Then & Now…
Who is this?
When we wish to engage in dharma practice, in order for it to be genuine, take roots and really hit us deep in the core for us to make a fundamental shift in our attitudes, thinking and priorities we must reflect on IMPERMANENCE. We must in fact realize IMPERMANENCE… understanding it intellectually gets us not far. Realizing impermanence and how it pervades all existent phenomena is crucial. Without this realization, all further progress will be slow or nil.
If the realization of impermanence is not intellectual but arising from the core of our being then there would be many changes. There are clear signs and indications. Bad habits become good easily. Suppressing our egos would be a pleasure. Let others win would be the norm of the day. We would not spend our time acquiring wealth for wealth or reputation for reputation. We would not want to be entangled in attachments to food, fun, money, parties, relationships, children, fame, reputation and all that tie us down for years and yet get us nowhere. Really nowhere. Look at all the people who have it, yet it ends… No matter how famous, powerful, wealthy, attractive, intelligent we are, it all does not matter. The truth of birth, the truth of sickness, the truth of aging, the truth of death is what we carry within us. Avoiding or not thinking about it only furthers our samsaras. Distracting ourselves now by having ‘fun’ or exploring samsara will lead to heavy regrets, and no time left to do anything in the end… death is not the end, as it is truly a passage to somewhere else. But whether the passage and the where we go is pleasant or not TOTALLY DEPENDS ON US NOW… it depends on our spiritual practice/results NOW. Eating, fame, love, money and reputation are only distractions that take us away from the inevitable that we have to face. Fear of death and impermanence is good, but we have to do something about it… whatever justifications we give for not doing dharma all the way can only fool others around us who know no better or are not willing to push more. Not pushing and procrastinations will never avoid the truths of impermanence and death… never procrastinate or simply not think about it. Think about it, face it, fear it and from this do something and soar… become attained…
The first chapter of the Lam Rim should be read, meditated and contemplated on very deeply before we even think of going to higher teachings such as tantra and it’s commitments. If we realize the first chapter of Lam Rim, we will feel a natural shift in our attitude. We will automatically want to do spiritual practice all the way. As a result, spiritual practice will not be a burden, but everything else will become a burden..that is the correct result of in-depth realization of impermanence. What we see happening to others will happen to us. If fame, money, beauty and power got them not far, then where will it get us? Worse off, after death, you are remembered for a short while and then totally forgotten. Even if remembered, it is not really as you were, but according to others’ fantasies/perceptions of you. And how do you benefit if you are remembered? Can you actually remember your past lives? Most of us cannot, hence whatever we achieved is forgotten even by ourselves…
This posting of THEN AND NOW is a reminder to take the essence of life which is to develop spiritual qualities before it is too late. Spiritual qualities can be taken with you life after life, whatever else acquired will be mercilessly left behind. Even the body we treasure, nurture, wash endlessly, feed, protect, comfort will become our biggest traitor as it ages, sickens and then finally fails completely. We need to take care of our bodies, but that is not the end to itself. To take care of our bodies as a vehicle to achieve something higher in our minds is important.
What I post here is the first Chapter of Lam Rim in visuals…
Much respect to all the people below I have posted. I mean no offense to any of them… or anyone. With the deepest respects,
Tsem Rinpoche
The picture is myself in the white sleeveless T-shirt around 8 years ago and the picture on the bottom is me now…what’s my point? There is no escape from old age, sickness, death for anyone. You may be a king, movie star, high lama, janitor, president, scientist, oracle, housewife, etc, but the end will come…it’s pretty quick when I look at myself and all the other people famous and ordinary. We fade fast…and no reversals. I have no regrets for running away over three decades ago to do dharma, to take ordination and to focus my life on dharma. As I age, and get closer to death, I realize, the only important and worthwhile results I can take with me are from Dharma. I am not the exception, as it is the same for everyone. I am so grateful I have done dharma most of my life. I didn’t run from dharma, give it up with sad excuses, turn against the commitments my gurus gave me, or stop my practice…I am so grateful for that.
TR
see how Tsem Rinpoche changed over the years!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sov38tyFHnY
Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche !!!
Thank you for your inspirations on impermanence.
May our change be an evolutionary one, towards Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram as my Indian friends would say, towards Truth, Goodness and Beauty.
Good and beautiful evolutionary inspirations and energies to you and to your work !!!
Christoph
See more of Tsem Rinpoche modelling photos here!
http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=359
Rinpoche shows us the effects of change or impermanence which is reality. How fortunate change appears to happen so slowly for us to take in. But change will come one way or another.
We can’t hold on to the past the only way is to move forward. Today I like ice cream maybe tomorrow I like something else. Every nice thing I had, I can’t remember anymore so whats left? Are we ready to face the reality of our end?
