Do you want to hear the truth?
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Some people spend their time helping others, taking care of others, assisting others, spending for others. They use their mind, intelligence, time, care, resourcefulness and abilities to help others. THIS IS AMAZING. They do it without wanting credit and give credit away. These people have found the magic alchemy of life. The elixir that transforms our lives into something with meaning. Visualize yourself on the moon staring back at earth and then try to find the miniscule dot that is you. Do this daily whether you are religious or not. See how your mind will think over time. Remember, that is you and that is all. Your life can be snuffed out so easily. You are tiny, but your wants and feelings are over-projected to massive blinding illusory importance. This is a delusion we blindly follow like a moth to flames. Don’t be so wrapped up in it. Old age, disease, problems, disasters, death, disappointments are always around the corner because we have the causes created for it. This is not being negative, but truthful. Life is lived well when pain has been realized. Cannot avoid pain so we must realize it, face and see the true source of the pain. But we can decrease the effects of pain with doing good works. Don’t blame others for what your karma brought you because it brings more karma to you to suffer and those you blame won’t even be around for the next round for you to blame. Blame karma not others. And you created the karma. Remember that always and daily. Don’t blame others for what karma brought you. Why? Because your blame will bring more karma and the cycle does not end.
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Anger is a sign of deep dissatisfaction with ourselves that our selfish aims are not accomplished. Selfishness is the real enemy. Everyone else is just a bystander. Selfishness and its pursuits will be everyone’s downfall and this is just the truth of human existence and we cannot avoid this. No one has avoided it and if we think we are the magician who can “abracadabra” this away, go ahead and try. Greater men have tried and fallen. Selfishness is the real enemy and this is across the board. Embrace and change. Or avoid and attract more pain.
Some spend their lives going on endless trips, self indulgences, fun, food, spending money on themselves only and endlessly social media about this. They glorify nothing but only the banal and mundane. The mundane becomes the creation of a false garden of Eden each time they glorify it they think or hope. What they glorify is the illusions which gets bigger and makes the fall bigger in the end. They do this over and over and even collect ‘fans’ who like and share their posts because they know no better also. They are not bad as they know not what they follow. It’s like someone with HIV knowingly and spreading it to people who have no idea what it is and practice copulation in ways that transmit to them. They glorify the process of transmission and the ignorant follow along. But in the end the ones who are ignorant followed the Pied Piper into the river and drown.
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These selfish beings who self indulge and glorify it sometimes want glory, name, position and to look good too. They want the name and glory without the long hours and hard work. They demote and eloquently degrade the hard works of others and commitment they have to put in to achieve something good and lasting. And when they cannot keep up, they need to further insult those who continue and justify their leaving or non participation. Leaving is fine, but be truthful. When they make mistakes, they want you to not speak about it and they never improve because of this hiding. They want everyone to bow to them and to live in a world they never look bad although they look terrible but it’s unspoken. As if though if not spoken, it does not exist. They are nice to the rich and powerful and snap at those they feel are below them or will take their unkindness. They spend more time being forgiving and kind to the wealthy as if suddenly their tolerance level has reached beyond the summit of the Himalayas. But to those around them, they are impatient. They affect the people around them negatively. They affect their partners, friends, children, relatives and parents negatively. They are temperamental and fly off the handle instantly if they don’t get what they want. It’s always about them and them alone. Everyone must surround them and coax them to be ‘happy’ again. To beg for their forgiveness. And when in their bad moods, no sense can be spoken to them. They quit, slam the door, run and escape. It is ALWAYS everyone else’s fault. What they owe you and what they have received from you in good times evaporates faster than a drop of water in the Sahara. As if you have never done anything good for them. They will endlessly tell the whole world it’s someone else’s fault. That will only work a few times though. They EVEN BLAME YOU FOR THEIR ANGER AND WILL WANT FACE TO COVER THEIR BAD BEHAVIOUR when they’ve ‘calmed’ down finally! People around them must bow to them they feel. Because they never humble themselves to anyone for now but a day of reckoning will come. They will run out of people who tolerate them. You see, they are always right and everyone is wrong because they are divine or something or perhaps Manjushri. These people are actually the most unhappy people in the world and over time you can observe this. You see, no one can be happy always under the illusions they are perfect, without fault and everyone must kowtow to them. Being inconsistent, giving up, temperamental, spoiled, laziness and wanting name and glory without much work spices the soup of anger. They have much hidden anger which is their downfall and the truth they avoid. Anger which arises from the selfish mind accumulated from years. Being selfish may be an ugly word, but do you want to hear the truth? With truth something can be done.
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And when their anger spells are over, they want to pretend nothing has happened. They don’t apologize or half heartedly do so… Be warned, these types of people lose the most precious commodity in life – FRIENDSHIP AND TRUE LOVE/CARE. What else is there in life??? In the end, money, position, power and beauty will win no one but only users. See examples of people in your life past and present who ‘have it’ or ‘had it’ and at the same time have nothing in their lives…..People go away from them. They attract like-minded people to enjoy their selfishness. They just use each other. In the end, they are alone, broken, hating themselves. Let them dance and show you what a good time they are having but the music does stop. Old, sick and just waiting for death alone because their lives were used for nothing. Even having money becomes a curse and not blessing as people wait for them to die to get the money and possessions. Every meeting with ‘loved’ ones and friends is painful because it’s rare that because of love they visit you. They live in anger, wake up in anger, sleep in anger, eat in anger, smile with anger, think in anger, look good in anger, travel in anger, shower with anger, go to parties with anger, study with anger, pay bills with anger, and basically the anger consumes them. Everything they do is to get attention they are dying for and when they get some attention, their anger gets more because it’s never enough. They are feeding a huge monster that just keeps growing. Anger is a monster and wanting credit and attention feeds it. Selfishness is anger’s best fodder too. They abandon those who have been kind, loving and caring to them easily. These people don’t deserve their sufferings but being angry and lashing out and desiring only things that benefit oneself will create the karma to experience this. They will keep experiencing this. Anger can be loud or quiet. It can come with a smile and the person can speak softly. But it will manifest over time because of their total unhappiness with themselves and they will ruin your world and existence if they can knowingly and unknowingly.
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You may feel karma doesn’t really exist or not sure, then you explain the disparities in the world and around you. You can explain the disparity within your own experience of your life. To exist in selfish mind, is to create the karma and attract all that anger attracts which is doom for the self. To exist in selfishness will only attract anger. Because in time all the selfish pursuits will be slowed down or stopped due to loss of friends, sickness, old age and maybe running out of people and money. But the habits don’t die. The longing does not die. Having the habits and not the means to carry out the selfish pursuits will result in more anger, more bitterness and more blame to others. But now we are older or old and no one will take it. So all that we had to ‘attract’ others that had them tolerate our outbursts, selfishness will fade, but our longing for attention, ‘fun’, selfish pursuits will not and that is the suffering. The suffering is the longing that does not die and we made solid by habituations. The suffering of change. The suffering of impermanence. In life if all we’ve cultivated was selfish pursuits and fun, then we will experience their negative results. You cannot paint things black and then be unhappy they don’t turn out white.
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Everyone MUST AVOID this fate for themselves. Be patient. Overcome anger. Apologize when wrong and DO NOT REPEAT. Integrity is the foundation of development of the mind into higher states of thinking and existence. Be kind to everyone and be tolerant. Control the anger till there is nothing to control. You can control your food intake, walking, urinating, defecating, spending, entertainment so why not anger? It’s just a part of you.
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You may have a partner, husband and wife, but it has no meaning, because it’s only in name. You may have a few people ‘hanging around’ you, but they are not friends or love you. There are exceptions, but don’t use the exceptions as the norm. It may be even habit they are around or just as selfish so it’s convenient to be with you. It’s hard to love some so angersome, self absorbed and into themselves only. If they do, there is something ‘cooking’. Self absorbed angry people will have to pay the price sooner or later. No escape.
Being kind to all and working for others bring happiness. All great men and women have taught this. There are tens of thousands of examples of this and it’s timeless. When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them. Don’t use others as a reason to degenerate ever or to be dishonorable. Don’t share in their downfall by letting it affect you and you fall. You don’t help them and you can’t blame them when you are alone and the results are upon you. You hurt many as they have hurt you. Your pain is just as valid as the pain you give others when you don’t have integrity, keep your word or degenerate. Don’t let others be disappointed by them through you. The pain they gave you will be the same pain you give others. They are not worth your downfall. We should never forget this whether we are religious or not. This is not religion, but it is the alchemy of life. Alchemy transforms ordinary metals into gold. Kindness and selflessness is the alchemy of life that turns our misery into happiness. Overcome our negative qualities and increase our positive qualities.
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If we believe in religion, we should use our religious training to curb our minds. We should APPLY the religious teachings and not just learn it or know it. A Zen proverb, “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”. Meaning we can have all the holy religious training in the world and be near it, but the goal is to eradicate or lessen the selfish mind. We have to apply what is in the holy books. This is the goal. What is the point to know so much and not apply it to oneself. The second key is to apply to oneself and immediately. If you are not religious, that is fine because you still want to have a good life. Never burn our bridges due to anger. A good life is not indulgences and endlessly indulging in them but living to bring benefit to others. Indulgences are simple to understand. They serve you in the short term and destroy you and those around you in the long run. You consider this point and face the truth in your mind. There is no escape even if you don’t want to think about it. The hurricane comes whether you choose to prepare or not. The weather forecast can only warn you. The Dharma teacher or Dharma can only kindly warn you. It’s good to face it because you will turn something bad into good.
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In the end, you ask yourself, did Buddha become enlightened or not? If He did, then there is enlightenment. If there is enlightenment, then we have to work towards it. Enlightenment is the state of non-desire without suffering and no selfish ego. If Buddha has achieved this and you believe in the Buddha, this is your goal too. Buddha’s enlightenment negates the rationality of your selfish mind on any level. Buddha’s enlightenment defeats you in debate about your selfish pursuits. Therefore why cherish it but one should expunge the selfish mind and work on this passionately and daily. Starting now. This is not a matter of being religious. Don’t hide behind that being or not being religious label. This is about you and who you are and your future. If you choose to believe Buddha did not achieve enlightenment, then you are right and carry on being unhappy happily for the rest of your life. Everyone is wrong. No one gained attainments and higher states of mind. Buddha was a liar and his enlightenment was false and He is a selfish egoist. Only your selfish mind and indulgences are the supreme deities and continue to be worshipped. Think carefully. Is your Yidam (one’s affinty Buddha) the resplendent deity emanated of anger with six arms symbolic of indulgences, pleasure, greed, instability, projections and selfishness? This ‘Yidam’ has not served us well. It’s time to change Yidams to one who has eradicated selfish mind and it has many arms to encourage our spiritual growth. A Yidam of six arms perhaps where each arm symbolizes fortitude, consistency, patience, tolerance, integrity and kindness. A resplendent Yidam emanated of kindness. A kindness we have cultivated within us. How many arms and which Yidam is just symbolic but put my sharing in your heart as I mean no offense. But my duty is to share dharma and the essence of dharma is development of the kind mind as in the Lojong set of teachings. This is our best Yidam to embrace and hold and cultivate. If you want to hear the truth, I have just shared it with you. It’s not my truth but the teachings of a Universal Sage, A Buddha, an Enlightened Being distilled for your easy comprehension.
This sharing was just written as I was inspired by contemplating on a very powerful text called THE WHEEL OF SHARP WEAPONS where Yamantaka is requested to destroy our self cherishing mind. The cause of all sufferings. Read this text monthly. I highly recommend this text.The pith of any religious practice or living a good life worth living is the destruction of selfish mind and its harmful companion – anger.
Tsem Rinpoche
For your convenience:
Wheel of Sharp Weapons – A Mahayana Training of the Mind
In Tibetan “Theg-pa-chen-po’i-blo-sbyong-mtshon-cha-‘khor-lo”
By Dharmarakshita
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons, a basic text for the Mahayana training of the mind, was composed by the great yogi Dharmarakshita. It was brought to Tibet by the great Indian Pandit Atisha (982-1054) and was translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan by Atisha and his main disciple Upasaka Drom Tonpa.
The present English translation from the Tibetan text has been prepared by the Translation Bureau of the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives.
The name of this work is ‘The Wheel of Sharp Weapons
Effectively Striking the Heart of the Foe’.
I pay heartfelt homage to you, Yamantaka;
Your wrath is opposed to the Great Lord of Death.
(1)
In jungles of poisonous plants strut the peacocks,
Though medicine gardens of beauty lie near.
The masses of peacocks do not find gardens pleasant,
But thrive on the essence of poisonous plants.
(2)
In similar fashion, the brave Bodhisattvas
Remain in the jungle of worldly concern.
No matter how joyful this world’s pleasure gardens,
These brave ones are never attracted to pleasures,
But thrive in the jungle of suffering and pain.
(3)
We spend our whole life in the search for enjoyment,
Yet tremble with fear at the mere thought of pain;
Thus since we are cowards, we are miserable still.
But the brave Bodhisattvas accept suffering gladly
And gain from their courage a true lasting joy.
(4)
Now desire is the jungle of poisonous plants here.
Only brave ones, like peacocks, can thrive on such fare.
If cowardly beings, like crows, were to try it,
Because they are greedy, they might lose their lives.
(5)
How can someone who cherishes self more than others
Take lust and such dangerous poisons for food?
If he tried like a crow to use other delusions,
He would probably forfeit his chance for release.
(6)
And thus Bodhisattvas are likened to peacocks:
They live on delusions – those poisonous plants.
Transforming them into the essence of practice,
They thrive in the jungle of everyday life.
Whatever is presented they always accept,
While destroying the poison of clinging desire.
(7)
Uncontrollable wandering through rounds of existence
Is caused by our grasping at egos as real.
This ignorant attitude heralds the demon
Of selfish concern for our welfare alone:
We seek some security for our own egos;
We want only pleasure and shun any pain.
But now we must banish all selfish compulsion
And gladly take hardship for all others’ sake.
(8)
All of our sufferings derive from our habits
Of selfish delusions we heed and act out.
As all of us share in this tragic misfortune,
Which stems from our narrow and self-centred ways,
We must take all our sufferings and the miseries of others
And smother our wishes of selfish concern.
(9)
Should the impulse arise now to seek our own pleasure,
We must turn it aside to please others instead;
For even if loved ones should rise up against us,
We must blame our self-interest and feel it’s our due.
(10)
When our bodies are aching and racked with great torment
Of dreadful diseases we cannot endure,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have injured the bodies of others;
Hereafter let’s take on what sickness is theirs.
(11)
Depressed and forlorn, when we feel mental anguish,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have deeply disturbed minds of others;
Hereafter let’s take on this suffering ourselves.
(12)
When hunger or violent thirst overwhelms us,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have kept what we had without sharing;
We have plundered and stolen and lured people on.
Hereafter let’s take from them hunger and thirst.
(13)
When we lack any freedom, but must obey others,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have looked down upon those who were lowly
And used them as servants for our own selfish needs;
Hereafter let’s offer our service to others
With humble devotion of body and life.
(14)
When we hear only language that is foul and abusive,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have said many things without thinking;
We have slandered and caused many friendships to end.
Hereafter let’s censure all thoughtless remarks.
(15)
When we are born in oppressive and wretched conditions,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have always had a negative outlook –
We have criticised others, seeing only their flaws.
Hereafter let’s cultivate positive feelings
And view our surroundings as stainless and pure.
(16)
When we are parted from friends and from those who can help us,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have taken the friends and good servants
Of others away, wanting them for ourselves;
Hereafter let’s never cause close friends to part.
(17)
When supreme holy gurus find us displeasing,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have turned from the gurus and teachings,
Preferring the counsel of misleading friends;
Hereafter let’s end our dependent relations
With those who would turn us away from the path.
(18)
When unjustly we are blamed for the misdeeds of others,
And are falsely accused of flaws that we lack,
And are always the object of verbal abuse,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have despised and belittled our gurus;
Hereafter let’s never accuse others falsely,
But give them full credit for virtues they have.
(19)
When the things we require for daily consumption
And use, fall apart or are wasted or spoilt,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have been careless with others’ possessions;
Hereafter let’s give them whatever they need.
(20)
When our minds are unclear and our hearts are unhappy,
We are bored doing virtue but excited by vice,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have led others to acts of non-virtue;
Hereafter let’s never provide the conditions
That rouse them to follow their negative traits.
(21)
When our minds are disturbed and we feel great frustration
That things never happen the way that we wish,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have caused interfering disturbance
When others were focused on virtuous acts;
Hereafter let’s stop causing such interruption.
(22)
When nothing we do ever pleases our gurus,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now with our gurus we have feigned pious manners,
But out of their presence have reverted to sin.
Hereafter let’s try to be less hypocritical
And take all the teachings sincerely to heart.
(23)
When others find fault with whatever we are doing
And people seem eager to blame only us,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have been shameless, not caring about others,
We have thought that our deeds did not matter at all,
Hereafter let’s stop our offensive behaviour.
(24)
When our servants and friends are annoyed by our habits,
And after a while cannot stay in our homes,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have imposed our bad habits on others;
Hereafter let’s change and show only kind ways.
