Advice to Center Directors
New Director
A man with a lot of business experience but not much exposure to Dharma was appointed director of one of the FPMT Dharma centers. He expressed some concern about his ability to run the center effectively without a firm Dharma background. A similar concern was expressed by another member of the committee. Rinpoche wrote the following letter to the new director.
My very dear (director),
Thank you very much for your great dedication and service to me and to the center, which is service to sentient beings and to the teachings of the Buddha.
My experience when meeting you is that you always have a calm quality and are easy to communicate with. You may not be involved with sadhanas and mantras, but your heart is very good and genuine. The purpose of sadhanas, prayers, and mantras is to make you into a good human being with a good heart. From being a good human being with a good heart, it is possible to become a holy being. From being a holy being, it is possible to become a Buddha. Then you can end all sentient beings’ suffering.
During this period, the center’s work is very important. This is a very crucial stage in the center’s life, in order for it to be able to benefit others on a large scale, benefiting thousands of others, for many years to come.
I deeply appreciate your having accepted this job and doing it seriously and sincerely.
I will send a separate letter to the other member of the center’s committee who wrote to me about you.
Change in Position Due to Karma
Rinpoche gave the following advice to a student who had formerly been a chairperson in FPMT organization, explaining why she was no longer needed in that position.
My very dear one,
I would like to express many many thanks and appreciation from the bottom of my heart for your limitless kindness, since I met you at Kopan Monastery. If I include your past lives, then your kindness has no beginning.
You offered your family house as the Dharma center, and very kindly tried to keep the center there as long as possible. You offered immeasurable kindness for years, and when there was a great need for a chairperson, you very kindly accepted, even though you were so busy with many obligations.
So, now it seems the karma has changed and it is another person’s turn to be chairperson. She has already happily accepted. As soon the request was made, she cried.
Even though you are no longer chairperson, I hope, as we have made a connection due to past karma, that you and your husband will have a continual connection and bond with me and that you can help the organization like before, so that it can benefit the teachings of Buddha and sentient beings.
I will make prayers for your family. Please pass this message to your husband and tell him that I will put a lot of effort into the center so that it can benefit sentient beings.
With much love and prayers...