How To Become Unshakably Confident In Yourself and Free From Other’s Negative Opinions
A beautiful and incisive teaching story about gaining ultimate self confidence and freedom from other’s negative opinions by the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
THE DAWNING LIGHT # 285 Monday June 19, 2023
SPIRITUAL SOUP KITCHEN Section # 16
A powerful teaching story from the 17th Karmapa about gaining ultimate self confidence and freedom from other’s negative opinions of you.
Today I want to share a story with you that is from a recent teaching given by the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
But first, I want to set the stage for this story, by briefly sharing some of the back ground so you have a sense of who the Karmapa is and where he comes from.
Kalu Rinpoche’s Mission To Bring The Dharma To The West
As I have shared many times here in “The Dawning Light”, my first teacher was Kalu Rinpoche, who was one of the great meditation masters and teachers of the Kagyu tradition.
He was one of the first of the great masters to come to the West to teach and spread the Dharma throughout Europe, Canada and the United States. I met him in 1972 on his first tour of the US and became one of his very first American disciples…
Rinpoche was one of the highly realized teachers of the Kagyu lineage who was sent to the West by his teacher and the head of the lineage The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.
The Karmapa had had a vision in in the 1960’s in which he saw that many many westerners would benefit from learning and practicing the Dharma and asked Kalu Rinpoche to undertake this mission. At his request, Rinpoche toured, taught and established Dharma Centers all over the west, from 1972 until his passing in 1986, which have continued to grow down to the present day.
The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa: Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
The 16th Karmapa’s World Tours
The !6th Karmapa followed soon after with his first world Tour in 1974, where he performed the “Black Crown Ceremony” and taught the Dharma extensively. I was fortunate to become one of his first American disciples, and to train closely and travel with him as a result of my close relationship with Kalu Rinpoche.
Over the years, I have had many visions of my own previous lives in Tibet, which confirmed Rinpoche’s telling me that I had trained in the Kagyu lineage for many lifetimes, and that is why we were brought together again in this incarnation.
The Tradition of “Tulku”, Realized Masters Who Consciously Reincarnate
In “Tibetan Buddhism”, which we call the Vajrayana (“The Diamond Way), there is a long tradition of enlightened masters predicting where and when they will be reborn in their next life.
The ability to consciously choose their own rebirth’s time and location is one of the abilities that an enlightened person has so that they can take up the position and responsibilities of their previous life.
The first Karmapa, Dusum Kyenpa, was the first master to do this in the 1100’s, after training and achieving enlightenment under Gompopa, the founder of the Kagyu lineage, so that the continuance and purity of the lineage could be assured.
A master who consciously predicts his next incarnation is called a Tulku.
The 1st Karmapa’s incarnation, the 2nd Karmapa, was the first tulku in an unbroken lineage that continues to the present day. The Dalai Lama is the most well known tulku, being the 14th to consciously take rebirth.
Before the 16th Karmapa passed away, he left a prediction letter of his next incarnation who was found in Tibet in 1991, and recognized officially by the Dalai Lama in 1992.
The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje Rinpoche, now teaches around the world. This story is from one of his recent teachings in Europe.
This teaching story by the 17th Karmapa is taken from the life of the Buddha
UNSHAKABLE
"I would like to share a story with you. During the time of the Buddha, it was customary for monks, nuns, and other religious people to beg for food each day. They subsisted on whatever food they received on their daily alms rounds.
One day, when the Buddha was out on an alms round, he arrived at the door of a well-to-do family.
The owner said, 'Why do you have to do this all the time, bothering us for food? You're a public nuisance. Get out! Leave us alone! You're irresponsible. Stop leeching on us. Get a real job!'
The Buddha heard him out, but didn't respond, and eventually the man ran out of steam.
When the man had finished his tirade, the Buddha calmly asked him, 'Are you done?'
'Yes,' he said. 'I'm done.'
'May I ask you a question?' the Buddha said.
'If someone offers you something that you do not accept, to whom does it belong?'
The rich man said, 'It would still belong to the person who was trying to give it.'
The Buddha said, 'Just so. And I do not accept the harsh words you have offered.'
The Buddha had gained his own confidence in the truths he lived by, and so could never be deterred even slightly from following his own moral compass.
But if your choices are not based in wisdom and direct self-knowledge, then criticism from others and other external conditions can erode your confidence and sense of direction in life.
On the other hand, if you have ascertained for yourself who you are and what gives meaning to your life, you can anchor yourself firmly in that wisdom. Nothing anyone says will throw you off balance. No temporary conditions will shake you up.
You need to come to know your own nature for yourself.
You should know what the nature of your own mind is and let that guide your actions.
Remember that you are not a machine. Do not live the life of a robot.
You are here to be a full human being."
~The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje
Quoted by Friends of the Karmapa, Austria.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia “The 17th Karmapa giving a Dharma Teaching”
A SPECIAL SONG AND VIDEO FOR YOU from Chinmayan’s Playlists
“A Traveler’s Longing—Karmapa Khyeno’” by Kesang Marstrand is a haunting rendition of the traditional Tibetan music and chanting invoking the the blessings and protection of the Karmapa. The songwriter and singer is a young Tibetan with a beautiful voice being raised in heart felt longing with a symphonic musical score.
“A Traveler’s Longing—Karmapa Khyeno” by Kesang Marstrand
A SHORT VIDEO OF THE 16th KARMAPA with music and narration
This archival video was taken during the 16th Karmapa’s first world tour in 1974 includes narration of the meaning and purpose of the Black Crown ceremony, with a background of Tibetan music and chanting—all in less than 2 minutes!
A Video Of the 16th Karmapa Performing The “Black Crown” Ceremony, Boulder, Colorado 1974
The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa during the “Black Crown” Ceremony
Calligraphy by Chinmayan
Image Credit: Still Mountain Meditation Center/Inner Resource Institute
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“Your greatest service to humanity is to attain your own Self Realization!” Ramana Maharshi
“When you change the way you think about things, and the things you think about change”
—Wayne Dwyer
“I see my life as an unfolding set of opportunities to awaken.” —Ram Das
Nice message and beautiful song! 💜
Wow great newsletter! Interesting topic. And great song!