Rinpoche: Do you feel that this young girl will bring benefit to a lot of people in the future?
Student: At the moment, according to her father, she is doing very well at school, especially in reading, mathematics and the arts. She enjoys school and she also wants to remain close to the retreat center and to her father, who lives and works there. Her mother says that because her daughter is so direct and powerful in what she says, she has to accept her wishes. Regarding the girl's spiritual development, she is studying the 16 Guidelines with her father and also offering water bowls occasionally. She expresses an interest to go to Kopan Monastery again or to Tibet or to see Rinpoche.
Rinpoche: It is more important for her to study the lamrim and meditate, as this is richer for her. It is best if a Sangha member goes there in the future to teach her. If she does this she will slowly feel less dependent on her parents.
Student: She used to love Prince Siddhartha, the book written for children by Jon Landaw. Her parents read this to her continually and her favorite chapter was when the Buddha showed the deed of leaving the kingdom (renunciation). She actually cried at this chapter one time.
Rinpoche: Although it is good that she is doing well at school and this can become beneficial in a Western sense, if she is to be of most benefit to sentient beings then she needs the right conditions to study Dharma.