(25)
When all who are close turn against us as enemies,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have held grudges inside us with anger
With thoughts of sly methods to cause others pain;
Hereafter let’s try to have less affectation,
Nor pretend to be kind while we harbour base aims.
(26)
When we suffer from sickness and such interference,
Especially when gout has swollen our legs,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now without shame and with no self-control
We have stolen or misused what others have given;
Hereafter let’s never take anything offered
To the Three Jewels of Refuge as if it were ours.
(27)
When strokes and diseases strike without warning,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have broken our vowed words of honour;
Hereafter, let’s shun such non-virtuous deeds.
(28)
When our mind becomes clouded whenever we study,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have thought that the study of Dharma
Lacked prime importance and could be ignored;
Hereafter let’s build up the habits of wisdom
To hear and to think about what Buddha taught.
(29)
When sleep overwhelms us while practising virtue,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have gathered the causes for obstacles
Hindering our practice of virtuous acts.
(We have lacked all respect for the scriptural teachings;
We have sat on our books and left texts on the ground.
We have also looked down upon those with deep insight.)
Hereafter for the sake of our practice of Dharma
Let’s gladly endure all the hardships we meet.
(30)
When our mind wanders greatly and runs towards delusion,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have neglected to meditate fully
On defects pervading this transient world;
Hereafter let’s work to renounce this existence
(And see the impermanent nature of things).
(31)
When all our affairs, both religious and worldly,
Run into trouble and fall into ruin,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have felt cause and effect could be slighted;
Hereafter let’s practise with patience and strength.
(32)
When rites we perform never seem to be fruitful,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have relied on the gods of this world
Or on unskilful actions to bring us relief;
Hereafter let’s turn in another direction
And leave our non-virtuous actions behind.
(33)
When none of the wishes we make reach fulfilment,
Although we have made prayers to the Three Precious Gems,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have had an imperfect commitment
To Buddha whose teachings deserve complete trust;
Hereafter let’s place our exclusive reliance
On Buddha, his teachings and those in his fold.
(34)
When prejudice, polio or strokes have us crippled
And external forces or harm rise against us,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have collected vast stores of non-virtue
By breaking our vows and offending protectors
In our practice from guru-devotion to Tantra;
Hereafter let’s banish all prejudiced views.
(35)
When we lack all control over where we must travel
And always must wander like waifs with no home,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have disturbed holy gurus and others
And forced them to move from their homes or their seats;
Hereafter let’s never cause others disturbance
By evicting them cruelly from where they reside.
(36)
When the crops in our fields are continually plagued
By drought, floods and hailstones, insects and frost,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have failed to honour our pledges;
Hereafter let’s keep all our moral vows pure.
(37)
When we are poor, yet are filled with much greed and desire,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have been misers, reluctant to share.
The offerings we have made to the Three Jewels were meagre;
Hereafter let’s give with a generous heart.
(38)
When our bodies are ugly and others torment us
By mocking our flaws, never showing respect,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have made images lacking in beauty,
By venting our anger, we have made ugly scenes;
Hereafter let’s print books and make pleasing statues,
And not be short-tempered, but be of good cheer.
(39)
When attachment and anger disturb and upset us
No matter how much we may try to suppress them,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have held on to the improper outlook,
Stubbornly cherishing only ourselves;
Hereafter let’s uproot self-interest completely.
(40)
When success in our practices always eludes us,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now, deep within, we have clung to our ego,
Fully immersed in self-cherishing ways;
Hereafter let’s dedicate all of the virtuous
Actions we do, so that others may thrive.
(41)
When our mind is untamed though we act with great virtue,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have engaged in those worldly ambitions
That aim at success for ourselves in this life;
Hereafter let’s work with pure one-pointed effort
To nourish the wish to gain freedom’s far shore.
(42)
When after we do any virtuous action
We feel deep regret or we doubt its effect,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have been fickle and, stirred by base motives,
Have courted only those who have power or wealth;
Hereafter let’s act with complete self-awareness,
Exerting great care in the way we make friends.
(43)
When those with ambition repay trusting friendship
By luring us on with their devious schemes,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now from ambition we have acted with arrogance,
Hereafter let’s dampen our self-centred pride.
(44)
When the force of attraction or that of repulsion
Colours whatever we hear or we say,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have ignored what has caused all our troubles:
The mass of delusion that dwells in our heart;
Hereafter let’s try to abandon all hindrances –
Note their arisal, examine them well.
(45)
When no matter how well-meant our actions towards others,
They always elicit a hostile response,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have repaid loving-kindness with malice;
Hereafter let’s always accept others’ favours
Both graciously and with most humble respect.
(46)
In short then, whenever unfortunate sufferings
We haven’t desired crash upon us like thunder,
This is the same as the smith who had taken
His life with a sword he had fashioned himself.
Our suffering is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Hereafter let’s always have care and awareness
Never to act in non-virtuous ways.
(47)
All of the sufferings that we have endured
In the lives we have led in the three lower states,
As well as our pains of the present and future,
Are the same as the case of the forger of arrows
Who later was killed by an arrow he had made.
Our suffering is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Hereafter let’s always have care and awareness
Never to act in non-virtuous ways.
(48)
When the troubles and worries of family life grieve us,
This is the same as the case of a child,
Who was cared for with love, later killing his parents.
Our suffering is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Hereafter it is fitting in all of our lifetimes
For us to live purely as monks or as nuns.
(49)
As it’s true what I have said about self-centred interest,
I recognise clearly my enemy now.
I recognise clearly the bandit who plunders,
The liar who lures by pretending he is part of me;
Oh what relief that I have conquered this doubt!
(50)
And so Yamantaka, spin round with great power
The wheel of sharp weapons of good actions now.
Three times turn it round, in your wrathful-like aspect –
Your legs set apart for the two grades of truth,
With your eyes blazing open for wisdom and means.
(51)
Baring your fangs of the four great opponents,
Devour the foe – our cruel selfish concern!
With your powerful mantra of cherishing others,
Demolish this enemy lurking within!
(52)
Frantically running through life’s tangled jungle,
We are chased by sharp weapons of wrongs we have done
Returning upon us; we are out of control.
This sly, deadly villain – the selfishness in us,
Deceiving ourselves and all others as well –
Capture him, capture him, fierce Yamantaka,
Summon this enemy, bring him forth now!
(53)
Batter him, batter him, rip out the heart
Of our grasping for ego, our love for ourselves!
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern!
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release!
(54)
Hum! Hum! Show all your powers, O mighty protector.
Dza! Dza! Tie up this enemy; do not let him loose.
P’a! P’a! Set us free by your might, O great Lord over Death.
Cut! Cut! Break the knot of self-interest that binds us inside.
(55)
Appear Yamantaka, O wrathful protector;
I have further entreaties to make of you still.
This sack of five poisons, mistakes and delusions,
Drags us down in the quicksand of life’s daily toil –
Cut it off, cut it off, rip it to shreds!
(56)
We are drawn to the sufferings of miserable rebirths,
Yet mindless of pain, we go after its cause.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(57)
We have high expectations of speedy attainments,
Yet do not wish to work at the practice involved.
We have many fine projects we plan to accomplish,
Yet none of them ever are done in the end.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(58)
Our wish to be happy is strong at all times,
Yet we do not gather merit to yield this result.
We have little endurance for hardship and suffering,
Yet ruthlessly push for the things we desire.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(59)
With comparative ease, we develop new friendships,
Yet since we are callous, not one of them lasts.
We are filled with desire for food and fine clothing,
Yet failing to earn them, we steal and we scheme.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(60)
We are experts at flattering others for favours,
Yet always complaining, we are sad and depressed.
The money we have gathered we cannot bear to part with;
Like misers we hoard it and feel we are poor.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(61)
We have done very little to benefit someone,
Yet always remind him how much we have done.
We have never accomplished a thing in our lifetime
Yet, boasting and bragging, we are filled with conceit.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(62)
We have many great masters and teachers to guide us,
Yet, shirking our duty, ignore what they teach.
We have many disciples, yet do not ever help them;
We cannot be bothered to give them advice.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(63)
We promise to do many glorious deeds,
Yet in practice we give others minimal help.
Our spiritual fame has been spread far and wide,
Yet inwardly all of our thoughts are repulsive
Not only to gods, but to demons and ghosts.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(64)
We have read very little, heard only a few teachings,
Yet talk with authority expertly on voidness.
Our knowledge of scriptures is pitifully lacking,
Yet glibly we make up and say what we like.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(65)
We have many attendants and people around us,
Yet no one obeys us nor heeds what we say.
We feel we have friends in positions of power,
Yet should we need help, we are left on our own.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(66)
We have gained lofty status and ranks of prestige.
Yet our knowledge is poorer than that of a ghost.
We are considered great gurus, yet even the demons
Do not harbour such hatred or clinging desire
Or as closed-minded an outlook as we seem to have.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(67)
We talk about theories and the most advanced teachings,
Yet our everyday conduct is worse than a dog’s.
We are learned, intelligent, versed in great knowledge,
Yet cast to the wind wisdom’s ethical base.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(68)
We have selfish desires and horrible anger
Which fester inside us, we would never admit;
Yet without provocation we criticise others
And self-righteously charge them with faults we possess.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(69)
We wear robes of saffron, yet seek our protection
And refuge in spirits and gods of this world.
We have promised to keep solemn vows of strict morals,
Yet our actions accord with the demons’ foul ways.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(70)
Our pleasure and happiness come from the Buddhas,
The gurus, the teachings, and those who live by them,
Yet still we make offerings to ghosts and the spirits.
All of our guidance derives from the teachings,
And yet we deceive those who give this advice.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(71)
We seek to have homes in monastic seclusion
Yet, drawn by distractions, we venture to town.
Discourses we hear teach us most noble practice,
Yet we spend all our time telling fortunes with dice.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(72)
We give up monks’ vows, the true path to gain freedom;
We would rather be married, have children and homes.
We cast to the wind this rare chance to be happy,
And pursue further suffering, more problems and woes.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(73)
Discarding our practice to reach liberation,
We drift about searching for pleasure or trade.
We have obtained human bodies with precious endowments,
Yet use them to gain only hellish rebirths.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(74)
Ignoring effects that the teachings can bring us,
We travel on business for profit and gain.
Leaving behind all our gurus’ wise lectures,
We tour different places in search of some fun.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(75)
We hoard what we have, never willing to use it,
And leech all our food and our clothing from friends.
We leave aside wealth from our father’s inheritance,
Taking from others as much as we can.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(76)
It’s amazing how little endurance we have
To do meditation, and yet we pretend
To have gained special powers so others are fooled.
We never catch up with the paths of deep wisdom,
Yet run here and there in needless great haste.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(77)
Someone gives us advice from the depths of his heart,
Which is for our own good, but is harsh to our ears,
And with anger we view him as if he is our foe.
Yet when someone without any true feelings for us
Deceitfully tells us what we like to hear,
Without taste or discernment we are kind in return.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(78)
When others consider us close and dear friends
And relate in strict confidence all they know,
We disclose their deep secrets especially to their foes.
When we have a good friend who is constantly with us,
We locate his weak points so we can torment him.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(79)
Our jealousy is strong and whatever is said
We are always the sceptic, we doubt what is meant.
We are fussy, bad-tempered and hard to get on with,
Inflicting obnoxious behaviour on others.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(80)
When someone requests us to do something for him,
We are never obliging, but think up instead
Clever devious methods to do him some harm.
When others concede and agree with our viewpoint,
We do not acquiesce – we argue still more.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(81)
We do not pay attention to what others tell us;
We are a trial to be with; we strain others’ nerves.
Our feelings are hurt at the slightest remark,
And we hold grudges strongly – we never forgive.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(82)
We always are jealous of those of great status;
We feel holy gurus are threats to avoid.
Overwhelmed by attachment and ruled by our passions,
We spend all our time lusting after young loves.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(83)
We do not think of friendships as long-term commitments,
We treat old companions with thoughtless neglect.
And when we are making new friends with a stranger,
We try to impress him with grandiose ways.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(84)
We lack clairvoyance, yet lie, feigning powers,
And then when proved wrong, we must bear all complaints.
We have little compassion for those who are near us;
Whenever they blunder, we are quick to lash out.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(85)
We have poor education and limited knowledge;
Whenever we speak we are unsure of ourselves.
Our learning in scriptural texts is so meagre,
When hearing new teachings we doubt they are true.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(86)
By making a habit of anger and passion,
We come to despise everyone that we meet;
And by making a habit of jealous resentment,
We ascribe fruits to others, disclaiming their worth.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(87)
We do not follow proper procedures of study;
We say it is needless to read the vast texts.
We feel there is no value in learning from gurus;
We slight oral teachings and think we know best.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(88)
We fail to explain what the ‘Three Baskets” teach’,
But instead dwell on theories we have made up ourselves.
We lack deep conviction and faith in the teachings,
Whatever we say leaves disciples confused.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(89)
We do not despise actions unwise and immoral,
Instead we dispute and attempt to pick flaws
In the excellent teachings and great masters’ works.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(90)
We are never embarrassed when acting disgracefully,
Only respectable deeds cause us shame.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(91)
All the things we should do we do not do even once,
For improper behaviour takes up all our time.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(92)
O mighty destroyer of selfishness-demons.
With body of wisdom unchained from all bonds,
Yamantaka, come brandish your skull-headed bludgeon
Of egoless wisdom of voidness and bliss.
Without any misgivings now wield your fierce weapon
And wrathfully swing it three times round your head.
(93)
With all of your fierceness come smash this foul enemy!
Burst ego-concepts with your wisdom’s great might!
With your boundless compassion protect us from suffering
The miseries caused by our self-centred actions;
Destroy our self-cherishing once and for all!
(94)
With all of the sufferings that others experience,
Smother completely our selfish concern.
The sufferings of others arise from five poisons;
Thus whichever delusion afflicts other beings
Take it to smother delusions of self.
(95)
Though we have not a doubt, for we recognise fully
The cause and the root of mistakes we all make,
If there is still left a part of our minds that would tend
To support this delusion of self that we have,
Then destroy the firm hold of this part of our minds
That, against our true wishes, makes fools of us still.
(96)
As all that is wrong can be traced to one source –
Our concern for ourselves whom we cherish the most –
We must meditate now on the kindness of others.
Accepting the suffering that they never wished for,
We must dedicate fully our virtues to all.
(97)
Thus accepting ourselves all deluded non-virtuous
Actions that others have done in the past,
In the present and future with mind, speech and body,
May delusions of others as well as our own
Be the favoured conditions to gain our enlightenment,
Just as the peacocks eat poison and thrive.
(98)
As crows may be cured after swallowing poison
By a powerful antidote given in time,
Let’s direct to all others our virtuous merit,
That this may replenish their chances for freedom –
May all sentient beings reach Buddhahood soon!
(99)
Till the time when all motherly beings and I
Gain the perfect conditions for us to be Buddhas,
Though the force of our actions may cause us to wander
Through various realms in the six rebirth states,
May we always be able to help one another
To keep our aim fixed on enlightenment’s shore.
(100)
Then for even the sake of but one sentient being
May we gladly take birth in the three lower states.
With enlightening conduct that never grows weak
May we lead all the beings in miserable rebirths
Out of their sufferings and causes for pain.
(101)
As soon as we have placed ourselves into their realm
May the guards of the hells come to see us as gurus.
May the weapons of torture they hold turn to flowers;
May all harm be stilled – peace and happiness grow.
(102)
Then may even hell beings develop clairvoyance
And take higher rebirths as men or as gods.
By developing strongly the wish to be Buddhas,
May they pay back our kindness through heeding the teachings
And regard us as gurus with confident trust.
(103)
Then may all sentient beings of the three higher rebirths
Perfect meditation on egolessness.
In this way may they realise the non-self-existence
Of worldly involvement and freedom as well.
May they place concentration on both of these equally,
Seeing their natures as equally void.
(104)
If we practise these methods we shall soon overcome
Our true enemies: selfish concern and self-love.
If we practise these methods we shall overcome also
False concepts of ego we hold to be real.
Thus by joint meditation on egolessness
And on non-dual wisdom of voidness and bliss,
How can anyone not gain the causes to win
A Buddha’s physical body and its fruit, Buddhahood?
(105)
O mind, understand that the topics discussed here
Are interdependent phenomena all;
For things must rely on dependent arising
To have an existence – they cannot stand alone.
The process of change is alluring like magic,
For physical form is but mental appearance,
As a torch whirling round seems a circle of flame.
(106)
There is nothing substantial to anyone’s life-force –
It crumbles apart like a water-soaked log;
And there is nothing substantial to anyone’s life span –
It bursts in an instant like bubbles of foam.
All the things of this world are but fog-like appearance;
When closely examined, they fade out of sight.
Like mirages these things at a distance seem lovely,
But when we come closer, they are not to be found.
(107)
All things are like images found in a mirror,
And yet we imagine they are real, very real;
All things are like mist or like clouds on a mountain,
And yet we imagine they are stable and firm.
Our foe: our insistence on ego-identities
Truly our own, which we wish were secure,
And our butcher: the selfish concern for ourselves –
Like all things these appear to be truly existent,
Though they never have been truly existent at all.
(108)
Although they appear to be concrete and real,
They have never been real, anytime, anywhere.
