Then this individual named, called Khuyngpo Naljor, he became Buddhist when he was 50 years old.
So that you should not say I am too young to be Buddhist or I am too old to be a Buddhist practitioner or to go retreat or to study Buddhism. You should never discourage yourself.
If you look at the thangkas everybody looks so perfect because the painter has never seen their real figure. So then they said “Oh, my teacher was like this” so they replicate everything. But if you look into the history of the great masters, then all of them reached enlightenment, some of them reached enlightenment in their early years, from the age of 8 they had a great realization, from the age of 10 they had a great realization.
Like the example of Milarepa, he is very great, well known, but then only managed to receive teachings only during his 50’s and 40’s, 60’s, during that time.
Whether you study the Dharma, whether you practice the Dharma it is never too early, never too late. Every time is a perfect time. But then if you practice Dharma with a great pride and say “Oh, I want people to see me like this” then every time is a wrong time. Wherever you are, whatever practice you do, whatever the lineage, it is wrong all the time. As long as you have the pride it is always a wrong time. That is why developing some form of awareness is very important.
Of course, as a Buddhist background culture, we rush into wanting to practice this, practice that, it is good, there is nothing wrong with that. But intention is equally important as the practice.
His Eminence Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche at BCCUK (52′ 29”)
September 10, 2023
To be continued …
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