We Own Nothing

We Own Nothing...

Nothing is owned by us. Everything will be given, taken, lost, abandoned or forgotten in the end. We came into our current lifetimes with nothing and no matter how much we accumulate, we leave with nothing. So wouldn't it be wise that in between, we develop no real attachments or put so much emphasis on the material?
We need material items, but not for the false security they give us but the tool they can be to further the goals of others and one's own spiritual progress. If materialism is truly used in that fashion, then it should be ok...meaning it will not cause you sufferings.
Trust the Three Jewels, be firm with your commitments by contemplating death daily, hurt no one, be honest, be kind to those around you first, then extend out, respect your guru to the utmost and engage in your daily sadhanas with great conviction. Be aware that your time will be up soon. It's important to do something useful for others in your life so that you will never end up bitter. Bitterness arises from knowing we have done nothing that has affected anyone in our lives. Start something now...better now than waste time feeling sorry for yourself or trying to elicit empty praises from others...
All is empty, arises from it and dissolves into. Therefore all imputed phenomena will decay, it is just a matter of time. Denial of it, causes great unnecessary sufferings. Don't deny anymore....
Tsem Tulku


During one of my recent talks at Kechara House...

Nothing is accomplished in one day...the bigger the project, the more the obstacles...but the obstacles you suffer is for others...so suffer it without suffering...Tsem Tulku

About letting go of Self-Pity

"Don't let your lazy and fear minds come up; when it does, battle it by doing what you are afraid of doing." Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

" Stop looking for reasons not to practise. Stop looking for reasons to be unhappy. Where has that gotten you? Surrender! If you do not want to be happy for yourself, then be happy for the people you claim you love. Make them happy by being happy yourself." Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

"When corrected, watch that your mind does not automatically cover the fault. Examine the fault deeply instead. Cultivate great appreciation that someone pointed out the fault at all. The pain you feel when someone brings your faults out in the open is small compared to the suffering you cause others with your faults." Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

How much we put into it is how much we will get back. p53
Compassion Conquers All by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

1) Use your mouth only to bring happiness to other - Tsem Tuku

2) Whether we believe in a next life or in heaven is not as important as how we treat others now - Tsem Tulku

3) To hate and to have hate is not reality because it is based on afflicted emotion. Hatred or anger is not natural, it is not permanent, it is not your real state of mind. And afflicted emotions do not focus on reality or how the object is really existing; it is how we perceive them. - Tsem Tulku

Dalai Lama Quote of the Week

Q: Let's say that someone makes you angry. Your natural response to being hurt, your immediate response, is to get angry.... You might think about the event later, even much later, and every time you think about it you become angry all over again. How would you suggest dealing with that kind of situation?

Dalai Lama: If you look from a different angle, then surely the person who caused this anger in you will have a lot of other positive aspects, positive qualities.

Q: But what about if you look for the positive angles of a person or event and can't find any?

DL: Here, I think, we would be dealing with a situation where you might need to make some effort. Spend some time seriously searching for a different perspective on the situation. Not just in a superficial way. But in a very pointed and direct way. You need to use all your powers of reasoning and look at the situation as objectively as possible.

For instance, you might reflect on the fact that when you are really angry at someone you tend to perceive them as having 100 percent negative qualities. Just as when you are strongly attracted to someone the tendency is to see them as having 100 percent positive qualities. But this perception does not correspond with reality. If your friend, who you view as so wonderful, were to purposely harm you in some way, suddenly you would become acutely aware that they aren't composed of 100 percent good qualities.

Similarly, if your enemy, the one you hate, were to sincerely beg your forgiveness and continue to show you kindness, it's unlikely that you would continue to perceive them as 100 percent bad. So, even though when you are angry at someone you might feel that the person has no positive qualities, the reality is that nobody is 100 percent bad. They must have some good qualities if you search hard enough. So, the tendency to see someone as completely negative is due to your own perception based on your own mental projection, rather than the true nature of that individual.

In the same way, a situation that you initially perceive as 100 percent negative may have some positive aspects to it. But I think that even if you have discovered a positive angle to a bad situation, that alone is often not enough. You still need to reinforce that idea. So you may need to remind yourself of that positive angle many times, until gradually your feeling changes.

Generally speaking, once you're already in a difficult situation, it isn't possible to change your attitude simply by adopting a particular thought once or twice. Rather it's through a process of learning, training, and getting used to new viewpoints that enables you to deal with the difficulty.

--from The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.

Quotes from a Beautiful Mind

His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was inspired to write these beautiful quotes.

On LOOKING WITHIN

• Finding yourself equates happiness.
• Look always within.
• Don’t judge. Look within.
• Don’t freak out, just smile!
• Art is an expression of the creativity and diversity of the mind.
• Look everywhere! But inside is what counts.
• Happiness can be found on the inside!

On Winning and Peace

• When you let others win, you’re the biggest winner.
• Victorious are those who let others win!
• Always forgive others. If you do that, there’ll be more peace and harmony.
• Being generous buys the greatest gift: peace.
• World peace comes from inner peace!
• Diversity adds abundance. Embrace others!

On Love, Compassion and Kindness

• Don’t fight! Love!
• Compassion is the key!
• Roses are red, violets are blue, if you’re kind, you’ll smell good too! Hehe :)
• Be alive by being real by being kind!
• Love comes from acceptance. Acceptance brings peace.
• Kindness is the best ‘weapon’!
• Kindness opens all doors!
• Generosity, kindness and compassion is my religion.
• It’s easier to love!
• Selflessness is the state of equilibrium.
• Wisdom is choosing to bring love and peace!
• Everyone needs love! So give it!
• Giving is better than receiving. Try it!
• Being selfless is a natural state of mind. Being real is natural.
• Always reflect and repay kindness.
• Take refuge in the Three Jewels! Kindness, compassion and patience.
• Buddha, Jesus, God and all the universe REALLY loves you! So love yourself!
• Developing selflessness is a duty.
• We all want love. So give it to get it.
• Compassion is the essence of life!
• Life is to serve others!

Thank you!