They are not things we should burden with ultimate value,
Nor should we deny them their relative truth.
As our grasping for egos and love for ourselves
Lack substantial foundations with true independence,
How can they yield acts that exist by themselves?
And then how can this cruel vicious circle of suffering,
The fruit of these actions, be real from its core?
(109)
Although all things thus lack inherent existence,
Yet just as the face of the moon can be seen
In a cup of clear water reflecting its image,
The various aspects of cause and effect
Appear in this relative world as reflections.
So please, in this world of appearances only,
Let’s always be sure what we do is of virtue
And shun all those acts that would cause us great pain.
(110)
When our bodies are charred in a horrible nightmare
By the world-ending flames of a stellar explosion,
Although this ordeal is not actually happening,
We nevertheless feel great terror and scream.
In similar fashion, unfortunate rebirths
In hells or as ghosts are not actually real,
And yet we can fully experience their pain.
Thus fearing such suffering as burning alive,
We must cease all these actions that yield this result.
(111)
When our minds are delirious, burning with fever,
Although there is no darkness, we feel we are plummeting
Further and further into a black pit
With the walls pressing closer the deeper we fall.
In similar fashion, although our dark ignorance
Lacks self-existence, we nevertheless
Must by all means break out of its strangling constriction
By putting the three kinds of wisdom to use.
(112)
When musicians are playing a beautiful melody,
Should we examine the sound they are making
We would see that it does not exist by itself.
But when we are not making our formal analysis,
Still there is a beautiful tune to be heard,
Which is merely a label on notes and on players
That is why lovely music can lighten sad hearts.
(113)
When we closely examine effects and their causes,
We see that they both lack inherent existence –
They cannot stand alone, either whole or apart,
Yet there seem to exist independently rising
And falling events, which, in fact, are conditioned
By various forces, components and parts.
It is this very level on which we experience
Birth and our death and whatever life brings.
So please, in this world of appearances only,
Let’s always be sure what we do is of virtue
And shun all those acts that would cause us great pain.
(114)
When a vase has been filled by the dripping of water,
The first drops themselves did not fill it alone;
Nor was it made full by the last several drops.
It was filled by an interdependent collection
Of causes and forces that came all together –
The water, the pourer, the vase and such things.
(115)
It is precisely the same when we come to experience
Pleasure and pain: the results of our past.
Effects never come from the first causal actions,
Nor do they arise from the last several acts.
Both pleasure and pain come from interdependent
Collections of forces and causes combined.
So please, in this world of appearances only,
Let’s always be sure what we do is of virtue
And shun all those acts that would cause us great pain.
(116)
When not making formal dissections with logic,
Merely letting life’s happenings flow freely on,
Although we experience feelings of pleasure,
In ultimate truth, this appearance of happiness
Lacks self-existence inherently real.
And yet on the everyday operative level
This seeming appearance has relative truth.
To understand fully this deep profound meaning
For slow-minded persons, alas, will be hard.
(117)
And now, when we try to do close contemplation
On voidness, how can we have even a feeling
Of conventional truth at the very same time?
Yet what can there be that has true self-existence?
And what can there be that lacks relative truth?
How can anyone anywhere believe in such things?
(118)
Just as objects of voidness are non-self-existent,
The voidness of objects itself is the same.
The shunning of vice and the practice of virtue
Are likewise devoid of all mental constructions
That they are independent, self-contained acts.
In fact, on the whole, they are lacking completely
All mental projections and all pre-conceptions.
Thus, if we can focus our clear concentration
On voidness without our mind wandering astray,
Then truly we shall come to be wondrous beings
With a deep understanding of the most profound void.
(119)
By practising this way the two Bodhicittas
Of the ultimate and the conventional truth,
And thus by completing without interference
Collections of insight and merit as well,
May all of us quickly attain full enlightenment
Granting what we and all others have wished.
Epilogue
‘The Wheel of Sharp Weapons Effectively Striking the Heart of the Foe’ was composed by the great Yogi Dharmarakshita in his retreat in the jungle where many fierce animals prey. What this great yogi, the possessor of vast scriptural knowledge, the full powers of logic and deep profound insight has written here is the essence of the teachings of all his holy gurus. He always practised in accordance with this essence in his fearsome jungle retreat during the degenerate age in which he lived.
From among his many disciples, Dharmarakshita transmitted these teachings to Atisha (982-1054); and Atisha practised them wherever he traveled in order to tame those who were most wild. When Atisha developed true insight into the two Bodhichittas through these teachings, he composed the following verses:
I went through much hardship abandoning royalty,
But, by collecting much virtuous merit,
I met my true guru, Dharmarakshita.
By showing me these supreme nectar-like teachings,
He has granted me sovereignty over my mind;
So that now I have attained all the forceful opponents,
Having memorised fully these words he has taught.Although I do not favour a partisan viewpoint –
Whenever I study the various teachings
I always make efforts to broaden my wisdom
To see boundless wonders in every tradition –
Yet I have to admit that these teachings especially
Have been of great help in this age of decay.
From among his many unimaginably great disciples in both India and Tibet, Atisha transmitted these teachings to Upasaka Drom Tonpa, who had been prophesied to be his most fitting disciple by many of Atisha’s meditational deities such as Tara. Atisha transmitted these teachings to Drom Tonpa in order to pacify the minds of the disciples of remote Tibet who were difficult to tame.
This work has been translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan by the fatherly Atisha himself and his spiritual son Drom Tonpa.
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Anger can cause many problems to us. It is scary to know sometimes we don’t even feel we are an angry person. We wonder why people are walking away from us, the truth is no one wants to be near us because we are angersome, people cannot get along well with us.
We have to always observe our mind, don’t let our anger eats us up. We are always kind to people we love but we cannot give the same kindness to people who are not related to us or who we don’t like. In order to cultivate kindness, we have to learn to be kind to everyone, regardless if they are kind to us or related to us.
When we practice kindness and patience, we are fighting our anger. When we have patience, nothing will make us angry. The next time when we want to get angry, check our mind and calm ourselves down.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for this very insightful article that is very relevant for me at the moment. For the most part of my life, I have been very fortunate to have loving parents, family, friends and resources to maintain a good lifestyle. I have been taking advantage of the circumstance by indulging in various conveniences, travels, holidays, many social meetings with colleagues and friends and was loving it. I was often blissfully unaware of what was happening around me. I have not been caring enough about others or to learn or internalise real Dharma teachings.
I came to Dharma with a lot of projections, expectations and baggage. Most people overlooked and chose to ignore my annoying habits and unawareness. It is my teacher who care enough to help me unpack my baggage and expectations.
因为业力的纠缠，让我们一直不断的轮回而投生在这个娑婆世界，受尽痛苦。逃避是枉然的，因为我们造下什么业，自己就要去承担一切的果。就好比如现今的社会，你犯了罪而被捉到，你就要去面对与承担根据国家法律的刑罚。如果要避免或减低这些痛苦，唯有去认知这一切，勇于去面对与看清这最根本的苦源。不要去归咎他人，因为如果我们这么做，反而还会加重我们的业障。
有时，我们往往只看到别人的问题而且还将他们的问题放大来看。我们却忘记了自己本身对他人也曾经有过负面的想法或是过高的期望。以前的我，应该也是属于这一种类型的人吧！希望所有的事情都依着我的想法去做。但是，后来我发现到我何必执着于要求那么完美呢！我似乎忘记了其他人也有他们的权利与自由处理一切事物。再加上，有时因为环境的状况会让事情避免不了被搁着。
无论如何，很庆幸的我从小就相信有因果循环。再加上，当我接触与认知佛法越多，我就发现到我的问题出现在那里。我必须去勇于接受与面对种种的缺点，然后纠正一切。是不容易，但不代表不可能。毕竟，修心与修行是个人必须经历的。
感谢仁波切一路以来的教诲让我们慢慢的找回‘自己’。
It took me few attempts to finish reading this post, only because I was too ashamed at times to continue reading the piercing words that perfectly described my habituation & bad qualities. I am even more ashamed when I discovered intrinsic traits that I previously didn’t know that it has deep root to my self-cherishing mind. It is really my very good fortune to have Rinpoche’s teaching here telling me the truth. One of the most important traits that I will definitely work on to get rid of is ANGER. “Anger is a sign of deep dissatisfaction with ourselves that our selfish aims are not accomplished. Selfishness is the real enemy.” For me, learning to control my anger starts with not judging others and project what I think is right (or wrong) onto them. Reducing these selfish views would reduce the unmet expectation so to speak and therefore I can appreciate what comes and will be. There are many many other bad qualities that I will be working on that I hope to see some improvement from time to time. Rinpoche has so kindly shared the path to correct ourselves, it would be foolish not to follow and improve ourselves. Enlightenment aside, I think improving ourselves is very important because to become a better person is the only way to make this world that we live in a better place; by bringing a little bit more positivity into the environment that we are in, hopefully influencing people around us to be better as well.
I am really thankful for this teaching from Rinpoche. Thank You very much.
with folded palms, humbly,
Stella
Due to our self-cherishing mind, we are always indulging in the very things that strengthening our desires and attachments, and thus, leading us further away from our ultimate goal on spiritual path.
In life, unfortunately we will always have expectations and set conditions based on our selfish mind. Once others not conforming to them, we become angry, we judge, we complain. We see others as the source of our unhappiness, they became our enemies.
The truth is, we are our REAL enemy; the SELFISH mind is the culprit for our own unhappiness.
Alas, we must remind ourselves that no one else is to be blamed for our misfortune or problems. They arise from our own Karma.
“The Wheel of Sharp Weapons” is the very potent medicine for the mind. Reading it is like a knife cutting through the deeper side of our consciousness. The teachings on the Law of Cause and Effect are presented with such impactful verses. This pair especially gave me Goosebumps everytime I read them…
(80)
When someone requests us to do something for him,
We are never obliging, but think up instead
Clever devious methods to do him some harm.
When others concede and agree with our viewpoint,
We do not acquiesce – we argue still more.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
(81)
We do not pay attention to what others tell us;
We are a trial to be with; we strain others’ nerves.
Our feelings are hurt at the slightest remark,
And we hold grudges strongly – we never forgive.
Trample him, trample him, dance on the head
Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.
Tear out the heart of this self-centred butcher
Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.
We must practice what we learned from Buddha’s teachings because they are the real ‘medicines’ to remove our self-inflicting sufferings – the fruits of our Selfish Mind / Self-cherishing Mind.
It is extremely important for us to heed the advice of our compassionate Lama who is one with Buddha. We ought to learn and practice Dharma diligently to change our path towards long term happiness instead of worldly indulgences. In the end, we have to leave everything behind, hence, we can only rely on our Lama and Buddha’s teachings, nothing else.
Thank you Rinpoche for this profound and direct teachings.
With folded hands,
Pastor Gim Lee
When I read this 2 weeks ago, the first thought that cameto mind is ‘Wow, its amazing how Rinpoche’s teachings resonates with my situation at the appropriate time.’ It really help calm my thoughts n reminded me how destructive our expectations on others are. Results of anger are not easy to erase and never completely. I had so much anger within me and constantly question why is that. Rinpoche’s teachimgs had helped me understand why and over the years I have learnt to let go which brings the peace once so illusive. Of course now and then expectations n anger still comes but teachings like this post helps me let go. Thank you Rinpoche always.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks Rinpoche for the powerful teaching and always remind us how Anger will affect us skillfully.
“A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”
I m a donkey before but still a donkey right now, is really cant deny for it. As we learn more Dharma and Rinpoche holy teaching is probably many of us just take it as a statement but not apply it well or never apply it at all. Sometimes we feel that we are easily to be affected by others surrounding us but actually is an excuses. We always put some others to cover ourselves. We are hardly to apply what we had learn well but actually the most important we need to have a “start” for it. I feel so fortunate to meet my authentic Guru, Tsem Rinpoche so i can get the chance to learn Dharma and “start” transform a little bit to be a better person.
Anger is truly a powerful poison to make us suffering and it will be affect or carry on from lifetimes to lifetimes. The results of the Anger will make our body, speech and mind create endless negative karma and it will keep on rolling, if we can really control Anger; many of our negative Karma will be stop at the time and no more rolling on. I m a very Angersome person but luckily i make a tiny start to reduce or control about it. Anger will still with me but now at least is less 5% to 10% than before. I will keep on my practice, bear Rinpoche teaching in heart and apply the teaching as much possible to make myself better.
I take hours to read and write my comments, i found that “The Wheel of Sharp Weapons” actually like an Encyclopedia. I found many answers of why i still suffering inside there. I will re-read this powerful article again to gain more realization, as a reminder to me always and also plug in a little bit more to apply…
Your sincerely,
Casteven
谢谢仁波切的分享。
其实 我们都过于保护自己，自私，懒惰还有等等。。。。。。才会有这样的情形发生。
其实我们都明白没有付出就不会有回报。往往就控制不了自己，就产生了妒忌， 严重的还会开始制造破坏。
学习佛法。上师为我们讲解与改进， 那我们就不应该摆出装不懂的，或掩饰的样子。 我们必须勇敢面对，与改变。要不然就像 背着佛书的驴子， 无论背这再多， 还是背着佛书的驴子。自欺欺人。
谢谢。
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you so much for the teaching!
I have gone through life with a lot of expectations before I met dharma. It did not do me any good as the anger was like a snow ball getting bigger and bigger each time that I was dissatisfied about something. It was always others faults for things not turning out the way I expected. At some point, my anger got so bad that I felt suffocated when I spoke. I knew this was not good. So I learned not to care about the person or the matter. It seemed to work after a while as my anger was much more controlled but part of me didn’t feel right neither. It was as if I was losing a good part of myself in the process. I guess the anger didn’t really go away. It was turned into a silent anger and my ego got bigger each time.
It was not until I met Rinpoche, having listen to the teaching and realising how our “self grasping I” deludes us that my anger began to face defeat… and I understood that it was “the importance of I” that had caused me to suffer in anger. I must confess though as I am still learning to be mindful of this. There are incidents that I would only be able to catch myself after my anger arise. But I learn not to blame others for the incidents and this allows me to let go of the angry emotion. I will continue to work at it so that others around me will not be harmed.
Thank you for reminding us not to use our disappointment in others as a reason to degenerate ourselves. May I continuously learn and apply the teachings as taught by my Guru, and not be a donkey carrying a pile of holy books!
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this powerful indeed teaching at your blog using skilful way of sharing dharma touching to different type of people. Most of us always trapped into our own anger and self indulgence but always did not recognise it and blaming other. I like Rinpoche sharing this verse “When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them.” We have our own karma to deal with it not them, quickly recognise it and source the method to overcome our anger. Don’t always think your are right, because this people has hurt me so must. In live, we will get criticism good or bad. We should thankful to the people who show us our anger existing so we able to change until not effecting us any more.
When i having bad period of time, i get different type of advice, which let me realise who is the real spiritual friend.It make me more respect to those who come to talk to me in their free time,i will never forget their kindness and love them.
“Buddha’s enlightenment negates the rationality of your selfish mind on any level.” Since i am a Buddhist pastor, i choose to believe what lord Buddha as taught us,be honest how you feel. It is bad change it immediately become positive. Practice what Buddha has taught daily become more tolerance,kindness,consistency, patience and integrity. Not just like a donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey. Some time from bad experience and mistake from the past, can help us develop wisdom to overcome our weak point in life. I thank you rinpoche and kind people who has always believe in me , giving support and advice when i need.
Regards,
Pastor Chia
I’m not a humble person but I wish that I will improve and become a humblr person, and I will. How many times have we put the blame on others when we are actually the one that is at fault? Is it actually right to do that to others? How would you feel if your friend put a blame on you that you have nothing to do with it. Not just that, when you try to explain, instead of listening to your opinions, your friend screams at you and slam the door tight. How would you feel? Angry? But have you thought of it in this way? Even though your friend is the one who is wrong, we still have respect them, listen to their opinions and then we only humble share our thoughts. If we keep on being self-centered, arrogant, ignorant and selfish then it is impossible to have close friends. We might have them for days, months and maybe years, but they will not be able to be friends with us if we keep these kinds of attitude going on. If we want to make new friends and have long relationships with our close friends then we have to start changing ourselves.
Thank You Rinpoche for this post and asking us to reply. This is probably one of the most self reflecting and honest post from my side. And for that, I thank Rinpoche again.
The truth of the ignorance that lead us to this life and all the suffering what we and all beings have to endure is like quick sand that continue to suck us deeper and deeper into the realms of suffering called samsara. We constantly fuel our pride, anger, greed, jealousy and “happiness” with acts that cause more of the same. This, I learned is what is called “pervasive suffering”. The fact that we are in samsara is a “sentence” for us to remain stuck in samsara for many many aeons. For every single thing we do and even our “virtuous” acts are not pure and are based on the self no matter how virtuous it is and act as the cause for remaining in Samsara. This also means that we will suffer for a very long time, which is very scary, for already this life’s suffering and “happiness” are suffering enough for me. Most importantly I also see that the same for others.
