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Advice book

Attachment and Ordination

Regarding what you said about attachment being challenging for you while you’re on retreat, desire is very sneaky, like a snake. We think it’s our friend, but all it does is cause us suffering.

Disadvantages of Attachment

My attachment wants to prevent me from enlightening numberless sentient beings, from achieving enlightenment, from achieving all realizations, and from achieving liberation from samsara for myself and a good rebirth in the next life.

Keeping Bhikshuni Vows Purely

Bhikshuni (gelongma) ordination is not officially accepted yet in Tibetan society, particularly by Tibetan lamas, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The lineage that confers this ordination has not yet been accepted.

How to Give Back Vows

If, at the time you wrote this letter, you thought you were actually giving back the vows, then, in that case, you are no longer ordained. It would all be finished then. Once you generate the thought that the vows are gone, they’re gone.

Decision to Disrobe

I hope you are well. I received your letter. My advice is not to see this woman again. I'm not saying that she is a bad person, but I think her advice to the monks has not been good. It is harmful.

Giving Back Ordination Vows

A monk who had been ordained for over ten years and had served as an attendant to Rinpoche for a few years some time earlier, sent a message asking to give back his ordination vows. This was Rinpoche’s reply.

Difficulties With Vows

You should rejoice more; you need to meditate on the perfect human rebirth, how precious each one is, and how useful, with great meaning. Think of the benefits that you can achieve with a perfect human rebirth.

Thinking of Disrobing

Rinpoche heard from a Sangha member who did a lot of Dharma work for him and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He had been thinking that he might be able to do his work more effectively if he gave back his vows.