Khenchen Rinpoche
I had the rare and great opportunity to have a cup of tea with Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche at his home in Jangchub Ling a few weeks ago.
Khenchen Rinpoche was his usual smiling self when he invited us in. All our fears of disturbing him at an awkward time were melted away by his warm smile. The how-are-yous were hardly over when he offered to make us tea. The best Darjeeling tea he said as he washed the pot. But how could we ever dare to allow him be the tea maker?!
We talked and he imparted and cleared doubts. Amidst much boisterous laughter, he touched on essential Dharma practice. Practice, he said has to be founded on the right motivation. If not, one would not be sitting on that meditation carpet for very long let alone in any secluded place. This motivation has to be right and founded on being of benefit to help others.
Dro La Phen Chir..for the benefit of others..how often have that been read and heard! But its meaning has missed me. On that cool sunny morning, its relevance to practice flickered a little in my mind. I thought I saw its relevance. The strive for awakening and enlightenment take many routes but for a moment it seemed the idea of doing a little more became meaningful.
As has been said, heaven is meaningless if you are up there alone while your family and friends are not around or worse, roughing it out in full view.
Thanks Rinpoche, my heart said as I walked back. The crisp fresh air glittered in the sun or was it the dust dancing in the sunshine?
(Khenchen Rinpoche has a new book – A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path
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Dro la pen chir also has another meaning hahahaha! It will be a sad ‘dema karab” case then.