A Kalyanamitra

We might not be able to develop wisdom without having teachers and mentors. This is why Buddha encouraged us to have a kalyanamitra - a noble friend or guide. In the Vajrayana, we're invited to take someone as Vajra Master who can help us to walk a profound path that brings both promises and possible pitfalls (if one is not guided in the right direction).

Sojong Reminder 15/06/17

Dear Dharma friends, Through looking deeply inside, we'll see that we have gained so much insight and developed many noble qualities in the course of our life. Some of this came as a result of the guidance of a spiritual teacher or other important people in our lives. We might not be able to develop wisdom without having teachers and mentors. This is why Buddha encouraged us to have a kalyanamitra - a noble friend or guide. In the Vajrayana, we're invited to take someone as Vajra Master who can help us to walk a profound path that brings both promises and possible pitfalls (if one is not guided in the right direction). A spiritual teacher doesn't have to be someone with some kind of divine authority or someone who has a fancy title. There are many people in our life who teach us something meaningful without us calling them gurus or masters. Our parents might be our earliest spiritual guides. They teach us very basic, yet important lessons such as useful common sense, generosity, integrity, and compassion. Some say the best spiritual teacher you can have is someone who genuinely cares about you. Many people in this world feel that their parents have this unflinching love and dedication towards them. In this way, our parents can be regarded as our first and true spiritual teachers. There are also people who bring us discomfort. You might feel that they have a special mission in their life to ruffle your feathers. Everyone has someone out there who does that job. It's important for us to not label them "enemy". The moment we regard someone or a group of people the enemy, we have already made up our mind to not open our heart to them. When this happens, we can never see their humanness or their good qualities. As Lojong teaches, we can change our attitude toward them by seeing them as our teachers. Without them, we might never really know true tolerance and compassion. It also doesn't mean that we have to worship them or let them walk all over us. In the same way when problems begin to arise, if we can just remember to embrace them as spiritual teachings, it will change our experience in dealing with situations. We won't fall into our old default mode from where we usually react with fear or anger. Instead, we'll handle the situation skillfully and take advantage of the powerful opportunity for inner growth. These difficulties can teach us how to become wiser and selfless. Sometimes problems are the only way that someone can truly learn what it means to be a Bodhisattava. We're ready to observe Sojong for the month. It's time to renew our Refuge and Boddhisattava's vow. You also might like to reflect on this message and hold the intention to see everything in life is Dharma. With palms joined, Anam Thubten