Student-teacher relationship.

The student-teacher relationship forms part of an ancient tradition that involves learning how to be present in the world and serves as the glue that holds communities together from generation to generation.

The teacher or mentor represents lived experience and holds a body of knowledge. The curious novice is someone on the threshold of life, waiting to step into a way of being in the world and contributing to the world in meaningful ways.

The role of the mentor is to recognize and awaken the innate potential of the student. Between the mentor and student there is a transmission of knowledge and a bestowal of blessings that deepen the inner life of the student and provide a ground for the inner work to be done. The mentor stirs the voice of the student, allowing them to find the words that they were previously unable to express or were just beyond their reach. The elder raises up the life-force, or lung-ta, of the novice, giving rise to greater presence and power. Power here isn't power over others, but the power of recognizing our inner wealth and resourcefulness.

In this way, the mentor lights up the path, inviting the student into the world in a deeper way. Like a candle in the darkness, the student learns how to tend their own flame while discovering that they can share their light with others and nothing is lost. The novice slowly learns to recognize their natural qualities and finds their own gifts, gifts that can be brought out into the world and shared with others.

The student at the threshold is required to take that first step to cross over to the other side. That moment marks taking a stand for that which is authentic and true. It signifies taking the responsibility and initiative necessary to traverse the path to its very end. The mentor is not there to save the disciple. The mentor asks the disciple to free themselves so that they can live in the world in a greater way. Between them, teacher and student, they reveal the nobility of the buddha heart amidst the struggles of living in the world.

In this way, the student-teacher relationship forms the very heart of the culture of awakening.

Throw back the fish.

The fruit of bodhicitta is the practice itself.

You must be willing to practice with no hope for signs or success.  Nothing to gain, nothing to elevate your status or ego.  No sense of accomplishing or finishing, nothing to hang onto whatsoever.

You must be willing to practice your whole day with no sense of achievement.

Then, if you do catch a fish, you must throw it back.

Dedicate whatever comes your way.  Share the fruit of your practice with others.

Blessings are not used up when shared. 

The basis of the Ngakpa vow.

There are countless vows that the Ngakpa promises to uphold, but the root of all of them is the samaya they have with their root teacher.

The teacher is the source of all blessings.  We receive those blessings when our minds are transformed.  That transformation can take many forms, such as feeling more compassionate, more open minded.  It can take the form of finding one's purpose or finding meaning in one's life.  Ultimately that transformation is our ordinary samsaric mind transforming into the awakened mind of complete enlightenment, our inherent buddhanature.

Transformation can take many forms, but it is always personal.  It impacts your mind and your life.

The confirmation that we have received the blessings of the teacher is that our mind and life are transformed by their kindness.  We have been impacted, changed. 

That transformation engenders a deep gratitude and respect.  It is something to honor and to uphold.  That heartfelt connection that has been forged is called samaya.  It is the basis for all the other commitments that one makes. 

Blessings, transformation and samaya.  They are all linked between the student and the teacher.  The come together as a seed and they ripen as the path, bearing fruit as complete awakening. 

Abundance

Generosity requires abundance, or at least the perception of abundance.  Which means that abundance is qualified by you and whether or not you feel you have anything to share. 

When most of us think of generosity we think of giving away our material wealth or possessions.  However, most of us have so much attachment to our money and possessions that we don't feel particularly generous.

There are other forms of generosity.

If you are training as an artist, someone who uses generosity, love and kindness to bring benefit to others and the world around them, then you have a lot of options to practice generosity.

You could share a kind word, a loving act, a simple gesture.  You could show up when people least expect it, you could do the work.  You could care, actually listen.  You could give people dignity when they feel they have nothing left to hold onto.

Give gifts that don't have a limit.

As you train, you can learn to cultivate abundance, but it is more important that you learn to recognize the abundance of wealth you already have. 

When you share this kind of generosity you get paid back in blessings.  And a life of abundance.