Translator's note:
It is well-known that in his early years, prior to becoming the chief disciple
of Dzogchen master Kumaradza, the great scholar and poet Tsultrim Lodro 'Disciplined Intellect' (if not also as Lodro Tsungmé, 'Peerless Intellect') -- later known as
the Omniscient Longchen Rabjam -- became disgusted with the behavior of his
fellow students at Sang phu monastery, and issued several barbed
compositions in verse, directed especially at hooligans from Tibet's Khams
region. Thus the title of this piece,
rgyu la khams 'dus, literally means "depression about causes" (or, by
inference, "the causes of my depression"), but also puns on the real source
of Longchenpa's gloomy mood, namely, crude behavior of monks from the eastern
frontier.
༄༅། །རྒྱུ་ལ་ཁམས་འདུས་མེ་ཏོག་ཕྲེང་བ །།
Why I'm
Depressed:
A Garland of Verses
rGyu la khams 'dus me tog phreng ba
A Garland of Verses
rGyu la khams 'dus me tog phreng ba
OM SVĀSTI SIDDHAM
The one from Glorious Samye in the snowy
fastness of Tibet --
Whose beautiful form, like a sunlit lotus grove,
Is revered by the all-seeing gods and men alike --
Offers these few words for inquiring minds!
These days some people tell me that
I'm out of touch with the world, aloof,
Unable to stay put, and very depressed.
Now, listen to what I have to say!
Holy beings despise them, these un-Dharmic
and nefarious ways,
The sneaky and manipulative methods of deception,
Which cause regret at death's door, and low rebirths
in the future:
To be out of touch with the world is a good thing
indeed!
Luxury and pleasure, the noose of Samsara
Are the basis of endless conflict and suffering --
Holy beings despise them.
Even if you have them, there is no satisfaction,
And attachment increases.
To stay away from these causes of lower realms is
a good thing indeed!
If you don't renounce the ways of the
world,
You will never be free of the ocean of suffering.
Not clinging to impermanent, meaningless things,
And remaining aloof is a good thing indeed!
Staying put, desire and anger increase
automatically;
You get busy, and there's too much to do;
You get caught by the lasso of selfish desires.
Not staying put in a place like this is a good thing
indeed!
So, this depression of mine is not without
reason.
I've been thinking day and night about this:
We're adrift in this turbulent sea of Samsara,
The process of selfish delusion.
Having seen the depths of this ocean,
From which rescue is difficult,
I'm depressed and shed tears of despair.
Closely observing the behavior of others
Is what makes me depressed: so listen!
Externally refined, but inside most arrogant,
They loudly proclaim themselves to be
Venerable abbots, disciples and lamas,
But they don't practice Dharma and chase after luxury.
Observing these clever frauds, I'm depressed!
They are more interested in rich people,
Than those who know Dharma.
They are nicer to sinister types,
Than to honest persons.
Seeing these experts on the eight worldly Dharmas
Disguised as lamas, I get depressed!
They don't know what really matters and
Sever friendships with nasty gossip.
They're not happy if things go well
And foment disagreements.
With "friends" like this, I am depresssed!
Impatient with work, they make others
work for them;
Not there when you need them, they are fickle and
disloyal;
They're hypersensitive and unpredictable.
With friends like these, who wouldn't be depressed?
They have no sense of decorum, and
Lash out if you tell them so.
They love to eat but avoid anything that involves
effort.
Seeing students like these, I feel depressed.
If you praise them directly, they criticize
you behind your back.
They have no interest in Dharma and hanker for luxuries.
After caring for their needs, they still resent you.
With students like these, I am depressed.
They'll reject a wise man for eating
and dressing simply, but
Show respect to a dimwit because he's rich;
They find con artists personable, and consider them
clever.
Seeing people like these, I get depressed.
If you're honest, they think you're totally
rigid.
If you're poor, they think you're utterly worthless.
If you know Dharma, they'll say you're useless and
incompetent.
Around people like these, I feel depressed.
Someone who follows the ways of the world
They esteem as an excellent master;
An underhanded charlatan
They claim as a noble person.
Foul-mouthed morons and frauds
They consider good folks --
These kinds of people make me depressed.
What they promise to give, they dedicate
as merit.
The gift of harm they imagine is virtue.
The practice of non-Dharma will lead to happy rebirths
--
Or so they think.
Such confused thinking makes me depressed.
If you commit pecadilloes, they think
that's grand.
If a pure monk shows up, everyone hates him.
Now, when everyone loves a fool more than a saint,
A sensitive person might well feel depressed!
In our times, everyone is wrong-headed.
Virtues, which show up one's weakness,
Are judged to be faults.
Because they seem to have an extra leg,
Such now is the case with the man from Samye, a philosopher
Skilled in composition, teaching and debate,
Who practices Dharma, but is hated!
Having said this, the hordes of rowdy,
ignorant fools --
Who are completely misinformed about traditions
Of study and contemplation,
Who rashly pawn the jewels of the three trainings
For their personal benefit --
And those who admire them,
Will surely not be pleased.
However, I have written this for the
delight
Of intelligent persons who spread the wings of three
trainings
From the fine body of their ethical discipline
To fly in the sky of honest endeavor.
Look into the distinction of truth and
falsity, gifted ones!
About this, the poet from the Land of Snows,
Tsultrim Lodrö Zangpo, has written.
By this merit, may I and all beings
Reach the foot of the glorious Bodhi Tree,
And having vanquished the armies of Mara and their
unpleasant words,
Go to the regal state of spontaneous presence, the
three Kayas!
This
"discourse garland of refutation", written sincerely as an authentic response
[to criticisms] by the learned poet, the one from glorious Samye, Tsultrim
Lodrö, is hereby complete.
[This
preliminary translation was created on Thursday, November 25, 1999, and
revised on March 11, 2000, by Konchog Tashi. Sarva Mangalam!]
©
1999 by Non-white Jetty Pith. All rights reserved. This translation may
be freely distributed in digital media. No part of this translation may
be distributed in any other medium without written consent of the author.
Wonderful !
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