Reality and Mrs Bear

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a Mahayana Spiritual Guide and Tantric Master, and the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT).

"Well well" smiles Mrs Bear.

Great spiritual teachings are a little difficult to put across, and this Buddhist Teacher has "provided a complete re-presentation of the Buddhist path in accordance with the needs and inclinations of the modern world. His teachings are so clear and practical that anyone may gain authentic spiritual realization by putting them into practice."

The other day, whilst talking about business, and specifically about us in the 'spiritual trade', the opinion was voiced that whatever we may think and do to improve or enlighten anyone, we need to consider the fact that we are dealing with the world, and that the odds of anyone taking notice, or perhaps even benefiting from our enthusiasm, wisdom, service or product, are subject to the laws of inclination or indifference. The odds, or numbers involved, are not in our favour, and that due account, or wise acceptance, should be taken of this 'commercial risk'. Reality and reason take precedence over imagination, enthusiasm, and idealism.

We know all this. It's called 'the world'. Is what we do effective, or even commercially viable ? Can we show, prove, demonstrate, or impress ? Of course not, most of the time. We do what we do regardless of the world, and others. We do not do it for the world or others. There isn't any reward or recognition that can come from the world, or others, that we do not already possess in our own heart.

" He expects nothing, and he relies on nothing, and whatever he does such a man retains inner peace. He has no vain hopes, and spends his day in quiet activity. Only his body works. He is free from distracting thought, and his work does not bind him."

BHAGAVAD GITA

It is the empty heart and empty spirit that must rely on, react to, and reorganise, the profits and promotions of the world. Do we live in hope that recognition or reward, or even the enlightenment of others, will arrive one day ? Of course not ! We live each day, through optimism, enthusiasm, encouragement, humour, and generosity, regardless of the world. You can join in, or not.

But time is what we have, each day. You can spend that time fully immersed in the activities and involvements of the world, or you can 'look out' for a moment, for no reason at all, or sometimes talk to someone or give some other living thing your attention, just for its' own sake. This energy automatically changes your outlook and your life.

It is a strange way of looking at things, without the need for reward, but it changes, amazes and amuses, and provides adventures in the world, all the time. Don't know whether you noticed, but it is a very strange world.

I'm sure Mrs Bear would agree.

'The Way' is a wide road.

"There are many ways forward, and many choices along the way."

This weekend while at a MBS Fair I was showing someone the easier and more direct way to select the hexagrams of The TAO I CHING with a set of ELEMENTS. This person was not impressed, even though I could demonstrate a more dynamic flow of energy, and 'symbolic' manipulation of the hexagram, much more than using those coins. The two objections were that they preferred to use the yarrow stalk method ( I never thought of that; long winded, and they may have a certain rhythm to them when you use them properly), and that using the Wilhelm version they could read into the Readings what they wanted.

I replied by saying that I thought that this was a little pointless, since all the Readings would simply confirm, or strengthen, what they already knew. But they weren't listening.

Two thousand years ago (Chinese scholars will know this period of 200 B.C. - 200 A.D. as a great revolution, or a complete disaster of interpretation) the issue was clear enough. There were two flows of energy. One towards material involvement, and the other towards spiritual awareness, BOTH used in the world to full effect. Someone came along and put a label on these flows, and called them "Yin" and "Yang". The rest is a history of esoteric confusion. Because of this people will spend the next 2000 years pursuing one flow of energy, or another, to get the reults they want. This caused, and causes, a chain reaction and chain of events that alters the world. Here we are ! We can't change the past, and we can't change the world (people will do what they want), but we can change ourselves, to see, and feel, and use, a different kind of eneregy. An energy that we were told about two thousand years ago. The introductory chapters of The TAO I CHING explain it all. But they weren't listening.

But hey !, we can change our destiny.