July 27, 2014 4
A couple of nights ago, we had a quiz on Rinpoche’s blog chat. The topic of the quiz was anything to do with Tsongkhapa, from his life story to his practices, to the achievements of his disciples and so on. During the quiz, Rinpoche asked me a couple of questions that gave me pause to think about what inspires me to become a nun.
The specific question was what about Tsongkhapa’s life story has nun-like qualities which inspire me. I wanted to share my answers here before they are lost into the deep, dank wilderness of the interweb, because Rinpoche’s questions encouraged me look deeper into Tsongkhapa’s life not just as a historical figure who brought pure Dharma into the world but as someone who plays a very real and tangible role in my spirituality and my life.
Reading the life story of Tsongkhapa again made me realise just what an honour it will be the day I receive my vows. It reminded me of how diligently Tsongkhapa practised to maintain the purity of the vinaya, and how thousands of monks have continued to uphold their vows so that they can be handed down to cretins like me after hundreds of years. Stupid me gets this chance because many kind people before me decided to opt out of samsara, and aim for nirvana o_O thus when I finally receive my vows, the responsibility will be huge – will I become someone who brings pride to my lineage, or will my actions disappoint all of the great masters who have come before me?
So before I receive my vows, before anyone receives any vows, they had best examine what their motivation is for becoming ordained. Is it to escape responsibility? To receive praise? To be treated specially with perks? Or is it to work even harder for others? To transform your mind and root out the ego? To humble down and serve in whatever capacity is necessary, instead of whatever capacity is possible?
Just think. This does not apply only to vows but to everything we do. As Rinpoche says, always examine your mind before taking any action. Examine your motivation and why you are doing or saying something, preferably BEFORE you do or say it. If it is to benefit the other person, no matter how difficult or painful it is for you, do it. If it will not benefit them, then is there another way?
At the end of the day, if you strip away all of the jargon and technicalities, spirituality is about whether an action is beneficial or not…so, were you spiritual today?
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Thanks for sharing! Pastor Jean Ai. This write up has really got me thinking now. (esp, the last 3 paragraphs).
Thanks PJA for sharing this! It’s gotten me to think deeper. Thank you!
Hi, I read Lama Tsongkhapa, but I see no nuns in the article…
Then you may need to read the post a little closer, as well as the content of the blog chat in question this is a reflection about the qualities of Tsongkhapa, and what I myself as a nun-to-be wish to accomplish when I become ordained.