From Rinpoche teachings over the years and from what I am able to learn, all these sufferings arise from our ignorance that leads to the arising of the ego and hence selfishness. The anti dote to that would then be selflessness; which mean that we leave our entire life for the benefit of others. Hence, whether we are doing secular or Dharma work, whatever arises, the “good” or the “bad”, we take it in stride for we know others’ actions are driven by conditions as well. So the motto of “We Are All In Samsara” takes on a new meaning.
I try my best to be ever mindful of this but the ego still kicks in often. The good thing is that we have the Dharma, I am able to be mindful most of the time and to let it go.
I am grateful everyday that I am with humility, have the fortune to be working in the Mandala of the Guru because every actions in the Guru’s Mandala, by the power of the Guru motivations is virtuous and generate the merits and wisdom for me to realize the goal of selflessness eventually.
I take courage from “The Wheel of Sharp Weapons” that although we may have some knowledge of the truth, we are still in samsara and hence must observe the law of cause and effect and the advise that by embracing the poisons of ours’ and others’ delusions; it can be the causes for our realizations.
Thanks again Rinpoche. May I be able to practice as taught!
With Folded Hands!
KH Ng
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing with your teachings and caring advice with full of compassion about our sufferings due to our selfishness that takes control of our life and lead us to unhappiness and pain.
As what I have learnt through this teaching, human life is impermanent and we need to realize that in order for us to gain ultimate and true happiness, we first have to contribute for others selflessness while we are still in good physical body condition before we start to grow older and weaker as time goes on.
All our current sufferings and pains are the results of our previous karma whether we like it or not. Thus, make a good use of our precious human life to do Dharma, collect merits and purify our karma so that we can realize the truth and liberate from samsara in our future lifetimes.
Anger arises due to our selfish mind that we ourselves cannot let go of our expectations and projections in current worldly life. Blaming and releasing one’s anger on others for not getting what we want is truly irresponsible because we want to look for an easy way out to satisfy our self-cherishing mind that will only deepens our samsaric mind into a more severe level. Ignorance will continue to grow in one’s angry mind if one has not tried and worked out for a way to lessen and eliminate one’s anger. There is no short cut of getting away from ignorance.
All the worldly possession is equivalent as illusion since we have to let go of them at the time of death. If we do not work out with a solution to cure our mental sickness and get rid of it, selfishness in this case, our sufferings will be continued and increased in larger scale if we are continuously feeding our selfish mind with anger, greed, laziness and jealousy.
Thank you once again Rinpoche for your love and care to all of us by making us realize the true nature of sufferings and how to eliminate our sufferings by doing Dharma with no worldly agenda.
Dear Rinpoche,
The truth is hard to accept but must be faced. Am utterly grateful for this post as it speaks right into my very soul today, forcing me to face myself and the truth. With Rinpoche’s guidance and blessings, I resolve not to be just the mule ferrying the holy books. Thank you with folded hands for this teaching.
Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching.
Why we suffer all the time because we always have expectation on people and things based on what we want. When we do not get what we want, we will get really upset or angry, that’s when we suffer. I think everyone experiences it.
When we truly embrace karma, we will accept happily whatever happens to us, whether good or bad. We will complain less and constantly improve ourselves so that nothing bad would happen to us :). In the end, we will realise we are the master of our lives, not someone else.
Getting angry with someone else for our failure will not lessen our sufferings, it will not make us happier either. When the negative emotion is enforced over and over again in our mind, it will become our habit or characteristic.
We thought happiness is to go for good food, buy new clothes, go for a trip, having coffee with friends and gossip. But these are only distraction because if they really are the causes of happiness why do we have to look for another activity to do to find that happiness? If they are the cause of happiness, how come people who do not have access to these activities can still live happily? Because happiness and suffering is really a state of mind.
So what we need to cultivate is a positive state of mind, to embrace karma, to take responsibility of our own life. Because if one day there is no more good food, new clothes or overseas trip, we can still be happy; if someone disappoints us, we will not be affected badly.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this powerful teaching. It is true that selfishness is the root of all evil and can destroy one self. It resonates very true to me in many aspects. The points that struck me are:
1. “They are nice to the rich and powerful and snap at those they feel are below them or will take their unkindness. They spend more time being forgiving and kind to the wealthy as if suddenly their tolerance level has reached beyond the summit of the Himalayas. But to those around them, they are impatient.”
In the past, I find that I could be impatient with the people around me especially my family. Now, majority of the time, I can catch myself earlier before spiralling down that tube again. It really reflects on my selfishness and the attitude of not caring towards their feelings.
2. “Be kind to everyone and be tolerant. Control the anger till there is nothing to control. You can control your food intake, walking, urinating, defecating, spending, entertainment so why not anger? It’s just a part of you.”
It is a matter of whether we want to control our anger or not. Our minds are powerful enough to control what we think and our actions. For me, when i let down my ego, then the anger fades away. It is always the ego that is the culprit. And if I am stubborn, then my anger stays and does not make the situation better. In the end, everyone is not happy. So, what’s the point? Sometimes I ask myself whether my ego is so important!!!
3. “We have to apply what is in the holy books. This is the goal. What is the point to know so much and not apply it to oneself. The second key is to apply to oneself and immediately. If you are not religious, that is fine because you still want to have a good life.”
Lastly, I do not know very much but the little I know will be useful for me to apply in my life. The basics of being kind, being tolerant, being caring etc should be the best thing to do now. Not to let anger and other negative attitude hinder us from creating a better life for others and self.
Again, I really appreciate Rinpoche’s teaching on this topic and being straight to the point. It hits the spot. I will definitely be reading again to remind myself of my selfishness and anger.
Thank You H.E.Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for the great intensive teaching. I do agreed that our anger is fed well by our selfishness. We frustrated that when our “good deed” are not recognized, we get angry when the things does not go according we expect, we want control others to follow our way etc. Along the way we are living in the suffering of angry and it will get worse with time. I think I will put this into my mind to remind me daily as we easily fall into this trap. I always think I am tiny such as just a sand on the beach, I am nothing compared a lot of great people or Gurus. I should try my best to transform my mind and put all the teaching into our daily practice to benefit others. No one will be able to escape from karma whether your wrong or good deeds known by public or not. In the end, we will get what we do to others, it is matter of time.
I like the statement:”Life is lived well when the pain has been realized”. It sounds like Four Noble Truth to me. I personally think we need to remind ourselves about the Four Noble Truths daily and put what we learnt into practice to benefit others, time waits for nobody. Death is around the corner and no one can escape from that. “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”. We can finish the whole Lamrim but if we did not put the teachings into practice, we are as if never studied Lamrim before except feeding our ego to show off that we have a lot of Dharma knowledge. I personal think self check on our mind is important to ensure our motivation is pure.
I agreed with the statement particularly that “What is the point to know so much and not apply it to oneself. The second key is to apply to oneself and immediately.” I personally believe the learning cycle such as learn, practice, experience and share. Buddhism is matter of experience it, it is not just knowledge.
Another statement I like a lot is ” When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the result and not them”. We need to have a stable mind to practice Dharma. This is because we are easily sway from the temporary result especially we see others enjoy the good temporary result from their wrong doing, we tend to be attracted by this temporary result or short term result.
Thank You Rinpoche for always being with us and guide us patiently.
Cheers,
Soon Huat
Dear Rinpoche,
I have came to practice Buddhism largely due to understanding and acceptance of karma, impermanence, the imminent of our death and the preciousness of human body which have resulted to finding purpose Of our life. Karma can be so complicated and yet it fascinates me to the core. Thinking that we can control karma is the most silly thing that one can think off. We may change it by lessening or purify it but we cannot ‘wash ‘ it away. One small seed can grow into a big tree! Hence, one must be very careful with one’s body, speech or mind. The hardest part to control is mind. Just a negative thought, a negative karma will be created. Anger is just like any other afflictive emotions that influence us daily. It is based on one’s past experiences and habitual pattern which are stored in our mind. To change it, then we have to change the way we perceived things. It’s hard (for me) but it can be done. We just have to rehabituated ourselves till we are familiar with it without a second thought.
I still have my baggage of many afflictives emotions but I am trying to rid it off. Usually I do not show my anger in’ public’ but mostly to those who are very close to me. However, I do know that I can’t go on carrying anger with me anymore because eventually I will hurt them with my negative reactions. Usually I take them for granted, if I may say so because I know that they will tolerate with me. If I truly love them, they should be the one who receives only kindness from me and nothing else. There are other few reasons on why I am trying my best to be a better person such as :How can I ask others to practice if myself don’t practice it? How can I pray to benefit sentient beings when my merits are constantly being burned away? How can I ask Teacher or Buddha to stay and teach whereas I don’t practice it? Worst still, I will give bad example to my daughters.
Looking back at the post where Rinpoche mentioned that “when others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate” is a kind of affirmation for me. Eventhough they may hurt us but hurting them back will not solve the problem. Although I’ll get irritated but when ponder deeply, they are bound by their own circumstances and their karma too. I just need to learn not to easily get angry until it is like a second nature to me, just like I’ll eat when I’m hungry. I just have to learn to be patience if things don’t get into my way. I always have this in my mind.. come what it may.Rinpoche’s post on this ‘Anger’ really made me think twice before I act negatively towards others. Seems like Rinpoche knows when we have been ‘naughty’. Thank you so much for this post.
Dear Rinpoche and to my “old ” self,
I am very thankful for these feature in Rinpoche’s blog. Reading back comment that I’ve written really put me to shame?.To date, I still have anger in me and I am aware of it but when the “time” comes, it’s hard not to be angry. I’ve told myself that “I will” but this future tense seems very faraway. It did not materialise up until now. I am shocked for what I’ve written as the ‘previous’ me seems mature and has deep understanding on this topic. I need to get my work done.
” Be diligent and consistent ”
Thank you Rinpoche.
This article made me think in deep contemplation. It took me 2 days to write this.
I rarely get angry if ever get angry. Even if I was insulted, scolded, humiliated, be in the deepest shit etc.. Its very hard for me to get angry. It won’t moved me at all. Maybe I’m kinda of a detached person.
However, when I do, it’ll be a volcano outburst and a few blocks can be heard. If outburst is considered anger. But just as quickly as the outburst goes, it subsides in seconds; gone like the wind. I never let it affect my mind or linger or become an emotion within.
Most of the time, the reason is to stop the other person from continuing their lies, mistakes, huge ego, dishonesty, no integrity, laziness, continuously harping on issues that are in the past,..(all snowballed combined into one monster simultaneusly).
This is to maybe selfishly protect my mind from insanity.
Woe be unto the person as I’m not afraid to speak my mind even if you’re a CEO, Minister, Prime Minister, or persons of title or power, etc. All the colourful expletives with no holds barred will make the person feel like in a foreign language school.
(You can literally hear a sing-along “Let It Go” music by Frozen in the background)
Go ahead, sing-along. It feels good. 😛
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU
Fortunately only 4 people in my entire life that I’m closed to received this “present” from me.
Most of other “anger” issues will be are slow, incompetent , lazy or corrupt government officials or people who just don’t do their jobs properly. For these people, even though I feel like taking my “anger” on them, most of the time I could just “visualize” my “outburst” in the mind, reprimanding them, giving my 2 cents…(all in the mind)
but I always controlled it and not let the anger emotions arise. I could project my mind above me and watch me and the other person “taking it out verbally” Then I approach them like nothing’s happened. Or I would talk to them properly. Or stay silent.
I guess that’s just my style. And then within minutes, everything will be forgotten like nothing’s happened. I never let anyone pull me down to degenerate. It’s not a good feeling to have.
At least it was a controlled “detonation”. No damage done and they’re still in one piece. Nobody got “killed” or hurt. Lol.
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons strikes me deep. To me, the more problems and bad things we have, the better for us. Its strips us of our ego, make us look within, change (hopefully for the better) and brings us closer to spirituality. It makes us understands the hidden energies and intricate plays of karma of why things goes the way it does.
In summary, what H.E. Rinpoche wrote can be summed up as the self-cherishing mind that are immersed in the 8 worldly concerns will make all karmas arise, anger included.
Thank you very much Rinpoche for sharing this powerful Wheel of Sharp Weapons. I will read it often.
With folded hoves,
Donkey.
Thank You Rinpoche for this teaching. The following are my thoughts about the teaching in this article.
What has happened cannot be reversed because every phenomenon is impermanent and subject to change. Hence it is meaningless to hold onto something that has ceased to exist and be depressed over it! Similarly it is meaningless to be anxious over something that does not exist either because it has not yet manifested! Living in the present moment is thus to accept and experience the ripening of our karma when it manifests.
The Four Noble truths clearly explains that there is suffering, suffering has its cause, suffering can be stopped and there is a way to end suffering. Knowing this we should apply this teaching to eradicate our suffering.
Furthermore, the Law of Cause and Effect clearly explains that we are the cause of our sufffering. Without a cause, there is no effect. If others had harmed us, it is because we had created the cause(s) to be harmed in the past. To blame others means we create causes to be blamed. Hence, we should not blame others for our suffering.
Our projection is always obscured by our ignorance, delusions and karma. Selfishness is due to our ignorance that grasps at the inherent existence self. Due to our ignorance, we perceive a duality of self and others. We develop other delusions like anger from ignorance. By acting on our ignorance and anger, we create karma. These three factors govern how we project or perceive every phenomenon. Expectation is based on our projection of how things should be. It is due to our expectation which is obscured or wrong, that we have heartaches or sufferings.
We have habituated ourselves with negativities since beginningless time. These negativities eventually became our delusions. The only way to unpack or to remove these delusions is to transform our minds with the medicine of Dharma. We should therefore seek for a spiritual guide to help us transform our minds by teaching us Dharma.
Selfish people wants only the happiness for themselves. Everything that they do fulfills this sole purpose at the expense of others’ unhappiness. Not getting what they want they become angry, depressed, impatient, intolerant, and so on. Their ignorance, delusion and karma (as mentioned above) become worse and they get more entangled in their unhappiness!
When we ignore others who are suffering, we strenghten our selfishness further.
People who are consumed by fire of anger are very destructive and harmful to themselves as well as others! They are experienncing the hell-like existences! In the end they will end up there!
Time is so precious and limited. Those who took time off to talk to us are really kind and selfless.
selfishness – anger – longing (craving) – habituation. These causes individually or collectively gives us more suffering
Those who has patience are in control of their experiences. Those without patience are instead controlled by anger.
We can be attached to our pleasant feeling of having everything; we can be averse to having nothing or we can be indifferent about these. Hence our attitude matters! We should be patient.
The person who says it cannot be done won’t do it. Thus, he should not interfere with the person doing it because the person who does it has the confidence that it can be done and has taken the responsibility of doing it.
Yes, when we are selfless and kind to others, others will be kind to us and we will be happy.
The key to happiness is putting the Dharma into practice. No point knowing the benefits of Dharma without experiencing the benefits of Dharma.
Buddha has proven there is liberation and enlightenment. If we believe in Buddha, we can achieve the same!
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons teaching sums up the nature of our suffering and how we should tame our mind to free ourselves from these sufferings.
Rinpochela, thank you so much for this article. I know Rinpoche must have put so much effort into writing this extensive article in effort to help us. After all, Rinpoche gets nothing from us being a better person.
Anger is something I know too well. If I have not been in the Dharma, I would not be able to identify anger as a source of my suffering, but instead just blame it on others and end up more bitter with each passing day.
I know, I suffer from anger, and though I don’t always show it, it’s brewing inside of me. For a long time, I thought Dharma is helping me to keep my anger in check… I thought I was practicing Dharma! But after reading this, the reality is… I wasn’t really practicing was I? lol…
The quote that said “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey” just says it all about my situation… I do not have a lot of Dharma knowledge, but what I know is enough for me to get by looking spiritual… enough for me to bluff myself and others that I am learnt, enough to understand scholastically the laws of cause and effect… but in the end, I am just like the donkey… carrying around the knowledge with no application, because what was in me, never changed, for the better.
Reading this article tells me more than just me having to overcome anger… it tells me, that’s it… it’s time to practice, or suffer the fate of a donkey lol! And I am glad that I have read this… because it helps me reflect on myself, sincerely… and tell myself, who I am now, without any judgement, accept that and apply change… through that I can work into bettering myself. And the results? I get so much more than just overcoming anger.
As said, “This is a teaching of a Universal sage, a Buddha, an enlightened being, distilled for our easy comprehension.” As a further lead, it is also being added that ‘Yamantaka is requested to destroy our self-cherishing mind! Most of us, if not all, do possess a self-cherishing, anger-some and egoistic mind, which creates the source of all downfalls and deteroriations of Human quality and achievement. Whereas, for a person who has a mind full of compassion, wisdom and benevolence, always cherishes and benefits others. Yes, Rinpoche could not have put it better by saying that, “the sufferings that we have, is due to the longing that we refused to abolish and let it die, and that makes up our habituations, and the creation of our own Karma”. We are indeed deeply grateful to Rinpoche to share such good restructive and valuable teachings with us to open up our secluded mind! May all be auspicious for Rinpoche to remain long with us, for us to master all these good precious teachings. Om Mani Padme Hung.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this profound teachings.
“Life is lived well when pain has been realized. Cannot avoid pain so we must realize it, face and see the true source of the pain. But we can decrease the effects of pain with doing good works.”
