The examples of paying attention to dendrel explored in this paper will show how the key skill for good dendrel to confer freedom is the capacity to spot moments and circumstances where auspicious factors are beginning to converge, and can be encouraged to converge further. In other words, not only is interdependence a mere description of the causal factors that created a current occasion. It is also a guidance on how to make a fortuitous occasion take place. In order for an auspicious dendrel to come together, one needs to cultivate a creative and in many ways artistic skill first of all to even recognize that auspicious ingredients are available, and then to act to nudge them to “click” (sgrig) together. This often involves marshalling other ingredients into the mix. A classic example in Tibetan society would be the offering of a pure white silk scarf (kha btags) at the exact right moment, which serves to seal the deal for the moment to become auspicious. Practices like these suggest a special kind of agency whereby one inserts a force or power into the seminal moment when a new encounter or event is just beginning; a special ability to affect the future with skillful interventions at just the right time with just the right tools.
This paper will explore a few cases of practices or ideas in Tibetan literature that name dendrel as a significant factor. It will look at philosophical accounts of “pure dendrel,” (dag pa’i rten ‘brel) an innovative category in Tibetan Buddhist thought not found in Indian Buddhism. It will also explore narratives and poetic songs where dendrel is cited as a key component when an elevated revelation occurred. And it will relate several occasions of personal experience on a recent visit to the Tibetan plateau, when I and Tibetan friends recognized auspicious dendrel as a factor in decision-making processes and the development of confidence in the rightness of our decisions.
This paper will show how the key skill for good dendrel to confer freedom is the capacity to spot moments and circumstances where auspicious factors are beginning to converge, and can be encouraged to converge further. In order for an auspicious dendrel to come together, one needs to cultivate a creative and in many ways artistic skill first of all to recognize that auspicious ingredients are available, and then to act to nudge them to “click” (sgrig) together. A classic example in Tibetan society would be the offering of a pure white scarf (kha btags) at the exact right moment. This paper will explore a few cases of this phenomenon, ranging from philosophical accounts of “pure dendrel,” an innovative category in Tibetan Buddhism, to narratives where dendrel is essential in order for an elevated revelation to occur, to personal experiences and conversations on a recent visit to the Tibetan plateau.