a conduit of transmission

Apprentice I have noticed that you get onto apprentices about small particulars and wondered why? I’m not complaining or anything, but I’m interested in the principle and function. Polishing shoes is an example or reminding people to put conditioner on their belts and other leather things. Then there’s commenting on people’s clothes in general. The reason I ask is partly because you have not done it to me yet and I am wondering why. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that question.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche It is a good question. The reason that I have not approached you as yet with question of appearance and of attending to the care of phenomena – is that Khandro Déchen and I do not know you well enough. You have not been an apprentice long enough for us to tease you concerning these things. Part of the approach you mention is involved with evolving a ‘cordial tension’ with an apprentice. Obviously we need to be sure that an apprentice will not feel harangued or humiliated by our admonitions – and that takes time. The longest standing apprentices and disciples are all eminently tease-able because they know that it is a. a sign of affection, and b. a conduit of transmission. The principle and function of reminding apprentices of detail is that detail is important in respect of practice. As the tantras proceed toward Dzogchen the instructions become increasingly subtle and it becomes increasingly important to be exact. One cannot be exact in one area of one’s life alone – one is either exact or not exact. One cannot be exact in practise and sloppy or slipshod in every other area. The results of being slipshod may not necessarily advertise themselves in disaster unless it is a horse who is slipshod and then – a broken leg and death might result. One false move when defusing a bomb and all the other careful work is to no avail. Details are therefore important. Finally we come to leather. It is always good to remember that leather goods came from animals and we should therefore take care of them as a matter of respect for the animal whose life was forfeit so that we could wear the belt, shoe, book, jacket, coat, etc. If we take care of the phenomena in our charge, then they last – and if they last, there is less waste in the world. If there is less waste in the world the world becomes a better place for beings. It is a question of wisdom and compassion.