Lama Banter

I occasionally chat with a close friend of mine. Our conversations are mostly banter, we love to pull each other’s legs.

He is a very learned khenpo and also a tulku (a rare combination). He is somebody who truly lives by the courage of his convictions. It might be good for you to hear what he said and what he has since gone on to do.

He completed many years of intensive study and then travelled extensively, to see the lay of the Buddhist landscape around the world. After a number of years abroad, he concluded, “I won’t teach Western or Chinese students, it’s a waste of time. Nor will I teach the monks and nuns, that is also a waste of time. Most of them won’t practise what is taught. I’m going to teach old Tibetan men and women. They have true faith. They believe and live by what is taught.”

True to his word, he returned to Tibet and built an old people’s home. He provides them with housing and food, and also the dharma. Several times a year he leads retreats (or invites other teachers to lead retreats) on the Way of the Bodhisattva, Words of My Perfect Teacher and other such texts and practices. There are a hundred or so people in the home and other people visit for the retreats too.

He has also founded several schools with the thought of providing education for those who would otherwise be without it. This is how he thought he could best benefit sentient beings and the buddhadharma.

What’s strange is that I agree with his assessment of the situation, but here I am spending all my time teaching monks and nuns and Western and Chinese students. So I have to concede that he has the upper hand in our little jousts, since his thoughts and actions are in harmony, while mine are at odds.