20250729235349-Peter-Sage-Submission: Difference between revisions
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|letterofmotivation=In brief, I deeply believe that love and wisdom are the most precious things in this world, and that the best way I can increase their presence in myself and others is to participate in this three-year retreat. Seeing my teachers Kyabje Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Phakchok Rinpoche, and many other inspiring practitioners operate with uninterrupted, unbiased compassion has filled my heart with inspiration and reverence time and time again, and given me the confidence that stable realization of mind’s nature is truly possible. When I reflect on how my relationship with them has affected me, I see that even their seemingly small comments in passing have had major impacts on my mind’s habits from moment to moment. One or two sentences from them, or even just a glance in my direction, have planted seeds of kindness and dignity in my experience while gently exposing my neuroses, empowering me to work with them more honestly and directly than before. | |letterofmotivation=In brief, I deeply believe that love and wisdom are the most precious things in this world, and that the best way I can increase their presence in myself and others is to participate in this three-year retreat. Seeing my teachers Kyabje Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Phakchok Rinpoche, and many other inspiring practitioners operate with uninterrupted, unbiased compassion has filled my heart with inspiration and reverence time and time again, and given me the confidence that stable realization of mind’s nature is truly possible. When I reflect on how my relationship with them has affected me, I see that even their seemingly small comments in passing have had major impacts on my mind’s habits from moment to moment. One or two sentences from them, or even just a glance in my direction, have planted seeds of kindness and dignity in my experience while gently exposing my neuroses, empowering me to work with them more honestly and directly than before. | ||
Their meditation teachings have allowed me to slowly make friends with my mind, see others with more love and respect, let go, be more honest, and genuinely wish to benefit others. Even my relationship with my family has become more harmonious and genuine as a result of their teachings and blessing. No one has affected my life in a more pervasive and wholesome way than my kind teachers. I see this same beneficial activity occurring in everyone else who connects repeatedly with them and sincerely applies their instructions. The one thing that all of these teachers share is that they practice a tremendous amount, and most of them have spent years in retreat. So their profound qualities and ability to benefit others so deeply are a direct result of their sincere and diligent practice of Buddhadharma, and especially their realization of mind’s nature. It’s not just that they speak skillfully and eloquently. The very way they look at others, the way they sit, the way their eyes rest while they practice, are profound gateways to freedom and harmony for all those around them. Sometimes just being around them without saying anything has filled my heart with warmth. While I don’t expect to gain realization like these sublime beings during this short lifetime, I am confident that the best way to make progress on the path they’ve shown me is to participate in this three-year retreat. | Their meditation teachings have allowed me to slowly make friends with my mind, see others with more love and respect, let go, be more honest, and genuinely wish to benefit others. Even my relationship with my family has become more harmonious and genuine as a result of their teachings and blessing. No one has affected my life in a more pervasive and wholesome way than my kind teachers. I see this same beneficial activity occurring in everyone else who connects repeatedly with them and sincerely applies their instructions. The one thing that all of these teachers share is that they practice a tremendous amount, and most of them have spent years in retreat. So their profound qualities and ability to benefit others so deeply are a direct result of their sincere and diligent practice of Buddhadharma, and especially their realization of mind’s nature. It’s not just that they speak skillfully and eloquently. The very way they look at others, the way they sit, the way their eyes rest while they practice, are profound gateways to freedom and harmony for all those around them. Sometimes just being around them without saying anything has filled my heart with warmth. While I don’t expect to gain realization like these sublime beings during this short lifetime, I am confident that the best way to make progress on the path they’ve shown me is to participate in this three-year retreat. | ||
Although I have no special qualities and do have many faults, the times I have felt my mind change the most positively have been in or after periods of retreat. Therefore, my sincere aspiration is that by doing this three-year retreat, I may reduce my selfish emotions, become less judgmental and neurotic, uncover the compassion and dignity inherent within myself, become familiar with the nature of mind, and gain the capacity to be of genuine service and benefit to others. I aspire that by doing this retreat, I may gain the capacity to uphold the authentic Buddhadharma by keeping its qualities and teachings as direct experience in my own heart, not just as words in my head. Most of all, I pray that by participating in this retreat, all the aspirations of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, especially my beloved teachers, will be completely fulfilled, that all sentient beings everywhere may become totally free from suffering and all of its causes, and that we may all realize the great bliss of reality’s true nature. I promise that during this retreat, I will live harmoniously and lovingly with fellow retreatants, cultivate a sincere motivation of renunciation and bodhicitta, and do all of the practices to the best of my ability. | Although I have no special qualities and do have many faults, the times I have felt my mind change the most positively have been in or after periods of retreat. Therefore, my sincere aspiration is that by doing this three-year retreat, I may reduce my selfish emotions, become less judgmental and neurotic, uncover the compassion and dignity inherent within myself, become familiar with the nature of mind, and gain the capacity to be of genuine service and benefit to others. I aspire that by doing this retreat, I may gain the capacity to uphold the authentic Buddhadharma by keeping its qualities and teachings as direct experience in my own heart, not just as words in my head. Most of all, I pray that by participating in this retreat, all the aspirations of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, especially my beloved teachers, will be completely fulfilled, that all sentient beings everywhere may become totally free from suffering and all of its causes, and that we may all realize the great bliss of reality’s true nature. I promise that during this retreat, I will live harmoniously and lovingly with fellow retreatants, cultivate a sincere motivation of renunciation and bodhicitta, and do all of the practices to the best of my ability. | ||
|FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-31_Peter_Sage_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | |FileHaveAcceptLetterUpld=2025-07-31_Peter_Sage_-_Acceptance_Letter.pdf | ||
|AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | |AcceptLetterAuthorFirst=Drupön Lama Tenzin | ||
Revision as of 23:17, 30 July 2025
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