Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Teachings on Bodhicharyavatara
Session 2
Chapter 7: Diligence
Stanzas 2-3
Rinpoche continues to examine the meaning of Diligence. He says we must look first at what prevents us from being diligent, and describes methods for working on the three common styles of laziness, and showing us how to recognise our own style of laziness because that is the obstacle we use to prevent ourselves from joyfully engaging in more positive actions that will benefit us and everyone else.
So here we are challenged to look within ourselves for the answer at a time when we are surrounded by external influences for instance the current pandemic or poor government, things that we believe block our peace and happiness. If we only focus on getting rid of the outer problems they will simply be replaced by others. So we need to recognise the part our own afflictive emotions play in preventing happiness and work on those with diligence.
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From the point of view of motitvation, would Rinpoche say that living in a Buddhist community, a monastery like f.i. Lerab Ling in the West or a Monastery in the East where there might be less room for laziness (even though the life story of Ven. Shantideva in Nalanda Monastery proved different:) and thus in general more diligence and maybe discipline, would be more compassionate? Here in the free (wild) West, as Sogyal Rinpoche would call it, there are many distractions (and challences), but also great opportunities to do something valuable directly -to transform suffering and samsaric circumstance- for ourselves and brothers and sisters in society:). Thank you dear Rinpoche, for guiding us through, with these miraculous dharma tools…on Chokhor Duchen. (from a lazy almost theetles old witch:)