Sometimes, Teachers ask us very difficult questions, to test our understanding and knowledge on certain topics that are being studied, or perhaps just to test our mindfulness and attention – the quality of which can always be improved.
And sometimes, it may happen that a Teacher can ask very simple questions, and more often than not, those puzzle us, we feel that perhaps “it’s a trap!” – The question cannot possibly be that simple, and we stumble in our own words and give only half of a decent answer.
A few weeks ago, one such extraordinary moment took place at Lama Tsongkhapa Institute in Pomaia, Italy, during one of Geshe Jampa Gelek’s teachings from the Masters’ program. It was a very “normal” teaching day, on a difficult Madhyamaka topic; we were all paying careful attention to a debate that was being explained to us – and both residential and online students were taking assiduous notes. In our minds, I am very sure, we were all complaining just a little bit about how difficult this was – because it really was. We had all studied the Ornament for Clear Realization and were somewhat acquainted to a certain level of difficulty, and Madhyamaka is… well… next level.
Our beloved Master, Geshe Jampa Gelek, I think, caught the flow of the teaching room and understood that we were struggling a little bit. He knows that the teachings are difficult, and we are ever so lucky to be able to study those treatises under the skilled guidance of a perfect Teacher; so he gently encouraged us to not lose patience and to pour all our energy into it. He often tells us that “it gets easier”. He advised us that the study of those great texts – such as the Lamrim, The Ornament for Clear Realization, The Abhidharma, Madhyamaka and all the supplementary topics that surround them – those give the measure of true, profound knowledge.
He then took us all by surprised and asked us a series of question – not for immediate response, but for later reflection and consideration – because we are buddhists and students in a prestigious institute, and perhaps, some of us, future teachers; and so, if one person were to come to us and ask us simple things such as – Hey, what does it mean to be a Buddhist? What is the difference between a Buddhist and a non-Buddhist? What’s Samsara? So how do we get out of it? Those Four Noble Truths, what are they? Oh and I keep hearing about afflictions, what are those, is there a list? Can you name them?
We seemingly know those things. But can we all respond quickly and without stuttering? Can we give a good, well-rounded, complete answer to any of those questions (and to some others; mind you, there’s a little list!)? We should. And if we cannot immediately do so, we should prepare and always be ready to respond to the respective questions in a correct and wholesome way, because here we are, having studied so much, having put so much effort – we shouldn’t not know.
Our Master gave us some general examples of practitioners who engage in so much meditation, in extensive mantra accumulations, but without having studied properly, without having first accumulated solid knowledge of what should at least be – basics, how will you know what to meditate on? How will you know the purpose of a mantra and what it means, and what use is there to even… accumulate it? Therefore, in all things, study should come first, and we should be precise in what we study, in how we memorize, on what we are able to explain to others if needed, and not to be vague or imprecise. Wrong knowledge can bring about a lot of harm.
I carefully collected the list given by our venerable Teacher and transcribed it with the precious help of Lotsawa Sherab, the translation from Tibetan is done to the best of my abilities and any mistake might be present, it is solely mine.
It’s a good list to study, a beginning. I’d suggest, get a small notebook, copy this list and carefully add the answer, look up good scripture quotations (not from the Internet, where there is an ample amount of fake Buddha quotes) and make sure you know those concepts well.
Lovingly prepared by
Veronica ANGHELESCU
The Garden of Maitreya 