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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 13

solidify it or base our whole life on feeling threatened already there, but in reality you’re not there. These are
by it. We need to develop confidence in our innate somebody else’s travel experiences.
qualities and believe that these can be brought to
fruition. We all have Buddhanature. We have all the
qualities needed for the path. If we don’t believe this, it And when you do go there, you will have your own
will be very difficult for us to embark because we have unique experiences. Following the path is about
no foundation from which to go forth. It’s really very experiencing it for ourselves. It’s not taking on
simple. The Buddhadharma is not based on dogma. what other people have described. It’s not based on
blind faith. Of course, you need a certain amount of
But why is it so difficult for us? Basically it’s because confidence to buy a ticket and start on your journey.
of our state of mind, because we lack knowledge of You have to believe that the country exists and that
who we are and our role here in this life. Because it’s worthwhile to go there. But beyond that, the
we don’t know who we are, we feel separate from important thing is just to go. And as you go, you can
everybody else. There’s this sense of “me” that creates say to yourself, “Yes, that’s just the way they described
all our fears, angers, attachments, jealousies, and it. That’s right. It does look like that.” EH
uncertainties. But the Buddha said that it doesn’t have
to be like that. Our inherent nature is pure. All we have NOTE: Details for those who wish to support the
to do is rediscover who we really are, and that’s what Nunnery are as follows:
the path is for. It’s very simple. It’s not based on faith,
but rather on experiments and experience leading to Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
realization. It’s not a matter of learning what this lama P.O. Padhiarkar, Via Taragarh
says, or what that tradition says, and then believing District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh 176081
it’s going to save us. It’s not going to save us. Of course INDIA
we need to know what the Buddha said. We need Tel. (+91) 98163 12062
to know what great teachers in the past have said, Email dgloffice@gatsal.org
because they have been there ahead of us and have laid
down maps for us to follow. But it’s a bit like reading a Source: Tricycle, SUMMER 2002. www.tricycle.org
travel book. You can read a travel book and feel you’re