The Nature of Pulling the Rug Beneath your Feet & The Passing of the Robe

On The Nature of Pulling The Rug Beneath Your Feet

What would happen if your teacher pulled the rug beneath your feet, and nothing was there?

No frame of reference to determine where you are or when you are. Or if you are?

This teacher's determined compassion continually achieved the pulling of the rug with me or the not me. 

For this I, or the not I, am eternally grateful.

There is recollection of sleeping at his home and being told to sleep in a different place every night. One night on the floor at the main entrance hall. Another night at the bottom of the stairs, another outside his bedroom. Another night atop the stairs, another night on the kitchen floor and so on. Sometimes in the middle of the night I would awaken in the dark and not know where I was, or in the early morning awaken and wonder where I was. The dreams blended into the where am I. 

There is recall of sitting in a room doing a meditation practice (mantra work). Then sent out to search for a specific object – which was unattainable – and told to keep up my mantra work while going out into the world to find it. After returning I was asked first how many mantras I achieved while out hunting the Snark, and then asked specific details of my mind while I was on the hunt. After that, during a number of days hunting different impossible Snarks, there was more attention developing the mantra work and the mind states while out in the world.

There is recall of driving him to and from class and returning him to his place of stay. There are recollections of conversations we had over the top of the car.

There are memories of his speaking as to my depths but the conscious mind not remembering anything. Sometimes in meditations or dreams, what he said comes to light.

After his moving on, a good part of his teachings from classes or in private come to light on random days in dreams or contemplations, many times.

He is still alive in me teaching the teaching only the depth mind can reveal.

by Rob McConnell

The Passing of the Robe

How fortunate to have had Namgyal Rinpoche as a teacher. 

After a Guru Rinpoche wongkur we drove Rinpoche back to the house in Kinmount. Sitting in the back seat of the car I silently wondered what is this all about? Picking up on this Rinpoche stated that I was helping expand his compassion. Opening the car door for him he passed his robe to me. 

Each of us have contributed to this vast compassion he held for us all. In return he drew out our talents and took an active interest in us. While doing so, with multiple ways, he skillfully would teach dharma so that we would recognize awakening that is.

Before he passed he said to Rob and me, that we had heard it all.

There is nothing we can say. As Shakyamuni, the world-honoured one, held up a flower and twirled it in front of the gathering, a student, Kashyapa smiled. The two were like dancing fools. Nothing was said.

The passing of the robe.

by Karen Russell