Thinley Norbu - Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book contains the direct counsel and imperishable wisdom speech of Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, one of the great realized Nyingma masters of our age. Many problems arise when modern values clash with the precious teachings of the Buddha. Western Dharma students are faced with obstacles born of materialism, attachment to self, and resistance to traditional doctrines like karma, rebirth, and devotion to the Guru, while Asian students under the influence of modernity risk succumbing to foreign nihilistic beliefs, the neglect of their own unique heritage, and sectarian conflicts between indigenous lineages. The four teachings assembled here address these troubles in different ways, which are united by the powerful quality of Rinpoches voice as a writer and his ability to inspire deep faith that leads to the rekindling of Buddha nature and the flourishing of the Buddha Dharma through learning and practice with reverence and belief.

THINLEY NORBU Rinpoche (19312011) was a preeminent teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The eldest son of His Holiness Ddjom Rinpoche, he was a primary holder of the Ddjom Tersar lineage and considered to be an emanation of Longchenpa, the great fourteenth-century Nyingma master.

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Gypsy Gossip

and Other Advice

Thinley Norbu

Shambhala

BOULDER

2016

Shambhala Publications, Inc.

4720 Walnut Street

Boulder, Colorado 80301

www.shambhala.com

2016 by the Estate of Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

An earlier publication of the first selection, Gypsy Gossip, appeared as a privately printed book in a limited edition, 1980.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Thinley Norbu.

Gypsy gossip and other advice / Thinley Norbu.First Edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

eISBN 978-0-8348-4003-4

ISBN 978-1-61180-208-5 (hardcover: alk. paper)

1. BuddhismDoctrines. I. Title.

BQ4132.T439 2015

294.342dc23

2014042782

CONTENTS

Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice assembles four writings that contain Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoches direct counsel like fresh rain as an offering to the Triple Gems for the benefit of increasing the pure river of Dharma, to use Rinpoches own words. As different as the selections may be from each other, they all offer precious teachings, in a language unique to Rinpoche, on a wide range of topics important to both Western and Eastern students of Dharma.

The first selection, Gypsy Gossip, was originally printed in 1980 as a small book in a very limited private edition. In its present edition it is happily now available to a wider audience. In an informal atmosphere of spiritual openness, Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche answers questions from Western students about Tibetan Buddhism, including the teachings of karma and rebirth, monastic discipline, devotion to the Guru, and the importance of keeping vows.

Beyond East and West consists of Rinpoches written replies to questions submitted in writing by Melvin McLeod, editor-in-chief of Buddhadharma and Shambhala Sun magazines, during a visit to Rinpoches residence in Delhi, New York, around 1999. In this interview, published here for the first time, Rinpoche gives an extensive commentary on how cultural differences have affected the adoption of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and emphasizes that Westerners Buddha nature can be rekindled through a greater development of faith and belief.

A Message for Young Bhutanese was written for an organization called the Young Buddhist Association of Bhutan. Rinpoche had a close personal connection with the kingdom of Bhutan. In this message Rinpoche urges Bhutanese youth to preserve their spiritual heritage (including study of the Tibetan language) and to carry its blessings onward amid the modern influences of materialism. Rinpoche warns against introducing foreign nihilistic beliefs into Bhutan and creating sectarian conflicts between its indigenous lineages.

An Introduction to Dharma Dance Offerings was written in connection with several teaching films directed by Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, who was an accomplished practitioner and teacher of sacred dance. Rinpoche contrasts ordinary dancing, which expresses the passions of material reality and lacks the positive influence of wisdom, with the Dharma dances of Tibet, which manifest the enlightened activities of peaceful and wrathful deities.

It is a blessing that these four precious writings have become part of the cherished legacy of this beloved teacher.

When I went to the West for medical treatment, I met with friends from California, New Mexico, Hawaii, Spain, South America, France, and England who cared for me not only in a worldly way, but also in a deep spiritual way. When they questioned me, they asked in a simple, direct manner and had hopes of a simple, direct answer. Whether they can benefit sentient beings or not, I cannot say, but their style is simple, direct, honest, intelligent, and eccentric, neither like fickle-lover practitioners nor like holy-style practitioners. And most of them are younger than me. Sometimes their pure, direct, and eccentric activity actually tortures me, although mostly they care for me like their most precious and valuable possession. Some are humble, and when they questioned me, I gave answers instantly. Some wrote letters and I responded through the mail.

Even though we couldnt finish due to illness and other circumstances, my friends eagerly made this simple book with the intention to benefit simple people. They printed it in a simple country where Lord Buddhas lotus feet blessed the land; where, when the amber sunrise sends joyous rays to the earth, the golden tower of the splendid Stupa responds with golden light toward the blue sky; where white clouds lightly glide from the sparkling snows of the Himalayas and red earth smoothly forms a landscape of plateaus, hills, and valleys; where young trees rise and tremble with the gentle winds and beautiful cuckoo birds sing tantalizing melodies. They printed it in a simple city when the purple flowering trees shadowed the streets and international gypsies with black and blond hair, blue and black eyes, yellow and brown skin, dressed in feather-light flowing clothes of clear, bright colors that moved gently with the breeze.

Patrul Rinpoche said, For those who write scriptures with the intention of benefiting others, it is not always necessary to use poetry; through common language you should teach the clear, thorough path. This is the mark of a Bodhisattva.

When we made this book, we didnt care too much to make it pukka, because no one can attain perfection through a stubborn intellect. If you find the ideas unclear or contradictory, or if you find the English offensive, please dont hate. Hating and criticism would just become the cause of your own suffering. So you can go your own way; there is no need to quarrel like vegetarians and nonvegetarians. Just eat what you want without insult and with a peaceful mind.