The Letter

"Great, prideful people look down on others who are humble and lowly. No matter how kind one is to those with great pride, it makes no difference. They think they are like great, high lamas or famous people. Even though they don't have the ability to teach the Dharma in a deep way, they lie about their qualities. People like this really love power and fame. Even if a teacher teaches something very minor, these people think it is the deepest, most profound teaching they ever heard. Except when trying to steal your pure awareness or qualities, they would never think that you had been kind to them. Even if they have a bit of interest, they do nothing but ridicule."--Thinley Norbu Rinpoche   

         

According to multiple, informed sources in India, a letter from the late Penor Rinpoche (1932-2009), written shortly before his death, and intended to be opened after his death, has now been unsealed and is quietly making the rounds.

In part, the letter is said to make short work of the more extravagant claims of New Age "Jetsunma" Alyce Zeoli, and her cult of followers in Maryland and Arizona.

According to sources, the letter contains language such as, "...while I recognized her as Akhon Lhamo, that is really the extent of it. If she continues to think of herself as a wisdom dakini, or an enlightened person, or a Mandarava, or even a Jetsunma, and more importantly, if she permits others to refer to her in this fashion, then it is her karma for misleading others and the cause of an unfortunate rebirth."

The letter is also said to contain cautionary statements to the effect that Zeoli, publicly identified as a former psychiatric patient, makes "numerous false claims," is "sadly damaged,"  and of "limited ability," and is not to be considered a fully qualified Buddhist teacher.

While we have not seen this letter, we believe on the basis of information received that it exists, and hope that it will soon surface in the manner intended by its author.

Circulation of the letter is said to have been prompted by the revelation that Zeoli  -- who in twenty years has never even managed to complete ngondro -- is now offering  -- for money -- "commentaries" and "teachings" on the revealed treasures of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche: a situation which has shocked, and definitely saddened, many Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the United States and overseas.

Little Theatre, while the show is still on Broadway?

NOTE : - We may follow up on this story, or not, depending on reader interest. I do not think, at this point in time, that there are more than a handful of people in the world who even know who we're talking about. We used to publish the odd item about this, simply because we felt it newsworthy, but as Zeoli's cult continues its inevitable attrition, who cares? Add her to the list that began with the "Regent," and will no doubt claim a few more names as time goes by.

Speaking very personally -- just for myself -- I don't trust American "lamas" or "gurus" or "rinpoches"  or "monks" or "nuns" any farther than I can throw them, and you probably shouldn't either. There are, of course, a few exceptions here and there --  but for most Americans, the temptation to toss unnecessary ingredients in an already well-cooked broth is just too great. It seems so difficult to say, "I don't know," so many people resort to invention, thinking themselves divinely inspired.

We can package up bullshit in this country and sell it as Buddhism, and millions will definitely buy it as a blessing. But, like Lincoln said, you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

I was very lucky, in that I had very great Tibetan teachers. I could put my trust in those teachers, and over a period of more than 40 years now, I have had the opportunity to repeatedly see that the trust was not misplaced. When I see the shenanigans that some people get up to these days, I find myself wishing that the old teachers were still around, to put a stop to the nonsense.

But, you know... they had the foresight to understand that these dark days would come, and they left us many signposts, many correctives, to help us through the fog of delusion that envelops sentient beings in Samsara.

One of the best correctives is the simple admonition to "look at yourself." So, as much as possible, I like to examine my own shenanigans, rather than the shenanigans of others. This blog is  something of a journalistic exercise, so examining shenanigans is something that naturally arises. I just want you to understand that I try to keep it perspective.

Really... since when do we care what other people do?