To me, good works are dharma works, since we are subject to death every moment and I strongly believe that dharma works truly can help us at the time of death.
In one of Rinpoche’s teachings mentioned that “in life, money, fame , name, pleasure all will be taken away and will be lost, the happiness we sincerely brought to others is what count, when we bring happiness to others by dharma, this is something worth living for. “ Focus out not only bring happiness to others, by focusing out also brings happiness to others and ourselves.
“Anger can be loud or quiet. It can come with a smile and the person can speak softly. But it will manifest over time because of their total unhappiness with themselves and they will ruin your world and existence if they can knowingly and unknowingly.”
I used to experienced QUIET ANGER that affect my emotions and works, received precious dharma teachings from Rinpoche, able to help me to control my anger and achieve peace of mind in daily life. When anger is cut, love and care towards others naturally arise.
“Integrity is the foundation of development of the mind into higher states of thinking and existence. Be kind to everyone and be tolerant. “
“INTEGRITY” is the greatest reminder in my daily life. With practicing integrity, not only WALK THE TALK but also train me to come out from comfort zone , holding commitment and promises, thus cultivate happeiness and harmony as well as peace of mind.
Again, sincerely thank you Rinpoche for this amazing post, I will read few time and contemplate…
We human beings, in our ambitious ways, like to be in control. We want things to go according to our plans, all designed on our terms and conditions. We get angry if our demands are not being met. We use selfish anger to gain or to maintain apparent control in our lives. Such anger takes many forms, but it always reflects an underlying attitude of blaming and condemnation when things do not work out as we had wanted. Sometimes it takes the form of violent outbursts in speech and action.
Anger is one of the three poisons – the other two are greed and ignorance – that are the primary causes of the cycle of samsara and rebirth.
We tend to think that anger is caused by something outside ourselves, such as other people or frustrating events. No one makes us angry. We make ourselves angry. Anger is actually created by our minds. Sometimes, it’s hard not to act, to remain still and silent while our emotions are screaming at us. When we show our anger, either verbally or with physical violence, we are feeding the seed of anger, and it becomes stronger in us. Sometimes we confuse aggression with strength and non-action with weakness. Sometimes I am angry at myself for not proving my point in an argument and winning, but I have come to realize that being patient, tolerant and compassionate is not a weakness at all. Giving in to the impulses of anger, allowing anger to hook us and jerk us around is the actual weakness. It’s a true fact that it takes strength for us to acknowledge the fear and selfishness in which our anger usually is rooted and it also takes discipline to meditate in the flames of anger.
Only understanding and compassion can neutralize anger. Purifying ourselves of anger is essential. We can conquer anger by non-anger.
Stay cool and Be cool !
Regards
Leonard Ooi
Dear Rinpoche,
I have re-read the article and digest it properly this time. I apologise for my “brain-dead” comments the last time.
I saw a couple of points in this article… not just anger alone. Of course, anger might be the root to all of the self-denial, selfishness etc..
A couple of observations or self-reflections that went through my mind were:
1. As what Rinpoche wrote, if we constantly ponder on the fact that we are just a tiny speck of dust in this huge planet called Earth, and probably an atom size in this huge Universe, we will realise that things do not centre or revolve around us alone. Many successful people help people without taking credit or remain in anonymity, they have successfully transformed their mind and live with compassion and kinds in them. You see many successful businessmen, celebrities. Those that make it big always thinks of others, and not just them. A wonderful quality that I will always remind myself. If I do not learn to care for others… how do I learn to care and love myself?
2. Don’t blame others for what your karma brought you because it brings more karma to you to suffer and those you blame won’t even be around for the next round for you to blame.
I like what Rinpoche wrote about this. Blame karma, not others. I live my own life, I shape my own life. If I destroy my own life, how can I blame others? This is plain stupidity…
3. I totally agree that anger stems from our own selfish thoughts. We want people to see us in glory. We want people to respect us and to “kpwtow” to us… but are we worth it? Do we have the necessary attitude and personality to demand such actions from others? Mundane and useless glorification brings us nothing but pain and suffering…we don’t put in the efforts… we are lazy… and when others excel above us, we hurl abuses and insults at them. Such negativity when we never work hard for it.
4. Because of our anger, we chase people away, we hurt our loved ones. Those who stay puts up with our verbal and physical abuses… how long can they endure? If they cannot endure and leave, we further hit them with more abuses, verbally or not. We fail to see the support, love, care, concern given. During our blinded state, we label our loved ones as “ourselves”. A reflection of us that seems to want to drag us down, degrade us, insult us, when they are actually not. Such actions will bring more karma to our downfall.
5. “When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them.”
This is so well explained.. I will keep it dearly to my mind and heart. Whatever happens, I determine my own outcome.
6. Rinpoche is so true to tell us that we should never burn bridges during our state of anger. We do not know if we will ever cross paths, or need their help in future..we should always be humble and respectful.
7. Definitely living a good life means bringing more benefits to others. When others benefit. We benefit too.
8. Lastly, I understand what Rinpoche said about believing Buddha is enlighten or not. If I believe Lord Buddha is enlighten and he eradicates all negativities, especially selfishness. Then I should train, transform my mind to gaining that state. I may not achieve enlightenment in this lifetime, but I pray I can in my future lifetimes.
Thank you Rinpoche, for the profound teachings from the inspirations gotten from the “Wheel of Sharp Weapons”.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this very powerful post on the relationship between anger and selfishness. It clearly shows us how selfishness is the foundation and root cause of anger, and how our expectations and all our projected false realities and illusions, play a role in harboring anger within us because what we need, want and expected was not fulfilled in the first place. So it all begins with the absorption and explosion in our minds of the importance of “I” and how we make it seem like we are the biggest and single most important thing on this planet, when really, we are so small in comparison to all sentient beings on Earth, and the many other realms of existence in other planets we may or may not know exists.
I have seen throughout my short life, in many different examples, how anger began, how it built, how it grew and consumed individuals to a point where their existence, to them, is pure suffering. We get angry, once, twice, thrice, and if we do not realise and curb it, and continue to be angry and stay angry, we will lead very unhappy lives. Anything can trigger these individuals into a temporary rage, a frenzy and an overwhelming sadness within. Although the rage is temporary, it becomes more and more frequent.
I’ve had my fair share of throwing tantrums in my younger days when I did not get what I want. I used to blame others, blame the world, blame God at why things were so unfair when I didn’t get what I needed or wanted. When people did not fulfill what I thought they would, deep down, I’d be dissatisfied and it bottles up, to make me cold, expressionless, bitter, angry and withdrawn. I’d turn around to push the other person away, and hurt them, thinking that it would “make me better” because I was angry and they needed to feel what I was feeling. But how wrong I was. It didn’t work, and would not work for anyone. I’m not a saint now, nor am I holy schmoly, but through the powerful Dharma which Rinpoche has compassionately shared with us through our modern language which we are able to understand, I have been able to take little steps out to acknowledge, understand, realise and somewhat apply a little of what I have learnt and heard so far. And it has helped tremendously. I kid you not, the Dharma is blindingly powerful, not only for Buddhists, but for people in general who want to understand the nature of existence, and just lead a better and happier life (which all of us do, I’m sure!).
Thank you,
Carmen
Thank you Rinpoche for constantly teaching and reminding me how selfishness and anger can destroy so much. I can totally relate as I was reading the post. Like what Pastor David said, I too can actually visualise Rinpoche giving this teaching verbally.
“To exist in selfish mind, is to create the karma and attract all that anger attracts which is doom for the self. To exist in selfishness will only attract anger.”
“Don’t blame others for what your karma brought you because it brings more karma to you to suffer and those you blame won’t even be around for the next round for you to blame. Blame karma not others. And you created the karma.”
“When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them.”
The points above really struck out as I can personally relate to it. Something that I have experienced before I got the chance to meet Rinpoche. I used to hold on to anger and made myself so bitter. The points above was similar to what I heard from Rinpoche’s teachings when I first started to come to Kechara, it was what made me stopped and think… Hey! I can do better than this! I don’t need to be bitter and lonely! I want to be happy and kind. And I know I can do it because it is something I want to do and its right.
I also see people around me who are selfish and ending up alone, no friends, no goal, when they are old.
Nowadays, when I get angry, I’d keep quiet and think of something else to subdue the anger so that I won’t say or do something that might hurt someone but sometimes I forget and lash out. I feel extremely awful after that. I have so much to learn still and put them into practice.
And I love that I can read it and remind myself from time to time.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for giving a raw, and direct teaching on anger – and for clearly pointing out the root and negative effects of it, and mostly importantly, the antidote.
Reading through the open and honest comments that people left above, reflected how true it is that everyone has some degree of anger. From those who are quick to react angrily, to those who avoid conflicts terming themselves as being ‘passive aggressive’.
Depending on the situation, I can react quickly, hold it in and express it later, or hold it in only to forget about it. But the one thing that I have come to realize about myself is that I do very consciously avoid people and situations that I feel will be uncomfortable, or that I’ll have potential conflict with.
The section of the teaching that stood out for me related to the source of our anger. Although we all believe our multiple reasons for being angry is valid, when further contemplated on, all of our individual fits of anger really do stem from the same source: a “deep dissatisfaction with ourselves that our selfish aims are not accomplished.”
Understanding this will help me a lot to develop more patience towards others who are angry (I), and being patient with myself to overcome anger (II).
(I) Rinpoche has shared how we should be kind, patient and understanding towards those who display a lot of anger – because those are the ones who are suffering the most. The conscious part in my mind when Rinpoche says that is, “Yes, Rinpoche”. But the subconscious part would rather completely avoid this person, believing that if I can’t handle this person, I’d rather avoid or I’ll end up being just as mad.
Understanding Rinpoche’s explanation on the source of anger guides me to realize that the angry person isn’t angry towards me, and I should therefore not take it personally, but that the person is actually deeply dissatisfied with himself/herself. And coming from there, (hopefully) develop a little more compassion and patience towards that person. And from there, towards the next person – and the next.
(II) Why do I get angry? Regardless of the external situation, displaying any form of anger still comes from within myself. The same sentence can be said, but 2 people will interpret and react differently – so it has to be from the receiver end that the anger comes from.
What helps from this teaching is:
– I’m angry because I have selfish pursuits that aren’t satisfied.
– When I am angry, having credit and attention only feeds it.
– Just as our selfish pursuits can grow, so can our anger.
– It is possible to come to becoming overwhelmed with anger, as seen within old, bitter people.
– Those who support our selfish pursuits will only suffer the same fate, as by default, they will be encouraged to pursue their own selfish pursuits.
– With age, our selfish pursuits will be harder to accomplish, this will only increase our anger,
– It is possible to control our anger, as we can control all other bodily functions such as eating and sleeping.
– One way of controlling it is catch ourselves before we display anger, and to apologize once we have displayed it.
– Another way is to meditate on how insignificant our selfish pursuits are: “Visualize yourself on the moon staring back at earth and then try to find the miniscule dot that is you. Do this daily whether you are religious or not. See how your mind will think over time.”
– Decreasing our selfish pursuits decreases our anger.
– To increase of happiness is by being kind to all and working for others.
– Realizing the truth that, “Selfishness and its pursuits will be everyone’s downfall and this is just the truth of human existence and we cannot avoid this.”
With much appreciation for this teaching,
Jean Mei
Thank you Rinpoche for this profound teaching . Anger is an enemy for many of us this negative emotion really destroy our inner peace and it do bring harm to our life it it make us very difficult to deal with , some people even because of anger that commit crime all these negativity because of anger but a lot of us cannot overcome this inflicting emotion in most time they are control by this inflicting emotion I think we are the lucky one because of Rinpoche has taught us Dharma the Dharma is the medicine for this inflicting emotion in this case Rinpoche is the doctor who prescribes this medicine to us. Without the teaching i don’t think anyone of us will know how to relate anger with compassion because to us this reaction is normal so with the teaching we can control our anger by thinking very differently control this inflicting emotion more effectively. The root cause of all these inflicting emotion is because of our own selfishness .
“The pith of any religious practice or living a good life worth living is the destruction of selfish mind and its harmful companion – anger.”
Everything Rinpoche mentioned in this post about selfishness and anger resonate with me very much! If there’s no dharma, continue living with the two, I can be sure that my life will end easily for nothing. I don’t need a fortune teller to predict my life because I know where they will lead me to.
The beauty of the dharma is that when we learn, contemplate and apply sincerely, consistently and correctly with the proper guidance, we can change our life for the better. This is not limited to the Buddha’s dharma. Dharma includes the Jesus’ dharma, Prophet Muhammad’s dharma, Krishna’s dharma etc. as it is pervasive. With the different presentations, it suits different minds and needs perfectly. Therefore, it is very necessary to have different religions in the world.
We all longed for the ultimate goal, the ultimate happiness with no suffering, anger, bias, selfishness. With dharma, we can achieve the same for sure because many have proven with results in the past, so it is logical to say many are achieving and will achieve the same, including us, if we follow all the way.
Dharma tells us that the selfishness and anger are not permanent, can be eradicate permanently. I agree because I am less selfish and more patient as compare to before dharma. The most obvious and speedy improvement was when I started the dharma work path with Kechara. In the process, it becomes clear that no one external person or thing is responsible for my selfishness and anger. They arose from within when my perceptions, my understanding, I know better etc. all being challenged.
Many would have thought that dharma work is ineffective in the sense that it didn’t allow us to learn the Buddha dharma comfortably according to our own pace in the conventional way. Dharma work is learning the Buddha dharma differently, unconventionally by putting the result into the path in a modern way by the qualified spiritual guide. It is a tantric path for us who have not yet have the initiation for the higher practise, but definitely one of the speedy way for mind transformation to destruct the selfish mind and its harmful companion – anger.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank You for this precious teaching.
Anger can be very subtle and when it builds up like this in us it will be very harmful. We may think we can separate this anger from our “normal” life but this is not true. We eat with anger, we smile with anger, we wake up in anger. The anger grows bigger and bigger. And the sooner the Wheel of Sharp Weapons comes back on us the better. Karma builds up and creates more karma. The sooner we let go of expectations and attachments the better. This is the real life!
Many of us have lost what is trully important Friendship and true love and care. Greed and selfishness have taken over but they will loose. And with selfishness you can never win.
Others will disappoint us – never use them as a reason to degenerate. So important because it is our karma and our negative habits that we build up or reinforce. So precious to follow this advice. We are the creator and no external source will build up our strength but ourselves.
It is our selfish and self cherishing mind that must be destroyed. The people who have hurt us are ignorant and may they find the key to happiness: fortitude, consistency, patience, tolerance, integrity and kindness.
How lucky we are!
Thank You for sharing The Wheel of Sharp Weapons with us.
Antoinette
Thank you Rinpoche for this profound teaching. Since anger is the combination of selfishness, laziness and greediness, when a person showed anger, it also showed that his/her selfishness, laziness and greediness are so full inside of them until it burst out.
Very often I have seen the anger destroyed everything of a person. They get angry when they are in holiday trip, shopping, eating, and self indulging on social media. Even these mundane things that they thought to bring them happiness, they destroyed it with their anger. They didn’t get their short term happiness but got the anger which they can talk about it for years or for life. It is both sad and funny. It is very important for me to learn that we must always remember every unpleasent things happened to us are due to our karma but not others and always practise this in my daily life.
Thank you Rinpoche,
Khoo
Thank you Rinpoche for the profound teaching. It’s not easy for me to face my own faults. I need lots of courage to even admit that this and that was happened because of me. I was a very defensive person. I was so afraid to be blamed and being told that it was me that did the bad job. I was so used to cover it up with anger so that everyone leave me alone or being depress so that I got all the attention. But all these gets me no where because I can never see my faults and improve myself to become a better person. At the end of the day I am the one who is responsible to my own karma.
Who and who have to do this for me with the way i wanted. Anger kicked in when I can’t deliver what I expected for myself. I always remind myself “give without expectation”. That would actually calm my mind a lot so that I save more energy to focus on giving more. I feel great and happy when I have no expectation from people around me. After a while I started to see and appreciate what others have done for me. I realized the benefits of being grateful to everything I have and cherish my family and friends around me. They are not going to be around forever. Although I can’t be with them always but they always in my prayers.
I like the quote THE PERSON WHO SAYS IT CANNOT BE DONE SHOULD NOT INTERRUPT THE PERSON DOING IT. hahaha… I think these two person are actually me and myself. I always fight with myself “can and cannot…” Sometimes what I need to do is just do it first then to fix the problems that come along later. It sounds crazy and stupid but If I don’t I will not do it anymore after I plan and think too much about it. I will chicken off normally. Sometimes opportunity may not come the second time. Here.. I have to thank my Dorje Shugden my Dharma protector that always here to guard me. Some how it turned out well. I believe no pain no gain. People like me have to grow up with mistakes but never take mistakes as an excuse to make another mistake.
Thank you Rinpoche and all the Dharma brothers and sisters for your care and love always. Thank you Rinpoche for being here for me to skillfully shake my bad habits away bit by bit and compassionately leading me to this beautiful spiritual path. Thank you Rinpoche for never gave up on me even once although I have been such a difficult one. Thank you Rinpoche for your love and teachings.