My dear Lama
Everything you showed me whether it is only a simple picture of your dog, to visit the big sitting Buddha in Thailand, or just to attend a few hours of LC meeting in KL struck deep in me as a great teaching of a Buddha. At last Thursday’s LC meeting I thought about many things. At one point during the meeting, I was even paralyzed with fear when I remembered of what could have happened to me during an incident with the homeless two weeks ago during a soup kitchen round that I was doing in Jakarta. Not only that, I was so scared with all the growth, responsibilities, and the risk of all the work that I am doing in Jakarta.
I was glad at the time that you were not at the meeting because I think I would have just cried if you appeared. But then at that moment, I was thinking of the alternative of not doing anything, be like a coward and just sit back and do nothing like a fool letting my life passed by meaninglessly. I was even more terrified. So I decided to just swallowed my fear and move on.
Thank you so much for the kind reminder that you gave me through this blog post.
Much love
Valentina
This post kinda resonates with my thinking in a way: everything that i have now is nothing much…its so empty whenever i manage to buy the thing i like so much, the feeling of satisfaction disappears in that instant. It’s always…yeah im young, its supposed to be fun and energetic…so? kind of feeling.
I do admit, despite being aware about the lack of anything substantial i still seem to be interested in worldly things, although beneath it all it would always be Dharma. I tend to contemplate about the Dharma and i wake up from the distraction…allowing me to see the big picture and have something more than just working, entertaining and sleeping.
maybe i need to re-read that chapter and contemplate on it until i actually realize this and be 100% focused on Dharma.
Thank you Rinpoche for showing me the direction to go to…
Rinpoche shows us the impermanence of our physical OUTLOOK, everything is impermanence, I should not grasp on things stubbornly or do not want to let go things that i used to be so attached , eg food, sleep, money, friendship…etc
Fortunate that now i have Dharma, Rinpoche’s teachings make me realize the only thing i can take with till the end of my life is Dharma, the only precious gift to my parents is genuinely practice dharma…
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these pictures and nice article with us.
The first time I met dear Rinpoche was many years ago in an apartment somewhere in KL one evening coming down from Ipoh on the way back to Singapore with HP Lim. Subsequently I saw him fairly often in Singapore. I am sure between then and now he has “grown”.
Malaysia especially definitely is a right place for Rinpoche,as mentioned years ago.
Take care and wishing best of health and all the best.
Thank you.
Poh C P
It is the rule of this universe that nothing is permanent, once it is create; it is thy destiny to be destroy. Nothing in the known universe can escape this fate.
However, attachment to this life, this body is so strong that it blinded us; causing most of the people to ignore and forget what the real objective is. Hence by mediating on impermanent, it will help to loosen the chain of attachment and set the mind free to re-focus on what really.
As what the Lam Rim revealed: it is more beneficial to mediate on impermanent than on the tutelary deity in the beginning state.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for taking time and effort to make us face reality about impermanence. It is a very good reminder! To be in Dharma and do Dharma for others is the smartest and most viable application to our lives while we are still breathing and physically capable.
Love you Rinpoche for always turning the wheel of Dharma in varied skillful means to bring others to happiness – permanent happiness!
Thank you, Rinpoche for yet another inspiring teaching on impermanence. It is through Rinpoche’s compassion of always reminding us of impermanence that made me pushed myself to overcome my fears and laziness and to move on to do dharma.
Having the understanding that nothing last forever, I will not chased after temporal happiness but to put in more effort to achieve ultimate happiness. I am so glad I did not hold on to my comfort zone but instead moved on and I have no regrets of that.
Thank you again, Rinpoche, for showing us the right path to follow.
P/S: Looking at the photos of some of the celebrities, it so sad to see some of them cant face the fact that they are growing old and they try all ways to look younger. Some even have botox that went wrong…. Inner beauty last forever….outer beauty fade with time….
Vanessa Redgrave once said, “Time is what ravages.”
Upon deeper reflection, after reading this blog post, I think it is not Time that ravages – it is our inability or un-willingness to understand the value of time.
I am a self-absorbed chronic attention seeker and have wasted most of my life chasing after things which have not brought me any real fulfillment. If I had put time and effort into half of the things which Rinpoche had done, then I would have used my time well.
My attachment is what ravages everything else.
No, I can’t say that I understand impermanence completely that hits me to the core as described by Rinpoche. But I don’t want to say that just because I don’t understand completely, I do nothing and continue as I have. It used to be possible to go on like that, but not anymore.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for writing this post. This is something I must and will read every day. It is exactly like reading the first chapter of Lamrim. Thank you, Rinpoche, for finding innovative ways to condense a chapter of a precious teaching into one blog post.
The message is loud, clear and heard. This tune will be stuck to my head with all its images and words.
Beautiful choice of music, by the way. Thank you again, Rinpoche.
What a wonderful article. Very inspirational. I hope that one day we would be blessed with the presence of Rinpoche here in Jakarta. Thank you.
Thank You Rinpoche for the impermanence teaching. It’s soo true, the body is the traitor. We all outlive our shells eventually. It is of concern what shell I will inhabit next and for how long.
