On Those Who Inspire!

Read a long-awaited letter today from Geshe Tenzin Zopa, my dharma Guru who is currently the Resident Monk at the temple that I attend, Losang Dragpa Centre PJ.(http://geshezopa.blogspot.com/2007/09/brief-background-of-geshe-zopa.html) He has just completed a three-month retreat in the Himalayan moutaineous region of Ladakh, North India and will be returning to PJ soon to be with us. At age 33, he had already accomplished much in life; mostly benefitting others via his tireless works towards spreading the teachings of Buddha, compassionate works of consultations for people in need of spiritual guidance and to the sick via Kasih Hospice.

Having known him and becoming his student ever since he came to Malaysia in early 2007, he has indeed imparted a lot of precious knowledge to me as to how I should live my life in a more meaningful way.

Another recent person who has made a great impact to my life recently is Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) who has almost single handedly, led the current revolution of better governance in this country and who has inspired many young aspiring politicians and people-in-the-street to do the same.

Both Geshe Zopa and RPK are inspirations to me and true examples of people who "are living a life greater than themselves".

You don't have to be a literary scholar to see the irony between men who willingly sacrifice their lives to benefitting other people and the country and other people who, often "live lives consumed by themselves". So sad!

Of course, being the sentient beings that we human are, created with ego, id, and super ego, it is pretty difficult to get away from and out of our own world of ME! ME! ME!

Compared to our furry and the host of other nil,four,six&eight-legged friends, we humans are supposed to be the most preciously intelligent lot; having minds to decide what is best for ourselves.

However, I often wonder whether this is the true case. My Miniature Pinsher, lil' Junior, provides a lovely example on how to live life and of living life focused on others.

Lil' Junior

When he gets up in the morning, he doesn't have to heave a dramatic sigh, stumble downstairs to make himself a cup of get-up-&-go, and ensconce himself in the recliner to ponder his day, his work, his problems, his hopes, his dreams, his dirty laundry.

He just gets up, lovingly nudges his mommy (my other furry darling, Jolie) to get her to wake up too, wiggles and wags his way down the stairs, and heads for the front door. Is there anyone to open the door to let me out to poop? Is there anybody for me to please? After I do my business, is there food for me? Is food or greeting my master more important? This is a tough question and perhaps lil' Junior falls back here ........

As the day moves along, he doesn't evaluate his weight nor his skin. No way would he produce a calculator to determine his business success (or lack thereof). It would be unconscionable to even think of how he feels.

Lil' Junior lives life in the moment for people. He doesn't worry at all about the fact that he got into trouble yesterday for munching on an insect snack. He isn't obsessing about his upcoming vet appointment. For sure, he isn't holding a grudge about his owner's perpetual tease to let him tag along on his weekend leisure drives.

Living a life greater than ourselves means getting out of ourselves, having life goals that include philanthropy, service, unselfishness, and meaning, having goals that focus on our loved-ones, other people's loved-ones, loved-ones that we don't even know.

Thank you my Precious Gurus, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche & Geshe Tenzin Zopa.

Thank you RPK.

And thank you all those people who take time to care for other sentient beings especially those who have little, who are sick, who are weak.

And thanks to my lil' furried-friends, for reminding me every morning to stay in the now!

Sarva mangalam!!!