The Powerful Pull Of Devotion

This can cause lot of problems 😀
…but needn’t!

Traditionally, in Buddhism, we go for refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – the three jewels. The root teacher, the teachings and those who uphold the teachings. We say this at the beginning of every practice session. Devotion is a deep appreciation and recognition of the truth that draws us towards unchanging purity. The three jewels are our source of inspiration.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche said, “The state of enlightenment is totally beyond concepts. There is no joy or sorrow within it, such as feeling happy when one is pleased, or feeling bad when one is treated badly. The state of Buddhahood is beyond all these. Because of this, Buddhas make no preferences between sentient beings; each one is like their only child. The compassionate ‘hook’ of their enlightened activity is totally impartial and all pervasive, like the sunshine radiating from the sun.”

Is devotion, belief?

Well, yes and no. It all depends on what mindset we are coming from. In the beginning, devotion is belief or trust: we are hopeful that this is the right way. Gradually, we start trusting our own awareness, and devotion takes on a finer understanding, as we feel naturally more inspired. Until enlightenment occurs, we will need inspirational help.

Devotion or trust is opening up to the pull of all the Buddhas whose light shines upon all sentient beings, not one excluded. We just have to be facing in the right direction. Traditionally, ordinary people are said to be like ‘iron balls’: the Buddhas’ blessings cannot hook onto them and pull. With devotion, we become an iron ‘ring’ which can be caught and pulled.

We can see that this idea can help us keep on the straight and narrow path, so as not to deviate. This is discipline and commitment. As we progress, we do not need the idea of discipline and commitment, as the mind is naturally open and aspiring.

Personally, in my confusion and chaos, there is a fine, fiery ‘crack’ of golden light that reminds me of the path through all this chaos and confusion. It is there, in this total chaos. If the confusion and chaos were not total, I’d still have something to hold onto (hope) and that would maintain my ignorance.

So, to start with, devotion is hope.
At some point, devotion becomes hopeless;
we just give up.

Devotion is a powerful tool.
It is the jewel in the mud.