Looking at some of the celebs above, you know they have had it all, done it all, seen many things, but the look on the face says it all, a life of temporary happiness. Fairly judgemental, but for some of them they were pretty open about it.
Thank you
Justin
Hi Rinpoche, thanks for the teaching on impermanance.
Chasing fame and wealth for the sake of fame and wealth, a futile endeavour. If we use them for something beneficial to self and others, great. Why did it take so long for an old person like me to hear this important information?!
We should be able to learn things like this in school, something really useful for our lives that we can use to put our lives in context. It would really help to decrease stress, I think, because we can have a healthier perspective on the changes of our lives. It should be taught alongside History and Maths!
I think more knowledge and skills about Life Context should be available to everyone. It would make us more relaxed in our relationship with the ups and downs of life. The benefit would be enormous on every level, individual, social, economic, health-wise, etc.
Maybe things have changed, but when I was at school there was not really clear information on important issues like this.
Dear Rinpoche
Your message in the above pictures really get the point across on impermanence. But I know one thing that has not changed then and now…your kindness, compassion, care and love for all of us….proven by the fact that after all this while you are “patiently” waiting for us to transform! I hope we will
not let you down…I pray I will not disappoint you.
Amazing. I am very glad and fortunate to be able to find Dharma at a young age. I don’t know how long more I will live. I might die tomorrow or I might live till a 100 years old..but it doesn’t matter because each and every day I live now has a meaning to it.
Spirituality was something so distant to me in the past but today I am very ‘attach’ to it. I have never been happier than now being able to do Dharma work to benefit all sentient beings.
IMPERMANENCE to me is letting go of my previous lifestyle and committing to do Dharma work now.
Nothing will last forever and will fade or be destroyed thru time. What’s important is the cultivation we do to get inner peace and accept the fact that what we have now, we could not take it with us when we leave this world. It is best to learn and cultivate the dharma as taught by Rinpoche in this article. Thanks for the reminder, Rinpoche.
There’s never a time that is inappropriate to contemplate on aging, death and impermanence. When I really think about it, I definitely have not done enough contemplations on death. There’s just too much distractions with my ego and attachments. Fortunately, we have Rinpoche’s teachings and blog that constantly remind us of a spiritual path and real priorities in life. More often than not, we are bombarded with messages to indulge in Samsara and forget about Dharma. There are very few places which remind us of spirituality and our mortality.
Thank you Rinpoche for conveying the Lamrim in a completely modern and immediately easy to understand manner with the photographs of how people change over time. We are all so attached to our perceptions – not wanting things to change and not realising that we can’t do anything about it. People will change. Looks, characters change. Relationships change. People have new interests, new friends. We can grow together or grow apart. The choice is always ours. “If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me would we, could we”, indeed! I love you Rinpoche. Thank you for always reminding me of the truth.
With folded hands,
Sharon
Dear Rinpoche,
This post reminds me of refuge, what is my refuge?
I take refuge in the Three Jewels everyday, but, in secret, do I take refuge in subtle ways through the working of my delusional mind in un-reliable objects? This even though I am repeatedly reminded about the impermanent nature of these many objects, making them un-reliable refuges, in which no happiness is to be found eventually.
These objects are:
-my body,
-my “friends”,
-money,
-job,
-good reputation,
-movies,
-etc…
To take refuge in my body, is a ticket for doom’s day.
The pictures on the post demonstrate that clearly.
In fact taking refuge in anything other than Dharma practice leads to the same disappointments, to deceived expectations, to depression and bitterness, to late regrets and a great sense of waste. Does not sound like happiness to me!
Yet, to realize that my body is not a reliable object of refuge does not mean that I should neglect it neither.
I can still protect my body, but as it is no more my object of refuge, it becomes a vehicle to assist in my truly reliable refuge, that is Dharma practice, that is the Three Jewels.
Rinpoche has been so kind to teach us impermanence in various ways so that we can be clear as to what should be our object of refuge.
If there’s one message I get after receiving this post, it is that our lives are very much in our hands. How our bodies turn out, how our minds turn out – that is all dependent on how much work and consistent effort we put into it. If we are going to be consistent in working our bodies, of course we will look good; likewise if we are going to be consistent in working our minds, of course it will eventually become good too.
Some people find Buddhism depressing because of karma and impermanence – they think, what’s the point? – but actually, I find the teaching of impermanence very beautiful. It gives me hope that I can do something about myself, and that my negative state of self can be changed, and that change is entirely up to me. In this way, I find the teaching of impermanence very empowering, both to empower myself to change my own mind, and to influence the minds and lives of others.
Thank you Rinpoche for this teaching in yet another creative, visual way!
A picture paints a thousand words… how apt. Thank you Rinpoche for unendingly coming up with so many ideas to get the dharma through to us. These visuals are very impactful. In fact, as i was going through all the photos, i thought to myself that in the very near future, i will also “qualify” into this gallery; the only difference is that you have thought me to use my youth to benefit others while those posted here have not been as fortunate.
