Open, Truthful, and Sincere: Three Fundamental Qualities

Three fundamental qualities -- in order to learn how to be open, truthful, and sincere in order to develop spiritually daily life.

Buddhist Philosophy

What does it mean to be open, truthful, and sincere? Phakchok Rinpoche begins this video teaching by describing these three fundamental qualities. He then explains that these are key principles for the spiritual practitioner. These same qualities are also core values for living a good secular life. Here, Rinpoche elaborates on the specifics of each quality in both the spiritual and secular context.

Open

What does it mean to be open? Openness on the spiritual path means being less opinionated about spiritual matters. In regular life, it similarly means reducing judgment. We don’t hold tightly to our own opinions. When we develop an attitude of openness we allow ourselves to learn from others. And we acknowledge the basic fact that we are not always right! We can continue to grow and expand our views throughout our lives. And this very openness also offers us the opportunity to grow our sense of humor and kindness because we aren’t so busy defending ourselves.

Truthful

Truthfulness can be a little scary for a spiritual practitioner. You will hear that you do not exist, that you have no “I”. That may be a frightening thought. And we may not want to accept this message. So, in the spiritual sense, being truthful means not mean holding back or turning away from uncomfortable teachings. We lean into what scares us and examine why we are reacting the way we are. It is also important that we know the true purpose of “secret” teachings. They are “secret” because they can transform us on an inner level. If we have received the teachings, but have not really changed, then something is not working correctly. We have not truly put the teachings into practice.

In the mundane sense, being truthful is the best way to operate with our family and friends. That is easy to understand.

Sincere

Finally, we need to be sincere. On a spiritual level, this means that we do not try to hide anything. We should be transparent. We can look at our faults and shortcomings with detachment and resolve to purify them. There is no benefit in being caught up in self-criticism or guilt. On the other hand, we don’t puff up with pride. In our daily lives, we can resolve to operate the same way. We should be straight with people (but treat them respectfully) and have no fear.

Adopting these three qualities of being open, truthful, and sincere means that we have no agenda. We can naturally develop many good qualities such as compassion once we’ve established this strong foundation.

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About the Author

Phakchok Rinpoche

Phakchok Rinpoche was born in 1981 to Kyapjé Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Sangyum Dechen Paldrön, within the family lineage of the great treasure revealer (terchen) Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of the 6th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche, one of the three throne holders (kyapgöns) of the Taklung Kagyü seat (densa) at Marthang Kham Riwoche monastery. Among Rinpoche’s previous incarnations, the 4th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche was a devoted disciple and patron of Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa. During that period, it was the unwavering support of the upholders of Riwoche Monastery that created the auspicious circumstances for Chokgyur Lingpa’s awakened activity to spread and flourish. Under the guidance of his root gurus—Kyapjé Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Kyapjé Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Kyapchok Soktse Rinpoche—Phakchok Rinpoche has received and practiced the profound Dharma teachings handed down in an unbroken lineage from Mahaguru Padmasambhava. Inspired by the life and legacy of Guru Padmasambhava, Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa and the upholders of Riwoche Monastery, Rinpoche has devoted his own life to spreading the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, particularly the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa (Chokling Tersar). Mahaguru Padmasambhava is renowned for his role in guiding the establishment of Samye Monastery, thereby creating the auspicious causes and conditions (tendrel) for more than a thousand years of authentic practice to unfold in the land of Tibet in an incredible lineage of accomplishment that continues to this present day. Reflecting upon these auspicious beginnings, Phakchok Rinpoche has given his organization the same name, Samye, which means inconceivable. Just as this ancient Tibetan institution lived up to its name, becoming a truly inconceivable source of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche’s aspiration is for today’s Samye mandala to do likewise and become an inconceivable beacon of wisdom, compassion and dignity for our present world and into the future. In honor of Mahaguru Padmasambhava, Rinpoche has chosen a seal to represent Samye that traces back to Guru Rinpoche himself. This esteemed emblem was originally revealed by the Mahaguru and given to Dharma King Trisong Detsen’s royal heir, Lhasé Murup Tsenpo. Murup Tsenpo subsequently concealed it as a treasure (terma) for the benefit of future generations. Much later, in 18th century Tibet, it was discovered as a treasure by Lhasé Murup Tsenpo’s reincarnation, Terchen Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Today, it serves as the emblem for the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa and for all Dharma activities led by Phakchok Rinpoche and his sangha.

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Marilyn lawson August 17, 2016

Beautiful teaching, brought tears to my eyes..Thank you

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Samye is a place where students from all corners of the globe explore how to work with their minds in order to lead meaningful lives. Drawing from authentic Buddhist wisdom traditions, our online platform offers live teachings, structured courses, interactive forums, and community for the digital Dharma sangha. Samye Institute aims to be to the digital world what Nalanda was to India and what Samye was to Tibet.

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On this Guru Rinpoche Day message, Phakchok Rinpoche shares some simple benchmarks to measure our progress in our practice. We all go through five successive stages: 1) lack of any understanding, 2) forming misunderstandings, 3) partial understanding, 4) near-complete understanding, and 5) perfect understanding. These five stages equally apply to the view, practice and conduct. Rinpoche then starts explaining each stage. Finally, Rinpoche concludes by inviting us to study these to be able to recognize them, and thereby identify our own level of progress on the path.

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On this Guru Rinpoche Day, Phakchok Rinpoche explains the famous opening verse of Omniscient Gampopa’s “Jewel Ornament of Liberation,” as well as the key points we should understand as we read the verses; mainly, that all beings have the cause of Buddhahood within their being, but it is also important that they meet with the right conditions for this seed to bear fruits. Rinpoche further explains how to cultivate the right conditions for our transformation.

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"When we remember our good heart, our sense of dignity is restored. We must always remember that we are good, even though we make mistakes. Being inherently good and making mistakes are not contradictory. Mistakes merely reflect that we are in a process of becoming who we already are; mistakes do not and cannot affect our pure nature."

Phakchok Rinpoche, Awakening Dignity, Chapter 3: Beyond the Beautiful and the Ugly

Open, Truthful, and Sincere: Three Fundamental Qualities

Open

Truthful

Sincere

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