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, later known as the Omniscient Longchen Rabjam, became fed up with the behavior of his fellow students at Sang phu monastery, and issued several barbed compositions in verse, directed especially at hooligan monks from the Kham region. Thus the title, 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, the crude behavior of his peers.
A Garland of Verses:
Why I'm Depressed about Things
[rGyu la khams 'dus me tog phreng ba]
By Tsultrim Lodrö (Longchen Rabjam, 1308-1363)
OM SVASTI 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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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 shed tears of despair, and feel depressed.
Closely observing the behavior of others
Is what made me depressed, so listen!
Externally refined, but most arrogant inwardly,
They loudly proclaim themselves venerable
Abbots, disciples and Lamas,
But don't practice Dharma, and chase after luxury.
Watching these clever charlatans, I feel depressed!
They are more interested in rich people,
Than in those who know the 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
Split their friends apart with malicious gossip.
Dishonest and crafty, they pretend to be nice[1].
They are not happy if things go well, and
Foment disagreements between people.
Seeing 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 are faithless, disrespectful, uptight and opportunistic[2].
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 uptight.
If you're poor, they think you're utterly worthless.
If you know Dharma, they 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 fakes
They consider good people --
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.
Just as a one-legged Chuta[3] would laugh at humans,
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 dopes --
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 by Konchog Tashi. Sarva Mangalam!]
Addendum, 1/1/2019: Regarding the circumstances of Longchenpa's composition of this and similar poems, see A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, by Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje, p. 102]
[1]kha gsags. For kha gsag TDC has, (1) kha gcang ngam tshig 'jam. (2) log 'tsho lnga'i nang gses shig ste/ rnyed bkur gyi ched du gzhan 'drid cing/ gzhan ngo dang mthun pa'i tshig smra ba'o.
[2] ma dad ma gus gyong po shing glag can
[3] Chuta is amythical place whose inhabitants have only one leg.
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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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, indeed, a good thing!
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 shed tears of despair, and feel depressed.
Closely observing the behavior of others
Is what made me depressed, so listen!
Externally refined, but most arrogant inwardly,
They loudly proclaim themselves venerable
Abbots, disciples and Lamas,
But don't practice Dharma, and chase after luxury.
Watching these clever charlatans, I feel depressed!
They are more interested in rich people,
Than in those who know the 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
Split their friends apart with malicious gossip.
Dishonest and crafty, they pretend to be nice[1].
They are not happy if things go well, and
Foment disagreements between people.
Seeing 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 are faithless, disrespectful, uptight and opportunistic[2].
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 uptight.
If you're poor, they think you're utterly worthless.
If you know Dharma, they 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 fakes
They consider good people --
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.
Just as a one-legged Chuta[3] would laugh at humans,
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 dopes --
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 by Konchog Tashi. Sarva Mangalam!]
Addendum, 1/1/2019: Regarding the circumstances of Longchenpa's composition of this and similar poems, see A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems: Biographies of Masters of Awareness in the Dzogchen Lineage, by Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje, p. 102]
[1]kha gsags. For kha gsag TDC has, (1) kha gcang ngam tshig 'jam. (2) log 'tsho lnga'i nang gses shig ste/ rnyed bkur gyi ched du gzhan 'drid cing/ gzhan ngo dang mthun pa'i tshig smra ba'o.
[2] ma dad ma gus gyong po shing glag can
[3] Chuta is amythical place whose inhabitants have only one leg.
Just great, I am going to post this now
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