“People Are Often Self-Centred”
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
…Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”
— Mother Teresa
One of my heroes since the 80′s from when I was in Los Angeles is Mother Teresa. I saw a documentary film in LA on her in the cinema and cried throughout most of the film. She still is one of my heroes…I went again and again and took friends to see the documentary and cried just as much as the first time. When I was in India (Gaden), I use to visit her centre in Bombay to donate money. I didn’t have much to give, but I gave what I could happily. I wanted to leave South India for a while and go to Calcutta (N. India) to join her Charities as a Buddhist monk. But I was sent abroad to teach by Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and couldn’t go. I wanted very much to wear my robes and work with her people in calcutta to help the poor on the streets so much…. To help the hungry. I have a huge place in my heart for those who are hungry…both physical and spiritual hunger. I don’t like anyone and or anything hungry….it bothers me into action….
I fold my hands to you Mother Teresa. I love you so much. I miss your presence in the world. When you passed away, I was stricken with grief..we need people like you in this world so much. It’s amazing I lived during a time you walked the earth… I love your heart, your honesty, your spiritualism, your put into action attitude, your open-ness and acceptance of all religious faiths, your respect of all religions, your pure devotion to others, your no excuse brand of using your life for others..I love all of that………you are so missed….how can I put into words my heart that burst with admiration/love/total respect for you…May you manifest your Bodhisattva actions again soon. May your next incarnation manifest just as brightly again…Please take rebirth again in our world again….come back soon…..Om Taree Tu-Taree Turee Soha….Homage to the Extraordinary Mother….
Tsem Rinpoche
Very pure and touching expressions, thank you.
Thank you so much Rinpoche for your presence with us in this world, for all your teaching and writing and your infinite help! This blog about You and Mother Theresa goes right to my heart and I sincerely wish to always remember this blog and this wonderful prayer of Mother Theresa. Deeply in gratitude.
i am so inspired by the compassion and Bodhisattva-deeds of Mother – and it is wonderful that she continues(even after passing on), to help people who pray for her help!
Mother Teresa is certainly a real living Christian Saint and through her great charitable works, we can see that she is far from ordinary and definitely a living Bodhisattva. Perhaps, even a living emanation of a Bodhisattva although she may not know it herself. However, her activities in India speaks volumes of who she is. I guess in this way, she spreads spirituality through her great deeds. It is also because of someone like her that the true Christian ideal is exemplified.
Mother Theresa has a big heart and is generous with it. Her poetry that she wrote will definitely open a lot of people’s heart and mind to contemplate and learn from her. Although she is a Catholic Christian her portrayal of her activities does not confined to religion only but for sufferings of mankind in the world. She has chosen the worst part of the world to be in for her activities. And that is the “Black Hole of Calcutta” which is very commonly known. She has clearly shown us generosity and to eradicate the self centredness in us by giving her love, care and compassion and proving herself as a person who cares for all irrespective of what or who you are.
The lovely lines above touch one’s heart core in every part.They reflect the great and unconditional love and compassion that Mother Teresa has for all who come under her care and protection.The face of her God is a face of the care and compassion that she mirrors.
The words appear simple but are profound.They are utterances that come direct from her heart.
There is pure selfless motive in every action, free of the eight worldly concerns, and filled with bodhicitta.They are the actions of body, speech and mind of a Bodhisattva.
I love every line, but I think I love the last four lines best of all:
“Give the world the best you have and it may not be enough;
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never you and them anyway.”
Only for us, it’s between ‘us and our karma’.
Hi Rinpoche,
This poem was made by Kent M. Keith originally, not Mother Teresa.
The source is The Paradoxical Commandments.
You can check it at wikipedia or many other sources.
Thanks
Before I knew Buddhism I knew Gandhi, his bio was just as inspirational, before I Rinpoche I knew Mother Teresa from a Catholic upbringing.
Yes I believe compassion is universal, no matter what language you speak, kindness needs no words, and a smile traverses all barriers. Once we get past the labels of what religion we will begin to see we are want the same things in life.
Do good anyway, is such a grounded advice. Do good no matter who says what. Just do your best lar.
i remember Diane, Rinpoche’s friend when Rinpoche was a teenager in L.A., telling us a story about one day Rinpoche told her let’s go to the movies. She was so excited and when she got to the cinema, she asked Rinpoche what are we watching? And Rinpoche replied, oh the life of Mother Teresa! She was so surprised!
I relate this because it shows Rinpoche’s consistent altruistic heart from young. Even though Mother Teresa is from a different religion, instead of looking at the differences in the religions, Rinpoche looks at the great qualities of compassion, kindness, selflessness, openness, respect etc which shine through. These are the very same qualities we aspire to, no matter what faith we follow.