The Inspiring Life of Dza Patrul Rinpoche
Dza Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887), the author of The Words of My Perfect Teacher, was an enlightened master and a highly respected Tibetan teacher who chose to live a life of profound simplicity. He meditated in caves and hermitages during long retreats and wandered through mountains as a renunciant, with no fixed plans or destinations. He had no interest in worldly pursuits and consciously avoided the complexities associated with owning a monastery or assuming any formal position.
Without attachment to material possessions, he declined most offerings or left them behind for the sake of beggars. He sustained himself on tsampa and tea and owned only a few personal items. Despite his complete realization, his attire and outward appearance were unremarkable, reflecting an air of ordinariness. The utter humility with which he conducted himself often led individuals who crossed paths with him to perceive him as nothing more than a destitute wanderer.
Interested to discover more about the unconventional life of Dza Patrul Rinpoche? Here you will find a collection of colourful narratives compiled by the esteemed French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard over a period of three decades, a book brimming with captivating anecdotes and enlightening lessons:
https://www.shambhala.com/enlightened-vagabond-9781611803303.html
Photo: The Yamāntaka Cave near Dzogchen monastery where Dza Patrul Rinpoche lived and practiced for many years, and where he wrote the Words of my Perfect Teacher.