A Gift of Dharma for 6.13.10
by Danny Fisher
Today’s quote is from His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, a Drikung Kagyu lama who was imprisoned for twenty years by the Chinese government at a labor camp in his native Tibet. Since his release in 1979, he has “made great effort to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries, reestablish the Buddhist teachings, and build two boarding schools for local children in eastern Tibet. Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Chino Valley, Arizona.” This is it:
Sometimes we need to be a little more tense, uptight, then the sometimes we need to loosen, relax. Itdepends on the individual. Some take it so, so seriously, they are so uptight. They are tense like that.And that doesn’t bring a good result either. That may bring along a side effect, like getting shoulderpains or tightness, or pressure. Those things may rise so that you have to relax and be loose always.
Some people take the instructions “relax, relax, and relax,” that they become so relaxed, and then become careless. They sleep a lot and then say that they practice non-meditation. Those people need a little more alertness. They need slightly more intensity or excitement. It depends on the individual. You have to see by yourself, what is experienced in yourself.
One time a guitar player met Buddha and asked for instruction on how to meditate. Since Buddha knew that he was a guitar player, Buddha asked, “Is the sound of the guitar best when the string istoo tight?” The guitarist answered, “No.” And Buddha asked, “Is the sound best when the string isvery loose?” “No.” Buddha then asked, “How is the best sound produced from the guitar?” The guitar player said, “Not too tight, not too loose, just right.” Then Buddha said, “You should meditate like that. Not too tight, not too loose, just right.” Whatever is necessary for each individual.
