Whenever
Whenever we come across something comfortable, run.
Whenever we encounter something pleasant, offer it.
Whenever we see something beautiful, appreciate and move on.
Whenever we feel cosy, remember it and move on.
Whenever we get absorbed, remember nothing lasts.
Whenever we feel super happy, remember death.
Whenever we feel super depressed, remember life.
Whenever we encounter a brick wall, focus on the space behind the wall.
Whenever we cannot tolerate all the good things we have, practice charity.
Whenever we cannot tolerate all the bad we have, REALLY believe in karma.
~Tsem Rinpoche
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Every line makes me and us think where it says every person have a different perceptions and when put together can help so many people in their thinking with more views. It also teaches us that good or bad is impermanent so that we can move on. Hence, for that I think we must have strong willpower and also wise wisdom. Nothing is impossible when you decide to make it happen. Nothing can stops you either small or huge obstacles in your life if you know how to face it.
Many of us especially those who’re in Dharma actually know many activities & behaviours we are having not are actually harmful & will not bring us real happiness, yet, we happily “enjoy” them now & suffer later.
If we all examine the activities & behaviour & put efforts to be better, ultimately we will all find the way and obtain real & long term happiness.
Worthy words to ponder in our daily lives. The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for us to grow sharper. The words is a motivational sayings that have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life. We could put things in perspective with these sage pieces of advice. Learning and practicing Dharma is the best choice with action.
Thank you Rinpoche for this teachings.
A short poem that full of words of wisdom and inspiration that challenge our thinking , motivated and encouraging us in our life journey. Life may be struggle and this short poem is so powerful to remind us and encouraging us whenever and whatever we are struggling .
All this powerful note are full of wisdom. We should not focus on the negative side and always have positive view about our preception. From that we will learn some experince even we facing difficulty and moving forward. Thank you for rinpoche sharing such powerful note.
Short poem and brings powerful message and good reminder to us. Nothing stays permanent, even happiness or sadness will not last long. Therefore we need to change our perception when our mind become narrows. Have an open mind and be ready to change because focusing on negativity will not solve our problem. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this poems.
Words of wisdom that may be applied to all of us in our daily lives when we are faced with the never ending situations and challenges.
Though this poem is short but is very insight, reminder of our life’s journey that we will encounter. We should always think of the positive side when we met with obstacles and be brave to overcome. Our life is so fragile and precious therefore we should make full good use of ourselves to do more to benefit those misfortunate. Death is like a timing bomb that we never know when it will tick. It is very important for us to understand and practice Dharma because Dharma is the only way help us into liberation.
This short article is a good reminder to all of us. Perhaps we should really comtemplate about our lives daily. By contemplating and understanding it, we need to make the right decision not to let ourselves be too attached to this current life. And when things happen, at least it is easier for us to let go and not hold on to it which in the end will make us suffer.
Thank you Rinpoche for the beautiful and very powerful poem. This worth a lot of contemplation time although the words in the sentences are quite simple. For me this poem is the basis of Buddhism practice. Something we should read and practice in our daily lives. Thank you!
This is a very beautiful and strong reminder in our life. Whenever we are, whenever it is, we should always remember this poem, and always live with Dharma in us. We have learnt Dharma, our life is the best practical of Dharma. ??
This poem is a powerful reminder for our everyday life. So many important points to focus on our daily life.
Whenever we encounter a brick wall, focus on the space behind the wall.
I especially like this phrase from the poem. Never stop at the brick wall. Always thrive to find ways to break the wall which will open to another space. We must not just focus on the negativity that is happening rather how to solve it. Always remember when one door closes another one opens.
Thank you Rinpoche for this beautiful and profound poem on how to conduct our lives in samsara.
Thank you very much, Rinpoche for the short but condensed sharing on impermanence, karma and renunciation. These are reminders which I will hold steadfast in my day-to-day life.
Non-attachment, gratitude, impermanence, commitment, generosity and belief in karma. The basic teachings of the Buddha encompassed in these verses.
Beautiful to read, simple enough to understand, tough to live by. So, strive and retreat if necessary to have a period of growth, and then strive again.
These are excellent advise from His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche. There is always another side to a coin. Nothing is permanent. Everything will pass because we are trapped in the flow of time. Bad things will pass just as good things will pass too. So do not be too caught up with good being good or bad being bad.
My favorite line is “Whenever we encounter something pleasant, offer it”. Share the things we find pleasant with people around us, share the knowledge we gain with others. It’s a good principle to live by.
I like this post Rinpoche you are so kind to teach us meaningful things in this existence when i myself am not a friend to me.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us something so beautiful. Summarizing what our day to day lives are like. I really like the phrase “Whenever we encounter a brick wall, focus on the space behind the wall.” Many times when we encounter problems we do not see the future to it, we only concentrate on how are we suffering now because of the “brick wall”, this reminds us to always be positive thinking and anticipating what would happen in the future. Never staying stagnant at any point of our lives, because if we do we might experience a fall in life.
I bet most of the people do what Rinpoche said above about running. Its just human nature to do so. Scared of things we cannot comprehend so we run!
Remembering Karma and impermanence is the most important! Thank you for always reminding us…
Thank you Rinpoche for composing this poem that is so short yet meaningful.
I laughed from my heart when I finished reading the last line – Karma. Rinpoche has capitalised the word “really”, for me it means that Karma truly exists, whether we want to believe it or not.
I laughed not because that I do not believe in karma, just feeling how powerless we are as humans even though we always thought that we are so almighty.
Karma is something that is invisible, and yet it controls many aspects of our lives.
A very contemplative blog, our Guru has given to lead us on to how, what and when to act out on the Teachings. Our Guru has many a time taught that the success of any spiritual practice lies not only on the listening and reading, but also to meditate and contemplate on the concept of any teachings, analyse and learn how to apply follow-up action on them in our everyday life. We are buddhists, but we must not forget to act like one. It is said that by going to a temple to make offerings does not make one a real buddhist, but to do and live the life as a Buddhist.Many masters have said that when practicioners were asked to differentiate between what they do in their daily life, and what they practice when they sit on a cushion, there will be a big gap in between the two. It is not easy to integrate daily life and daily practice, without real ernest hard efforts and sincere motivations. Thank you, Rinpoche, for leading us and showing the way.
Thank you Rinpoche for the meaningful quotes. It is very contemplative Every line is for us to contemplate and make our minds work with wisdom on how we should solve our problem. Every line or quotes make you think. Every person have a different perceptions and when put together can help so many people in their thinking with more views. It is true you also needs antidotes. Theses quotes also teaches us non attachments to good or bad and that things are impermanent so that we can move on. Also helps to rid of habituations that we have been clinging on to.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thankyou for the great message you posted for us all
Eventhough you have not been well lately,you still continue to give your time & your resources
Since I lost my job 2 years ago,i been doing full time property negotiator,its very tough, maybe you can give me some ideas, i am a new member of Kechara ( since Nov 2010 ), i heard many good testimony from ppl in Kechara
Thankyou
Alvin Neo
Thank you Rinpoche for this short yet contemplative teachings.
Wow, Rinpoche, I love this! Thank you.It captures in a nutshell and so beautifully all of the Dharma you have so patiently and compassionately taught us – karma, death and impermanence, the preciousness of this human rebirth,deceptive pleasures that is samsara,letting go and renouncing the three poisons(root causes of our suffering)and the worldly Dharmas,kindness and compassion and the six Perfections.
Thanks Rinpoche. Another set of meaningful advice.