These were the last pieces of pictures i had photographed in the Maha Bodhi Temple, BodhGaya, India on 11 January 2012 evening, after spending some time at the area of the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha attained Englightenment, later queing up for more than an hour (?) to enter the Pagoda temple to the main shrine.
This was the only piece of warm outfit, worn-out sweater which was wearing by my Dzogchen Teacher/Master during the Kalachakra from 31Dec2011 - 10January2012 in BodhGaya. I found out that it was bought in the year of Nyingma Monlam (2007?) when the weather was cold. I asked why was the Teacher still wearing this warm clothing when it was already worn-out? He answered it could still fit his size and trashing it is a waste.
Paradoxically, having living in the mundane world, people around are projecting the 'corperate image' of wearing 'neat clothing' (if not gorgeous fashions) and fashonable shoes; a relative commented in nemerous occassions that the clothes we were wearing & the bag we were carrying to the office reflected the 'image' of an exercutive level staff.
My teacher, Kunde Rinpoche helped to sent off an aging mom & niece of a friend, Ani Tsering on 12 January 2012 at 6.00A.M. When he was in the bus station, he met one of his Friends from Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery, Tashi Rinpoche (not that Rinpoche in Malaysia of the same name). His friend exchanged his new jacket - bought during the Kalachakra festival, he said though he was wearing it during these days, but it was new, if Kunde Rinpoche would not mind. He suggested that as a Rinpoche, wearing the worn-out clothing might be 'looking-down' by the lay people who are used to 'judge' external material measurement. Thus he exchanged and taken away the worn-out jacket and wearing it himself (as the weather was rather cold at that time). After i heard of this exchanged of clothing episode, i was moved by the compassion of Tashi Rinpoche, Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery.
Though below were the last pictures i had captured of this worn-out clothing, wearing by Kunde Rinpoche, it was a live lesson of two Rinpoches showing of heartful concerns and love towards one another.
On the contrary, when i reflected how other practitioners i know had requested financial assistance from Kunde Rinpoche for various occasions and reasons, he had given without reservation despite my reminder that funds were meant for his first English translation publication, he said it could be delayed. i was rather disappointed when the time he needed hands to help, those benefitted from his kindness did not come forward or even asked of it, even though this person was around (and could not be contacted via mobile phone!). There were others even to the extend of expecting him to attend to their aging relative, a 11-year old child etc, when Kunde Rinpoche was supposed to enter the main shrine, sitting on the seat with his name already tagged. He said sitting outside in open air was the same! More than that, this family left those bought raw materials food for him to carry back to the camp who was staying nearby his camp after the Puja in different days. That time, i felt that compassion is a perfect word but rather very much much easier to say than to practise for us. After these days during the Kalachakra, i felt myself have not been practising well - i did not have the wisdom & skillful means to handle these types of occassions well, and i felt i did not serve the Teacher skillfully, and find these mundane happenings within the 'spiritual' settings unacceptable, though the Teacher had not declined those 'unacceptable demands'.
Nevertheless, I thought these were special pictures i had photographed to share with his Friends - the nature of mind is beyond my naked eyes!!!
[Kunde Rinpoche, 11 January 2012, BodhGaya, India. Photographed by sonam yeshi. All rights reserved]
When i asked him what did it mean in his book :" ...have developed the four primordial wisdoms of joy (joy, supreme joy, extraordinary joy and innate joy" (p. 40, A Garland of Flowers: Questions and Answers on the Highly Secret Clear Light Great Perfection / H.E. Kunde Rinpoche; Translated by Geshe Lhakdor and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam). He gestured as below, i captured the picture, it speaks more than words:
[Kunde Rinpoche, 11 January 2012, BodhGaya, India. Photographed by sonam yeshi. All rights reserved]
Happy New Year
Tashi Delek
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