“Give up envy.

Renounce the desire to triumph over others.

E,

Instead, try to benefit them.

With kindness and courage,

Confident that in doing so,

you will find success,

Welcome others with a smile.

Be honest and impartial.

Treat everyone as if they were a close friend.

I’m not saying this as the Dalai Lama,

or as someone with special powers or abilities.

I don’t have any.

I speak as a human being,

Someone like you,

Who wants to be happy and doesn’t want to suffer.

If,

For whatever reason

you can’t help others, at least don’t harm them.

Think of yourself as a tourist.

Think of the world as seen from space,

So small and insignificant and yet so beautiful.

Can you really gain anything from harming others during your stay here?

It’s not preferable,

And more reasonable,

To just relax and enjoy our stay,

as if we were visiting other places?

So,

If, while you’re enjoying the world, you have a moment, try to help, even a little, those whose misfortune has befallen you.

And those who, for whatever reason, can’t or don’t know how to help themselves.

Try not to turn your back on those who look strange, the miserable and the sick.

Try never to think of them as inferior.

If you can,

Try not to think of yourself as worth more than the humblest beggar.

In the grave we are all equal.”

To conclude, I’d like to share a little prayer with you,

which inspires me a lot.

in my quest to do good for others:

May I

– be at all times,

Today and always:

 

The protector of those who have no protection,

The guide for those who have lost their way,

A boat for those who have to cross oceans,

A bridge for those who have to cross rivers,

A sanctuary for those in danger,

A lamp for those who have no light,

A refuge for those who have no shelter,

And the servant of all those in need…

In this encounter with you, I think:

I don’t care what… you do for a living, I want to know what you’re actually looking for, and whether you’re capable of daring, dreaming, finding the aspirations of your heart.

I don’t care how old you are, I want to know if you’re capable of becoming a fool in order to love, to live your dreams, to venture to be alive.

I don’t care which planet is square to your moon, I want to know if you’ve already touched the center of your sadness, if you’ve been exposed to life’s betrayals or if you’ve been squirming and shutting down in fear of the next pain.

I want to know if you’re able to sit with the pain, yours and mine, without trying to hide it or make it better.

I want to know if you can stay with the joy, yours and mine.

If you can dance wildly and let the ecstasy envelop you, right down to the tips of your toes and hands, without wanting to advise us to be more careful, more realistic, or to remember the limitations of being human.

I don’t care if the story you tell me is true.

I want to know if you’re capable of disappointing the other person in order to be true to yourself, if you’re capable of withstanding the accusation of betrayal and not betraying your own soul.

I want to know if you can be trustworthy and true, if you can see beauty even when the day isn’t beautiful and if you can connect your life to the presence of GOD.

I want to know if you are capable of living with failures, yours and mine, and still prostrate yourself on the shores of a lake and shout at the reflections of the moon: “Yes”.

I don’t care where you live or how much money you make, I want to know if you’re capable of waking up after a night of mourning and despair, exhausted and wounded to the core, and doing what needs to be done.

I don’t care what it is or even how you got here.

I want to know that you will prostrate yourself with me in the center of the fire and not run away.

I don’t care where or with whom you studied.

I want to know what sustains you inside when everything else has collapsed.

I want to know if you’re capable of being alone with yourself and if you’re really good company for yourself, even in empty moments.

(Words of an Indian chief to outsiders arriving …)

(unknown author)