My dear friends,

The sixth verse of Geshe Langri Tangpa's Eight Verses for Training the Mind is:

Here, we are advised to respond to betrayal, mistreatment, or ingratitude, especially from one we have nurtured and for whom we had high hopes, by regarding such a person as our "supreme lama" or greatest teacher. This reflects a key aspect of the lojong (mind training) practice, where adversities and difficult people are seen as profound opportunities for spiritual growth.

You may be asking, "On the Bodhisattva path, what lessons may we learn from such a 'teacher'?"

Patience and Compassion

The person who mistreats us, despite our care and expectations, becomes a powerful means for cultivating patience, a vital aspect of both the Bodhisattva’s ethical discipline and meditative training. Patience toward this person softens the heart, preventing anger, resentment, or bitterness from taking root. Instead, we are given the opportunity to deepen our compassion. A Bodhisattva aspires to meet all sentient beings with love, especially those who are the hardest to love. This person, then, becomes the greatest teacher in helping us train in unconditional compassion.

Non-Attachment to Results and Expectations

Often, when we help others, we unconsciously attach ourselves to outcomes—hoping for appreciation, loyalty, or reciprocity. The mistreatment we experience from someone we have helped shatters those attachments, teaching us the purity of selfless service. The "supreme lama" here teaches us to transcend egoic expectations, embodying the Bodhisattva’s resolve to serve others without any hope for reward or acknowledgment, reflecting the example of Christ’s love, which expects nothing in return.

Ego Dissolution

Being mistreated by someone we’ve invested in can feel like a personal affront, wounding the ego. This is where the person becomes a teacher of egolessness (anatta or anatman). The Bodhisattva path is about loosening the grip of self-cherishing and self-centeredness. When we are mistreated, it exposes where we cling to a sense of self and can show us where our pride, sense of entitlement, or need for control still lurks. A Bodhisattva seeks to uproot these tendencies, and this "supreme lama" provides the perfect conditions to do so.

Seeing Emptiness

At a deeper level, this mistreatment can reveal the nature of reality itself. If we practice seeing the situation through the lens of emptiness (śūnyatā), we recognize that the mistreatment and the person involved are empty of inherent existence. By stripping away the solidified perception of the "offender" and the "offended," we see that both are empty phenomena arising due to causes and conditions. The pain we feel is dependent on our own karmic habits and perceptions, and this "teacher" offers a moment to contemplate the illusory nature of both the self and the situation.

Humility and Gratitude

When faced with mistreatment, especially by someone we’ve helped, we are humbled. This teacher helps us recognize our vulnerability and imperfections. A follower of the Bodhisattva path learns to be grateful for such moments because they reveal where our practice is incomplete and where we need to work to open the heart more fully. True humility arises from recognizing our shared humanity and karmic interdependence with those who harm us.

Forgiveness and Letting Go

In the example of Christ, there is a deep practice of forgiveness, even for those who harm or betray us. The Bodhisattva sees no enemy, only beings in pain. This gives us the strength to love and forgive even under difficult circumstances, transforming bitterness into grace.

Lessons Learned

This "supreme lama" teaches us some of the most essential and challenging lessons on the Bodhisattva path: patience, non-attachment, humility, compassion, and the recognition of emptiness. These lessons, difficult though they are, lead to a greater purification of the mind and heart, enabling us to embody the Bodhisattva ideal, which is to love and serve others unconditionally, just as Jesus loved and served even those who persecuted him.

Ultimately, the lesson from this "teacher"" is that true spiritual practice does not rely on favorable circumstances or being treated well, but rather it is tested and strengthened in the face of adversity. Such a person then becomes a profound benefactor on our path toward awakening.