Ngondro begins

So yesterday I started prostrations. I had done a little math, and figured that if I did close to 2000 a week, I'd be done in a year. I figured I could spend half my practice time doing the prostrations, and the rest reflecting on other things Rinpoche gave me to mull over. No biggie huh?

Well, I didn't take into account a learning curve.  Not that I expected much of one with altering my practice time for a physical activity as well as sitting activities.  The learning curve I failed to account for was that of my  oblique muscles,  triceps,  delts, and even my traps and sternocleidomastoid. No, I didn't make that up.
I only did 30 today before I decided to give it a rest before I hurt something. That means I won't be hitting 100 a day until my muscles learn to respond to this. So maybe every other day or so, for a few weeks. 

One thing I thought was interesting occurred during my interview with Rinpoche. I asked if there was anything I needed to know, basically, how do we start this practice? He surprised me by asking if I was a Buddhist. I was stunned for a second, because I took refuge with him. Had he forgotten? So I said "No. I'm not a Buddhist. I am a Buddha."  He smiled a big smile and we got on with it from there.

I've stated this point  before in a previous point, and it was reinforced to me when Rinpoche asked that question. It isn't necessarily enough to think of yourself as a Buddhist. one can be a Buddhist philosophically, but not actually. You need to see yourself as  you really are:  you are a Buddha. 

In future posts I'll share some of my insights on the Refuge Prayer and Generation of Bodhichitta. Until then,

Tashi Deleg!