Ultimate Loyalty
Everyone, please watch this, please share this. This is the ultimate loyalty… When I saw this video, it just broke my heart. It is very touching how other beings without speaking can melt us down or teach us something. You don’t need to understand any language when you watch this.
This dog refused to leave his fellow canine friend, who was injured during the recent earthquake tragedy in Japan. After about an hour, rescuers finally calmed him down enough and persuaded him to leave the side of his friend. The injured dog is now in a veterinary clinic while the dog who stood guard is being cared for at a shelter in Ibaraki Prefecture, Osaka. I am so HAPPY to know they both have been rescued.
It is so beautiful to see how one being loyally stands next to another being. When I had tremendous difficulties over ten years back, some of my so called students and friends were ‘not available’… some were downright rude and would not help in any way…It was shocking to me at the time. Now, I just take everything with acceptance and understand it’s not me, it’s human mind. I feel alot of pity and sadness for them, because I look at some of them today and they are not where they could have been in a better place emotionally and spiritually if they weren’t different to everyone… I hear of them sometimes and it brings great sadness to my mind for them.. At the time, they were ’too busy’, or didn’t have time, and all the promises and grandiose aspirations they made went down the drain when they were really needed if anything just as a friend. It didn’t matter if I am ordained or I am their teacher or just someone in need. They were conveniently gone. When I personally called them up for help or just assistance during those days, they would say they were not able to. These days some of them are back, some avoid because they know how they acted before. I saw the same thing with both my Gurus in the US at their centres. I saw this in the Monastery with my teachers also that some of their students turned against them or just left…. It use to shock my sytsem to see this happening with my teachers, but now I understand, everyone’s real enemy is selfishness/self absorption…..that is who we need to really conquer. Until we do that, there will be no real friendships, real guru-student relationship, love, care, loyalty, peace, harmony, fulfillment and growth.
These days I am coming to terms with people who are loyal, not loyal, who come, stay, go, withwithout agenda, come back, don’t come back and all the other combinations. I realize, it’s not really me, but it is up to me to show love, genuine concern, care and no expectations but good wishes towards all. For most who come into my path, it is my job to show love, care and courtesy. That is my job. I don’t expect them to do or not do their ‘job’. It’s not bitterness that make me think this way, more acceptance of human conditions. The quality I still admire the most is loyalty. People who stand by you firmly and I stand by them firmly. Who don’t run away because of a rumour or misunderstandings…but care enough to not listen or clear it…
I also admire integrity TREMENDOUSLY. You do what you say no matter what. You don’t run, escape, hide, lie, cover or avoid. But you do what you say and stick by your promise/word. When you don’t do that, you create so much disharmony around you. All those who come in contact with you eventually do not respect you and you cannot respect yourself…then deep inner anger arises…anger at the world, others, and actually it comes from anger to yourself. That is not necessary and it does not need to get to this point….integrity is the key. Integrity solves the anger. It’s one thing when other does something painful to you although you gave your best, but it’s different when you didn’t do your best and you know it, hide it and avoid..then self anger arise. This is destructive and sad and need not be… When you respect yourself because you know you did what you are suppose to, you don’t justify anymore and you become accepting. Your explanations are to clarify and bring wisdom to others not so much to justify/cover yourself..You become someone honored and respected. Love is integrity. Love is loyalty. Integrity and loyalty is an expression of true love without agenda.
When you are down, some avoid you, some are ambivalent and a few really come to your aid even if they have nothing. I have people around me now who stuck with me through the lean years. I know what kind of people they are and I respect them so much and love them for living genuine compassionate qualities. For those in my life that didn’t have integrity or loyalty, I am ok with them also and worry for them tremendously. For some I think, in this time they will not really transform or realize and that is their journey and perhaps it’s better our paths don’t cross again in the near future but not forever….we can’t help each other for now…Karma always catches up. Whatever you did, one day someone will not allow you to do it and it will catch up unfortunately. I will not be at the sidelines happy when it does, but hoping change from a fundamental deep level will arise. We will reincarnate. We do take our karmas that determine where we go while dying or in the bardo. Living in denial of Buddha’s fundamental truth does not help us or anyone in any way…embrace what can benefit us long term..let go and embrace and be firm…If we choose to not think of reincarnation, then think why would I choose a legacy of leaving everyone unhappy in the short time I was around. Love is not getting what you want, but giving what others need.
