When someone hears a Buddhist teaching or reads a text, their understanding can vary. Some people grasp the meaning clearly and deeply right away. Others might hear the same teaching but don’t fully understand it, or they might miss the deeper message. This difference is important because if a person doesn’t understand or doesn’t develop certain impressions from the teaching, it shows that they may not yet be ready for more advanced or profound teachings. In other words, they are not yet “vessels” prepared to hold deeper wisdom, at least for the moment.
However, even when someone doesn’t immediately show signs of understanding, there is still value if they follow the instructions of a wise lama with faith and care. By listening closely and practicing as the lama advises, they begin to plant positive seeds or imprints in their mind. These seeds are like potential energy that can grow over time, helping them develop insight and realization in the future. This process can lead to a deeper understanding of important concepts that we should all eventually come to grasp, such as the nature of emptiness, even if the insight doesn’t appear right away.
The reason why different people respond so differently to the same teachings has to do with the imprints they carry from their past lives. Each person’s mind carries traces or impressions left by their past actions, experiences, and learning. These imprints influence what kinds of teachings they find easy to understand and which ones they struggle with. For example, some of my students may really enjoy studying the Perfection of Wisdom texts because their past imprints make those teachings resonate with them. Others, I am sure, might find Madhyamaka teachings more appealing and easier to connect with because of the imprints they bring from previous lifetimes.
Je Rinpoche, in his book Destiny Fulfilled, points out that all different teachings are important because each one creates new imprints in our mind-stream. These imprints shape our future learning and realization. Even if a teaching feels difficult or less interesting at first, studying it still helps build the potential for understanding in later lives or later in this life.
You can also observe this effect in places like monastic universities. Among students, you may notice some who find the Perfection of Wisdom teachings very challenging at first and seem lost. But then, when the class moves on to Madhyamaka, those same students suddenly become much sharper and more engaged. This shift shows how past imprints influence their ability to understand different teachings.
In summary, the way we respond to Buddhist teachings, whether we understand them quickly, struggle with them, like one teaching more than another, is shaped by the imprints we carry from previous lives. Following a good lama’s guidance and practicing patiently helps us build new imprints that will support deeper realization in the future. This process is a reminder of the continuity of our mind-stream and the importance of perseverance in study and practice.
Understanding the role of past-life imprints helps us be more patient and compassionate with ourselves and others on the spiritual path. We recognize that not everyone will grasp every teaching at the same time or in the same way. Some lessons may come easily, while others take more time and effort to mature. By continuing to listen carefully, follow wise guidance, and practice sincerely, we create the conditions for deeper insight to arise, both now and in the future. This perspective encourages us to value every stage of learning and to respect the unique journey each of us is on. Ultimately, it reminds us that spiritual growth is a gradual unfolding that gently covers the continuity of our past and the potential of our future.
Geshe Jampa Gelek
April 8, 2025 during Madhyamaka Teaching
Excerpt Translated and lightly edited by Veronica Anghelescu
The Garden of Maitreya 