Much love and gratitute,
Julia
Thank you Rinpoche for the sound advices, what is written here should be comtemplated daily. Although I know it is my own anger and my selfish mind, unknowingly though I am still committing it frequently and daily, some subtle, some not so subtle through my body language. It is as just Rinpoche said that it is due to my disatisfaction that I cannot let go on, and my many expectations of others, also I cannot let go on. Eventhough I am in Dharma many more years than my family I still have outbursts with my family which speaks volume of my putting the Dharma into practice. The cause is my strong habituation with my anger and selfish mind. In a sense I am closer to my own anger and tolerate my own anger more than others, my friends and family. The ‘anger’ and ‘selfish mind’ are placed higher than anyone else, even the Buddhas.
The mind that benefits others, a mind that open and focus out, it is said to cut our own ego and selfish mind. I find it difficult to understand this concept but thinking this statement again and again, I think it make sense in a way that when something that benefit others it also includes me, some in short term, some in long term. I am used to think that benefit and gain always come with a loss which is ‘true’ when we think in physical form, gain and loss of object, money, etc, but apparently that is not so, and not so simple. Many of us are so used to think this way that even non-physical form, face and reputation, I must gain and not loss it, losing is bad for everything.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank-you so much for offering us this teaching. I for one really appreciate your honesty in saying things the way they are. things which we may not necessarily want to hear, but are nevertheless really important to contemplate, if we would like to make this life meaningful, or useful in anyway. for me, it highlights, that I really need to settle down and try to apply, or absorb the most basic tenets of the teachings. .old age, sickness and death (impermanence)but also karma, and the possibility inherent in the lojong teachings.
Hopefully this time is just around the corner, and I can make use of the time I have, I don’t know, I guess I can only try; although holding off a hurricane sounds pretty daunting. although likely it is the reality. There were things you mention, which were real home truths, uncomfortably familiar and close to home, and other things, which I didn’t recognise in myself. but by that I don’t mean to say that they aren’t there. only that I’m not yet aware of them, and so it shows the importance of knowing what one is capable of, in both good and bad ways, in order to curb the less positive things, so at the very least, to try not to harm others, any more than I already have
again, thankyou so much. I will read again & try to absorb further .
Reading this article I could not help but think about on pair of the 8 worldly concerns which was
to be happy when we are comfortable,
to be unhappy when we are not.
Another definition #1 Thubten chodron
Feeling delighted when we experience sense pleasures—fantastic sights, sounds, odours, tastes and tactile sensations—and feeling dejected and upset when we have unpleasant sensations.
Another definition #2 Rigpa WIki
hope for gain and fear of loss;
Another definition #3 Dalai Lama
Attachment to sense pleasures in general.
Aversion to unpleasant experiences.
Each pair of the the 8 worldly concerns, has an attachment component and an aversion component in it. And I found that if we live closely adhering to this pair of worldly concerns, ‘Anger’ will be a close and constant companion. Our expectations on our situation, others and ourselves is probably bigger than the milky way itself and everytime things do not turn out our way, it will be black face time, wow we will be so miserable and prone to lashing out on others all the time. And in trying to avoid unpleasant situations, we will also throw our ‘Anger’ into the fray in the hopes that we can avoid it.
Reading this pair of 8 worldly concerns, at first the first reaction was why can’t we be happy or be comfortable or at ease? Where is that temporary happiness promised to us when we engage in dharma, aside from the ultimate happiness we are heading towards? We can actually, but if our attachment or aversion is extreme, then every little thing not conforming to our huge attachment / aversion becomes the spark for current and future sufferings, in fact if our reality is out of sync or whack with our EGO, every moment becomes a moment in Hell. This article helped me to connect ‘Anger’ with this worldly concern and helped me to understand better about this pair of 8 worldly concerns… which creates for us more and more karma for future unhappiness.
Dear Rinpoche,
I am certainly guilty of being an extremely selfish, angersome and most mentality afflicted person before meeting Rinpoche and dharma. And all it took was immense suffering experienced in my previous years from indulging in vices, fun and very little of care towards anyone but my own needs to produce a grand presentation of KARMA to hint to me how selfish I am.
There was not much thought of karma although a familiar word to me and like many others, deep inside not many really truly believe in it because some don’t experience the immediate negative effects, or some experience the negative effects but chose to blame someone else for their situation, or some think there’s a way to cheat karma.
(31)
When all our affairs, both religious and worldly,
Run into trouble and fall into ruin,
This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning
Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.
Till now we have felt cause and effect could be slighted;
Hereafter let’s practise with patience and strength.
It was from Rinpoche’s teachings which helped me realised that all my unhappiness stems from my self-cherishing mind. It started when Rinpoche told me everything that happened to me was my fault. I was taken by surprised but it made me contemplate and soon be a more forgiving person. For that I am actually grateful for the workings of karma. It is definitely not something to be afraid of if one choose to do the right thing!
There’s still much for me to work on. For now, my focus is to control my anger as it is most destructive and affects people around me. When I feel anger and would like to lash out on someone, I stop to think, do I really want to deal with the after effects? The sooner we acknowledge that we are the source of our mind’s well-being, the faster we can achieve inner peace.
Thank you Rinpoche for this teaching.
I agree with Rinpoche that we as humans constantly allow our wants and feelings to act as delusions to us, steering us away from our right paths. With that, it helps us to keep in mind the kind of focus that we should be having with regards to what we should be paying attention to in our daily lives. It would allow us to be more conscious of what is going on and how we can improve ourselves.
Just like what Rinpoche has said, when we blame others for our karma, we would only open more karma that would bring us even more karma to be suffering in the future. When we are being negative, in this case anger and selfishness, it would constantly bring more negative karma to our lives and we would just dwell further in it.
Through our selfishness we would be self indulge to help ourselves look good, however over time, it would make no difference as all of these is just an empty shell. We would not be able to achieve any true happiness as well as that was the only perception that we had that would help us improve ourselves that is never true. The society directs us to think this way as the society does not know better.
“Leaving is fine, but be truthful”, through this it shows the importance of us needing to be truthful at all times. When we hide and run, we would never improve, instead we would portray the ugliest side of ourselves to others. With that we would only drop further down into the samara well that we are already in. Reason to that is that we would only choose our audience that we want to be tolerant about, that would not help our personal growth, instead it hinders us in personal development.
Thank you Rinpoche for reminding us that with that attitude, we “will run out of the people who tolerate” us. It would also make us miserable as we would feel that we are the only perfect ones, and we should not be criticised by others. When things do not go through like how we want, the anger would arises would consume us, changing us to be someone very extreme and ugly.
Selfishness is actually a habit that we have to cut off in order to help ourselves. With all the selfish pursuits it would harm ourselves instead of doing us good for the long term. We may at first think that it is something that is very enjoyable, however it would only push us towards misery.
Thank you Rinpoche for also giving us a medication on how to cure our anger or even selfish problem. Thank you Rinpoche for reminding us the importance of admitting our faults and not repeating them after that. Having good integrity for all that we do which would help lead us to better mind control.
Time flies and before I know it, I have been “working” in Kechara for 5 years now. Lately I find myself very angersome and short tempered and it is not turning out well. Moreover, the anger is particularly towards the people who are close to me especially my family. I have been in Dharma for 5 years, and there is no excuse not to practice and I know I can’t put the blame on others, but sometimes, lowering myself is just something I won’t want to do, until…
… I read what Rinpoche wrote: “Visualize yourself on the moon staring back at earth and then try to find the miniscule dot that is you”. This is indeed a wakeup call at the perfect timing. When others do not do things that are according to my liking, I think I am the biggest object in the world where everyone needs to revolve around me and give the the attention.
Rinpoche gave a lot of valid reason why we should control the mind for the better, and I totally agree with them because they are very logical. For me, to apply it, the first thing I should really do is to stop blaming others for my unhappiness. In the end, we know that the cause of suffering is not on others, but on ourselves.
It is very scary to hear that, if the anger is not “handled”, it will become something HUGE in future which we cannot handle. Even more scary is that if our kids see the way we behave, they will behave like us, and we are the one who actually bring them down. If we don’t handle the issue, we are creating more and more people who are angersome, and it is definitely not something I would like to see happen.
As Rinpoche pointed out, it is really not worth going down just because someone is mistreating us. The person who did it may be totally unintentionally, and yet we are going down because of that, and the person may not even know about it! It is so silly, and yet we do it so often..
Thank you Rinpoche for such an eye opening teaching on anger. Reading this and going over in my head the instances in life that I have been in this situation where I have become angry, I completely agree that it is due to selfishness. Rather than having been “wronged” by persons or being in the middle of situations where I get angry, I can see now that it all comes down to my own Dukkha or dissatisfaction regarding the person or the situation. This in turn is due to nothing but my own selfish mind, of having the situation go my way or having people act in a certain way towards me, and if these do not fit my projections of what they should be, anger arises.
This post reminded me of a teaching called Advice From Atisha’s Heart, and how even though I have read it many times I never really sought to understand the deeper levels of its meaning. Given the fact that Atisha was a student of Dharmarakshita, who composed the Wheel of Sharp Weapons, it makes sense that central teachings and themes have been carried over into his work.
There are a couple of lines from Advice From Atisha’s Heart that have come alive for me after reading this post and has resulted in the semblance of slightly deeper understanding of the text. One of the lines that makes more sense to me is the following: “Have no hatred for enemies, and no attachment for friends.” The first half is self-explanatory but for me the second half, attachment for friends, is more meaningful than I originally thought. Perhaps the way I think is incorrect but in any case I think I’ve gained a little more understanding.
Attachment to friends or even things we like is illusory in the sense that it is actually our perception of that object/situation that we are attached too and we think in terms of that same thing being eternal. Even though we may have an intellectual way of understanding time and impermanence, many of us do not actually act from a sense of knowing this but from habituation. This can be said about how we view and interact with friends too, this is why we can get angry or “upset” with friends and how we perceive their behavior, but can also be extended to acquaintances and other people we know. It is our perception of them, our expectation of them driven by our selfishness in wanting them to act or behave in a certain manner that makes us angry when they do not comply with our perception/expectation.
After all it is easier to get angry with the actions of friends or people we know than it is to get angry with people who we do not know. And I’ve come to realise why this is, it is because we are attached to them and have created a perception of them that must be adhered to otherwise we get upset. A very crude example would be when we see a friend give another person a gift for their birthday, and we get jealous and then upset and angry at the friend who gave the gift because we didn’t get a gift of the same value, etc. It is the attachment to that friend that made us angry!
This is just one thing that I have learnt from the valuable post. It is with posts like these that I need to read and understand it again and again. There is so much dharma knowledge in this teaching that each read connects with me in a different way, making me think in a different way. Thank you for sharing this with us Rinpoche. Hopefully one day, I will have a thorough grasp enough to stop myself getting angry more often and analyze the way I get angry. This in turn will lessen my selfishness, while making me a more compassionate person because I can see now that my perception or expectation of a person is not based on that person’s qualities or abilities but in fact based on my attachment to those friends or people I know.
This is a wonderful teaching and it teaches me a lot about how the source of all this is ego, anger and selfishness. While I was reading I was thinking about how these people are living under false achievements and they were expecting to attain and succeed in life without putting in the effort. I learned that they were only in it for themselves because of how they would only be nice to the rich and powerful and just push people around and blame them until there is nobody left. I also learned that they only respected themselves too because they could complain as much as they want when they fail at something and they don’t like it when people say other things about them. It is just the opposite of the perfect person.
This teaches me a lot because it made me think, why are our needs so important and we are so small in this big world? It is so confusing how people are so self obsessed and everyone is because if we were not then we would be able to focus out and help others instead of just ourselves. It also taught me how to be a nicer person to the people around me and how these people are (full of anger and hate towards others) will leave them without anybody to be with or spend time with and that is sad. I want a life that is meaningful that helps others and I also want to make the people around me happy.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this teaching because it really shows me that anger, selfishness and ego are such a big enemy in life because they can destroy your life if one allows. The key is selflessness and to look out instead of in. I have learned from this post about how to look at others and things and how to be a better person. Thank you Rinpoche.
“Don’t blame others for what your karma brought you because it brings more karma to you to suffer and those you blame won’t even be around for the next round for you to blame. Blame karma not others. And you created the karma. Remember that always and daily.” This saying sums it all and rings truth to everything I, or anyone, experience in life, I must remember. Yes the truth really hurts and who likes to hear the truth especially if it’s about their ugly side, but it’s still the truth. I would rather someone tell me the truth even if it hurts me now then to listen to those who paint a rosy picture of lies that gives us more misery, leaving us unprepared of the negative results in the end.
I thank Rinpoche who is one of the very few people I know who would actually tell you the truth out of great concern, care and compassion for the person’s well-being. It’s definitely not for Rinpoche, for Rinpoche have nothing to gain for most often people reject hearing the truth. If it is hard for us to hear the truth, then what about someone like Rinpoche, it would be even harder I can imagine for someone who can see the truth in everyone and whose job it to tell all these people the ugly truth. And one has to do it in such a skilful way that it does not scare and turn the student/receiver away but instead to cultivate the opposite, the good to counter the bad we’ve created. Sometimes we forget to give them a break and have compassion for these kind teachers who tells us the truth.
At least with the truth; knowing how rotten and ugly my thoughts, habits, attitude, actions are, I stand a chance of being aware of it when it arise, correcting and controlling it before it overwhelms me. Yes I may not be perfect, sometimes I do slip and allow my bad habits like anger get the better of me but I am not about to quit working on it because in the end it will be my karma creation that only me, myself and I will suffer and no one else. “You cannot paint things black and then be unhappy they don’t turn out white.“ Much of our suffering and pain comes from denying this logic. So I do not wish to create more unhappiness for myself so I’m going to listen to Rinpoche’s truthful advice and apply it over and over again until I get it right… until there is nothing left to control.
“When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them. “ Yes I must remember this one too. It is true we should always be aware a guard ourselves, our minds not to be easily swayed by those who project negative upon us or hurt us. I must have created the karma to receive it in the first place, so there is no point in getting angry and holding on to anger because really no one else is suffering but me. To react back and have anger, we allow ourselves to be dragged down and degenerate further to be exactly like those who hurt us. In the end the only friends we have is misery. Nobody wins and the pain gets even deeper in us.
I see the people I love degenerating more and more and it scares me to even think what will happen to them later when the music stops. Seeing them makes me sad but it also reminds me why I choose dharma and not samsara and why I need to push myself harder to improve more… perhaps one day I can maybe help them if karmic conditions are there.
Rinpoche thank you for all these kind wisdom words of advice which we’ll only realise it’s true worth when we apply it. “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey” … don’t want be a donkey no more because I want “Peace” and a Yidam of six arms symbolizing fortitude, consistency, patience, tolerance, integrity and kindness.
It is often said that Dharma is medicine. But it takes a very skillful teacher to first show us that our minds are indeed debilitated by poison and in desperate need of medicine. And it is precisely teachings like this that offers that insight.
Until I met Rinpoche and learned to re-examine myself from a different perspective I could not see anything other than from my own ingrained viewpoint. And from that inured point of view I really could not see anything drastically wrong with myself and always thought of myself as a ‘victim’ of circumstance, imperfect conditions (bad luck) and frustrating people. The bad news is that I didn’t see the need to change my perspective and therefore things never did change for any length of time. Problems persisted one after another and the more they persisted the more I became frustrated and intolerant and the more I suffered. Rinpoche could not have put it any better when Rinpoche wrote, “The suffering is the longing that doesn’t die and the we made solid by our habituations”.
There is really no other way to put it. It is the repetitive wrong view, replayed over and over and trained over decades that creates our unhappiness and places us in a constant state of anger. Most of the time, we are not even aware of that anger. It is always someone or something external that is wrong, never us and we were too selfish to see it any other way.
Selfishness does not necessarily mean we are bad. It can mean simply that we refuse to see things from anyone else’s point of view. We see only ours and act only out of ours and therefore we only ever act for ourselves. And because we continually act on what keeps us angry and unhappy, suffering persists even more.
Over time and as I accepted more and more of what the Dharma teaches, the conclusion I arrived at was that I had been so unhappy for such a long time because I was truly not a very nice person. I wasn’t nice not because I did not want to be pleasant but because I was not aware that my habituated thoughts and actions were wrong. I spent all my time wanting to be right and trying to end my suffering by correcting others and external situations. In that ignorance I damaged a lot of people and myself. All were caught up in a whirlpool of self-generating unhappiness.
The important thing is, none of us are obliged to keep following our habituated wrong views. None of us need to keep persisting in our self-generating suffering. But being aware of this is only the start. The road back takes discipline and complete trust in the guru.
Thanks Rinpoche for this profound teaching, explaining how anger and selfishness are the wrong things we embrace and mistakenly think these are gold but are actually poisons.
Rinpoche points out that we can always save ourselves from poison if we put in effort to apply the Dharma. I understand the way to live a better life is always to change our inner self and focus out. Just a simple effort to look into our daily emotion and thoughts, controlling the anger will cause so much change in our entire life.
I will remember what Rinpoche says, and check my mind everytime I get angry, the reason behind must be monster of my selfish mind.
