Devotional Influences

This is a thorny subject for modern people, and must be understood on an individual basis. Many of us find it difficult to trust, and there are spiritual teachers who expect us to trust them because they call themselves ‘teachers’. Also, much is suggested but not thoroughly explained. Some readily accept this acquisition from another culture – and some of us need a bit more convincing!

Although we have to do the work of realising and purifying our minds, we need a stronger inspiration than our own capacity at this moment. Something that keeps us on track. Left to our own devices, we might tend to wander all over the place, hanging onto our own cultural ideas.

We need a refuge, a sanctuary, an anchor in our stormy minds; something upon which we can rely. A group of Rinpoches (reincarnated teachers) held a conference some years ago, and it was noted that students who followed paths that emphasised devotion had more ‘success’ (this applies to the past five hundred years).

Whether anyone has become enlightened in the past five hundred years, I have no idea. It’s possible. But just recognising a little more clarity in understanding is truly astonishing; being able join up the dots is a real bonus in this confused world.

Devotion is a psychological matter. It’s not a matter of saying words and hoping. It’s not sentimentality. It is a literal opening up to our heart’s desire, in order to purify the obstacles in the mind. This is “calling on the teacher from afar”, and may be a lineage, a teacher, an representation from the past. A divine inspiration.

Devotion is heartfelt and personal. That which is utilised for devotion gets nothing out of it at all. That to which we are devoted also has a deep appreciation of a lineage.

Can one have devotion to an object? Here we come back to the influence of culture: there are stories that make sense to one culture, but not another. For example, there is a tale of a son who gave his mother a dog’s tooth, telling her it was the Buddha’s tooth. She was devoted to this object, and it was said to have had a positive effect on her. This may not have the same effect on us.

Inspiration is found in all walks of life. Someone, somewhere, displays integrity which we recognise and remember all our life. They may not be perfect, but their intentions point the way.

Our very intentions are part of this lineage.