Diligence

Diligence—tsöndrü (brTson ’grus – virya paramita) was described by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche as energy. It could also be described as the quality of delight, of cheerful commitment or of joyful involvement.

Diligence is present when we relinquish resistance or when we refrain from obstructing situations. Outside the sphere of diligence there is always something we hold in reserve in order to maintain a solid, permanent, separate, continuous and defined project which is insulated from the intentionality of the Lama. We want to work with the Lama, but somehow we find ourselves incapable of the utter trust required to dispense with ancillary self-protective strategies and self-defensive manœuvres.

Diligence is the free energy we make available to the Lama and to ourselves in terms of carrying out the advice of the Lama. This is the energy which allows us to respond to circumstances appropriately.

This lack of resistance means that a quality of our energy manifests brilliantly in our activity. Vectoral movement towards the goal becomes an effortless effort – we plough through the waves of circumstances like a ship with ‘three sheets to the wind’. Without the free energy of tsöndrü we have yet to weigh anchor and leave the anal retentive harbour of rationalisation.

Confidence in the Lama allows tsöndrü to manifest as fearlessness with regard to the open sea. With tsöndrü we can face waves that swell higher than the t’gallants, and therefore situations move towards successful conclusions with self-governed impulsion. We do not have to stand outside the situation keeping a running commentary on our relative position, and therefore no time is wasted.

The energy of tsöndrü ensures that we do not miss the swell of opportunities as they arise in the ocean of our life circumstances. Tsöndrü is the joyous energy of complete involvement, rather than the timid parsimonious feeling of obligation. Joyful involvement is beyond self-referencing – and therefore we fail to seek refuge in tiredness or boredom in respect of situations which are beyond our conceptual control.

Boredom with practice circumstances arises when the Lama’s advice fails to give us a greater sense of solidity, permanence, distinction, continuity and definition.

When we find it difficult to change from one activity to another at the Lama’s suggestion, there is usually some self-cherishing notion of ‘having a better idea’ with respect to ‘me and the ongoing me project’. I could breed surreptitious ploys in order to convince the Lama that perhaps I should be engaged in another more valuable task than the one he or she has devised.

Without tsöndrü it takes time to settle into what we are engaged upon at the behest of the Lama , and to feel that something is moving – but with tsöndrü we move immediately and are immediately fulfilled.

Tsöndrü is the sense of joyful involvement which is continuously present. It is not a question of merely getting into things or settling down to something – tsöndrü is the self-arising energy which becomes available through devotion. With devotion, tsöndrü is effortlessly instantaneous.

The Ten Paramitas

(Parol-tu Chinpa Çu – pha rol tu phyin pa drug phar bCu)

1.    Generosity (jinpa – sByin pa – dana paramita)
2.    Discipline [energy / morality] (tsultrim – tshul khrims – shila paramita)
3.    Patience (zopa – bZod pa – kshanti paramita)
4.    Diligence (tsöndrü – brTson ’grus – virya paramita)
5.    Openness [transcendental knowledge or insight] (samten – bSam gTan – dhyana paramita)
6.    Knowledge (shérab – shes rab – prajna paramita)
7.    Method – skilful means (thab – thabs – upaya paramita)
8.    Aspiration power (mönlam – sMon lam – pranidhana paramita)
9.    Strength (tob – sTobs – bala paramita)
10.  Primordial wisdom (yeshé – ye she – jnana paramita)