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8 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

teachings. Or we gradually find then even if the speaker gives an big or small,
ourselves attending a few talks and excellent discourse it will not be But the good or evil motivation
retreats. Eventually, we may even of any benefit to you. This being behind it.
enroll in some weekend seminars so, we first of all need to have an
or sign up for some on-line unprejudiced attitude. This is a very [The Words of My Perfect Teacher,
Buddhist courses. We have become important point. The student should Patrul Rinpoche, translated by
a Dharma student. have the following four qualities. the Padmakara Translation Group
(Sacred Literature, 1998), p. 8]
Yet, do we know how to make Regarding the first quality, an And:
the most of this opportunity? We unprejudiced attitude, it is taught Everything is circumstantial
may not be sure of how we should in The Essence of the Middle Way: And depends entirely on one’s
approach learning. Now we have By being biased, the mind is aspiration.
a unique opportunity and we might anguished
want some practical advice. Here, And peace will never be attained [The Words of My Perfect Teacher,
we can turn to classic Buddhist Patrul Rinpoche, translated by
texts for suggestions on how to be [ Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Stanzas the Padmakara Translation Group
the best type of Dharma student. on the Middle Way, translated (Sacred Literature, 1998), p. 9]
by Ruth Sonam (Snow Lion
In this excerpt from Khenpo Publications, 2008), p. 239] In this way, if your motivation is
Gyaltsen’s A Lamp Illuminating the to gain status and reputation for
Path to Liberation: An Explanation The second quality is to be yourself then, no matter how much
of Essential Topics for Dharma intelligent; the student needs a dharma study and practice you
Students, Khenpo examines quotes natural intelligence through which may do, it will not be authentic.
from classic Mahāyāna texts. This he can understand the words and Therefore, at the very outset it is
practical advice from a lama using meaning of the teaching that is crucial to correct your motivation.
authentic sources benefits our being explained. The vast mind-set, the motivation
listening and studies. For example, of bodhicitta (the mind of
we can learn the importance of The third quality is that the student enlightenment) is to think as follows:
framing our practice with the best needs to have the interest that
motivation. And once we know wishes to understand the words and “All sentient beings here in samsara,
the proper approach for a Dharma meaning of the teaching. without a single exception, have
student, we can make swift progress! been my parents. When they were
The fourth quality is that the my parents, they gave me the best of
The Way the Student Listens to student needs to have respect and the food that they had, they lovingly
the Dharma: The Qualities of the be free of pride. clothed me, and they raised me with
Student intense love and care. They were
The Manner in which the Student extremely kind. These kind parents
The qualities of the student, the Listens to the Dharma long for happiness but do not know
listener, are as taught in the Four how to engage in the causes of

Hundred Stanzas: At the outset, the manner in happiness – the ten virtues. They do
An unprejudiced, intelligent, and which the student listens is the not want to suffer, yet they do not
interested Listener is called a vessel. most important factor, and his know how to abandon the causes of
motivation even more so. For, as it suffering – the ten non-virtues. In
As explained there, if you listen is said: this way, their most basic wish and
to the dharma whilst holding What makes an action good or bad? their actions are in contradiction.
your own view to be supreme, Not how it looks, nor whether it is They have stumbled onto a