The recent lessons learned when i was trying to serve Kunde Rinpoche la:
a) A childhood story shared:
One day i was trying to serve fruits after a meal. I gave good bananas just bought from the coldstorage store. He laughed after he had taken. He said that when he was a little boy, one day he went to a nearby town and he saw 2 chinese ladies eating bananas. At that time, this was the first time he saw the fruits people eating without knowing the name :)-D. Thus he might had been looking on with curiosity while these ladies were eating. Then both ladies threw the banana skins towards him and hit his face, they laughed and left. Rinpoche narrated in such childlike, while i was hearing, i did not know to laugh or to cry.
I asked what did he do with that? He said that he did not react, he cleaned his face. Later, he went home and narrated to his mum, his mum explained and later bought him the fruits - bananas.
In our modern culture, i would perceived the ladies who did that was like 'bullying' a child, even arrogant! Later i contemplated on this childhood story, Kunde Rinpoche la had shown me a lived lesson - there is no advantage to react to afflictive emotions shown by others towards us.
Having said that, as a lay person with little Buddhist practice, at this point, i think if i meet such arrogant act, i will pick up the ramnants and threw back! :)- Then i guess my spiritual friend may still gently and tell me that i am fierce! In reflection, i have much to practise watching my own emotion and anger then :)_-D.
Having seen my own mind after the story, the next whole week i practice the four foundations contemplation daily till today - perseverance, perseverance, patience, patience...
2) The magic of A Gift Box
After i returned from Kalachakra in January this year, one day i bought a 'proper' cold jacket for my Spiritual Friend (after witnessing he treasured the 'worn-out' jacket which other practitioners had reminded him of the perceptions of others towards him. But eventually, a kind Rinpoche exchanged his jacket with him before he left to Dzogchen Shriseng Monastery after the festival).
I kept the new jacket in a square big plastic box which i have been using it to keep gifts for full-time Buddhist practitioners thus far. When i took out that box and presented the gift to Kunde Rinpoche la, he gently reminded me that i should not have bought that for him, and saved the spendings for my study.
Then Kunde Rinpoche narrated to me that his grandfather (Yeye), Lopon Pema Dechen had such a gift box. His grandpa had not lost any temper thus far (till he passed away). When he was a child, sometimes he was curious and may refused adults instructions. If he cried or 'showed stubborness' in following adult's instructions, Yeye would birng him to his magic box - open his Gift Box to ask him to choose whatever he likes. He would then choose something (a toy) and happily play with it. Later, when he had done with it, Yeye would put it back inside the magic box! - Thus anger from adults was saved from this child's playfulness.
That day, after i heard this heartful story of Yeye, i posted this timeless photo i had with him in 2011 at my facebook to share with my Buddhist friends. Here i would like to share with readers who have affinity of this picture of a saintly grandfather that i encountered with altruisctic joys, which was such overwhelming till made my tears flowing down for quite a while without knowing any reason - but truly timeless encounter...This encouter might have changed my life...
[Lopon Pema Dechen (late) 2011]
May Lopon Pema Dechen gained Enlightenment! May His Kindness, Wisdom, Compassion and Patience be the Inspirations to all who had met him in this lifetime striving in practising good.
May all Sentient Beings be Well, Happy and Peaceful.
Tashi Delek 扎西得勒
