Khenpo Sodargye - Tales for Transforming Adversity: A Buddhist Lamas Advice for Lifes Ups and Downs

About the Author

Khenpo Sodargye was born in Tibet in 1962 in what is today the Sichuan province of China. He spent his early years herding yaks, and after attending Garze Normal School, he entered Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Serthar, becoming a monk under the great Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. He is now one of the leading scholars of that institute, the fastest-growing Buddhist monastery in China today. He has been especially effective at popularizing Tibetan Buddhism among Han Chinese students, with numerous bestselling books, and he regularly speaks at universities in Asia and the West.

Id like to think that Tales for Transforming Adversity may cause some people to rethink their life. It is not a panacea for every spiritual ill, but I hope that it may bring peace and joy to some peoples minds in this turbulent age.
Khenpo Sodargye

One of the worlds most popular Tibetan lamas shares accessible advice for working with adversity and living a spiritual life.

Enjoy a variety of meditations on topics from flattery and jealousy to karma and compassion. In each brief chapter Khenpo Sodargye weaves in stories from ancient classics and modern headlines. Drawing on adages from the Buddha, Confucius, and even Mark Twain, he delivers simple and timeless insights about facing adversity and developing a good heart.

With this English-language edition, you can now join the tens of millions who have already benefitted from this ageless advice on money, relationships, mortality, and more.

KHENPO SODARGYE was born in Tibet in 1962 in what is today the Sichuan province of China. After spending his early years herding yaks, he is now the preeminent scholar of Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Serthar. He regularly speaks at universities across the globe.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Even the greatest among us have shortcomings, and those limited in their capacities have strengths. Theres no point in comparing your shortcomings with the virtues of others. Those others might believe they could never match you in certain ways. The Daoist philosopher Zhuangzis Autumn Floods says:

The one-footed yak wished it were a millipede because a millipede can walk. The millipede wished it were a snake because a snake can slither very fast. The snake wished it were the wind because the wind can move even faster. The wind wished it were as swift as eyesight. Eyesight, however, wished it were the mind, since the mind can move in less than an instant.

Buddhist scriptures say that the mind is the swiftest of all things. The point is that, when comparing yourself with others, since theres always someone better than you at something, dont be overly inflated, and since even the greatest have weaknesses, dont be overly self-critical. As it is said, A foot has its shortness; an inch has its length.

A fable illustrates this. Once, a little mouse wanted dearly to be strong and brave. Looking up at the sky one day, the mouse was struck by its vastness and thought that the sky must be the strongest thing that there was. It called out, Sky, you must not be afraid of anything. Im so very small. Could you help me be strong and brave?

The sky replied, I am afraid of some things. Im afraid of dark clouds. When they cover me up, I cant see anything.

So the little mouse concluded that dark clouds were even stronger than the sky. It found a dark cloud and said to it, Cloud, you can cover the sky and block out the sun. You must be the strongest thing in the world. You must not be afraid of anything. Im so very small. Could you help me be strong and brave?

The dark cloud said, I am afraid of strong winds. I work hard to cover the sky, but when the wind comes, Im blown away.

So the little mouse went to the wind with the same question. The wind answered, I am afraid of walls. I cant go through them, so walls are stronger than me.

So then, of course, the little mouse went to see a wall and asked, Wall, you can stop the wind. Are you the strongest thing in the world?

The walls answer stunned him: Not at all. What Im most afraid of are mice! They can make holes in me, and enough of those can make me collapse.

The little mouse rolled over in astonishment. Ive looked everywhere, searching the world for the strongest thing, but it turns out that actually it is me!

It is a mistake to look at the strengths of others and conclude that were worthless. Often we dont realize how powerful we are.

If You Seek the Wrong Thing, Misery Follows

All things are impermanent. Everything, including our body, wealth, reputation, and relationships, will change. We also dont keep these things when we die. Only our mind stays with us through life and death.

Long ago there was a merchant who had four wives. He was very fond of his fourth wife and would do whatever she asked. He had struggled to win the heart of his third wife, so he always kept her with him and spoke sweetly to her. His second wife was his confidante, and he spoke to her every day. His first wife was like a maid, following his every word without complaint, but she didnt have a real place in his heart.

Once, the merchant was preparing for a long trip and asked each of his wives if they would go with him.

The fourth wife simply refused to go.

The third wife said, If even your favorite wife wont go, why should I?

The second wife said, Ill see you off, but I dont want to go someplace far away.

Only the first wife said, Wherever you go and however far it is, Im happy to go!

What does this mean? His fourth and favorite wife represents the body. While we are alive, we see it as the most important thing we have, but at the time of death, it wont go with us. The third wife represents our wealth. No matter how hard we work to get it, at the time of death we cant even take a penny. The second wife represents our friends and relatives. When we die, at best they shed some tears and bury us. The first wife represents our mind. Its the closest thing to us but also the most easily neglected, since we would rather invest all our energy in external things.

This is why a master once said, We have so many strange ideas: we cant wait to grow up, but then we lament our long-lost childhood. We make ourselves ill earning money, but then we spend it all on getting better. Death always seems a long way off, but when we die, it seems as if life was too short. We constantly worry about the future and ignore the happiness of the present moment.

If we understand that all things change they come into being when conditions arise and come to an end when conditions cease then even what we have right now will seem marvelous. We will stop madly pursuing fame and worldly gain, and when misfortunes plague us, we wont fall into desperation. In short, if we get used to change and accept it, it will prevent us from blaming others for our problems and let us relax our bodies and open our minds.

Optimism and Pessimism

Not long ago, a lay student of mine gave me a call and said, Khenpo, Ive been listless and depressed recently and have been thinking that a change of scenery might do me good. This reminded me of a story.