On the pervasiveness of Samsara. Given on two occasions.
by Khenpo Tashi
Samsaric Efforts are Endless
Ok, should we experience a big form of suffering to say that we are in Samsara? No. When we say Samsara, it doesn’t mean that we are physically suffering all the time.
There are good moments, great experiences, even in Samsara. All these luxuries, sweet music, these successes, these dreams. Yes, we also get fulfilled in Samsara. All these beauty, wealth and power and fame. Are these still Samsaric? Yes. Very beautiful Samsara.
Although we are not physically suffering, but we are planting the seeds of suffering for the future. Yes.
If we want to learn Buddhism properly and for the long-term, to really make some permanent change in our mindstream, then, we will have to challenge our clinging to Samsara all the time.
In Samsara, if you say that, “Ok, this is my last hardwork in Samsara”, you are joking yourself. Samsaric works and efforts will never end. That is why it is called “Never-Ending Samsara”.
You cannot say, “I will finish my Samsaric work first, then I will practice Buddhadharma later.” haha! Samsaric efforts have no end. Think about that.
Don’t blame others. Don’t blame your boss, your family, or your gadgets, for your busyness. This clinging and love for Samsara’s busyness – this love for emotional afflictions – these are your own habitual tendencies. Nobody else’s. Our own Samsaric habitual tendencies.
We Created Our Own Samsara
This attachment to Samsara, to worldly work and enjoyments, is one’s own solid habit of clinging to Samsara.
Generally, the characteristic of one’s Samsara is like this. One goes to the middle of an empty, barren land, wishing to practice the Buddha’s teaching. For example, going far away in a retreat setting, without any people, cellphones, games, business, haha. That is a joke.
Soon, without knowing it, with one’s Samsaric tendencies, one will continue building one’s Samsaric dreams there in that land. Soon, one will get distracted while meditating. One will miss one’s family and lover. One will feel bored. One will go crazy with one’s rollercoaster emotions. One will plan how to make the retreat house very beautiful, and so on.
Because Samsara is not outside of oneself, it is in one’s mindstream. One carries Samsara wherever one goes, even in isolated mountains or land.
So, in this place, in this moment now, one must try to cut one’s Samsara, to reduce that Samsaric habitual tendency inside oneself. One by one.
Don’t wish for a better situation or a future situation to fix these Samsaric tendencies inside us.