Tsem Rinpoche
See this very short and EXTREMELY TOUCHING VIDEO….it is so beautiful….
Or view the video on the server at:
http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/UltimateLoyaltyJapaneseDogRefusesToLeaveInjuredFriendBehind.flv
Extracted from: http://www.facebook.com/lifewithdogs/posts/195608760472779
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
It’s true sometimes where the best quality of ‘humanity’ is displayed by our friends that do not speak.
I wish to have your patience and wisdom should I ever encounter any disappointment. I will try to remember what you have shared, and push to be better than me right now.
Loyalty can always enhance love and care to a person and vice versa. Loyalty can also bring a person’s bonding closer. You cannot show loyalty superficially. It can only come from habitual and from the Heart. If you show loyalty the reaction you get will be gratitude. When there is gratitude love will set in. Then comes care will be given. I am sure Rinpoche will definitely take care of Seng Piow because he has shown so much loyalty to Rinpoche by sticking with Rinpoche until today. Even animals can show loyalty to another animal friend just like the dog that stood by his injured friend after the Earth Quake in Japan.
Action will speaks louder than words. Loyalty , friendship , integrity is not only through spoken words but what we do , how we react in good and bad times , through thick and thin that will be our own judgement. Who are we as a person is definitely always through our action. Whether it is or not to another human being , to another friend , Our Guru , Lama , relatives and etc that we must indeed be true to ourself & others. Never hurt anyone , never harm anyone. I think thats part of spirituality as well.
Thank you for reminding always.
Dear Rinpoche,
This video moved me to tears. I have known very few humans who have ever shown such loyalty. My family adopted a year old male poodle when we moved from Louisiana to Washington in 2009. His name is Chibi and I swear it’s one of the best decisions we ever made. He’s my best friend. Most of what I have learned about unconditional love was taught to me by Chibi. I’m going to share this on FB.
Sincerely,
Jessi
Dear Jessi, So beautiful to hear about Chibi. Chibi is very lucky to be with you and vice versa. You must promote for the rest of your life tirelessly the adoption of animals abandoned. Many ppl don’t like to take abandoned or lost pets, but this is very important. These animals are use to human love and social contact, suddenly they don’t have..it must be traumatic and their little hearts ache. Please promote this.
I would like you to contact my PA Beng Kooi and she will send Chibi and very blessed Doggie pendant I developed here. It has a image of Manjushri and a very blessed string blessed by the sangha of Gaden and High lamas. I had thousands of these strings commissioned in 1992. It is very good for the animals to wear them and I will gift one for Chibi to be blessed.
Much care, Tsem Rinpoche
bengkooi@hotmail.com
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you so much. Chibi is very important to me. I want my best friend to live a long life filled with happiness and good health. A Doggie pendant blessed by you will be a blessing for the whole household as well as for Chibi because having him around is a gift in and of itself.
Sincerely,
Jessi
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche. It’s a very moving video. I learned a lot from this blog post and it cleared my mind and worry a lot.
Much love
Valentina
is it loyalty, or attachment?
because in my opinion loyalty is a virtue we produce, in order to secure and maintain our particular belief or cause..
without a proper cause/belief,it may be wise to call it attachment..or maybe,. loyalty to attachment. and i don’t know if that is useful,according to Buddha’s teaching..
Best Regard and Respect..
Loyalty is truly precious as it is so rare in today’s time. I learn that it is easy to have many “friends” on sunny days who swiftly disappears when the going gets rough. I have felt great disappointment, sadness and even anger towards these friends. However, the Dharma taught me to look at the situation differently: to look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow stronger from.
Through Rinpoche’s teachings, I have reflected that I am the common element between all these different individuals. Therefore, it is my karma to attract these types of friends and it is best to use this circumstance to challenge my attitude and grow to be a better person. In the 8 verses of mind transformation, I learn that they are my supreme teacher to develop forgiveness. Last but not least, realizing the rarity of loyalty, I learn to cherish dearly the loyal and solid friends who stood and still stand by me through the good times and the bad times.
I pray that loyalty and integrity will persevere through these degenerate times where self cherishing is so prominent and dominant.