Monday

Community Articles

Dear Rinpoche

poem compiled from aspirations by participants at the Being Brave Shambhala Retreat at Karme Choling with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche:

I have learned I am worthy of a spot on this earth
and that all beings are worthy of a spot on this earth
I have learned that I am good enough right now
and that I don’t lack anything
I have learned that aggression toward myself keeps me shut down
and disconnected from the world
I have learned that caring makes me more delightfully curious
than I could have ever imagined

I aspire with all my heart to delight in being human
I aspire to touch my basic goodness so that I may
be the person I want to be
I aspire to express my own wealth — true wealth

I aspire to daringly feel even the most painful feelings
so that I may better care for and understand others’ pain
I aspire to create environments of harmony and balance
that mirror the magic of the natural world
I aspire to remain a fierce warrior in the face of adversity
I aspire to transform aggression with gentleness
I aspire to be kinder to others by being kinder to myself
I aspire to be of deeper service to our world
I aspire to be in service to the building of enlightened society
I aspire to engage in spontaneous handholding

I will touch my heart whenever a self-critical thought arises

I will be wholly myself in awkward and difficult situations
I will acknowledge when I am letting habits get in the way
of my power to do good
I will encourage a new economy based upon the foundation
of basic goodness, generosity, gentleness and bravery
I will embody the four dignities and trust in basic goodness
through times of loss and change
I will, in the depths of loss and change, remember to remain open
I will be a leader that encourages meditation
I will meditate to better understand my view and the view of others
I will make meditation normal… A new American Pastime
And, I will
just smile
more