Go Back To Where You Started

Go back to where you started. Try to remember the time when you took refuge. Taking refuge means you made commitments. What are they? Why did you do that? Do you still have the beginner’s mind you had then? Do you still have the faith and inspiration you had then?

Compare your attitudes towards the study of Dharma and your worldly affairs: How much effort do you put into showing decent courtesy and respect in everyday situation? And how do you relate to your lama and Dharma teachers? Do you just naturally feel that you should follow the laws and rules when you go to a new place and country? And how much attention do you pay to the correct conduct for your body, speech and mind when it comes to a Dharma environment? Do you know what to do and what not to do in Dharma?

As the saying goes, ‘People who want to practice the Dharma, but do not know the Dharma, are indeed in a meritless sorry state.’ To avoid being one of them, you need to study. Rely on a lama if you can, go to teachings if you have the chance, or read books on your own. First you need to understand what the Dharma is, what the aim of practicing the Dharma is and what it means to practice the Dharma. Knowing these will help you stay on the path and persist in working towards your goal without being influenced by others.

The Buddha taught, ’Don’t teach those who lack faith and respect.’ Without faith, it is impossible to learn the Dharma. Your mind won’t be drawn towards it, it won’t come to your mind, and you won’t be willing to take on board what you hear and put into practice. So it won’t benefit you and you will remain unchanged. What’s worse, by hearing a lot of Dharma without faith and putting it into practice you are likely to become jaded.

We all know that Dharma could lead to liberation, but we don’t consider that it can also be a cause for falling into the lower realms if not practiced properly. This is not difficult to understand, just like money and food, they can be helpful but also harmful.

So look into yourself, have you lost your interest and feeling for Dharma so that it has become just a routine and tradition, just something that you do now? Has your faith decreased? Have you become careless about what should and shouldn’t be done? If you have, it means something has gone wrong.

I feel I have to say these things because I don’t want to see all your efforts come to nothing. And I don’t want to see you commit serious misdeeds through mistaken interaction with Dharma. So come back to where you are. Be realistic. Our level is not where we can think about practicing Vajrayana or even Mahayana. Study, know what is and isn’t to be done. What is most important now is to have the correct motivation and conduct, they will help you to understand the Dharma you hear.

Drupon Rinpoche’s teaching at Taichung Thrangu Tara Abbey Centre, 17 November 2016