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September 2009 
Buddha in Love
Posted on Nov 14th, 2007
by 
victoria
victoria
Buddha in Love
Interpersonal love between two human beings is, in the initial stages at least, a sort of proving ground for the concept of realization in one lifetime, and an opportunity to actualize the Bodhisattva ideal. For this often all too brief, shining period, we are completely honest, thoughtful, open, and wonderfully vulnerable--
Interpersonal love between two human beings is, in the initial stages at least, a sort of proving ground for the concept of realization in one lifetime, and an opportunity to actualize the Bodhisattva ideal. For this often all too brief, shining period, we are completely honest, thoughtful, open, and wonderfully vulnerable--
--and we are so happy to be honest, thoughtful, open, and wonderfully vulnerable that we stop thinking of ourselves and think entirely of others.
I am speaking here of that period before all the jealousy, insanity, selfishness and possessiveness sets in.
Our happiness suddenly comes from our delight in our lover's happiness. We enjoy giving. We enjoy sharing. We enjoy protecting. We enjoy nurturing. Really, we begin to enjoy all the things that Bodhisattvas enjoy, and we wish it could last forever. It is even happier if we fall in love with a spiritually evolved person---we feel as if we can save the world.
I have known some tertons during my life, and the one thing I noticed was the great love and devotion they had for their consorts: something quite distinctive, you know? It might surprise you, but by way of example I want to remember that His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche was one of the most romantic gentlemen I ever met.
So, as a Buddhist, there is absolutely, positively no reason whatsoever why you could not or should not fall in love and I would in fact encourage you to do so. The only thing I would ask is that you try to stay in love even when everything else changes. Stay in love when time seems to ravage you: when your teeth fall out (when his or her teeth fall out), when there is no good news anywhere, when you are tempted to stray, when you are tempted to ignore, when you are tempted to forget. I would encourage you to be brave, to be strong, to be daring if necessary.
Because, when you are in love, you are acting toward one person with all the perfection you can muster and that, at least, is a start. There are certainly other dimensions to this---a mudra is a mudra is a mudra---and I know all about that "universal love" excuse for interpersonal failure, as well. What I am suggesting is that you get it right, somewhere and with someone, at least for a little while, at least once in your life. Once you learn how to do it, I would also ask you to honor your beloved by extending your generous spirit to others.
Then if you want to get really busy and save the world, be my guest.
- Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche
I am speaking here of that period before all the jealousy, insanity, selfishness and possessiveness sets in.
Our happiness suddenly comes from our delight in our lover's happiness. We enjoy giving. We enjoy sharing. We enjoy protecting. We enjoy nurturing. Really, we begin to enjoy all the things that Bodhisattvas enjoy, and we wish it could last forever. It is even happier if we fall in love with a spiritually evolved person---we feel as if we can save the world.
I have known some tertons during my life, and the one thing I noticed was the great love and devotion they had for their consorts: something quite distinctive, you know? It might surprise you, but by way of example I want to remember that His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche was one of the most romantic gentlemen I ever met.
So, as a Buddhist, there is absolutely, positively no reason whatsoever why you could not or should not fall in love and I would in fact encourage you to do so. The only thing I would ask is that you try to stay in love even when everything else changes. Stay in love when time seems to ravage you: when your teeth fall out (when his or her teeth fall out), when there is no good news anywhere, when you are tempted to stray, when you are tempted to ignore, when you are tempted to forget. I would encourage you to be brave, to be strong, to be daring if necessary.
Because, when you are in love, you are acting toward one person with all the perfection you can muster and that, at least, is a start. There are certainly other dimensions to this---a mudra is a mudra is a mudra---and I know all about that "universal love" excuse for interpersonal failure, as well. What I am suggesting is that you get it right, somewhere and with someone, at least for a little while, at least once in your life. Once you learn how to do it, I would also ask you to honor your beloved by extending your generous spirit to others.
Then if you want to get really busy and save the world, be my guest.
- Tulku Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche
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I am so fortunate to have fallen in Love with a man whom I still get all excited abou each time I see him. I think he and I do still act toward each other with perfection (most the time). Thank You so much for this.
Much Love & Peace
BeLynn
love does have second and third and……acts.The wonder has always been for me in the fact that life is dynamic,and what you put into it invaribly turns into what you get out of it.
When I choose love,I am choosing to let myself grow and feel and soar,who needs’ teeth’ to fly?
Thank you for sharing yourself…..I thought that crazy love had eluded me somehow as I watched the years and a couple of marraiges drift away.Now as I approach my final years,suprise……the best love,the one I fantasized about,the one I thought would never show up has arrived…..life is good and I intend to stay with this ONENESS and celebrate it with everyone.Thank you,and to you a tsunami of love……………