The picture of Rinpoche in the white T-shirt is a very special one as it is evidence of the length to which our Guru is willing to put himself through to teach us…the weeks and months of training, and the unorthodox approach to have picture of Rinpoche taken publicly, to a lot of raised eyebrows, i can imagine.
Secondly, it is important to show us that even if we manage to scale the heights of human achievement and attain what most of us crave for ie acceptance of our external looks (beauty), recognition, praise, fame and fortune, there is nothing there that lasts and therefore of real value. And it is possible to just let it go.
The Lamrin is very specific that in this life, we are merely in migration and for sure we WILL reach our next destination be it in an upper or lower realm. What separates us from that eventuality is the breath that we draw now and what we do with our lives.
And in this post, it cannot be put any clearer ie: THE ESSENCE LIFE IS TO DEVELOP SPIRITUAL QUALITIES THAT WE CAN TAKE WITH US FROM LIFE TO LIFE.
The body that we occupy and that which we fuss over daily is merely a raft that takes us from one shore to another. We have tricked ourselves into believeing that this raft is our only and permanent home, and that we have arrived at our destination. All we have been doing is using all our essence and energy to make this raft into a boat and from a boat into an ocean liner. We have forgotten the journey. We worry about what colour our ship should be, what others might think of it, what about the guy with the bigger ship. We worry about sustaining this huge mammoth that we have built and which have slowed us down. We got distracted. And now, everything that was new is now old. Everything that was light is now heavy and hard to carry. And we haven’t even lifted anchor yet.
The good news is, as long as we have breathe, that light and efficient raft is still there. As long as we realise and practice the dharma, the good wind will still carry us across. As long as we still have our Guru, we still have that compass that points us to the right direction, straight and true.
We are meant to contemplate the light journey rather than worry about shifting deck chairs on our Titanic.
We are now to abandon our “ship” and get on with our journey…while we can.
Rinpoche,
You help so many people on a daily basis in inconceivable ways, we are on our knees begging you to STAY a long time in the world, you and all the realised beings. Whether we always recall it or not, we need you.
We are your children and cannot be left unprotected in Samsara, we would end up in the abbatoirs and the hells for aeons for sure. Even when we are naughty, please be infinitely patient with us and use extraordinary means to wake us up.
Only with your help and our co-operation have we any chance to achieve what we all want so ardently, happiness.
Inspire us to trust the Teacher and follow instructions with Faith and may all the obstructions and obscurations be dissolved. Please, stay a long time.
Please continue saving beings in crisis around the World.
Bad examples. Cher and Tina Turner still look pretty good!
“A picture paints a thousand words” ~ Thank you Rinpochela, for the PRECIOUS teaching!
Thank you very much to Rinpoche for a good lesson in impermanence. As a young kid, some folks tell me money can’t buy happiness and it will not last. My own thoughts were yeah right – you are saying that just because you don’t have it. As I grew and focus my attention to chase after luxuries – got them and then also came to realize – the best material possessions only make me happy for the most a week.
This is ok good if we were only to live once. But then realize that we will continue to come back and in different forms, then its not fun anymore except to make each trip a meaningful one. That’s when use more of my focus to seek and practice dharma.
Thank you!
Thank you for this Lamrim teaching. For those of us who are already old, like me, this is not intellectual anymore. Reality is staring us in the face. And we have to deal with it. It’s a blessing we have the dharma. Thank you, Rinpoche, Midakpa.
Looking at the Then and Now pictures are clear evidence of impermanence. Wealth, achievements, succees, looks, health all deteriorates in the end and we are left in an old useless shell call body.
Being in dharma and learning the Lamrin made me realised that the truth of life is more precious than all the precious gems in the whole universe. We can also take that realisation in our mind to the next afterlife. It also help us to live better now by not holding on to perception of others towards us.
We live a happier life knowing there is hope at end of each lifetime when we have dharma in us. Thank you Rinpoche for being with us teaching us the truth of life.
Rinpoche’s action and silent Dharma is so powerful. As the saying goes, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’.The visual message goes straight through my eyes into my heart…into my fears.
I feel very fortunate to have Refuge in my Guru and 3 Jewels in my heart and doing meaningful Dharma work in Kechara. Without them, I will be lost and surely die in regret and fear for having wasted the essence of my life and not done anything for my future lives.Thank you Rinpoche.It is the best teaching on impermanence I have the merit to receive and will share this in with all.
After watching the whole drama of the earthquake and tsunami unfolding before our very eyes and helplessly watching so many people in danger really shake me up. Anytime this can happen here to us as well.What Japan had taken so many years to develop into an advanced and hitech nation admired by all the other naions can be destroyed in just 1 day. What about Penang if it happens it will disappear from the map. I ask myself now can I live with nothing but the bare necessity for a day or a week to try to taste the life of what the people in Japan now is going thru.
