A Reflection

'where' is this Great Teacher, Patrul Rinpoche? does this Master reincarnated in this century? i was curious as many attained Masters did with great compassion had recorded in Tibetan Buddhism history. The translated text (English) recommended by my first Tibetan Rinpoche i met in the USA in 1995, H.E. Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, the author was Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Padmakara Translation Group, 1994). Mainly, the spiritual respect from anyone who studied Vajrayana Tradition whether beginner or any stage is undoubtedly a quintessential text for any interested learner. When i asked, i was informed that H.E. Patrul Rinpoche is a senior, living in Tibet, only speaks Tibetan, highly respected and profound in Dharma teachings (without any text required) in Tibet monasteries (such passionate humble rebirth to homeland of the Snow Mountain of a Bodhisattva!). The Internet enabled my curiosity to stretch to unknown sites. I understand Kyabje Pema Kelsang Rinpoche is a true well-known practitioner, not Internet savvy. Today, accidentally, i found they are some others named 'Pema Kalsang' or 'Kelsang Pema', or Pema Kelsang" posted in the Internet sites (i found one 'quarrelsome' site having those similar words in name, another site claiming such and such the only True Buddha, very amusing :)-D. - i only recognized Sakyamuni Buddha (Gautama Buddha, born in human body: 563 B.C.E.) attained Buddhahood historically, spiritually and humanely who showed the path to Enlightenment for countless students who learned and practised the universal Truths he expounded. Reading the books on the Life of the Buddha never in any sentence mentioned the Buddha 'quarrelsome style' with anyone, or using framing words such as 'hyprocracy', the amusing news is this person with similar name (only) travelled somewhere to demonstrate for the visiting/arrival of a Noble person, minimally still his fellow men...etc. etc... may be politically motivated, i could only think this is the only possible reason, otherwise why wasting precious time and limited lifespan doing such activities, wearing sacred clothes, and demo outside a foreign university who was accepting a visit form an internationally renown and humble Noble Peace Prize laurette? an ironical reflection of the opposite of peace? Reading such news could be 'stressful' but amusing, :)-D) - i hardly find time to complete 500 prostration and Three Jewels Chanting in the past 10 months! may be even have to stop blogging in weekends or late evenings... YES, i found from this resourceful site : rigpawiki.org which hosted related site dedicated to Patrul Rinpoche's teaching. It is interesting RIGPA SHEDRA MP3 Library had a reminder for users on learning from listening to recordings is not a substitute for oral transmission (attending classess or receiving instruction directly from Teacher). I think this reminder is applicable to the using the internet resources for learning Dharma teachings on the Web. http://www.rigpawiki.org/ http://www.lotsawahouse.org/patrul/index.htm let me go back to 'serious' learning - read research articles or go to continue my prostration from the no 450 ...:)-) Post amended on March 13, 2011

The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry

After posting some Internet resources on Buddhist Dharma Teachings (many more good resources still residing in the Web like undiscover virutal lay jewels), i was a little 'amazed' by how the Internet also serve as effective propaganda/forum spaces for "intellectual gossips" as i was browsing through wikis (wikipedia.org), ask.com. It is contended that the internet is a 'free space' without editorial review, gatekeeper thus having the question of reliability of sources frequently cautioned by professionals.
Among my concern of the juicy gossips in virtual spaces is the posting on news/forum discussion of issues highlighted by the media of some full-time dharma practitioners, especially those involved sensitive human chastity (precepts) for renounced practitioners, masters of different traditions - even though this is also happening to other universal religions (organized religion?). Readers without the foundations teachings of the the Dharma (the Buddha's Teachings) may be confused, even shy away by such sarcecrows. Personally i like to read parables, stories, fables etc. Often we forgot these famous little fables, Jataka stories, Zen stories etc. having deep meanings for human thoughts. Among them, particularly i like: The Elephant and Four Blind men, New clothes of the King (国王的新衣) etc. have much truth on human behavior. But the Greatest Teacher who is living more than 2,500 years has reminded us the importance of human mind to investigate before justifying between many opposites of human concepts - The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry (The Kalama Sutra). i found this website that saved me typing again the text (Please copy the address & paste to browser. Thanks Sidney, Sadhu):
The Kalama Sutta (Sutra)
http://web.singnet.com.sin/~sidneys/kalama.htm
Other sites which have its explanations:
http://www,what-buddha-taught.net/Books5/Bhikkhu_Buddhadasa_Help_The_Kalama_Sutta_Help.htm
(souce : http://www.suanmokkh.org )
The Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka (which is a good reference site for scholarly works on traditional dharma teachings):
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wheel008.html

Many sites have posted commentary/explanation of this piece of famous teaching which is a unique teaching of the Dharma, especially after it becomes an 'ism' - cause more confusion (? D:) from human endless judgements....