the form of physical material, liquid in the form of thoughts and mental, or without form as pure consciousness.the pure consciousness, it’s Lige before its manifestation, ant the Life watch the world of the form through “your eyes” because the consciousness is your nature.^^ Are you totally agree with that affirmation or what are the differences with your point of view?
3) How can we help a depressive person who is not interesed in buddhism or even in spirituality? We can of course assure him of our love, pray for him, consult a psychologist and a psychiatric. Could we also explain him the 4 noble truths ? or do you have other advices “to help to help”?
Yours sincerely,
Thank you Rinpoche, the verses in also this chapter on diligence are beautiful and powerful, since you explain impermanence and wake us up to pile up positive actions now that we can, in stead of being lazy. This is easy to understand and good to remember, on all stages of the path to Buddhahood. kind regards, Marlou v Hoorn