![\"Mr3994b\"](\"https:\/\/www.matthieuricard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MR3994b.jpg\" "\\"Mr3994b\\"")
\nPatrul had decided to go to Kathok and gather merit by circumambulating the stupas at the Kathok Kumbum<\/em> (the Hundred Thousand Images of Kathok). A few people noticed this shabby nomad lama stopping at each stupa, sticking his head inside, and saying a few words. Beyond that, there was nothing out of the ordinary about him.<\/p>\n When he first arrived, Patrul stayed with an old lama from Gyarong. The lama asked where he was from, and Patrul told him that he was from Dzachukha. He said that he was doing pilgrimage at the Kumbum<\/em> to receive the blessings of this sacred place.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you had any Dharma teaching?\u201d the old Gyarong lama asked Patrul.<\/p>\n Patrul replied, \u201cNot much. I have received The Way of the Bodhisattva<\/em> and a few other teachings, but that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n His host said to him, \u201cYou seem intent upon virtue. Since you came here from so far away, you must be something of a diligent practitioner. If I were to teach you some Dharma, would you be interested?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA-ho<\/em>!\u201d Patrul said, \u201cOf course, I\u2019d be interested! Who doesn\u2019t need the Dharma?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a teaching called Kunzang Lamai Shelung<\/em>\u2014The Words of My Perfect Teacher<\/em>\u2014by the great Dza Patrul Rinpoche,\u201d said the old lama. \u201cThis wonderful text explains the preliminary practices and is very well known here; it will certainly help you a lot. Otherwise, if you make prayers and circumambulate the stupas, but do so without the correct attitude and understanding, all your effort won\u2019t result in much benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA-dzi!<\/em>\u201d exclaimed Patrul. \u201cTruly, I need to know these teachings. Please be kind enough to grant them to me!\u201d<\/p>\n So, day after day and chapter by chapter, the old Gyarong lama taught Patrul the Kunzang Lamai Shelung<\/em>. From time to time, the apparently naive and illiterate Patrul would pose quite deep questions about the meaning of the text. The lama was puzzled to hear this simple person making such incisive comments.<\/p>\n After the old lama was halfway through teaching the text, Patrul moved from the home of the Gyarong lama and went to stay next door with an old woman. Every day, in the morning, Patrul would go out and circumambulate the stupas. Every day, after noon, he would go over to the Gyarong lama\u2019s place to receive teachings; every night, at dusk, he would return to the old woman\u2019s home.<\/p>\n While she was making tea in the evening, the old woman\u2014who had heard about Patrul Rinpoche and was devoted to him\u2014could be heard making fervent prayers of supplication, saying, \u201cThink of me, Patrul Rinpoche! I am in your hands!\u201d<\/p>\n One night, Patrul said to his hostess, \u201cOld mother, there are many sublime beings throughout Tibet! Right here in Kathok, many realized lamas have appeared in the past; many high lamas are living here now. Why do you keep on supplicating this Patrul? Is he especially venerable or something?\u201d The old woman replied, \u201cOh, yes! There is no one more saintly than him these days. Many people in Kathok follow his teachings on the preliminary practices. Even I have heard those teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n Moved by faith, she folded her hands together in a gesture of respect. But that didn\u2019t stop the mischievous Patrul.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ask me,\u201d he went on, provocatively, \u201cI think this Patrul of yours has an inflated reputation! He\u2019s probably just another one of those old nomad lamas, with nothing especially great or precious about him at all!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat an evil mind you have!\u201d scolded the devout old lady. \u201cHow can you have such perverted thoughts about Patrul Rinpoche, calling him \u2018just another ordinary nomad lama<\/em>\u2019? You simply lack the good karma to see him as the Buddha in person!\u201d Not long after that, some pilgrims from Dzachukha arrived at Kathok to circumambulate the stupas and saw a shabby nomad lama circumambulating the stupas as well. Being his fellow countrymen, the pilgrims immediately recognized Patrul. Exclaiming with delight, \u201cAbu! Abu is here!<\/em>\u201d they all began bowing down to him in reverence. He scolded the Dzachukha pilgrims, saying, \u201cUntil now, I was able to live here quietly, accumulating some merit. Now, with absolutely no need to have done so, you\u2019ve gone and blabbed to everyone, saying, \u2018Patrul\u2019s here! Patrul\u2019s here!\u2019\u201d Exactly as he had predicted, in no time at all the rumor spread over Kathok that the great Patrul Rinpoche had arrived, although no one could say for certain where he actually was to be found.<\/p>\n When Patrul came to the old lama\u2019s home to receive his afternoon teachings as usual, the lama said to him with excitement, \u201cHey! Everyone\u2019s saying that Patrul Rinpoche is here! Patrul Rinpoche has come, in person!\u201d That day, at dusk, as usual, Patrul returned to the home of the old lady. She, too, said to him with excitement, \u201cPatrul Rinpoche is here! Can you imagine?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need to get all worked up!\u201d scoffed Patrul. \u201cWhat\u2019s so special about this Patrul Rinpoche? He\u2019s just an ordinary nomad lama. You\u2019d be much better off supplicating the great lamas of Kathok!\u201d<\/p>\n The old woman became very upset again, almost to the point of wanting to give Patrul a good beating. She scolded him sharply, saying, \u201cYou miserable creature, how dare you say such things. Even if Patrul Rinpoche, the Buddha in person, came right to your door, you wouldn\u2019t feel any devotion! You\u2019d just dismiss him as an \u2018old nomad lama<\/em>\u2019! What a wretched fellow!\u201d Not long after this, Patrul was finally tracked down. The two high lamas of Kathok, Drime Shinkyong and Kathok Situ, formally invited him to teach The Way of the Bodhisattva<\/em> at Kathok Monastery.<\/p>\n The devout old woman heard this news and was overjoyed that at last she would meet the saint to whom she had for so long addressed her supplication-prayers.<\/p>\n The next morning, the gong rang to summon everyone to the teachings. Patrul left the old woman\u2019s house at the usual time in the morning, presumably going for his usual circumambulations.<\/p>\n The old woman hurried off to the monastery. There, sitting on the teaching throne, she saw the shabby nomad lama to whom she had been giving hospitality for some time.<\/p>\n Overwhelmed with shame, she began to prostrate at Patrul\u2019s feet, crying, \u201cWhat bad karma I have accumulated! I\u2019ve been scolding you, coming close to beating you up! I\u2019ll probably be reborn in hell! Please accept my confession! Whatever you tell me to do to purify my evil acts, I\u2019ll do!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong,\u201d Patrul kindly assured her, \u201cand there\u2019s no need for you to confess anything. Don\u2019t worry; you have a pure mind. A good heart is the root of all dharma. In fact, it is the very essence of The Way of the Bodhisattva<\/em>, which I am teaching now. That\u2019s all that anyone needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Patrul began to teach, and as he did, the old Gyarong lama, too, realized that his very faithful student, the shabby nomad lama to whom he had been explaining The Words of My Perfect Teacher,<\/em> day after day and chapter by chapter, was none other than its author, Patrul Rinpoche himself.<\/p>\n The poor lama felt so abashed that, without a word, he left overnight for his native Gyalmo Rong before Patrul or anyone else could stop him.<\/p>\n This story is from the biography of the famous hermit and spiritual master Patrul Rinpoche translated from the Tibetan and published as The Enlightened Vagabond,<\/em> and translated by Matthieu Ricard. The book 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
Patrul said nothing more.<\/p>\n
Patrul was not happy about this at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat will put an end to my tranquility!\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrul showed no excitement at this news.<\/p>\n
Patrul said nothing.<\/p>\n