Thank you Rinpoche for your support.
Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
What a better way to convey Dharma teaching through pictures. This is a good reminder that nothing is forever and we should give our very best now, do Dharma for others and continue to grow our own Dharma knowledge.
Thank you for these inspiring messages.
Agree.
Mind, Body and Soul/Spirit – all must be in good health condition. Any weak part will make you less useful either in this world or other.
Dear Rinpoche,you effort to post the daily blog have benefit many others in many ways. I never even taught of death when I was younger. And now i understand what’s IMPERMANENCE really means. Thank You
This is a very clear proof of impermanence, with a bit of fun too! Many tend to think that impermanence is some kind of Dharma that is talk about in Dharma books or by Gurus, monks and crazy people. Actually, it is happening everywhere and pervades all phenomena. But the simple proof is clear for all to see as in this blog by H.E. Thank you Your Eminence!
Hence since the doctor has shown the proof that we have a disease and he has also shown the cure, it now depends on us to have faith to take the medicine as prescribed. Take it Take it. Just do it! We will be cured!
A picture paints a thousand words….
Thanks you for putting realities right in front of our eyes. We usually don’t realise we have aged until we see the pictures of “THEN & NOW” put side by side.
Yes, clinging to youth, beauty, wealth, fame & power is a waste of our precious time. In my twilight years, what’s more meaningful then to serve the dharma in KH ?
Procrastination and laziness is a problem i’m still working on. Just a few weeks ago, I was driving through Mont Kiara and witnessed a dead body covered with plastic bags with many policemen and a large crowd of curious onlookers. I believe the person died suddenly or was murdered.
This experience struck fear in me as I realized I will end up like that dead person one day in the future. It gave me more resolve to work harder on myself. It made me realize death is certain for everyone.
Dear TL, from the day we met till now, how much have you progressed? That is for you to think… Yes you are right, must not procrastinate further..so many years have passed. Much care, TR
yes, we all are guaranteed the Death the moment we are born…..countdown starts !
Lets all do as much as we could / wish to benefits all mankind. The recent Japan earth quake & tsunami is a another wake-up call to all that life is so frangile & uncertain …
Thank you, Rinpoche, for posting this to stressed the stark reality of life we all go through.
It is really scary having to look at myself each day in the mirror and seeing an aging image of myself. And not knowing if I will see the sun rise the next morning.
Dear Henry, Thank you for your honesty as always. TR
Dear Rinpoche,
I’ve always enjoy watching the pictures and videos posted here. Very entertaining and straight to the point. When I was forwarded this page, straight off I went on to look at the pictures and first thought was IMPERMANENCE although I have yet to read Rinpoche’s post. And the 2 pictures at the bottom made me laugh because it reminded me how Rinpoche was always joking but yet correct and true to the point. Even such a good looking person can give up everything to become what Rinpoche are now. I will do what Rinpoche have said above and work on it. Thank you Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the post above, for using yet another approach to bring the same message that You have endlessly tried to convey to our clouded minds.
Whilst reading the post, I thought of Tsongkhapa’s verses that Pabongka Rinpoche gave to commence his teachings in the Lamrim:
“This opportune physical form, is worth more than a wish-granting gem. You only gain its like the once, so hard to get, so easily destroyed. It’s like a lightening bolt in the sky. Contemplate this and you will realize all worldly actions are but winnowed chaff, and night and day you must extract some essence from your life….I, the yogi, practiced this way, you, wanting liberation, do the same”.
Time is ticking, every time the clock hand moves, that is a second gone. How many times have we said to ourselves, “wow, it’s the end of the year already? – time really flies!!” and when we reflect upon our achievements in that year, we can merely remember what we’ve achieved. And it’s the same that applies to when we pass on. We are remembered for a short while after our deaths, and after that, we are merely remembered for what we’ve done, everyone moves on. Our money isn’t carried with us when we leave our physical bodies, nor would our reputation, fame, and achievement matter. The only thing that follows us like our shadow is our negative and positive karma collected over our many lifetimes. That is what we’re left with in the end. We degenerate, and that’s inevitable.
So, if you come to think about it, nothing really matters, nothing is really fixed to begin with anyway. Our existence in our present body is impermanent, our lives are impermanent, our success and reputation is impermanent. We’ve had so many changes in our lives, the Tsunami that rocked Japan on Friday – that shows how impermanent our lives, surroundings and belongings are. They can be taken away from us in an instance. But not our merits, our virtues, mindstream or karma.
Again, Thank you Rinpoche, for endlessly spreading Dharma in such degenerate times.
Carmen.
Carmen, I love the quote form Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche you wrote here. You are thinking and absorbing. Good for you!! TR
Dearest Rinpoche,
We all know that there is only one sure thing in life when one is born… that is, the life we have will surely end and it is just a question of when. Even with this one certainty in life… we still run around, darting here and there trying to avoid this inevitable truth.
