Whether to Become Ordained
Rinpoche sent this advice to a student who had asked about taking ordination.
My most dear, most precious, most kind, wish-fulfilling one,
Thank you very much for your kind letter, for introducing yourself and [writing about] the many things you did, Dharma and also the preliminary practices. I’m very happy to hear that; it’s what should happen. Thank you very much.
I checked and if you become a nun, it’s extremely good, very good.
Today I ordained one monk, a man from America. He left his family with no sorrow, no disagreement. His children were grown up and he told his wife. Even though it was difficult to leave the family, he slowly, slowly told his wife. In the end, he said she could have another husband, and then she was OK. It wasn’t a bad relationship; so many times it is like that, but here it was very good. He had already left the family and stayed in a caravan for almost one year, so his preparation was done well and then he came here.
He was ordained here today with seven geshes, more or less. He had so much back pain, that was one thing, for a long time, maybe a year. Sometimes it was worse and maybe sometimes it was better. Some days ago, he had much pain so I delayed the ordination, but he thought maybe it was cancelled and I heard from a nun that he cried. Maybe you don’t know her; she is an old, long-term American nun.
Regarding ordination, you could request the geshes, like Geshe Rinchen at Nalanda Monastery. He ordained several Sangha; he is a very nice teacher. Or you can ask a geshe in Spain.
If you want to come on pilgrimage or something, like to Nepal, spending time doing pilgrimage, even if I am not here, perhaps some geshes or Khen Rinpoche, or the elders, the geshes, could ordain you. If not, you could also be ordained by the geshe at Institut Vajra Yogini, Geshe Loden.
In the early morning you should do the motivation practice, How to Make My Lives Wish-fulfilling: The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness.
With much love and prayers ...