Spirituality Without Religion - November 2004

A Public Talk given by His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa Conway Hall, London 20th November 2004

by Kristina Dogge/Jigme Chodron

 I remember His Holiness' public talk in November for two things, which have really stuck with me since then. Firstly, His Holiness started the talk by saying we should all relax. As he said that I realised how tense I was with a mixture of expectations, excitement to see His Holiness and anxiousness that the event would go well. His Holiness said that we should not set ourselves up in a rigid and conservative attitude.When we listen to any kind of teaching first we have to relax ourselves and get rid of all the nonsense of religions, traditions, culture and so forth, at least for the time being. We should relax ourselves totally and try to open ourselves so that we can receive something.” If we are relaxed then we can be in our own nature. When we relax into our own nature then not just this talk but our whole life can become joyful and meaningful. Secondly, His Holiness summarised the Middle Way very succinctly and somewhat surprisingly, as 'Respect it and ignore it at the same time'. He explained:'Every incidence that you are going through is the manifestation of yourself, a reflection of your own concepts. Both bad things and good things are the reflections of your own experiences. As a spiritual practitioner we should be able to remain in the Middle Path as explained by Nagarjuna who said that we should not be carried away into either of the extremes, neither positive nor negative experiences. Both should be equally ignored. Not negatively ignored but happily ignored. Ignored with understanding. You respect these experiences - but you ignore them. Respect is very important. That is really THE philosophy that is missing in our day-to-day life. Respect and ignore, both, at the same time. Sometimes when we respect something we dive into it, blindly, fanatically. That is not the way it should be. At other times we ignore things, but this is done with hatred. There is no respect. That is not the practice of Madhyamaka. You have to have a deep respect for everything in the world, for example for all the religions in the world. You should respect them with a thorough understanding of their own nature, of their own beauty. At the same time there is no reason to get fanatic about religion or anything else. Buddha Shakyamuni clearly said that he did not allow his followers to become fanatic about him or his religion, his teachings, his blessings'

Respect and ignore. It occurred to me that in the same way, His Holiness is so humble yet confident. He speaks charmingly and simply, and yet so profoundly and with such great wisdom. As always, His Holiness was such an inspiration in the way he talked spontaneously according to our needs. Many people remarked afterwards how His Holiness said exactly what they needed to hear at that time. Although the hall was packed it seems he can talk to each person individually. We are truly blessed that this Buddha has come in to our midst.