We will share the reading of this book entitled
“A Quiet Path” written by Xi-a-rong Khenpo tonight. One of the chapters
mentions about the right attitude of a practitioner and the way of practice
after taking refuge. We will be going to Mtn. Wutai soon. So, I encourage you
to chant the heart mantra of Manjushri Bodhisattva before going. In this book,
the author mentioned about one of his teachers, Jin Wang Khenpo, who learnt
from H.H Jigme Puntsok when the former was still a very young student. He did
not do well in his study and he could not understand many of the teachings. So,
he prayed to Manjushri Bodhisattva and chanted a few billion times of His heart
mantra. Finally, he was able to read the Five Major Commentaries with ease and
became a renowned Khenpo of his time. He became a great teacher who was very
eloquent in his speech and could make references readily from a wide range of sources;
he had assimilated the teachings of all the sutras and commentaries in his heart.
He understood all the teachings after chanting the heart mantra of Manjushri
Bodhisattva rigorously. I am requesting you to just chant five hundred thousand
times of His heart mantra because it can help you gain a higher wisdom.
This book mentions a quality of a practitioner –
kindness. Kindness is actually easy. However, many practitioners are actually more
unkind than the non-practitioners. A practitioner should reflect on his own
shortcomings but not do so on others; he should discipline himself but not
others. There are many practitioners who like to gossip about others but never do
self-reflection. The author said, a practitioner should be humble and respectful
of others. A Buddhist should abstain from hurting others at all times, in both speech
and action. He should not criticize other religions including the Outer Paths,
let alone other schools of Buddhism. Do not criticize other schools of
Buddhism, be it Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana etc., for all of them were
transmitted by Sakyamuni Buddha to address the different needs of the students.
We take refuge in different schools of Buddhism due to our own karma; we should
not disturb others in their practice – do not perturb the minds of others.
Many of our friends and relatives, due to
various reasons, have not taken refuge in the Three Jewels. They are struggling
hard in this illusory world to earn their living and pursue their so-called happiness.
According to the author, such happiness is just the cause of suffering. Most
people thought that they work for money and raise their children in order to
achieve happiness in life but it turns out to be the cause of suffering instead.
A practitioner seeks to let go of such worldly pursuits.
There was a lady who has good faith in the
Buddha teachings and was considering taking refuge but she dropped the idea
after seeing many Buddhists around her behaving poorly in their conduct.
Therefore, we should be a good role model to others but not just tell others
that we are a Buddhist when we still behave poorly in our conduct; you will
make others lose faith in the Buddha teachings. A Buddhist who is arrogant and
self-centered, who is fond of criticizing others will make others lose faith in
the Buddha teachings and drop their idea of wanting to take refuge in the Three
Jewels. Instead, a Buddhist should make others aspire to become a Buddhist too.
Change yourself and make others feel that you are a humble and kind person;
this is the kind of Buddhist that can bring positive influence to others around
him including his friends and relatives, colleagues etc. Do not just be a
Buddhist in name but not in action. The author said, on the path of
enlightenment, only a heart of kindness can eventually blossom into a flower of
true happiness; an evil mind can never blossom into a flower of kindness.
Master Tsongkhapa said, “A person who is kind
at heart will live a happy life in his present and future lives. A practitioner
must have a kind heart. A kind person
who is firm and steady will not be far from enlightenment the moment he starts walking
the path of enlightenment.” So, as long as you are firm, steady and kind, when
you start doing your practice, you will not be far from the attainment of
enlightenment. These are a few key points for the practice. Recitation of the
sutras, chanting of the mantras, being more superior than others, and yearning
to teach others or become a teacher to others are just not important. The more important
point is actually about being humble, training one’s own mind, becoming
compassionate and benefiting others.
A Dharma Discourse given by Acho Rinpoche on 21
Aug 2013.
