Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice

220 Pages·2016·1.12 MB·English

by  Thinley Norbu

ABOUT THE BOOK
This book contains the direct counsel and imperishable wisdom speech of
Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, one of the great realized Nyingma
masters of our age. Many problems arise when modern values clash with
the precious teachings of the Buddha. Western Dharma students are faced
with obstacles born of materialism, attachment to self, and resistance to
traditional doctrines like karma, rebirth, and devotion to the Guru, while
Asian students under the influence of modernity risk succumbing to foreign
nihilistic beliefs, the neglect of their own unique heritage, and sectarian
conflicts between indigenous lineages. The four teachings assembled here
address these troubles in different ways, which are united by the powerful
quality of Rinpoche’s voice as a writer and his ability to inspire deep faith
that leads to the rekindling of Buddha nature and the flourishing of the
Buddha Dharma through learning and practice with reverence and belief.

THINLEY NORBU Rinpoche (1931–2011) was a preeminent teacher in the
Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The eldest son of His Holiness
Düdjom Rinpoche, he was a primary holder of the Düdjom Tersar lineage
and considered to be an emanation of Longchenpa, the great fourteenth-
century Nyingma master.
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Gypsy Gossip
and Other Advice
Thinley Norbu
Shambhala
BOULDER
2016
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
4720 Walnut Street
Boulder, Colorado 80301
www.shambhala.com

© 2016 by the Estate of Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

An earlier publication of the first selection, “Gypsy Gossip,” appeared as a privately printed book in a
limited edition, © 1980.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Thinley Norbu.
Gypsy gossip and other advice / Thinley Norbu.—First Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
eISBN 978-0-8348-4003-4
ISBN 978-1-61180-208-5 (hardcover: alk. paper)
1. Buddhism—Doctrines. I. Title.
BQ4132.T439 2015
294.3′42—dc23
2014042782
CONTENTS
Note to the Reader
Gypsy Gossip
Introduction
Aspects of Spirituality
Karma
Birth Control
Rebirth
Eastern Teachers in the West
Teachers
Faith
Samaya
Dharma Centers
Solitude
Change
Arrogance
Fear
Male Supremacy
Women’s Qualities
Bliss
The Seven-Line Prayer of Guru Rinpoche
Dances of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava
Beyond East and West: An Interview with Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
A Message for Young Bhutanese
An Introduction to Dharma Dance Offerings
Notes
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NOTE TO THE READER
Gypsy Gossip and Other Advice assembles four writings that contain Kyabje
Thinley Norbu Rinpoche’s direct counsel “like fresh rain as an offering to the
Triple Gems for the benefit of increasing the pure river of Dharma,” to use
Rinpoche’s own words. As different as the selections may be from each other,
they all offer precious teachings, in a language unique to Rinpoche, on a wide
range of topics important to both Western and Eastern students of Dharma.
The first selection, “Gypsy Gossip,” was originally printed in 1980 as a small
book in a very limited private edition. In its present edition it is happily now
available to a wider audience. In an informal atmosphere of spiritual openness,
Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche answers questions from Western students about
Tibetan Buddhism, including the teachings of karma and rebirth, monastic
discipline, devotion to the Guru, and the importance of keeping vows.
“Beyond East and West” consists of Rinpoche’s written replies to questions
submitted in writing by Melvin McLeod, editor-in-chief of Buddhadharma and
Shambhala Sun magazines, during a visit to Rinpoche’s residence in Delhi, New
York, around 1999. In this interview, published here for the first time, Rinpoche
gives an extensive commentary on how cultural differences have affected the
adoption of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and emphasizes that Westerners’
Buddha nature can be rekindled through a greater development of faith and
belief.
“A Message for Young Bhutanese” was written for an organization called the
Young Buddhist Association of Bhutan. Rinpoche had a close personal
connection with the kingdom of Bhutan. In this message Rinpoche urges
Bhutanese youth to preserve their spiritual heritage (including study of the
Tibetan language) and to carry its blessings onward amid the modern influences
of materialism. Rinpoche warns against introducing foreign nihilistic beliefs into
Bhutan and creating sectarian conflicts between its indigenous lineages.
“An Introduction to Dharma Dance Offerings” was written in connection with
several teaching films directed by Kyabje Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, who was an
accomplished practitioner and teacher of sacred dance. Rinpoche contrasts
ordinary dancing, which expresses the passions of material reality and lacks the
positive influence of wisdom, with the Dharma dances of Tibet, which manifest
the enlightened activities of peaceful and wrathful deities.
It is a blessing that these four precious writings have become part of the
cherished legacy of this beloved teacher.
Gypsy Gossip
I
NTRODUCTION
When I went to the West for medical treatment, I met with friends from
California, New Mexico, Hawaii, Spain, South America, France, and England
who cared for me not only in a worldly way, but also in a deep spiritual way.
When they questioned me, they asked in a simple, direct manner and had hopes
of a simple, direct answer. Whether they can benefit sentient beings or not, I
cannot say, but their style is simple, direct, honest, intelligent, and eccentric,
neither like fickle-lover practitioners nor like holy-style practitioners. And most
of them are younger than me. Sometimes their pure, direct, and eccentric activity
actually tortures me, although mostly they care for me like their most precious
and valuable possession. Some are humble, and when they questioned me, I gave
answers instantly. Some wrote letters and I responded through the mail.
Even though we couldn’t finish due to illness and other circumstances, my
friends eagerly made this simple book with the intention to benefit simple
people. They printed it in a simple country where Lord Buddha’s lotus feet
blessed the land; where, when the amber sunrise sends joyous rays to the earth,
the golden tower of the splendid Stupa responds with golden light toward the
blue sky; where white clouds lightly glide from the sparkling snows of the
Himalayas and red earth smoothly forms a landscape of plateaus, hills, and
valleys; where young trees rise and tremble with the gentle winds and beautiful
cuckoo birds sing tantalizing melodies. They printed it in a simple city when the
purple flowering trees shadowed the streets and international gypsies with black
and blond hair, blue and black eyes, yellow and brown skin, dressed in feather-
light flowing clothes of clear, bright colors that moved gently with the breeze.
Patrul Rinpoche said, “For those who write scriptures with the intention of