[OceanofDharma] A Superhuman Instinct

[cgimian at suchns.com]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

October 15, 2006

[I'm on the road and not able to use my regular e-mail program today. Hoping the formatting comes across ok -- Carolyn Gimian. See note on new website and blog below.]

A SUPERHUMAN INSTINCT

The usual human instinct is to feed ourselves first and only make friends with others if they can feed us. This could be called "ape instinct." But in the case of the bodhisattva vow, when we agree to put others first, we are talking about a kind of superhuman instinct which is much deeper and more full than that. Inspired by this instinct, we are willing to feel empty and deprived and confused. But something comes out of our willingness to feel that way, which is that we can help somebody else at the same time. So there is room for our confusion and chaos and ego-centeredness: they become stepping stones. Even the irritations that occur in the practice of the bodhisattva path become a way of confirming our commitment. 

>From "The Bodhisattva" in the SHAMBHALA SUN magazine, current issue, page 55.

A website describing the CHOGYAM TRUNGPA LEGACY PROJECT is available at chogyamtrungpa.com. There is a blog by Carolyn Gimian on this site, which details the current book tour for DRAGON THUNDER and will also have some coverage of the OCEAN OF DHARMA conference at Naropa University next weekend.

To join Ocean of Dharma quotes of the week, go to oceanofdharma.com

All quotations by Chogyam Trungpa are used by permisison of Diana J. Mukpo.