I am…
I am angry because I want to be.
I am unhappy because I choose it.
I am not in control because I’ve controlled the wrong causes.
I am not getting anywhere because I want to be afraid.
I am blaming because I can’t face myself.
I am impatient because I want it on my terms.
I am dissatisfied because I don’t want to do what’s necessary.
I am deeply disturbed because I am in denial in the truth of existence.
~Tsem Rinpoche
(Picture taken in Gaden Monastery. I am holding the reincarnation of my Root Lama, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. He was such a incredible and beautiful child and growing up to be a great Scholar like his previous incarnation.)
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Meaningful poem to ponder deeply. Never turn back and never believe that an hour we remember is a better hour because it is over. All suffering originates from our own craving , from attachment , and from desire. Learn to let go and forgive those who have hurt us, look forward to a brighter hours and days. Letting go can be one of the most difficult things we can do in our life. Sometimes, we all need gentle reminders when it’s time to move on. It hurts to let go, but sometimes it hurts more to hold on. Every pain gives a lesson and every lesson changes the person.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this meaningful teachings poem.
A short poem but with a very profound meaning. After learning the Dharma, we should know that our suffering comes from our own projection and expectation. Most of us are self-centered, we weigh things according to our own expectation. Sense of entitlement is also what makes us become a selfish person and the result is bitterness.
It is totally our choice if we want to become happy or bitter. When we are not true to ourselves, we will put the blames on others. As we do this more, we become more bitter every day and we will never improve. It is as if we are sick but we are in denial. As a result, our sickness will never be treated and we will never heal or cured.
To be out of suffering, the first thing we have to do is to look into ourselves and find the root cause of our unhappiness. After identifying the root cause, we have to apply an antidote to it according to what Lord Buddha has taught us. Lord Buddha himself had walked the path and he had shown us his methods work. We may not like the process, but we should be focusing on the result and work hard towards it.
Dear Rinpoche,
I see ego is the main problem in the above messages.
The “I” is the main cause of most of our suffering. Our suffering unhappiness is being magnified when we only look and think of ourselves. From what I learnt from Rinpoche, focusing out is THE way to get happiness. Alot of people thinks that feeding the ego with selfishness and materialism can make them happy. It is true but just for a short period of time. Then, when dissatisfaction kicks in, we will be back to square one again. When we think less of ourselves and more of others, our suffering and unhappiness will minimize and disappear at one point.
I once saw a story of Buddha from the internet. One man asked the Buddha : ” I want happiness. How do i get it ? ” Then the Buddha said:” Remove the “i” and “want” and you will be left with happiness. ” The “I” represents ego and “want” represents desire. When we don’t have ego and desires, we will automatically be happy.
Humbly,
Chris
Gosh it sounds like we are in a cacophony of pain all the time due to our diluted views. It’s really not pleasant what we bring onto ourselves…
Due to our attachments and wrong perceptions, we create so much unhappiness in ourselves. We get upset and disappointed when our expectations are not met and we blame on external factors when things go wrong. If we can let go of our attachments and ego, then we will have contentment in our life.
Thank you, Rinpoche, sharing this so that we can contemplate on this.
It’s so true that all these are self cause suffering. Thank you Rinpoche for these powerful sharing.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for another dose of Dharma medicine.
True, indeed, that our ego and self-centeredness make us think that we are on top of all situations, but we are not.
We think we know what is happiness and we repeatedly do the same things in order to get the illusory and delusory ‘happiness’ for a moment or a while and we are unhappy/discontented again.If we keep chasing and not find anything that has the shape or color or flavor of lasting happiness, then why do we delude ourselves and continue to engage in the same mode of chasing? Why do we choose to bark up the wrong tree again and again?It’s because whenever we chase after ‘mistaken’ objects of happiness, we feel ‘confident’ because our ego tells us we are in control of the situation.
In every situation and experience, we let our ego and self-grasping take charge and we won’t let go. That’s why as long as we won’t let go, we will always be unhappy and dissatisfied and we’ll never have an opportunity to begin working on getting back the sanity of our essential nature of love, care,clarity and peace.(For ‘here’ is where we will definitely be in control of everything including our happiness).
Thanks Rinpoche. Well said. I should contemplate and self reflect on those word on my current state. Thanks.
Andrew,me too.I need to self reflect on these words of wisdom also. All because I chose it, expected it, not getting what I’ve wanted and then, there’s where the problem is. Thank you Rinpoche for this medicine.