I also like the logic that if Buddha is enlighten, his teaching is leading us to that state for sure. Cherish the enlighten Yidam, not our inner ugly yidam.
Thanks Rinpoche for your words of wisdom that always give hope to sentient beings.
Dear Rinpoche,
The honesty in this post is so relevant to me as I have suffered and still suffer from ANGER which is one of the most effective poison to kill myself. From my experience, I have devised many forms of anger but the result is to punish others and not realising that the anger is my choice and the suffering most inflicted is on me with results accurately stated by Rinpoche.
My first realisation of the illness of ANGER was when I first read the wheels of sharp weapons in BU1 Ladrang with the rest of the Ladrang team. Till today I still read verses of this great work.
I am most inspired by “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”. It is so appropriate for many who knows the Dharma but unable to practise.
Am I still a donkey? For now the least I can appreciate of my learnings of Dharma from Rinpoche is that I realise I am a donkey and making efforts to change.
The journey to bliss and real happiness begins with facing honesty in the face and make real efforts to change for a better self and better place for all.
Thank you so much for always being the greatest Guru to me and all the very fortunate Kecharians and may we be blessed to have the will to change for a better tomorrow day after day.
Dear Rinpoche，
Thank you for all the Dharma writings on your blog space. I always remind myself as a very tiny dot as compared to a country, then the world, then the universe. I am tiny but that does not mean I cannot contribute to do good.
Blaming our own karma (bcos we created the cause for it since beginningless lives and even now) and not others is very logical and it can actually stopped our mind from blaming others. This is my personal experience. When we blame others, it’s like the mind taking revenge, revenge doesn’t need to be only in the form of body or speech. When we take revenge using our mind, we actually hurt ourselves the most.
I been through the blaming/being blamed processes, blaming others is like a habituation that makes us execute this easily without hesitation, but after learning/contemplating the Dharma it helps us trigger the awareness in us and stop us from further reacting to the non-virtuous acts we will be performing and eventually there is no one to blame actually.
Rinpoche has seen and met more people than many of us, he understands how the mind works more than we do, it’s beneficial to read Rinpoche Dharma writings and it is definitely very good for contemplation. A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey, when we start to apply the religious teachings after learning it, it is logical that our mind will start to change and transform to be better, hence we find peace and happiness, people around us will also be affected and get inspired.
I am imperfect, have mood swing, ups and downs, etc. I am trying to be a better person everyday. 🙂
Reading this post reminds me of the time when I first met Rinpoche 20 years ago and the advice that Rinpoche gave me which is so vivid:
“Spirituality is not about shaving your hair, putting on robes and running to the mountains to meditate. Your karma has resulted in you having a husband and three kids. If you did that, it would be irresponsibility, not spirituality. Spirituality is lessening your negativities. For example, if you get angry say 10 times a day, then start lessening it day by day,9, 8, 7times… week by week till it becomes effortless and you don’t get angry so ‘easily’ anymore. And when people around you, like your family members, children and friends see this transformation in you, they will be inspired to ‘give spirituality a try’.”
We don’t need rocket science to deduce why Rinpoche ‘picked’ that scenario for me.
Every word that comes out from Rinpoche, through blog posts, direct advice , being around when a student is being apprehended for some wrong doing ,or a compliment to a student for having transformed is an advice to me on how I could have done better in mind transformation.
I still have many negative states of mind like anxiety, impatience, and irritability but with Rinpoche’s constant advice and reminders through all the different modes of delivering them, I am able to catch the afflictions faster whenever they arise and try to reduce them. I am still learning, and feel challenged at every level of my practice most of the time. And with Dharma, I now have a more optimistic outlook even when things appear unpromising. And occasionally, when all else fails, I try to gain a different perspective by putting myself in the other person’s shoes, learn how to laugh at myself and see humour in situations!
Everyone experiences pain, suffering, up and down mind, rejection, disappointment. What makes a person kind or not, is how much of these emotions they allow to affect them and to affect their work. It is not that a compassionate person is free from these experiences. What makes a person compassionate is when they can set aside these emotions to work for the benefit of someone else.
Setting aside our emotions is very different to ignoring our emotions. Setting aside our emotions involves recognising the source of the emotion being from our own minds, then putting it to one side to deal with it later. Ignoring it involves denial of responsibility for the suffering we bring to ourselves and others.
Understanding this, I think what Rinpoche advised is very practical because I see how it can work with my own mind. When I have my moods and I focus on them, whatever issue I am facing at the moment seems to grow bigger and bigger in importance (but only in my mind). It becomes harder and harder to control the mood and it becomes just like what Rinpoche said – “Selfishness is anger’s best fodder too.” It really does feed and fuel itself.
So I can definitely see the benefit of setting aside the emotion, to focus out and on someone else. In very practical terms, by paying less attention to my emotions and the way *I* feel, I automatically give it less importance. When I give it less importance, eventually the emotion just fades away. Most of the time, I forget what I was even upset about to begin with…which just goes to show how important it REALLY was!
Is it worth creating so much negative karma from that anger and defensiveness, for something that’s so temporary that my mind will soon forget?
When we focus on just ourselves we fall into the trap of confirmation bias. We find every situation, experience or person around us as a reason to confirm / validate our illusions and the way we feel. Then we act in a way to protect the way we feel – hence the snapping, anger, frustration that Rinpoche wrote about.
Honestly, it is tiring to live this way. I know Rinpoche asked us to question whether Buddha became enlightened or not, and to use that as proof that this method has an ultimate result. I am a long way off from enlightenment so I daren’t even dream that far. Even on a mundane level, even if I don’t look at things in relations to ultimate liberation, to not be defensive, angry and selfish all the time is liberating on a day to day basis because you don’t spend every waking moment protecting yourself, the way you look, what people think of you, etc.
On top of that, you stop tiring yourself out trying to repair all the damage you cause from the actions you’ve taken out of anger. It’s a lot of work burning bridges, and much much easier maintaining them.
We can substitute this cycle with Buddhist terms like ‘selfishness’ and ‘self-centred mind’ – it doesn’t really matter because the end result is we experience less anger and dissatisfaction. That’s the kind of happiness and peace everyone deserves, religious or not. Thank you Rinpoche for this posting.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for this post that is unfiltered and filled with so much honesty. The truth is not easy to hear, reflect on and fact up to. In fact, so often, we put our intelligence into blinding ourselves from the truth until one day, we really have no idea what is a delusion and where we misplaced our natural desire to be beneficial.
Many people understand anger to be outburst of aggression and violence. However, true and deep rooted anger takes many forms, including a forced smile. Anger is the silent killer of our soul, relationships and, ultimately our body. The most frightening thing is, if we have anger, when all pretenses are put away, we are actually most angry with ourselves and that has a high risk of creating self-hate.
I am not unfamiliar with anger especially when I was running a business in Shanghai, where daily life events acted as abundant fuel for my anger and frustration. My uncontrolled anger always resulted in regret and shame in my own actions and speech. Anger really brings out the worst in people.
I realized this after reading Kechara Media & Publication’s book on Rinpoche’s teachings [If not now, When?] Those pages prompted me to reflect on my actions and motivated me to slowly but surely work on my anger and frustration.
I thank Rinpoche for this very honest post. Not many people in this world have the courage to put these thoughts into writing out of fear for self. Rinpoche made this teaching available to millions because benefiting others is most important.
Anger is truly a pain that we created to ourself. It’s true that we can’t blame anyone as it’s just generated from our own selfish dissatisfaction.
I feel that it’s a norm for anyone to get angry as most people have their own expectation to achieve but it will not make one happy to keep in such mode and will just keep people around us away from us.
I have my anger towards things that doesn’t go/happen my ways and the result from my anger is just make situation worst. As from Rinpoche’s teaching to accept things and change ourself rather than waiting others to change for us make things better.
It make sense that when we get angry we are letting ourselves fall as we just keeping ourself in pain but if we accept it and let our anger go, I feel that i have passes the pain moment and things become lighter and i can see things in a broader view. Once we don’t act with our anger we will not cause any harmful action, be it from our body or speech. When we able to accept it and change our perception and work around it, it’s more practical of us to live a happier life in long term. I’m not perfect on this practice but I’m still working towards it.
Thank you Rinpoche for letting me hear the truth. It’s pain to face the truth but it’s better to face it now, realise it now and work it out now then later we have to say sorry.
“Is your Yidam (one’s affinity Buddha) the resplendent deity emanated of anger with six arms symbolic of indulgences, pleasure, greed, instability, projections and selfishness? This ‘Yidam’ has not served us well. It’s time to change Yidams to one who has eradicated selfish mind and it has many arms to encourage our spiritual growth. A Yidam of six arms perhaps where each arm symbolizes fortitude, consistency, patience, tolerance, integrity and kindness. A resplendent Yidam emanated of kindness”. Tsem Rinpoche
It’s always about choices.When Rinpoche, out of great compassion,repeatedly reminds us about accepting the truth that he has exposed us to, should we just continue to hug closely to our chest, our anger and self-centeredness?
Choose I will, the way to peace and happiness. I will embrace the yidam of patience, fortitude, integrity and kindness and turn my back on indulgences and pleasure, greed,and selfishness.Only kindness will benefit us and bring us real happiness. Great men and masters have proven that.
I like these teachings a lot because it is easy to grasp and apply. I have copied this teaching along with at least five other teachings from Rinpoche’s blog and will read it everyday so the real message of the teachings go in. I like the Wheel of Sharp Weapons teachings too and read it once a week. Thank you very much as always, Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this elaborate teachings on anger. No one likes to listen to the truth as, no doubt, truth hurts but that’s what we have to face and accept. Anger, most of the time destroys us and brings us no benefit. We know that but most of us are ignorant to it and the consequences that come after that. We “let loose” of ourselves by screaming to another person, throwing tantrums and even inflict negative actions onto others.
Rinpoche constantly reminds us this “You are tiny, but your wants and feelings are over-projected to massive blinding illusory importance.” When things don’t do according to our way or according to how we expect it to, we start pointing fingers at everything else, except ourselves. Our inner anger, as Rinpoche said, is our downfall and the truth that all of us avoid. We try to hide our anger and pretend everything’s fine on the outside but deep inside, we are unhappy and unsatisfied with many things, with ourselves and then we lash out our anger to others. In the end, we realise what we’ve done and by the time, it might be too late already. “Because in time all the selfish pursuits will be slowed down or stopped due to loss of friends, sickness, old age and maybe running out of people and money. But the habits don’t die.”
“Be patient. Overcome anger. Apologize when wrong and DO NOT REPEAT.” That is the way to save ourselves in ending up like this. The antidote to that is to practice and eventually cultivate the habit of becoming selfless. Now that I’ve been exposed to Dharma, there is a way out to all these suffering. However, “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”. Knowing and actually applying it are two totally different thing. We can have all the knowledge in Dharma but if we don’t apply any of it into our lives, we are still the same old person we were before.
With folded hands _/\_
wansan
I will heed Rinpoche’s advice: “Control the anger till there is nothing to control. You can control your food intake, walking, urinating, defecating, spending, entertainment so why not anger”.
All of us except the holy attained Masters have anger. I used to get upset and angry when my expectations were not met, but having learned the dharma, I have learned to control my anger and impatience. Anger is not pleasant and due to my selfishness I have hurt others. I will now strive to control my anger and improve myself to be a better person. Through all these years in dharma, I have found that there is no point getting upset or angry and have learned to accept it. By letting go of my anger, I have become happier.
I like the Zen proverb: “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”: If we believe religion is good, we should take the teachings to heart and apply into our lives and transform to be a better person. If the Buddha can be enlightened so can we if we apply the holy teachings into our lives. By putting effort into it we see results. Most people claim to be well verse in dharma, but knowing yet not applying is useless.
“Integrity is the foundation of development of the mind into higher states of thinking and existence. Be kind to everyone and be tolerant.” Integrity is very important because when we have strong moral principles, whatever promises or commitments we made, we have to keep to it and doing it right when no one is looking. This will propel us to push ourselves out from our comfort zones.
“Everyone comes with a baggage: doubt, fear, loss. Find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack”. Thank you, Rinpoche, for your love and care. Your profound teachings have helped many like me to
learn, unlearn and relearn that has brought tremendous change for the better into our lives.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for sharing this post which is applicable to everyone. It is totally relatable to our lives, our attitude towards problems and also the attitude of the people around us. What I learn from this post is that selfishness, anger and our perception brings no good and it is very destructive. Selfishness, anger, and perceptions are the cause to all of our unhappiness. Most of us are brought up to be very selfish, all we care is just ourselves, it is always me, me and still me. I used to be that person as what Rinpoche describes. When something is wrong, it is definitely other people’s fault, it will never be my fault. I will think like, if I get angry everyone else will have to please me. But no, sadly the truth is the world does not revolve around only me. Even without me, the earth will still be spinning, everyone will still have to do their own things.
The two types of people Rinpoche stated above, I’ve already met plenty in my life. I see people who have anger problems, they are like time bomb, nobody knows when are they going to explode, that is the scary part. Once they explode they make everyone unhappy, they just have to bring their unsatisfaction and unhappiness to others. They make others want to stay away from them. I see people who talks about nice food, nice car, expensive clothes, luxurious life , etc. I think there is nothing wrong with liking all these stuff, but if your life is just about that then that is a big problem. These people are constantly chasing fame and wealth. I have a friend who is like that, and throughout these years I see her changing so much to the bad side.
Throughout these 2 years getting closer to the Dharma, meeting a lot of nice people who will teach me, I actually learn quite a lot. Sometimes when my anger comes, I will tell myself not to do that but most of the time I failed. LOL. But at least I notice the anger there. I learnt to take a step back, put down my ego and apologize when I am wrong and even when I’m right when I argue with someone. And also trying to accept everything that comes, not to put my perceptions on everything. I would like to thank Rinpoche for the teaching, if not we won’t be learning all these.
Sincerely,
Ba-Qin
Dear Rinpoche, I am probably one of the least qualified beings to reply your post. My mind is not as direct and readily receptive as most practitioners here are. I tend to question a lot more. There are people who share and donate selflessly, yet would scream at others at the slightest displeasure. These are not bad people. There are also some who are patient and mild-mannered, but stingy when asked to contribute. These are not bad people either. Meanwhile, causes of anger can be complicated. A wife furious at a cheating husband is likely not angered by selfishness, unless by selfishness we meant not willing to share her spouse with other women. I know of perfectly normal and kind people who just enjoyed sharing details of their mundane lives on social media. Of course, some of them can be self-centred and superficial, one of whom I meet everyday. But I choose to put up with them not because I am always mindful of karma, but simply due to the fact that I am can be a worst monster. On the other hand, it is not easy to practise the Wheel of Sharp Weapons when it is quite evident that other people are selfish and sometimes malicious. As many experiences would have informed us, sometimes to sit back and endure things as they are could drastically exacerbate undesirable situations. Some dosage of anger can be really helpful. In my very limited opinion, not having expectations is the best remedy to putting up with disappointments from others. As a Buddhist and your student, I believe in karma. I can also see the value of the Wheel of Sharp Weapons, ultimate remedy to our foolish narrow mind, gate to higher teachings. But to practise such on the most literal level could be tedious, painful and disheartening for those who either do not have strong faith, or are not able to adapt to existing practicalities. Ideally, the view of Shunyata should be incorporated (in the practice of WOSW hence the paramita of patience) so that the layer of labelling can be removed to make the mind transforming process less ‘painful’. In actuality, how many can achieve that? My own limited experiences say that guru yoga, meditation and mantra must go hand in hand with this practice. But sometimes these spiritual exercises can lose their efficacy, like overused antibiotics (not disrespect). But I have not given up. Still giving all out and hanging by the cliff. Hope you do not mind these ramblings from a Buddhist of the lowest calibre. Wish you good evening and robust health. _/\_
“A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche shows a very good example of the opposite of that statement, which is to not just be a person carrying all the holy knowledge (in the brain) but never apply it. Many times a lot of people can quote very high and mighty Dharma terms and jargons, but their actions reflect not an iota of what they quoted, it is just plain dry knowledge, then these knowledge becomes just like any other worldly knowledge, because it brings no benefit at all other than simply “knowing it”. Rinpoche said many times than even geshes can go to three lower realms, although they are the professors in Buddhist knowledge. That’s why Dharma is only beneficial if we apply it to our daily lives. There is no point learning all the advanced topic in Dharma while we could not even hold our basic precepts well, then the Dharma knowledge is just another thing to inflate our ego, the knowledge becomes a negativity because in a way we abuse it. That’s why, after observing the people around him, Rinpoche has stopped giving initiation to anybody for a long time, but teaches a lot of seemingly “basic” Dharma. Rinpoche cares about the students’ real spiritual transformation that will bring real benefit to them, without applying the “basics”, even if we let our donkey mind carry the highest yoga tantra scripture, our mind will still remain a donkey mind.
Impatience, frustrations and anger are to be put away. I cannot expect others to see things/situations as I do, thinking my view/way is right. However, well meaning, they have to be left alone to make their mistakes, learn and grow, just as I have to learn that there are more ways than one to pick apples. But then again, I may be the one having to make my mistakes, learn and grow. Now comes the hardest part, letting go of the ‘I am right, do it my way, see I told you so.’ Life is to be seen from more than one perspective.
