Sharpening the Sword

Khenpo Sonam completed teachings on Patrul Rinpoche’s text on the Bodhicharyavatara (The Way of the Bodhisattva) last week. His focus on practice and taking the vows of a Bodhisattva were really wonderful. Accepting these vows, we learned, are to be considered very carefully before agreeing to take the vows.

As always, teachers always focus on the importance of listening (learning), contemplating, and meditating on the teachings. Khenpo Sonam emphasized the importance of contemplation one of the evenings.

Listening to the teachings can be likened to being given training on the use and the methods to sharpen our Dharma Sword.

Contemplation is the sharpening of the sword. It is where we attend to the tools we have be given to refine and sharpen them.

Meditation is the time to actually put our Dharma Sword to use to cut through delusion, negative emotions, and obstacles as they arise.

Khenpo Sonam spent time explaining that the contemplation time is critical to sharpen our skills. It is very much like practicing and training time for any endeavor. Then we are fully prepared to put our finely sharpened sword to use whenever a situation arises.

There is no way to go from learning/listening to application. One must train and practice in preparation of the time when we need to use what we have learned.

Many Dharma Blessings,

Geoff