Mingyur Rinpoche, the millionaire monk who renounced it all

[rug]

On first impression, Mingyur Rinpoche seemed to have everything well set up for a high profile career as a globe-trotting meditation teacher in the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The youngest of three sons of the late, much venerated Tulku Urgyen, by the age of 36 he had a bestselling book (The Joy of Living) to his name, a monastery in India and Tergar, an international organisation based in the US with branches worldwide.

Mingyur Rinpoche was living comfortably with a retinue of attendants. He was in high demand as a teacher and admired by developed world devotees in particular, for his interest in the scientific implications of meditation – specifically its effect on brain function and the nervous system. He already had 10 years of solitary meditation retreat behind him and Tibetan Buddhist aficionados were impressed with his personal qualities.

But Mingyur Rinpoche was not content to rest on his laurels. Nor was he interested in becoming yet another celebrity guru, living in luxury and spoiled by the adulation accorded to important lamas. One morning in June this year his attendants knocked on the door of his room at his monastery in Bodhgaya, India, and when there was no response they went in to find it empty – except for a letter explaining that he had left for an indeterminate period to become a wandering yogi, meditating wherever he alighted in the Himalayas.

"He took no money, and no possessions," explained his brother Tsoknyi Rinpoche. "He didn't take his passport, his mobile phone or even a toothbrush."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/sep/22/mingyur-rinpoche-buddhist

[ZombieHorde]

1. I hope he finds what he is looking for. nt

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. That's a good attitude. I wonder what he thinks he is up to too.

Thanks "rug" for the interesting post. I passed it via email to several friends.

[Vehl]

3. cool

I'ts hard for one to give up all these things.

However I'm a lil confused about his intention though. I'm of the opinion that Buddhahood/Enlightenment/self-realization is a state of the mind...and one that one finds within himself/herself. I dont think having/not having material possessions would have any effect on such a search. However, he might be bothered by the large number of visitors he had, who would have taken up a lot of his time. Time he could spend on contemplation. Maybe this is why he left.