The Hidden Yogis
Sojong Reminder from Anam Thubten 12/2020
Dear Dharma friends,
​
Human society is a wonderful system that allows us to exist in a web of supporting each other, as well as it gives us guidelines through which there is a benevolent order. It creates a standard value system through which it rewards those who work hard to achieve goals standardized by such system. Now and then, the system can be relatively benevolent in that it can help those who need care and protection. That being said, the system is not entirely designed by some kind of infallible, enlightened intelligence, but rather by a mixture of wisdom and ignorance. The system itself can sometimes be inhumane, and it indoctrinates people to worship superficial values, rather than showing them what the true value is.
​
Largely, many people subscribe themselves to the norms and conventions of such a system. In doing so, suffering arises from believing that somehow, we are not living up to the standard, or that we are not good enough, attractive enough, prestigious enough, or do not have achievement that seems to be possessed by others around us. Without awareness, we might be putting some people down who seem to be lacking in those achievements.
In this system, we live through the values of others, and we care about others’ opinions about us, so much so that people don’t know who they are, or they define who they are by that system as the sole measurement. Society, to a certain extent, demands everybody to believe and behave in certain ways. It teaches people to sometimes value some people, but not others, and it also encourages people to be competitive with each other.
​
There are two important models in Buddhism that can be beautifully incorporated into our way of life. The first one is the bodhisattva, which means to be courageous, compassionate, to love others, and to be altruistic at a level of self-transcendence. Another model is to be a yogi -- one who is not bound by any norms of society and whose value system is based on enlightened principles. Fundamentally, the true yogis are not chained by society’s conventions, and they no longer care how much wealth they have or how they look.
Instead, yogis see that all the conventions are illusory, and they do not laugh at the silliness of humanity, but have much more compassion towards the world. Therefore, the yogi is able to embrace everyone equally in the spirit of non-judgment and unconditional love. Outer circumstances have no more power to throw yogis off balance. They live as beings with a liberated, pure spirit, at whose depth is genuine joy that does not require any reason.
​
Some of the renowned yogis are Milarepa, Machig Labdron, Longchenpa, and Jigme Lingpa. From reading their life stories and their writings, being a yogi was not just theory for them, but they were able to break from all the shackles of worldly concerns, hope for success, and fear of being insignificant. Their hearts were full of the joy of liberation, and they were able to hold the whole world in such impartial compassion. Some of them took a very radical approach to set themselves free, and at least for some period, they lived in a hermitage or wandered as divine vagabonds.
​
In modern days, it is not practical to be like these ancient yogis. Somehow our lives are much busier and complex, and it is not necessary to drop out of society, either. Maybe the more practical model would be what they call the “hidden yogi,” in the Tibetan tradition. It is about being free inside, and yet, these hidden yogis do not demonstrate the radical way of yogis. This model does not require going against the collective culture or giving up anything. So, one can continue one’s lifestyle, career and all the mundane pursuits. At the same time, one can be unshackled by the expectations, judgement, and reward of the outside world.
​
The path of the hidden yogi begins by turning intentionally inward to see how much we are bound by all the values and conventions of the world, which result in fear, expectations, fantasies, self-doubt, jealousy, and greed. And we realize that this an obstacle to inner awakening that has to be overcome. With that insight, then a whole new level of inner awakening will take place in our consciousness.
​
During this sojong, let me invite everybody to review how you have been living the last 30 days. You might like to question, “Did I cultivate awareness in everyday life?” And then, make a commitment to practice reflection, awareness, and loving kindness, even more than ever. You are also welcome to contemplate this sojong reminder, which is inspired by a verse from Longchenpa’s writings.
​
With palms joined,
Anam Thubten
​