By: Ven. Gendun Rinpoche of the Buddhist tradition
Contributed by: Henry Clarke
Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower,
but is already present, in open relaxation and letting go.
Don’t strain yourself, there is nothing to do nor undo.
Whatever momentarily arises in the body mind has
no real importance at all, has little reality whatsoever.
Why identify with and become attached to it, passing judgement
upon it ourselves?
Far better to simply let the entire game happen on its own,
springing up and falling back like waves –
without changing or manipulating anything –
and notice how everything vanishes and reappears, magically,
again and again, time without end.
Only our searching for happiness prevents us from seeing it.
Its like a vivid rainbow which you pursue without ever catching,
or a dog chasing its own tail.
Although peace and happiness do not exist as an actual thing or place, it is always available and accompanies you every instant.
Don’t believe in the reality of good and bad experiences;
they are like today’s ephemeral weather, like rainbows in the sky.
Wanting to grasp the ungraspable, you exhaust yourself in vain.
As soon as you can open and relax this fist of grasping,
infinite space is there – open, inviting and comfortable.
Make use of this spaciousness, this freedom and natural ease.
Don’t search any further.
Don’t go into the tangled jungle looking for the great awakened
elephant who is already resting quietly at home
in front of your own hearth.
Nothing to do or undo.
Nothing to force.
Nothing to want.
Emahao! Marvelous! Everything happens by itself.
