This is a
non-fiction work about a Buddhist master, Namkhai Norbu, a Rinpoche, which is an
honorific term used in the Tibetan language. Rinpoche
literally means "precious one." Since the
age of two years, he was recognized as being a reincarnated one, and he has
followed a path of learning and teaching Buddhism, especially Dzogchen
Buddhism. This book, which was compiled and edited by John Shane, may not be
for beginners of the study of this religion. It combines Norbu’s biography with
his teachings, definitions and explanations of the different forms of Buddhism,
and some instructions in the practice of it.
I
read this in conjunction with a 5-day workshop with Norbu, but I found the
teaching to be difficult, and it was certainly not directed at someone who was
just looking for a bit of exposure to the culture and religion. I was
surrounded by people who had been following Norbu around the world for many
years, some for 20 years, one for 35 years. The man with 35-years of experience
of being with Norbu said he was finally beginning to understand what the man
was saying. No wonder I was feeling a bit lost. I was reminded of attending a
lecture during my first week of medical school which was directed to interns
and residents, not first year med students. I heard 1,000 words in an hour that
I did not know, but it was only a few months later that I had an understanding
of what I was hearing and could ask reasonable questions.
I
had a brief one-on-one with the Rinpoche who is now 76 years old, and after
thanking him for his teaching and honoring the path that he had been pursuing,
I asked a question. I noted that in our Western culture, no one is recognized
as a reincarnated sole at the age of two and then sent on a life path
accordingly. I wondered if such reincarnation pronouncements were ever made in
error, if at the age of 10 or 20 someone had veered far from the intended path,
and that the Tibetans who had made the declarations said “oops, guess we were
wrong.” He said, “No,” turned away and did not respond to a follow-up question.
I was subsequently reassured that it was not a faux pas to ask the question,
but the question certainly comes from a Western mind.
Much
of the book was equally difficult, but I suspect if one was intensively
pursuing Buddhism, that the content would be very meaningful. I thought the
conclusion of this short book was quite beautiful:
This concludes the presentation here of the Base,
the Path, and the Fruit of the Dzogchen teachings. While words and intellectual
concepts can only ever be signposts pointing to the true nature of reality,
which is quite beyond them, nevertheless the complex interlinked conceptual
structure of the teachings is in itself brilliant and beautiful, like a
many-faceted crystal whose every facet flawlessly reflects and refers to every
other. But please remember that the only way to look into the heart of that
crystal is to look into oneself. Dzogchen is not just something to be studied;
the Way of Light is there to be travelled.
As
a bee seeks nectar
From
all kinds of flowers,
Seek teachings
everywhere.
Like a deer that finds a
quiet place to graze,
Seek seclusion to digest
all you have gathered.
Like a lion, live
completely free of all fear.
And, finally, like a
madman, beyond all limits,
Go wherever you please.
-- A Tantra
of Dzogchen
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