Not Giving Up
Rinpoche gave the following advice to a student who was very hurt by disharmony at a center, and felt that Rinpoche had given up on him.
My very dear, most dear Chris,
I have received your kind letter. I am very surprised somebody like you stayed on the path, or stayed with me. If I had given up on you, I wouldn’t write to you or advise you. It doesn’t make sense. How would you exist, if you gave up? How would you exist without Buddha? How do you live life without karma, cause and effect? This is life. Life without karma? HA HA HA HA.
I am not saying I am Buddha at all, but it is kind of the same. You may think, imagine, or believe that I gave up on you, when your merit is low, but it is impossible from my side. How can we give up, since it means to not have compassion? Of course, if anger allows, then some people think like that, but it is a wrong way of thinking. We will talk, don’t worry.
With much love and prayers...
PS. I am very happy you went away—it helped in the best way. That is the most correct way of thinking about the situation related to the center. According to Buddha, what he did and advised us to do is to not only cherish or generate compassion for sentient beings, but to generate extremely great compassion for those who have harmed us in return for our help.
As a Buddhist, you are so wise. By generating compassion and helping others, we create only good karma, and as a result we receive only help from others for many, many thousands of lifetimes. From one act of compassion and kindness there is temporary happiness, but, most importantly, ultimate happiness, liberation and enlightenment. Then, from that, we can liberate numberless sentient beings and bring them to full enlightenment. This comes from having caused inconceivable, temporary happiness for sentient beings.
My most dear Chris,
Even if we are angry and upset, Buddha and bodhisattvas are still helping us.
With big love and prayers...
PS. Your recent confession to me and most importantly to other people is a big preliminary practice. HA HA HA HA!!!
My dear Chris,
I did not give up you on you, that was why I wrote to you, but you did not answer or reply to me.