Living Well: Open your heart, empty your mind

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

By Teresa Griswold

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Rinpoche is the term used to refer to Anam Thubten, a Buddhist scholar from Tibet. Some people attach hierarchal meaning to the title, but he does not. To him it is a term of endearment that he likens to “brother” or “sister,” the same titles used to address monks and nuns in Christian monasteries and convents. He says Rinpoche has the meaning of precious in the same way a parent refers to a child.

An accomplished Dharma teacher and author, Rinpoche delivers messages of transcendent hope in excellent English, having lived in the United States for nearly 20 years. He left Tibet when he was 22, partly as a form of protest against the Chinese occupation of his country and partly because he felt the monastery was no longer supporting his spiritual voyage.

He lived in the monastery from an early age, describing it as being in a university and a cave at the same time.

“You have to study quite intensively, but you also have to do a lot of meditation,” he said.

Life was quite simple, and it involved a lot of spiritual activity.

He came to the U.S. in 1992 by way of India within a year of leaving Tibet when he accepted an invitation from Lama Tarthang Tulku who he met while both were visiting Bodhagaya, a holy site where Buddha became enlightened. He was asked to be the resident lama of Odiyan, a Buddhist retreat center in Sonoma County, Calif.

In 2005, Rinpoche founded the Dharmata Foundation based in Point Richmond, Calif., and he is the primary Dharma teacher for the Dakini Temple there. It is worth a visit to dharmatafoundation.org to listen to his teachings, but even better is experiencing them firsthand. This weekend provides that opportunity, as he will be in Jackson to give a talk and a retreat.

I attended Rinpoche’s teachings here two years ago, and I found them to be lighthearted, meaningful and readily accessible – simple to grasp, but not simplistic. His style is thoughtful, gentle, poetic and clear. He brought the Buddhist concepts of opening your heart, emptying your mind, and letting go of everything to light in easy to understand terms for Westerners and people of all faiths. It is not often you meet someone with so much presence, delight, groundedness and wisdom.

His talks are spontaneous and the point is always one, which is how to go beyond our limitations, the ego mind, and to recognize our true nature, which is already enlightened, he said.

He is unusual in the Buddhist community. “I teach in a very different way than most Tibetan teachers,” said Rinpoche. “I try to transcend all the spiritual trappings. I don’t promote any particular doctrine or sector.

“I tend to pretty much say the same thing again and again, which is how to awaken from this world of dreams and not to suffer endlessly in this nightmarishly world of duality between self, others, good, bad, success, failure and to awaken from that nightmarish dreamlike hold to the highest truth. In that awakening there is only freedom and joy.” JHW

Rinpoche gives a public talk,7 p.m., Friday, at the Wilson Community Building. $15 donation. Retreat is Saturday and Sunday at the Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center, 215 Scott Lane. $150, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. 413-4094 or louiselasley@bresnan.net.

Courtesy photo
Anam Thubten Rinpoche from Dakini Temple.


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Living Well: Open your heart, empty your mind | Planet JH News Article: Living Well

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