I hope you are well. I received your letter. My advice is not to see this woman again. I'm not saying that she is a bad person, but I think her advice to the monks has not been good. It is harmful. It is like telling people, “Stay a child,” (as if they were children). So, staying a child, not going to school, but instead playing all the time, is like being yourself? What good will that do you? Normally, parents have to force their children to go to school at some time or another because they know it is necessary and beneficial. What if the parents had the attitude that rather than push the children to go to school, instead they should just let them be themselves and play? It is quite childish just to follow any whim or feeling that you may have without questioning, analyzing, and using wisdom to see whether it is beneficial or what the consequences of the action will be.
Decision to Disrobe
Decision to Disrobe
Date Posted:
June 2008
A monk who had recently disrobed wrote saying his decision had been influenced by three friends who were monks and had also disrobed. All of the monks had been encouraged by a woman they knew to be honest with themselves, trust themselves and be themselves. Rinpoche sent the following letter.