One day, as Patrul Rinpoche and a student close to his heart, Nyoshul Lungtok, were staying in retreat in the forest of Ari Dza, Patrul asked Lungtok, “Do you miss your mother?”
“Not really,” Lungtok replied.
“A-dzi!” said Patrul. “That’s what happens when you fail to cultivate compassion!”
He continued, “Now go into that willow grove over there and train for seven days in accepting all beings as your mother, remembering their kind- ness. Then come back.”
Lungtok then spent seven days contemplating the fact that every sentient being had, in some previous lifetime, been his mother, reflected on their self- less kindness to him, and developed the aspiration to bring them happiness and enlightenment. As a result, genuine loving-kindness, compassion, and bodhichitta arose in his mind for all beings.
He returned to his teacher and explained his experiences during meditation.
“That’s it!” said Patrul, pleased. “That’s what it takes! When mind training is done properly, particular signs arise in your mind! Shantideva said that with practice, everything becomes easy. People just don’t do enough practice. If they did, they’d really make progress.”
This story is from the biography of the famous hermit and spiritual master Patrul Rinpoche translated from the Tibetan and published as The Enlightened Vagabond, and translated by Matthieu Ricard. The book includes excerpts from two biographies written by his direct disciples and over a hundred anecdotes gathered from the oral tradition, as well as a few teachings written by this remarkable 19th century master.
The Enlightened Vagabond: The Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications.