The Way of Living

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This book contains some heart essence advice of Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887) one of the greatest meditation masters and scholars of the Nyingmapa School. it displays the nature of human behaviour and explains how to practice both secular and spiritual ways of living based on Buddhist attitude and intentions. Generally most Buddhist writings embrace the thoughts of transcending the worldly realm and attaining the liberation or enlightenment. The writings in this book include advice on how to live in society and serve others according to our natural capacity which brings comfort in this life and happiness in future lives.

l shall be amply rewarded lf my effort enters the heart of diligent students l have no care for the smiles of the foolish and appreciation of the rich.

Amdo Gendhun Choephel (1903-1951)
Acharya Nyima Tsering graduated from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi. He has published several books and articles. He is the translator of the text entitled "Commentary on the thirty seven practices of a Bodhisattva" by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama and “The Lotus Garden’s Play" by Dza Patrul Rinpoche.

In this short human life span, people are striving to attain some achievement in this world. Like any other living creatures, human beings are also struggling continuously for their survival. Unlike animals, who are completely under the sway of natural environment, humans, with their wisdom and intelligence, employs their thoughts and intellects in various fields of work and actions to seek comfort and happiness. Of course, we could manage to achieve our wishes to some extent since certain material facilities have been developed. We have advanced in science and have attained most of the basic necessities for maintaining quite a comfortable life but we are still facing lots of problems everywhere in this world, there are lots of political crises, social injustices, family problems, and conflicts among fellow beings due to different viewpoints. People at large also hunt their fellow colleagues for their fame, reputation and material gains. lf we are not aware of our daily moral conducts with proper awareness of right intention and livelihood, this world will become a very difficult place to live in. The situation is worsening and deteriorating every year in our so called civilized and modern society.

Our needs and requirements are forced upon us by global companies. Every year, they assault us with different projects and schemes to generate our desire through advertisements in television, movie theatres and newspapers. We are like puppets whose strings are in the hand of manufacturing companies. We are accustomed and addicted to all these so called modern facilities, equipments and various junk foods. We have made ourselves so conditioned to depend on these external things that we have lost our choice to live freely and contented. Thus, we have to struggle to live in this very competitive world and unintentionally indulge in unwholesome behaviour which eventually brings negative results in the future.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Education is the development of moral character." But we have nearly lost our touch with moral and ethical values. These days education is like an entertainment business and our schools, colleges and universities are becoming like mill factories where they produce people fit to function in this competitive material world. The value of education nowadays is judged by whether a person can earn a good salary, and by his or her status in the society than by mental enrichment and spiritual realization. Because of this, we are always facing problems and difficulties every where. That acknowledged, I have selected here some pieces of Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s writings which display the way of living and behaving in this human world. I assume that this will guide us how to pursue our daily activities with gentle nature and to train our mind in such a way that we can behave more wisely in this world and serve the society according to our natural capacity.

The first section advises on the art of meaningful living. The author narrates the principles of ethical living for family, friends, neighbours and government officials to make one’s society more strong and peaceful. It is ethical advice for the people of all ages but especially for the younger generations.

Second section reveals the unmasked spiritual experience of Patrul Rinpoche himself and also explicates the actual meaning of faith, dharma, and spiritual teacher which are the major concerns for those diligent students who want to transform their mind.

The third section gives the guidance on choosing friends. Our friends influence us a lot in the life. We have had experiences of happiness and pain through interaction with caring friend or with wrong person. So, our choice of friends induces what kind of person we may become. Rinpoche did precise research on choosing a companionship.

The fourth section details the means to deal with distraction and healing anger, based on the sixth chapter of "A guide to the bodhisattva’s way of life" and releasing the negative thoughts through knowing the nature of one’s own mind. Otherwise, allowing small negative thoughts to gain importance results in sickness, violence, starvation and all the unpleasant circumstances in the living world.

The fifth section gives the essential advice to deal with day to day life spiritual path and teach us how to practice the Dharma in simple way. According to Buddhism, it is important to discipline one’s mental attitude to bring true benefits for others. lf we transform and enhanced our mental and spiritual attitude, then whatever we say or does brings true, lasting joy and peace to others with least efforts and even your presence enlightens the surroundings; you can eventually make a great and pure support for others. Adversely, if your mind is not in stable position, always agitated, disturbed and turbulent with excessive pride, attachment, anger and simple stubbornness out of ignorance brings pain and disturbance to others unintentionally It is therefore, we must first make ourselves stable by developing confidence, self—control, and 4 self- sufficiency through disciplining one’s mental attitude. On that basis, we can influence and help others.