4 Thoughts Turning the Mind from Samsara

[Miroku]

Let's be honest, life sucks. While we may use secret techniques or just normal drugs and other entertainments to make life more fun and pleasant, it does not change this fact. There are going to be ups and downs, highs and sobriety, fun and boredom. Without unpleasant things,the pleasant ones slowly lose their charm and there is pain hidden in every pleasure. It does not matter how much we try, struggle or fight, we are going to suffer sooner or later. And that is why I find the 'outer ngondro' or also 4 thoughts that turn the mind from samsara are so precious.

 

I quite often see buddhism being described as "bitter" or "pessimistic" and while it may seem like that it is not so. Is it dark to see reality clearly how it is? No, it takes balls but it is not dark.  It simply is that way. And the result of contemplating this is worth it. While life sucks, knowing how much it sucks and in what way make it way better. HH Dalai lama says that it is not about making us depressed, but about not being surprised when all the unpleasant things happen. Instead of kicking and crying in pain over such questions as "why?" and "why me?" we can take the punches of life with more grace. Why? Because we are not surprised, we know that it is part of the deal, life just works like that.

Before taking my practice bit more seriously I used be easily depressed, anxious and unable to deal with challanges. Now that I have spent just a little bit of time thinking about the 4 thoughts things are different. I am still sad, still anxious and easily crumble under pressure, but it is different. I no longer want to kill myself, I no longer suffer as much as I used to and am way more resilient and able to get up. I know that things are impermanent so I am not surprised when things change. I know samsara sucks so I am not surprised when it does. I know about karma so I do not blame people around me as much. I know my life is precious so I am more ready to take the opportunity it gives me.

Once I asked my dear lama:"Sometimes I get easily angry when people around me do some things I dislike, what should I do?" And she replied:"This is samsara..." Honestly the most important three words in my life so far.

Edited September 18, 2020 by Miroku