Guru Padmasambhava said, “The exceptional quality of enlightenment lies in altruism; whoever slackens in the practice of altruism will forever miss the path to enlightenment.” The whole spirit of the teaching lies in “altruism”. The most essential point of cultivation lies in benefitting others. The emphasis of cultivation is on benefitting others but not oneself. One who works for his own benefit is far from enlightenment. If a cultivator slackens in the practice of altruism and is being indifferent to this practice, he will miss the path to enlightenment and will never be able to succeed in his cultivation.
Guru Padmasambhava summarized the teaching in only one sentence. This one sentence is the key point of cultivation. One should practice for the benefit of others, not his. One who practices for his own benefits will never attain Buddhahood.
I just got hold of the new book written by Grand Master, so I put Master Nan’s book aside for the time being. In the book, Grand Master mentioned the six dreams that he had at his Southern Hut. The three principal deities of Grand Master including Amitabha Buddha, Jade Pond Golden Mother and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva appeared in his dreams separately. Grand Master’s principal protector, Yamantaka, also appeared in one of his dreams. His late teacher, Taoist Master Qin Zhen and one other deity also appeared in two of his dreams separately.
All six deities appeared one after another during the six days, saying the same thing to him, all advising Him to leave Seattle - leave his Southern Hut and go into seclusion. Especially Taoist Master Qin Zhen who told him very clearly, “I had already told you in the past that an enlightened person has only three options: he either disguises himself as insane and not let others know about his enlightenment, or passes away into Nirvana immediately and leaves this secular world, or goes into seclusion. There is no other option!”
However, Grand Master did not choose any of the three options: he did not go into seclusion, he did not disguise himself as insane, and he did not pass away into Nirvana. He told the world about his attainment of Buddhahood and his numerous inconceivable acts of enlightenment. As a consequence, he has to face the unceasing slanders and criticisms lashed on him by others. Finally, Grand Master has to leave Seattle because he really has no other choice.
One of the deities told him, “You can go into seclusion and still continue to help the sentient beings through your Emanation Body or Enjoyment Body. You can still go visit the various chapters worldwide by not being there personally.” Grand Master has no other choice but to leave now. Those were the six inconceivable dreams mentioned in his book.
The new book also mentioned about Venerable Guo Xian, who ordained Grand Master into his monkhood. Venerable Guo Xian entered a 3-year retreat but Grand Master wanted to do a 10-year retreat or one lasting till the end of this life. Grand Master might not return to the Seattle Lei Zang Temple or Seattle. There was one day that Grand Master told his students, “Goodbye! Goodbye!” He bade farewell to everyone including his students, his disciple-masters and his children. He gave us the impression that he might not return; a very deep impression indeed. I hope you would go read this book and learn the mentality of an enlightened master – his perseverance in cultivation and readiness to let go of the worldly concerns.
Master Nan said, “Actually, any cultivator who can truly let go of the worldly concerns will naturally have his vital energy, channels and drops flowing smoothly - his kundalini will awake automatically.” Everyone talks about letting go but none can do so. On the contrary, one’s grasping becomes even greater. Had you truly let go, your vital energy, channels and drops would have been flowing naturally and your kundalini awakened naturally, and you would have succeeded in your cultivation. Unfortunately, everyone talks about letting go but none could truly do so.
Who actually practices altruism? Who actually manages to let go? Master Nan said, “No one is able to do so. Everyone is only doing a lip service.” I hope everyone is able to put it into practice. Never mind that you are not able to do so at this stage but strive to do so within this lifetime. If you can truly do so, your attainment will be inconceivable. Otherwise, no one can help you at all.