I feel it is our selectiveness that keeps us in our comfort zones and it is this very comfort zone that is going to cause us the most harm when it comes to the “crunch”.
Even with my deep contemplations on death from a relatively early age compared to most and have lived close to half my life with this very realisation, I still find myself “hiding” at times. But these disappearing acts are less and far inbetween now and that, I feel, is a good indication of growth for me especially this past year.
Death is still a fearful fact for me but I believe it should be as I need this “fear” to kick my deluded mind into a constant reflection which will help me generate mindfulness throughout my day.
The saying “a race against time” is very apt to me when applied to death, as I feel I need TO DO MORE compared to what I HAVE DONE and all of this in relation to the deterioration of my body.
Strange (in a good way) how the perceived intangible overides the tangible. I am truly blessed to be able to now run in this race and even more so, to have an actual chance in winning the race. This I have Rinpoche and Kechara to thank for. And a tiny pat on my back for having done something right in my previous lives to be able to be given this golden opportunity!
Much love… Andrew
Rinpoche,
Thank you for this very powerful message on impermanence, helping me to contemplate step by step and guided with visuals of how everything physical will fade and gone entirely one day, even the memories of it. What remains though are the committed actions or lack of it.
I can’t think of anything lasting or impactful that all the people Rinpoche listed in the pictures have done.. except being a role model for someone else to follow and leave nothing behind.
I do not have any intention to be disrespectful in anyway to all these people. They are so famous, successful in their own rights and well known throughout the whole world,…and if they and their works will fade, what more someone unimportant like me.
Looking at Rinpoche’s then and now pictures, though Rinpoche looks different, everything that Rinpoche has done then and is doing now is solid, impactful.
I asked myself why the difference…. and the conclusion I have is that the former exists only to benefit oneself and the latter exists to benefit others.
Rinpoche’s entire life and every action is purposeful with the goal that it doesn’t go to waste, that someone, somewhere, no matter what age, culture will receive something to make a difference in their life towards lasting happiness.
humbly yours
susan
Dear Rinpoche,
I can’t help but shed tears after reading this teaching as its such a profound reminder to me that I am so “trapped” in this world of samsara and really struggling to find a way out of it! And of course time is running out as I grow older and my body degenerates !The attachments I hv to all my daily and regular samsaric attachments are so hard to rid off ! Sometimes it feels an impossible task! But yet our lifes are so fragile – it cld end anytime ! I really do have to work harder on my studies and practices and I really hope Rinpoche will stay on and on to give us teachings so valuable !! Thank you for your selfless commitments !! Thank you !! With folded hands from Grace .
I never have the feeling time is flying, i’m aging. Only for the past one year, i found myself hard to read the small letter on newspaper, wrinkles on my face and some grey hair…If not now, when. i have to speed up to learn more n do more.
A lot of us live only for this life. We don’t actually believe in the next rebirth, we don’t believe in impermanance, we don’t truly believe in KARMA. We realised it intellectually and we can talk or write all about it until the cows come home….very intellectually BUT our actions are opposite most of the time. It’s very sad but most of us will only realise it when the damage has been done or when it’s too late. The choice is ours.
I choose to supress my ego, I choose to let others win, I choose to grow older (if my karma permits) to live my life without more regrets.
Thank u Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for your this. A wake up call for me to stop missing my Dharma class at KSJC and the migrains that I get on Sundays only on Sundays. I should I also stop spending the $$$$ on my face and diets. Since there is no escape from changes, aging and death. I will make it to lamrim class. Thank you very much.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for posting this. Looking at the pictures is just the same as looking at my 2 little monsters (Natasha & Lhamo)growing from time to time. They have been like my time keeper telling me that time is shorten by another day for me to do dharma work.
I’m glad to be able to meet the dharma & work full time (if I can turn the time would want to join earlier) no doubt there have been a lot of obstacles and disagreement from various people.
Rinpoche mentioned that there is no right time to wait to do dharma work so let it be now because if I wait for my retirement I don’t think I can do much with my old age.
This will also show an example to my kids to realize how important for them to learn dharma from young age that it will help them be strong at any point of worst thing happen to them. I will not be with them for the rest of my life.
Thank you again Rinpoche for your kind teaching.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful teaching. Dharma is everywhere in front of us all the time and yet most of the time went unnoticed. New cars, new relationship, new house, new hairdo new job etc all going to deteriorate anytime soon. It is all impermanent and fading fast!
Thank you again, for reminding all of us here.
We all get old if were lucky , or maybe luck is not the word I’am thinking. Actually older age has longer to refine and learn our mistakes and learn what’s important such as caring for others needs more,seeing the suffering we never noticed when we were younger, and if we are truly lucky we can help with that suffering the longer we live. But still try to be happy, our bodies were never meant to last, so like yourself no matter how you are now. Our past is gone, but we should look to the future more exciting things are coming then even before!!!!
