Be Happy I Was Robbed?
Years ago, I was on a train from Delhi to South India (Gaden) and it was a 2 night and 3 day journey. I was accompanying Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche. We all went to sleep..in the middle of the night we stopped at some station, someone stuck their hands in the window (my window was broken and wouldn’t close) and stole my monk bag with my prayer book/ Buddha pictures, and 600 rupees. That was all the money I had and it was suppose to last around a month. I was distressed. From the commotion, Kyabje Lati Rinpoche woke and I told him what occurred. He couldn’t stop laughing and laughing and laughing AT ME. I was irritated but didn’t dare show it…after he wiped his tears away from laughing so long and loud at me, while I am frustrated about my bag…he got serious and said, now meditate and pray and hope the contents of your bag will benefit the person who took it.
I quieted down and did what Kyabje Lati Rinpoche said after he went back to sleep. I prayed the Heruka, Vajra Yogini, Tara pictures I had pasted into my sadhana book in the bag will be seen by the robber, his family and and neighbours and that they will recieve the imprints of these Buddhas in their minds. I even hope they will place the pictures on their altars as Indians are very respectful of holy pictures no matter how they procured it… I really meditated and prayed this way. And went to sleep feeling much better and released…I learned so much….
I prostrate to the feet of the Glorious Holder of Gaden, Kyabje Lati Rinpoche who embodied everything Tsongkapa advised us to do with our short lives. May we never be seperated from this great being. Folded hands and bowed head, Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche
thank u for posting this wonderful experience
I have the habit of losing things and when my things get stolen, my mother used to tell me that it will take away all my misfortunes and barche
from now i will pray that they get benefit from it, instead of misfortunes
thank you for opening my heart
Thank you very much for sharing this with us. I really hope that the robber benefited from all the teachings he received from your bag. Hopefully, the power of the prayer books and holy pictures could have change his fate as a robber. May your books and holy pictures bless him and his family. Early this month it was my first time to visit the Gompa. My very first time to see the stupa that contains Lati Rinpochi at the altar of Lama Tsong Khapa, I couldnt stop crying. I dont know why but tears just comes to my eyes. Till Gim Lee had to tell me to stop crying.
“Hatred cannot coexist with loving-kindness, and dissipates if supplanted with thoughts based on loving-kindness.” Please bless me to develop loving-kindness.
Lets work and put all effort for the rest of our lives to achieve even the 1% mind of Lati Rinpoche.
Appreciates the mantra, “Catch your mind! Don’t let it be bitchy!”
I struggle with so many things right now but every time I remember this mantra, it helps a lot.
Tsem Rinpoche talks in a way that makes you listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gaPa6a5TpI&feature=related
Sorry, maybe I should have said, “slogan” instead of mantra.
I am humbled reading this post because it reminds me of yet another instance in Rinpoche’s life where forgiveness is learned. Learning to forgive those who ‘hurt’ you teaches you so many lessons about compassion and freeing the other person from the full karma of hurting you, about real generosity and being able to give freely to those who hurt you, and even about how an ‘I’ doesn’t really exist (so therefore there is nothing to hurt).
I fold my hands to Rinpoche for the great guru devotion he has, that has led him to Malaysia to teach us.
what a powerful story!
I had many similar things happen to me that is somehow related to this post. Sometimes, whenever people would either swipe something from my desk or “borrow” stuff without returning it. This applies to smaller objects such as paper. I will feel frustrated but in the end I just believe that what they stole might have benefited them in one way or another. That makes me happy.
People should feel happy when they are robbed as what is stolen may benefit someone in need.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for posting this up, my bag was snatched few hours ago and this post really help me to recollect my thoughts.
I will do a prayer for the snatch thieves now.
Hope that you will have a good rest.
Regards,
Anna
Hello Rinpoche,
With the simple act of laughter and 1 sentence of advise, Lati Rinpoche presented Rinpoche (and now many others through this blog post) a powerful learning opportunity to be forgiving, unattached to material goods that can be taken from us at any moment and compassion to others…even those who have harmed us.
From this example, I also see that there is always an opportunity to practice Boddhicitta and benefit others. May we all use this learning and begin to identify the many opportunities everyday to progress in our Dharma practice.
it a very good experience..