The Joy of Diligence: Letting Go and Entering the Stream - A Teaching by Wangchen Rinpoche
Teaching by The Venerable Wangchen Rinpoche during the 25 Nyungne at Ser Cho Ling – May 20, 2025
www.sercholing.org
As the 25 Nyungne retreat at Ser Cho Ling nears its final week, The Venerable Wangchen Rinpoche offered heartfelt reflections on the transformative power of perseverance, the subtle grip of habit, and the profound liberation that comes from nonattachment.
From Counting Days to Wishing They Wouldn’t End
Opening with humility and humor, Rinpoche recalled his early days of practice—how he, too, used to count down the days of Nyungne. Despite the deep meaning of the practice, the fasting and discipline naturally bring some struggle. But over time, something shifts: what once felt difficult becomes a joy, and the practitioner begins to wish the retreat could continue indefinitely.
This shift, Rinpoche explained, comes not from effort alone, but from accumulated merit. Without merit, even sitting for five minutes or chanting 108 mantras may feel burdensome. But when merit ripens, joy arises spontaneously. The essence of spiritual diligence, he reminded us, is joy.
Practicing in a Dream: The Illusion Becomes the Path
When merit and joy are present, even this illusory world becomes a field of Dharma. Quoting Milarepa, Rinpoche reflected on the wonder of vividly experiencing phenomena that ultimately do not exist. This is not nihilism—it is the sacred paradox of awakening. We practice within illusion to realize its nature.
Yet within this display, the key is nonattachment. Rinpoche emphasized that appearances are not the problem—clinging is. From Mahāmudrā to Dzogchen, Zen to Madhyamaka, the instruction is the same: let go as phenomena arise. The moment you grasp, samsara solidifies; the moment you release, freedom dawns.
The Habit of Holding On
But letting go is not easy. Habitual clinging—conditioned by ignorance and the three poisons—arises with staggering speed. “Faster than the speed of light,” Rinpoche said. Breaking through requires sharp, present-moment awareness, unwavering concentration, and the support of vast virtue.
Even modern science, he noted, begins to see the limitations of linear time and causality. When you step outside conventional grasping, a different law governs experience—one that leads not to suffering, but to liberation.
Ethics: The Ground for All Realization
Again and again, Rinpoche returned to the importance of ethics. Moral discipline, he said, is simple: do what benefits others, avoid what harms. Vows, such as those taken by monks and nuns, provide a container for this training. Without ethical integrity, spiritual qualities cannot take root. But with a pure foundation, realization can unfold naturally.
He reminded us that enlightenment is not reserved for the few—it is available to all who cultivate the conditions. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” he said. And among all practices, Nyungne is among the most potent.
The Power of Nyungne
Rinpoche shared that even completing one Nyungne has the power to shut the door to lower rebirth. Completing eight seals one’s entry onto the path of stream-enterer—a decisive moment in the journey toward full awakening. “You won’t backslide,” he assured. “You’re no longer going to zigzag.”
He expressed deep pride in all participants, encouraging them to recognize the immense benefit of what they were doing. “I really mean it,” he said warmly.
Closing
With characteristic humility, humor, and compassion, The Venerable Wangchen Rinpoche once again illuminated the inner workings of the path—encouraging practitioners not only to stay the course, but to fall in love with the path itself.
Through ethical discipline, merit, and sincere diligence, even the habits of lifetimes can be untangled. In the space of that release, we enter not just a new phase of practice—but a new kind of freedom.
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🙏 To learn more about the 25 Nyungne Retreat and upcoming teachings, visit www.sercholing.org
