I would like to formally acknowledge your Rinpoche as my Guru

A fellow apprentice made a request to Rinpoche, “My relatives, friends and colleagues all know that I believe in Buddhism and have learnt Buddhism as well as being a pious Buddhist too. Moreover, they always browse our Vajrayana website. From it, they’ve learnt plenty of fundamental principles of Buddhism and Life philosophy which stimulate deep thought, cleanse souls as well as benefitting physical and mental health. They all denote that they’d like to formally acknowledge my Rinpoche as their Guru very much!  Furthermore, recently, there’re quite a number of readers who have browsed our Vajrayana website post us letters irrespective how they can know our corresponding address. In their letters, they sincerely beg and hope to take refuge to our Rinpoche!  Driven by their extraordinary sincerity and persistent confidence, I hereby truly hope that Rinpoche can mercifully admit them!”

Rinpoche responded the fellow apprentice with a kind expression on his face, “They’ve got good roots and also possess good intention. Please help to pass my words to them: ‘I’m not refusing to accept them as my disciples, but the problem is that the timing and predestination of doing so are not compatible. On the one hand, I have to rush about lots of places in the world frequently. The circumstances nowadays are very much different from those 25 years ago when I could teach and instruct you in person. In retrospect, those were the days that we could usually meet each other daily. If not, you gathered together every other day to listen to my discourse. We could manage to meet one another at least once in a week at that time. However, it takes a minimum of three months on average before we can meet once currently. Second, I’m advancing in age that makes me unable (in terms of time) to teach new learners all over again from the foundations of Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism. In addition, I always retreat at the present stage so as to do some meditation and sutra-readings silently and the time for my self-study is getting rather inadequate. Thirdly, it’s the problem of time allocation that has really made me multitasking a lot… etc.’ What I said just now seems like pouring a pot of cold water from over their heads and this may make them very disappointed. They may even think that I’m refusing to take refuge. Wouldn’t that be violating the Buddhist principle of rescuing sentient beings mercifully?  In fact, I had such a thought many years ago; it’s neither an excuse made to stall them nor a way to soothe them!  Before determining to come forward to widely proclaim the Buddhist truth, I’ve already divined the existence of the phenomenon of such a day!”

Rinpoche continued to commentate, “Subhuti Thera (an honourable one), one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha, has ever asked Sakyamuni Buddha a question on the rescuing of sentient beings and the Buddha answers, ‘I’ve not rescued any of the sentient beings and it’s they who become enlightened by themselves.’ Just as The Diamond Sutra says, ‘The Buddha told Subhuti: Good sons and good daughters, for those initiating the annuttara-samyak-sambodhicitta (a realm of the Buddha) will give rise to a thought that I should liberate all sentient beings. Having liberated all of the sentient beings, it is found that there are actually no sentient beings that are liberated.’ Hence, when the various Buddhas liberate sentient beings, it’s in fact the sentient beings themselves that have made the liberation. It’s because sentient beings employ their own blessed virtues as well as hetupratyaya (causes) to bring about enlightenment as well as rewards of the attainment. They’re then able to feel the manifestation of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in their hearts and this is known as the Guru of one’s own nature.”

Rinpoche went on with his speaking, “I’ve already uploaded a lot of information about Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism, Buddhist truths, Dharma-word in general knowledge and wisdom, the quintessence of Buddhism etc. and many other teaching materials containing life philosophy in our website. Besides, there will continuously be more and more information on the essence of Buddhism that helps to promote one’s mind and soul to be uploaded in the future. After browsing our Vajrayana website, the amount of materials they can learn, assimilate and digest as well as their real implementation and persistence in carrying out what they’ve learnt are their good fortune!  Hutuktu Kanjurwa (a living Buddha from Inner Mongolia, 1914 – 1978) said, ‘One who is (physically) near to one’s Guru can be the farthest one from the Guru (mentally).’ Either their request to take refuge to be my disciples or their asking for a piece of Buddhist Certificate is only something superficial. Suppose that I now affirm you as my disciple, but in the future you deny me as your Guru, you see, it’s all in vain in the end!  Furthermore, a Buddhist Certificate is only tangible material in the world which is similar to a sheet of Marriage Certificate. Is it possible that no divorce is guaranteed after the signing of a Marriage Certificate?  Don’t forget that a piece of certificate is made from materials in the world, so it has to undergo formation, existence, destruction and annihilation (the Four Kalpas)!  Learning in depth and experiencing by hearts are the most essential and significant ways of learning Buddhism. By doing so, an interconnected bridge will then be set up between the souls of the Guru and his disciple. The ability to keep Buddhism always in one’s mind as well as learning the right views of Buddhism are the most important. Hence, it’s unnecessary to persist in formally acknowledging me as your Guru!”

The fellow apprentice went further on, “I’ve learnt that some of the website readers have already identified and regarded our Rinpoche as their Guru in their minds, but they’re not yet able to see Rinpoche personally. Thus, I dare to request for these netizens to solicit Rinpoche’s permission, see if it’s possible to make an arrangement for them to meet Rinpoche or obtain Rinpoche’s precious photo?”
Rinpoche answered with a smile, “Concentrating one’s effort on spirituality is especially important in learning Buddhism. Hold on to one’s faith and things will go one’s way. By the time, one will naturally feel the response and interaction with neither the necessity to meet each other nor the possession of any photos. Some day when I leave this world and enter into Paranirvana (nirvana-after-death, it is the state when the last remains of physical life vanish and no further rebirth takes place), my photo will be put in the website.”

Rinpoche further exhorted these sincere netizens that they should enrich their blank and inane minds by understanding the Buddhist principles as well as the tantric principles of Vajrayana first and afterwards lay a solid foundation on them if they really hope to take refuge. This acts as a trial on readers (of Vajrayana website). If one can learn well and pursue Buddhism as instructed, one will be able to meet Rinpoche even in Heaven when link ripens!

Lastly, Rinpoche advised, “Children, as all of you are fortunate enough to possess the precious human bodies in this life, like the old saying, ‘Having human re-birth is rare whilst hearing Buddha Dharma teachings is scarce. Once the human form is lost, it’s hard to regain it even after ten thousand kalpas.’ Therefore, one must not waste this life, also must not dream away precious time as well as idling away one’s youth. All of you can go to places like Tibet or Qinghai in China, Nepal, India and Bhutan etc. to seek for teachings from Rinpoche(s) of any Buddhist Sects, namely, Red Hats, White Hats, Yellow Hats and Flower in the areas.”