Personally, I think that most average person, myself included, would not be seeking Enlightenment when we first enter into Dharma. To be exact, I just wanted to find a better way to deal with my list of personal issues. However, as time passed by, I find myself more focused and my desire to learn the Dharma began to shift as my mind shifted.
I think, for whatever reason a person may start practising the Dharma, with Protector Practice, all their obstacles will be removed in order for each person to learn the REAL DHARMA.
It may begin as a personal wish-fulfilling practice but it will change into a wish fulfilling practice to benefit others as well as self.
As Dorje Shugden's main purpose is ultimately to bring people to do the Dharma, HE will work to remove all obstacles to each person and bring about what he or she desires in order for real faith to arise in him or her. Once people's faith arises in Dorje Shugden, HE will undoubtedly move them into the TRUE DHARMA practice. And that will be Lam Rim.
To me, it matters not how each start, it is what they end up practising or realising that makes all the difference in their world.
As Dorje Shugden is swift, so will each person's path to Enlightenment - whether they know it or not, whether they want it or not in the beginning.
Helena, it is a real joy reading what you have written here. There is such a lot of great information in this post, that I was beginning to get lost and developing mental indigestion from trying to consume all the knowledge herein, although I would certainly come back for more. Like you said, I certainly did not come into Dharma with expectations of receiving empowerment into any higher practice nor could I conceive of the state of enlightenment that can be had. Sure it is a nice aspiration but hardly realistic when I am still struggling with the basic mind transformation practices.
However, if attaining Buddhahood is a process by which I am to transform myself into a body of perfect enlightenment by eliminating my afflictive emotions that shrouds my elusive true nature as we are told, and meditating on a yidam is a part of that process, then Dorje Shugden is in many ways already my yidam-in-waiting because every aspect of the Protector's practice is to help me deal with and remove the destructive feelings that I, like many struggle with. We all know how we are each afflicted by our own minds and how difficult it is to tackle our infirmities by ourselves and this is where Dorje Shugden certainly helps.
When we sit in quiet communion with the Protector and establish a connection with him, we become aware of the kind of thoughts he wants us to have, the kind of speech that would please him and the kind of bodily conduct that he would approve of. We just know if we are open to him. The more we come to know and trust Dorje Shugden the more we sense him, and from there the more we realize who this special Protector is, and the more we become aware of who we are not, and who we can be. I have always thought that if I could hold the Protector in my mind all the time and not let go for some random thought, my Dharma practice would improve as a matter of natural progression. Perhaps that is a bit too simplistic but it is a thought.
For me, Dorje Shugden is special and I am not alone when I say that he is a Buddha that I feel I have a real relationship with (and how fortunate for us that Dorje Shugden has taken the form he has, so that we can actually do that). And so it was a pleasant surprise when I read Chogyam Trungpa saying, "choosing" a yidam is a "choiceless choice" meaning it is not a function of the mind but a function of the heart. It is a relationship. Therefore if my Protector can also arise as my yidam, it is a real bonus and I am sure Dorje Shugden will reveal himself to be so when I am adequately practiced. The details will take care of themselves.
Thank you for this post.
