Giving the Self Away
My interview with Tulku Thubten Rinpoche a few days ago has settled into my consciousness as a newfound resolve to spend some time each day intentionally moving through the world with a mind focused primarily towards fulfilling the needs of others.
I tend to naturally be a pretty generous person, but I realized that that is only relative. Relative to the outrageous levels of selfishness that characterize our society, I'm pretty generous and thoughtful. However, relative to Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, I've got a lot of room for improvement.
As Rinpoche said on the show, the true measure of genuine spiritual accomplishment is guaged by loving-kindness. And I am not just playing at a game called "spiritual practice." My aim is to truly achieve awakening within this lifetime so that I may offer the greatest help to beings that is possible with this lifetime.
What I love about Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, and other great teachers who embody both high intelligence/ scholarly knowledge and loving-kindness is that they provide an example of what is possible. It is so easy to rest on one's laurels after just a little spiritual accomplishment if we do not have those models for what is possible.
Another wonderful benefit of spending a few hours a day intentionally prowling the world with an eye out for what might benefit others and a willingness to fulfill those needs as best one can, is that it provides a powerful tool for self-transcendence. While you are thinking of them, you aren't mulling over yourself at that moment. What a needed break, huh?
One of the things I love so much about interviewing people of significant spiritual accomplishment is that it allows me to not only be a student of these great "world-lovers" but that is also allows me to model spiritual study, contemplation and application for others. I realize one thing I have always been exceptionally good at is learning, really taking in and applying knowledge, and that not everyone knows how to do that. So if I can help someone develop that skill, wow, what a great joy that would be.
I hope you've been listening to the shows, and that you have been receiving some benefit. Next week, James Twyman. Looking forward to it.
I tend to naturally be a pretty generous person, but I realized that that is only relative. Relative to the outrageous levels of selfishness that characterize our society, I'm pretty generous and thoughtful. However, relative to Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, I've got a lot of room for improvement.
As Rinpoche said on the show, the true measure of genuine spiritual accomplishment is guaged by loving-kindness. And I am not just playing at a game called "spiritual practice." My aim is to truly achieve awakening within this lifetime so that I may offer the greatest help to beings that is possible with this lifetime.
What I love about Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, and other great teachers who embody both high intelligence/ scholarly knowledge and loving-kindness is that they provide an example of what is possible. It is so easy to rest on one's laurels after just a little spiritual accomplishment if we do not have those models for what is possible.
Another wonderful benefit of spending a few hours a day intentionally prowling the world with an eye out for what might benefit others and a willingness to fulfill those needs as best one can, is that it provides a powerful tool for self-transcendence. While you are thinking of them, you aren't mulling over yourself at that moment. What a needed break, huh?
One of the things I love so much about interviewing people of significant spiritual accomplishment is that it allows me to not only be a student of these great "world-lovers" but that is also allows me to model spiritual study, contemplation and application for others. I realize one thing I have always been exceptionally good at is learning, really taking in and applying knowledge, and that not everyone knows how to do that. So if I can help someone develop that skill, wow, what a great joy that would be.
I hope you've been listening to the shows, and that you have been receiving some benefit. Next week, James Twyman. Looking forward to it.
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