![One of my best friends, Jack, came to visit me this past week. Upon arriving, we immediately decided to celebrate our friendship with a trip to Lost Dog Cafe to get my favorite meal of all-time: Rigatoni Ala Vodka.
Every time I have this [favorite meal of all-time], I’m reminded of this one Dalai Lama story about “the accomplishment of a good meal.” It’s one of my favorite stories by His Holiness, and strangely enough, I actually just shared it with one of my volunteers recently.
B. Alan Wallace asks himself, “Was I doomed to increasing arrogance in proportion to my expanding knowledge and experience?” Wallace asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for advice.
His Holiness stated an analogy: “Imagine that you are very hungry and you are given a full plate of delicious, nourishing food. After satisfying your hunger, would you congratulate yourself on your prowess at eating? Would you feel self-righteous?” “Surely not,” I answered. And he continued: “It’s the same with Dharma. You’ve come here with a yearning to be free of discontent and to find true satisfaction. You’ve come seeking Dharma, and your desire is being fulfilled. There’s no more reason to feel self-righteous about this experience than about the accomplishment of eating a good meal.”
“Now think of the behavior of a housefly,” he said. “It is simply concerned with such things as getting food, and it acts with selfish desire which easily turns to aggression when it must compete with others. Is it appropriate for me to feel contemptuous of the fly for its behavior? Surely not, for it doesn’t know any better. Likewise, it is inappropriate to disdain other people for their harmful behavior, especially if they have not learned the distinction between wholesome and unwholesome actions. However, if I, who have been well taught in this regard, should act like those who have not, this would be shameful. Great understanding properly leads to an increasing sense of responsibility, and not to arrogance.”
My volunteer’s response:
“Wow, I don’t think I fully understand the meaning of what the Dalai Lama said, but I think I understand this arrogance. I also see how it relates to what we talked about over Skype last time, how others haven’t had the opportunities that I’ve received (the bowl of delicious food), but that does not mean I am any better at eating than others. Thank you so much for sending me that, because I feel like that is an amazing analogy that will put me back down to Earth every time I think, “Oh this person will never understand what we’re trying to say, it’s not possible.” I can’t imagine what you went through to reach that understanding, but I feel that if I remember that analogy, I will be so much more patient with people. Thanks a lot again, Hy!”
I remember this story really changing the wiring of my brain a few years ago… and I’m glad my volunteer enjoyed it as much as I did. :)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzofjxFa4X1qagmumo1_1280.jpg)
One of my best friends, Jack, came to visit me this past week. Upon arriving, we immediately decided to celebrate our friendship with a trip to Lost Dog Cafe to get my favorite meal of all-time: Rigatoni Ala Vodka.
Every time I have this [favorite meal of all-time], I’m reminded of this one Dalai Lama story about “the accomplishment of a good meal.” It’s one of my favorite stories by His Holiness, and strangely enough, I actually just shared it with one of my volunteers recently.
B. Alan Wallace asks himself, “Was I doomed to increasing arrogance in proportion to my expanding knowledge and experience?” Wallace asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for advice.
His Holiness stated an analogy: “Imagine that you are very hungry and you are given a full plate of delicious, nourishing food. After satisfying your hunger, would you congratulate yourself on your prowess at eating? Would you feel self-righteous?” “Surely not,” I answered. And he continued: “It’s the same with Dharma. You’ve come here with a yearning to be free of discontent and to find true satisfaction. You’ve come seeking Dharma, and your desire is being fulfilled. There’s no more reason to feel self-righteous about this experience than about the accomplishment of eating a good meal.”
“Now think of the behavior of a housefly,” he said. “It is simply concerned with such things as getting food, and it acts with selfish desire which easily turns to aggression when it must compete with others. Is it appropriate for me to feel contemptuous of the fly for its behavior? Surely not, for it doesn’t know any better. Likewise, it is inappropriate to disdain other people for their harmful behavior, especially if they have not learned the distinction between wholesome and unwholesome actions. However, if I, who have been well taught in this regard, should act like those who have not, this would be shameful. Great understanding properly leads to an increasing sense of responsibility, and not to arrogance.”
My volunteer’s response:
“Wow, I don’t think I fully understand the meaning of what the Dalai Lama said, but I think I understand this arrogance. I also see how it relates to what we talked about over Skype last time, how others haven’t had the opportunities that I’ve received (the bowl of delicious food), but that does not mean I am any better at eating than others. Thank you so much for sending me that, because I feel like that is an amazing analogy that will put me back down to Earth every time I think, “Oh this person will never understand what we’re trying to say, it’s not possible.” I can’t imagine what you went through to reach that understanding, but I feel that if I remember that analogy, I will be so much more patient with people. Thanks a lot again, Hy!”
I remember this story really changing the wiring of my brain a few years ago… and I’m glad my volunteer enjoyed it as much as I did. :)
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