King Kong

Apprentice At the last apprentice retreat you spoke of ‘daring’ and how it was a quality that was needed in a practitioner – but that this should not be confused with becoming a ‘spiritual gorilla’. There was no time to ask a question at the time and then things moved on and I was not able to ask for clarification on that point.

Ngak’chang Rinpoche Once a leap of daring has been made – it is possible for arrogance to arise. One might feel a little carried away by one’s achievement and become a spiritual gorilla. One might start to beat one’s chest – and that is entirely alien to the spirit of the pawo or pamo. Arrogance is not a functional parameter of heroism. Authentic heroes and heroines are gentlemen and gentlewomen—they are unassuming, pliant, and spacious. The pawo or pamo is tender hearted. He or she has no interest in donning the rhinoceros hide trench coat of belligerent braggadocio and bestial bellicosity. The pawo or pamo, who has renounced the reference point of personal victory, becomes utterly fearless without becoming a King Kong of coemergent confusion and callousness.