September
27th, 2003
I’d like to be more in touch with Lion’s Roar
dharma students, so I’m joining the 21st century and
using electronic mail. Many of you I see at Lion’s
Roar directly, and I am able to convey my thoughts and feeling
through dharma talks or personal interviews. However, I find
I still have more to say!
I have some thoughts about my teaching role. The position
of a lama is an archetypal role. In the Diamond Way or Vajrayana
tradition, the lama is indispensable. The lama makes a commitment
to the student that lasts until enlightenment. The student
also makes a commitment to continue to practice until enlightenment
or liberation is realized.
For the last six or seven years at Lion’s Roar I
have been called Lama Steve. This has made things easier
for me because I’m not a “full time” lama,
but must work in the outside world. I’ve come to the
conclusion, however, that it’s not helpful for dharma
students because it’s too familiar. I’m going
to begin to use one of my lama names. I’d like to
be addressed as Lama Tongnyom. This is the Tibetan for Equanimity.
[Editor's Note: Lama has since received
the name of Yeshe Jinpa upon his ordination as a bhikshu
- see letter of 6/16/05]
There is a famous saying in Tibet:
If you see your teacher as an ordinary person, you
receive the blessings of an ordinary person.
If you see your teacher as a Bodhisattva, you receive the
blessings of a Bodhisattva.
If you see your teacher as a Buddha, you receive the blessings
of the Buddha.
To see one’s teacher as a Bodhisattva or a Buddha
doesn’t mean that they are an enlightened person who
can do no wrong. In fact, we don’t see them as an enlightened “person” at
all. Rather we recognize their enlightened or Buddha activities.
This is what we identify with and take refuge in. Indeed,
the dharma path is to recognize and cultivate these qualities
in ourselves. The lama acts as a mentor, guide or spokesperson
for our own enlightened qualities.
Working with a teacher is a mirror image of working with
ourselves. We at times idealize and then devalue our teacher
just as we idealize and then devalue ourselves. All of our
feelings and experiences need to be worked through, not just
on the cushion, but also in personal contact with one’s
Lama. There is no way to work out a perfect relationship
in our head by reading books or sitting alone on a cushion.
Needless to say, this can sometimes be difficult. It takes
a lot of determination, and as I like to say, some desperation!
The dharma path is opening up to trust to our own experience
as well as trusting the experience of the teacher, or the
Lama, and our friends on the path. It is difficult to trust
ourselves and trust others. We know how tricky we all can
be. The Lion’s Roar of dharma is that we can trust
ourselves and others.
May all be auspicious.
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