Dear Rinpoche, its true and I believe in the Four Noble truths. Birth, sickness old age and death. It was very good timing I was given a Dharma book by Krystal on the Four Noble Truths before starting Tsog Puja. After seeing the pictures of all the celebraties you have posted really shows the then and the now of a person. Impermanence is a fact which most people do not realise until they are triggered with the facts and proof. The Tsunami in Japan is another factor for us to ponder on the impermanence of life. Which is also connected to with aging. When Rinpoche tease me about my being a stunner before and how I look now is also a warning that I am aging and I must wake up and do something useful now. As time and tide waits for no man.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for this posting. Picture sure paints a thousand word and it’s all about impermanence.
Life is really fragile and it can be gone in the blink of an eye. What difference will it make if one holds on to their look or wealth. The most important lesson in life, to me, is whether i become a person that can bring benefit to others or a person that burden others. For me, i choose to be a person to bring benefit to others.
When i look at people around me, be them family, friends or strangers, i can’t stop imagining how my life would be if i’ve not met the dharma. Will i be like one of them, hanging and clinging on to things that is only for this life time? Where will play, eat, sleep and fun brings me to the future? These are the questions that have been popping up in my mind always!
Thank you Rinpoche for showing me the way to be a better person. It’s my choice who i choose to be. I choose to follow Rinpoche’s teachings all the way. I may slip and fall, i pray that i’ll have the merits to pick myself up fast and grow, not to be stagnant and left behind.
With gratitude,
bonita
Dear Bonita, Be determined not to be left behind. Be determined to always stand up after falling. Be determined that nothing much is out there and nothing is missed. Realize the importance that life can be snuffed out so to use it for the highest and best purpose would lead to unending and spectacular results. Never enjoy and then do dharma later It might be too late…. If one has to enjoy, then enjoy and do dharma deeply hand in hand simultaneously.
I have good wishes for you and good prayers for you. I want you to reach Kechara Paradise and meet Vajra Yogini. She exists and She is real, nothing else is. Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
When I look around at people my age, very near to death, I feel a strong determination to have done something worthwhile in this life.
My time in this life form gets shorter with each day and I really hope to do as much as I can to have a better place being left behind. That is my dearest wish for now.
Yes I struggle with the changing conditions of my physical body, but I have come to accept this and realize this is the result of living and irreversible. Since living kills, I choose to live for others.
Thank you Rinpoche for always teaching me the importance of living for the Dharma.
Much Respect:
Datuk May
And this too shall pass ….
So which one is the “real” person? Maybe we should meditate on what’s beyond these fleeting appearances.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this stark reminder of how we and everything around us are so fleeting and transient.
If I could only constantly, nay, continually remember and truly realize impermanence…!
I like the ‘Kawang’ part of the Setrap Khangsol, where I can visualize myself in all my ugliness – corpse, blood, bile, urine and all.
I wish I can see myself all the time(like what Pabongka says in Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand)like an actor, my form now as a very temporary guise of a role I’m playing as an actor. I wish I can always be aware of what Shakespeare says in Hamlet and Macbeth about life being a stage and all in it being merely actors playing their parts and each having their exits and their entrances; also that each man in his life plays many parts from birth to death.
When I watched the scenes of the earthquake and the tsunami (hitting Japan)so very graphically presented by CNN and with such a great sense of ‘immediacy’,the strong awareness of impermanence arose in me. Also, when I saw Tokyo now looking like a ghost town, I then thought about interdependent arising.
May i always hold a strong awareness of what Rinpoche teaches here and teaches all the time that time is short and precious and must always be used meaningfully in Dharma.May I not keep drowning in the sea of worldly distractions.
Dearest Rinpoche,
Thank You so much for the posting. It’s very scary to see those pictures before and after, without me realizing i’ll look like them eventually!!!! Thanks Rinpoche, for reminding me again impermanence…
Thanks again Rinpoche!
Deaest Rinpoche
Thank you for sharing the photos of then n now fo you. Forgive me for my ignorance but we all must keep healthy n strong with regards whether how old we grow or the sickness that we may have.
You use to keep yourself fit by exercising regularly (if my memory serves me well) and when i got to know about you, my 1st thought was what a cooool looking Rinpoche
We must continue to keep our body / mind and soul healthy n strong , not just for Dharma but as it is the temple of our essence.
I hope you can or will take back some form of exercise cos i love you Rinpoche – though i may not have met you personnally but your teachings are always inspiring to my life.
Just recently turning 40, I spent much time reflecting what I have achieved. Some memories made me smile, laugh, and some memories made me cry and disappointed. It felt like a nightmare turning 40, i pulled all stunts to avoid it, hoping that my birthday would just pass like how 40 years did!
At the end of it all, everything is a memory – some cherished and some I wish I had amnesia. Aiyo, Barbara is really getting to me with the memory song.
My point – the past remains as that. The present is all we have now, the future is everything we can create with being the best today, now.