Expectations, even if it just expecting help from my partner in life but not getting it is what made me unhappy. Now, to learn to accept help if it is extended and to be alright if it is not. When others disappoint us, never use them as a reason to degenerate, because you will experience the results and not them.
Thank you Rinpoche, for the reminder.
This was a profound commentary indeed. This is a treasure. I will be reading it again. The urgency and gravity that i feel when I read Sharp Weapons came through in this writing very clearly. I like how it sort of becomes a full length story of a man or woman who becomes destroyed by his/her own actions.
When I was little my Christian Godfather always said, “make sure you always leave things better than you found them” He was always making us neighborhood kids better little people that way. Took us on campouts and stuff 😉 but I digress. (He saved 10% of his pay to spend on our Jesus Club, my role model growing up. 🙂
I loved this though. Very digestible commentary version of a very important work of Buddhist literature.
11\10 stars
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m imagining living in a goldfish bowl.
Ignorantly and because of a self-cherishing mind, I generate anger and a lot of heat energy :). This ball of heat may seem to have no effect on me because there is still space in my bowl for it to travel away for a while. However over time, my goldfish bowl will get hotter and hotter or that ball of heat may at any moment travel back at me and hit me.
And when I die, guess what? I’ll get reborn in a hotter and hotter environment and still generating more and more heat. It will get worse and worse, not better.
But if we focus out, we could use all the heat energy we generate to warm up someone else’s cold and dark goldfish bowl.
My word, everyone has issues. Actively or passively angry is still anger. Some claim it is their habituations and others should accept them and understand them for what they are. Some would lash out is defense out of habituation. ‘My hands are up’ – guilty! Indeed as a spiritual aspirant, I have to work on selflessness (bodhicita) and materialise it into an engaging one. Fear of failure is not an acceptable excuse for not committing as existence in this samsaric world is already a failure. Hence, when one is at the bottom of the barrel, so to speak, the only way is UP. Thank you Rinpoche for this teaching and a reminder to us time and tide really waits for no man and karma does really BITE!
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the clear and concise teachings on ANGER. It totally applies to me as I have a lot of anger in me through years of expectations on myself and others, and unfulfilled selfish pursuits. I find that teachings such as these are very helpful because when the anger arises I can use these teachings to get to the root of the anger and appease it. Overtime, the anger decreases as the teachings are internalized and realized. The following paragraphs stuck out in the article and my comments for them.
1. “Anger is a sign of deep dissatisfaction with ourselves that our selfish aims are not accomplished. Selfishness is the real enemy. Everyone else is just a bystander. Selfishness and its pursuits will be everyone’s downfall and this is just the truth of human existence and we cannot avoid this. No one has avoided it and if we think we are the magician who can “abracadabra” this away, go ahead and try. Greater men have tried and fallen. Selfishness is the real enemy and this is across the board. Embrace and change. Or avoid and attract more pain.”
My selfish aim has always been my attachment to self worthiness and the acceptance from the very few people whom I love very much. I have this belief that what I accomplish outwardly equates to my self worthiness. With this self worthiness in tact, I have a deep wish that these few people will be happy with me and accept me. I realized that it has also become so deep rooted that it is bordering being an obsession. The only way out for me now is to constantly focus out such as on my dharma work and to remind myself to go all the way with it. This is because dharma work is about benefiting others. I understand that when we train our mind to focus out all the time, we are actually training our mind to switch from selfish mode to that of being selfless. And selflessness is the key to eradicating one’s sufferings.
2. “Some spend their lives going on endless trips, self indulgences, fun, food, spending money on themselves only and endlessly social media about this. They glorify nothing but only the banal and mundane. The mundane becomes the creation of a false garden of Eden each time they glorify it they think or hope. What they glorify is the illusions which gets bigger and makes the fall bigger in the end. They do this over and over and even collect ‘fans’ who like and share their posts because they know no better also. They are not bad as they know not what they follow. It’s like someone with HIV knowingly and spreading it to people who have no idea what it is and practice copulation in ways that transmit to them. They glorify the process of transmission and the ignorant follow along. But in the end the ones who are ignorant followed the Pied Piper into the river and drown.“
I see this in most of my friends and even family members. It is a vicious illusion that everyone paints and contributes towards. Some truly feel happy because they haven’t realized beyond their delusions. Some are happy for the moment. Some pretend to be happy. Some have done everything to indulge, thinking that it’ll make them permanently happy but have become extremely bored and unhappy. They have a face that reads, “ Surprise me if you can!”. It’s sad because, I feel, they don’t know a way out and are screaming for a solution.
3. “In the end, money, position, power and beauty will win no one but only users. See examples of people in your life past and present who ‘have it’ or ‘had it’ and at the same time have nothing in their lives…..People go away from them. They attract like-minded people to enjoy their selfishness. They just use each other. In the end, they are alone, broken, hating themselves. Let them dance and show you what a good time they are having but the music does stop. Old, sick and just waiting for death alone because their lives were used for nothing. Even having money becomes a curse and not blessing as people wait for them to die to get the money and possessions.”
I see this all the time with my friends and people whom I meet when socializing. I am also guilty of this. Before joining Kechara, I would meet up with friends all the time to indulge and have a great time. Ugly as it may sound, I was using them to pass time and enjoy myself. Now that I look back, it was the same for them as well. I say this because they are not interested in any of my charitable works with Kechara or any other charities. Even if they do, it’s a donation once a year to make them feel good that they are noble and giving. So when we meet, they only want the old me who will indulge with them and perhaps entertain them by updating some “glamorous” dharma project I’m working on. Having said this, there are, of course, a few exceptions.
4. “The suffering is the longing that does not die and we made solid by habituations. The suffering of change. The suffering of impermanence. In life if all we’ve cultivated was selfish pursuits and fun, then we will experience their negative results. You cannot paint things black and then be unhappy they don’t turn out white.”
Habituations are means to more suffering if we don’t have a closer look at what our habituations are about. This is our comfort zone. Habits are difficult to kick and they require lots of effort and consistency if we want to change them. This is why I don’t subscribe to books and articles that read, “10 steps to Happiness” or “5 Simple ways to find Peace”. These are just marketing gimmicks. Based on my experience after being in the dharma for 10 years, I can write an article that reads, “10 nuclear bombs = 1 step closer to Happiness”. Perhaps it’s just me because I do have a huge ego with strong attachments.
5. “Integrity is the foundation of development of the mind into higher states of thinking and existence.”
My understanding is that integrity is essential because without it, we can’t break out of our comfort zones. Comfort zones tie us down from developing our mind into higher states of thinking. When we keep to our words, a lot of effort and consistency are needed to deliver what we agreed on. These are the same ingredients that help us break out of our comfort zones.
Not many people want to hear the truth because it means to unlearn and relearn. This takes a tremendous amount of effort and the herd effect is to continue with the delusions. I noticed that highly successful people in spiritual or secular worlds are not afraid to unlearn and relearn. They will do whatever it takes to succeed in their endeavors. Lord Buddha is a perfect example.
Before I end my comments, I’d like to highlight the following message in one of the pics that resonate in me tremendously. “ALWAYS LEAVE PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM. HUG THE HURT, KISS THE BROKEN, BEFRIEND THE LOST. LOVE THE LONELY.” Living a life by this rule would make life worth living.
With folded hands and love always,
JP
Dear Rinpoche,
indeed, anger does not helps us in any ways, but destroys us. It does not allow us to think clearly, and centres everything onto just ourselves. How pathetic.
Thank you for teaching us how to improve and move away from anger, self-indulgences and self denial / self-inflation.
I think anger is present in almost every human mind except for those who are attained and who have control over it through their practice of compassion and mind transformation for the better. Since I have not achieved those good qualities yet and have no attainments, I do my best and practice not attaching to the anger because I find it suffocates, engulfs and consumes me into its fiery depths. When anger arises, I do my best not to fight it but let it passes by, it is better this way than to hold on to it. By not letting go I provide anger the fuel it wants to turn into hatred. Hatred usually turns into negative actions of body and speech.
Some people think they are so righteous and with the belief that they are always right that they take to the pen and knife. Some of them religiously, almost on a daily basis, would write negative comments on other people’s page on social media because anger and hatred had consumed them. What a life to lead, waking up daily and repeating such ‘work’ that brings no benefit to others and themselves. Rather it glues them more and more until the bond cemented hard. And some people hide behind a mask and write really bad stuff of others including vulgarities. So much anger and hatred yet some have no guts to show people who they are. Hence they become Mr Hyde when the mask is put on and Dr Jekyll when it is removed.
Some people prefer to vocalize their anger and could spend hours, days, weeks, months and years gossiping, spreading rumours and talking bad of people they hate. So big is the ego.
Some people are more physical wanting to vent out their anger via dangerous and harmful actions. Some people gather a flock, of the same feather, and take to the streets. Whenever there is violence, people get hurt or maimed or killed _/\_
All this because of what Rinpoche wrote here: Pain, unhappiness, dissatisfaction, selfishness, anger, hatred, ego, ignorance.
Thank you Rinpoche for this teaching. Honestly, I am a person easily to get angry, as I expect someone or something to be what I want it to be, but the result always not like what I thought then I can angry. After reading this article, I know what my life has experienced and all the people I has met is because of my karma so what I should blame is not the external stuff, is my own karma and I must accept it. Besides this, I can not be so selfish to put the blame on others as they no need to fulfill my selfish expectation, what I can do is to control my anger and put myself in other’s shoes to decrease my selfishness. I will always remember this article to remind myself all the time.
Dear Rinpoche,
This post is truly inspirational and at the same time, very deep. It was a very powerful teaching which everyone should read in order to become a better, brighter individual.
It took a while for me to analyse the entire teaching. But i have come to the understanding that this teaching is about being kind to others and that we should not be selfish in our thoughts, but instead we should be selfish and attached to help others. In the beginning on this teaching Rinpoche was explaining about how we should not blame others for our anger and frustration. And the reason for this is because anger is caused by dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction is caused by expectations, expectations is caused by selfishness, selfishness is caused by attachments, and our are caused by the karma that we have collected from our lifetimes. From this teaching i have learnt that we can never escape anger, or frustration or even selfishness. But we have to learn not to blame others. We have to learn that the only person responsible for our anger and disappointment is ourselves, we cause our karma and therefore we cause our suffering. There is no reason to blame others and make others suffer because of our selfishness, it just brings back more negative karma to ourselves and the cycle continuous.
Another thing that i have understood from this teaching is that the only solution that we have to help our selfishness and negative karma is to help others and show kindness to all sentient beings. By doing this we are internally happy. We learn to give back to society and not take. We give credit to others and not ourselves. This will bring inner happiness and we will gain merits in the process. By helping those in need, we created to caused for good things to happen and for us to be happy.
Also i would just like to add something someone told me. We should all do things within our day which will bring a smile to our face right before we sleep. We should do things that will make us feel good about ourselves at the end of the day. That is how i remind myself to do good for others. Thank you for the teachings Rinpoche. I have learnt a valuable lesson from this post.
This is amazingly and painfully honest. The “pain” I express is none other than my projection of pain. However, since learning dharma, and still in progress, the painful truth is liberating because it is a checkpoint for where I am. Pre-dharma days, I would have been the perfect poster girl for selfish, self-indulging, spoilt and lazy! Ok… honestly, today after 5 years of dharma learning, there are days I could still be that poster girl. The one distinct difference is that I now also see my virtues which Rinpoche kindly reminds me of. Therefore, I now have a choice – Be Kind or Nasty. I have the abilities for both but I choose Kind now because I understand Karma and every action I do will create the suffering I will endure.
In hindsight, I have issues (yes, I sure have issues!). I have loved and lost, I have succeeded and failed, and I would choose to hang on to the hurt and failure and forgetting the love and success. Making me resentful and grossly unhappy but because I have the money to cover up my unhappiness, I could last this long in my ignorance and being “right”. Guess what? Until I figured out karma and repercussions, everyone else and their mothers were to be blamed. I was that “good”.
One thing I am not is stupid. And when I wake up seeing myself unhappy, I want to get out of that cycle. I have always claimed to be “responsible” but I have never been more responsible than I am today knowing that if I indulged in my moods and self-cherishing mind, I will only attract that in my life and I will never be free and truly happy.
I will not claim that I am holy and perfect…far from that…But I will say that I am making choices everyday in my actions to make it a better experience for people who come into contact with me. I still make mistakes, I do lose my cool but I find myself catching myself before I set the whole place on fire and beyond repair. I am not too proud to say, “I am sorry.” I am not perfect and thus will never expect that of others, I accept that there is pain and I face it with courage not to consume me.
Most of all, I am just grateful that I have found my teacher Rinpoche, there is Kechara and Dorje Shugden. There is hope for me. Thank you Rinpoche for always giving us the deepest teachings in simple ways. With gratitude and respect, Li Kim
Dear Tsem Rinpoche,
Thank you for this apt teaching and uncovering the profound truth again.
The following are very helpful reminders for my dharma path:
1. Exercise self-control in harmful thoughts and actions: “Control the anger till there is nothing to control. You can control your food intake, walking, urinating, defecating, spending, entertainment so why not anger?”
2. The ultimate dharma goal is to lessen or eliminate my conscious and subconscious selfish mind by applying immediately the dharma knowledge, not just engaging in academic/theoretical dharma: “A Zen proverb, “A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey”. Meaning we can have all the holy religious training in the world and be near it, but the goal is to eradicate or lessen the selfish mind. We have to apply what is in the holy books. This is the goal.”
3. To embrace the truth of Buddha’s enlightenment and work towards it: “In the end, you ask yourself, did Buddha become enlightened or not? If He did, then there is enlightenment. If there is enlightenment, then we have to work towards it. Enlightenment is the state of non-desire without suffering and no selfish ego. If Buddha has achieved this and you believe in the Buddha, this is your goal too.”
4. Self-cherishing mind is the cause of all sufferings and unhappiness in life: “…THE WHEEL OF SHARP WEAPONS where Yamantaka is requested to destroy our self cherishing mind. The cause of all sufferings….The pith of any religious practice or living a good life worth living is the destruction of selfish mind and its harmful companion – anger.”
Thank you Rinpoche.
With folded hands,
Ee Mun
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for this post. I see my reflections in what is written at one time or another. Although I have been working to eliminate some selfish qualities with some degree of success. There are a lot more that I still need to work on. Not blaming others for my problem or the bad experiences I received/ perceived is one of the qualities I have to work on. It is easy to get along and friendly with nice and good hearted people regardless of their status or wealth.
But when meeting people who are full of anger, lashing out their tongues, breaking promises, liars, I have big difficulties tolerating or at least looking at them with some degree of compassion. Instead, I have the tendency to avoid them and not wanting to get “bad luck” and in the way blaming them for these experiences that I perceived as unpleasant. I have the tendencies perceived these qualities as permanent in that person, and actually I am angry too although most of the time I do not voice it loudly, but acting this anger out through avoidance. This anger just shows that my sense of “self” is very strong.
I think the above is just one of the many things that I have to work on and my mind is a battlefield of reasonings between the self cherishing mind and the Dharma teaching that I am learning from you.
Much love and care
Valentina
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful teaching. As always, Rinpoche has skilfully weaved a tapestry of Dharmic advice that is general for all us and yet, it speaks to each of us personally. I can actually visualize Rinpoche speaking these words verbally. Each sentence resonate with the truth of my mental state and the pinpoint accuracy in which Rinpoche describes the causes and conditions for that particular mental state.
Personally, I resonate with everything Rinpoche explained from the causes for my subtle anger and how clearly Rinpoche describes it to be the result of accumulated dissatisfaction with the fact that I didn’t get what I selfishly wanted. I am not known to be an angry person but I can see that I knowingly and unknowingly I avoid things or rather situations that is not comfortable for me or that it require me to put tremendous effort in order to accomplish.
I think this is a passive aggressive thing about me that I have to work on and that I rather spend on entertainment mindlessly. This is quite persistent in my that I need to work towards redirecting towards what I do. These days, what I do is to remind myself that I am 35 and some more a pastor and that I have to act in ways that not only represent that and also that I can be of some inspiration for others to get closer to the Dharma.
Some people tout me to know a little of Dharma but I am really just like a donkey carrying Dharma books (KMP books 🙂 ). At the moment, I am this donkey carrying years of advice and teachings from Rinpoche that have yet to be applied fully. I am glad that Rinpoche have seen the potential in me and that I can see beyond this donkey mind of slaving to self-gratification and avoidance of being inconvenienced and work towards reaching my potential towards benefitting others.
Like everyone else, I have my ups and downs and I look towards improving on my qualities so that my ups and downs do not deter me from my potential or that I take people closest to me for granted.
Pastor David,
Very well written and honest.
Realizing is the first step. Engaging is the next step. Being consistent (third step) will produce the results you and everyone would like for you. If you want to expedite your progress, you should do what the great practitioners last time use to do which is to pray for more problems, disasters and give their good things inclusive of wealth away. They even wish future wealth away. They totally ‘reject Dzambala’ and it’s sensory meanings. When we practice in this way, progress is swift. That is for someone who really knows the nature of samsara and do not wish to return back.
🙂 Tsem Rinpoche