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\nPatrul Rinpoche\u2019s birthplace in Eastern Tibet. Photography by Matthieu Ricard.<\/span> A biography of the famous hermit and spiritual master Patrul Rinpoche, has recently been translated from the Tibetan and published as The Englightened Vagabond<\/em>. This volume includes excerpts from two biographies written by his direct disciples and over a hundred anecdotes gathered from the oral tradition, as well as a few teachings written by this remarkable 19th century master.<\/p>\n In youth Patrul studied with the foremost teachers of the time. With his remarkable memory, he learned most of the oral teachings he heard by heart, thus becoming able to elucidate the most complex aspects of Buddhist philosophy without referring to a single page of text, not even when he taught for months at a time.<\/p>\n Utterly uninterested in ordinary affairs, Patrul naturally abandoned the eight worldly concerns, which consist of everyone\u2019s ordinary hopes and fears\u2014hoping for gain and fearing loss; hoping for pleasure and fearing pain; hoping for praise and fearing blame; hoping for fame and fearing.<\/p>\n Dressed either in a thick white felt coat, or chuba<\/em>, or in the sheepskin garment worn in winter, Patrul set out on his own. He took with him no possessions beyond his begging bowl, teapot, and a copy of The Way of the Bodhisattva<\/em> (Bodhicharyavatara<\/em>) by Shantideva. He always made his way on foot, forgoing horseback. Sometimes he traveled in the company of others and sometimes he travelled alone. He lived in accordance with the wisdom of masters:<\/p>\n Wherever you\u2019ve stayed, leave nothing behind but the trace of your seat. One day, Patrul decided to go visit a hermit he\u2019d heard about who had been living for a long time in total seclusion.<\/p>\n Patrul arrived at the hermit\u2019s retreat unannounced. With a smile and an air of eager inquiry, he sat down in a corner of the hermit\u2019s cave.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere have you come from?\u201d asked the hermit politely, \u201cand where are you going?\u201d The renunciant hermit was not sure what to make of his unexpected and peculiar visitor. A moment later, Patrul asked the hermit why he had been staying in such an isolated place, so far away from everything.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been living here for twenty years,\u201d said the hermit, with some pride in his voice. \u201cAt the moment, I am meditating on the paramita<\/em> of patience!\u201d At this, Patrul began laughing out loud and slapping his thigh in amusement.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s rich!\u201d Patrul exclaimed, leaning over toward him like someone sharing a secret. In a confidential tone, he whispered in the hermit\u2019s ear, \u201cFor two old frauds, we\u2019re not doing so bad, are we?\u201d<\/p>\n The hermit exploded in fury.<\/p>\n \u201cWho do you think you are, coming here, shamelessly ruining my retreat? Who asked you to come? Why won\u2019t you let a poor practitioner meditate in peace?\u201d screamed the hermit.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d mused Patrul. \u201cSo much for your \u2018perfection of patience\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n
Wherever you\u2019ve walked, leave nothing behind but your footprints.
Once you\u2019ve put on your shoes, let there be nothing else left.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI came from behind,\u201d replied Patrul. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll be going forward.\u201d Puzzled, the hermit asked, \u201cWhere were you born?\u201d
\u201cOn earth.\u201d<\/p>\n