Those who teach, learn

Initially having the Dharma in my life made teaching easier just as it seemed to improve everything else. Finding the Dharma is much like falling in love; everything has a special glow about it and nothing appears as a problem – for a while. In my case, however, it wasn't too long before all those teachings about life being suffering began to prove themselves true once again. It's a puzzling situation; one finds the teachings and they fill one's life with joy even as they're telling you that you're suffering terribly.

In any case, even after the initial glow faded I still had a whole new attitude with which to approach my work and, more significantly, the sentient beings with whom I do that work. I've often heard people during discussion groups talking about the difficulties they have to endure with their workmates and I've thought it interesting that I've never had such problems. I've always gotten on well with my colleagues. It was some time before it dawned on me that the kids in my class are the ones I work with. Those of us in relationships know the significance of "Two berserk minds instead of one." Well you should try twenty-four instead of one, especially when twenty-three of them are as spectacularly berserk, with all due respect, as the average child's.

This is the first year I have gone into my teaching situation with the very specific intention of planting positive karmic seeds in my own mind stream, by diligently keeping my Bodhisattva vows. I've begun keeping a vow book as taught by Geshe Michael Roach so there's no escape now, other than spineless retreat. This year I not only have twenty-three young minds in my hands, to improve and help grow, I also have my own. I find most of my dealings with my peers to be simple and uncomplicated these days. There are many reasons for this; the superficial nature and brevity of these dealings are just two. But my dealings with kids! They become so complex so quickly that I couldn't wish for a better arena in which to practice Dharma.

The story continues with the tale of Randle, a youngster with a truly berserk mind which would try the patience of a saint. You can read how Thubten Chopel and Randle learnt to cope with each other in the September issue of Mandala.