Real objects of refuge

Tsem Rinpoche with his Lama and protector.

Rinpoche often says that the real Dharma protector is the Dharma itself. If we take refuge in the Three Jewels and are steady in our refuge, then we need not fear anything else. However, since we often lapse in our commitments, and since we have immeasurable negative karma accumulated from previous lives, it becomes necessary for us to have a Dharma protector to help clear obstacles in our practice.

For Rinpoche, the real Dharma protector is his root guru, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. It has been 36 years since Rinpoche last saw Kyabje Zong Rinpoche who passed away in 1984, just a year after Rinpoche met him. In these last nearly-four decades, everything Rinpoche has done has been to keep his promises to his guru. One of the most obvious instances is to maintain his practice of Dorje Shugden, a commitment Rinpoche received in the form of sogtae in 1983. For this, Rinpoche has been criticised, harassed, threatened, name-called and had all manner of vulgarities directed at him. And in spite of this, Rinpoche continues on and, on top of that, never retaliates against anyone.

So here’s a contemplation for the week’s end – how many of us would have the same level of tenacity and what do we need to do to develop it?

Choose your Protector over your ego. Choose your teacher over your ego. Your teacher told you to do many things which you do not do, but these things are what opens the doors for Dorje Shugden to help you.

~ Tsem Rinpoche

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