Happiness and Misery, Drawing the Line

Someone who rests in the act of self-recognition
And is therefore in contact with basic reality
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner chasing after delusion
Caught up in creating a welter of suffering
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who rests in a state which is not artificial
Is unchanging and pure in the midst of whatever occurs
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


For a Dharma practitioner caught in events and reacting
Both likes and dislikes pile up all by themselves
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's realized appearance as dharmakaya
Has cut through the hopes and the fears and the hesitations
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content

A Dharma practitioner careless and full of pretenses
And not on top of the eight worldly dharmas at all
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who knows that everything is mind
Is able to use whatever appears as a resource
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner lost in this life's distractions
Will find a great deal to regret at the time of death
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's mastered a measure of realization
Can settle in natural mind's natural presence
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner shackled in lots of desires
Who is self-indulgent and scrounging for attention
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


The one for whom labels are freed on the spot where they're forming
Has an unbroken flow of insightful experiences
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content

A Dharma practitioner caught in conventional terms
Will not gain conclusive discernment applying to mind
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's given up worldly pursuits and involvements
Is free of self-interest and narrow-minded objectives
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma person whose struggle is geared to provisions
Whose only perspective is caring for family and friends
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's turned from attachment from within
With the realization that everything is illusion
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner taking a path of distraction
Who sells his own body and speech into slavery
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who rides on the horse of diligence
Will go through the levels and travel all freedom's paths
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content

A Dharma practitioner shackled in laziness
Will sink like an anchor into the brine of samsara
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's listened, reflected and cut hesitation
Then meditates on the panorama of mind
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner claiming to practice the Dharma
Whose way of behaving is really a case of wrongdoing
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's cut through the hoping and fearing and doubting
And rests in the natural state without interruption
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


A Dharma practitioner led by the nose by the others
Who flatters and humors them just to get their applause
This is a person unhappy at any time
This is a person who's always miserable


Someone who's left the cares of this life behind
And is always engaged in practicing excellent Dharma
This is a yogi and happy at any time
Someone like this is a yogi and always content


Under the guidance of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, translated and arranged by Jim Scott, Tibetan page 616. Translation copyright 2012, Jim Scott

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Know this life to be like a dream.
See the mind’s unborn nature.
Aspire to be of benefit to others.

– Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
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