Thank you Rinpoche for teaching me, listening to me, loving me, caring for me. Rinpoche is my present and my future, because it is Rinpoche and all that you stand for which makes my life worthy. I do wish I met Dharma and Rinpoche earlier in my life, then again I am just excited I have another 40 years to make a difference!!!
Thank you for the powerful teaching and truthful images.
The most striking lesson from this post is about the wasteful approach so many of us adopt in spending our precious human lives. So much time and effort is invested in matters that are guaranteed to be left behind upon death and in some cases, within this lifetime…such as the loss of youth and beauty that are literally reflected in the images of Rinpoche’s blog.
I believe that we are all intelligent and can see disappointing results of focusing all our resources on worldly achievements with sole secular motivation. We witness again and again the pain resulting from loss of relationships, the desperation resulting from loss of youth and beauty, the fear of merciless strikes of illnesses etc. It is baffling that, despite the repeated evidence, we still invest so much in matters that we foresee a high possibility of bringing nothing but disenchantment and discontent. Like an addiction. Perhaps this is what we define as ignorance.
My statement above does not mean that we should shy away from taking care of our appearance or getting involved with people. Dharma does not teach us to run away from worldly matters. Instead, Dharma teaches us to skillfully use Buddha’s teachings to compliment our pursuits so that we deeply enjoy our achievements with no attachments while bringing joy to others simultaneously.
Like Rinpoche taught in another blog post, something is not “bad” in itself. It is “bad” because of the imputation we inflict upon it and the reactions we have as a result of the imputation. Therefore, in training our mind, we begin the journey of grooming an attitude that will be able to free us from the destructive grasp on permanence and pave way for constructive experiences for our ever changing world. With this, may we always be grateful to our Guru and the Three Jewels. With this, may we use our precious human life wisely to gain attainments as well as benefit others beyond this lifetime.
Thank you Rinpoche for the wonderful teaching and provided so many photos for us to think and contemplate. No matter how fit or how beauty we keep it now and how much time and effort we take care and maintain them. In the end of the day, all these will leave us behind and our body will betray us when our death come.
Outer beauty will never last longer than inner beauty.
Thank you Rinpoche. I prostrate to your immeasurable wisdom and compassion, and thank you for your kindness in teaching us through words, pictures and actions the essence of Truth that is our Nature. May all beings benefit.
看著看著，我心里感到很感慨，原来当年的美丽，仅只能维持数十载，便马上烟消云散了。
看著自己老去的顏容，此刻的我，其实甚么都不想要，只希望能够拥有一副健康的体魄，让我能继续做目前最想做的事情，那对我而言，经已是天下间最幸运最幸福了。
And you still look good now.
A peace of mind.
A clear conscience.
A good heart.
Good health.
Now those are what I have for good looks.
And aging gracefully is what I hope for.
Dear Ivy, Great wisdom.Great acceptance. Great answer. Thank you so much for sharing. TR
Thanks for showing us the impermanence of beauty;-) Fading like a flower………
Pretty isn’t beauty.
Pretty is how you look;
Beauty is who you are.
Pretty is in the face and body;
Beauty is in the heart, mind and soul.
Pretty fades;
Beauty grows.
- Michael Josephson
Thanks for showing us the impermanence of beauty;-) Fading like a flower………
Pretty isn’t beauty.
Pretty is how you look;
Beauty is who you are.
Pretty is in the face and body;
Beauty is in the heart, mind and soul.
Pretty fades;
Beauty grows.
- Michael Josephson
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8180222416620923167
How appropriate Barbra Streisand’s song is in this teaching. Rinpoche, you always find ways to integrate the ancient wisdom with modern methods to hit us hard for our awakening. How skillful Rinpoche is! I must always remember Rinpoche’s teaching and do it to my best of my ability and come out from the way we were……
It’s easy to see impermanence in others, and it is very difficult to see it in us. Why is that? if not a proof of how deluded the functioning of our en-lightened mind is! We still think we can escape, every day we think we can escape and push impermanence to the next day the next week, the next year, and so we never feel impermanence in the present but only as something to happen in the future. How very foolish…
I like this article very much.
In this article, there a “checklist” on whether I truly understand Dharma and most the important- Impermanent. The result on the checklist clearly enable me to understand myself that I am do not understand in deep about Impermanent. Thus, I do not fear about it. Thus, I am still thinking about the passed; thinking about my suffered that passed. I am really wasting my time by entertaining myself with all this stupid emotional. I must be mind conscious about how my mind thinking. I prayed for the wisdom and the reminder. Thanks Guru for this great article.
Last paragraph struck me very much:
” HEN AND NOW is a reminder to take the essence of life which is to develop spiritual qualities before it is too late. Spiritual qualities can be taken with you life after life, whatever else acquired will be mercilessly left behind. ”
Rinpoche always very kind taking care of our future life, all I need to do is GO ALL THE WAY with his guidance.