HH 17TH KARMAPA

In my present situation, I have nothing tangible to give back to anyone. People often come to see me with high hopes for what I can do for them. Mostly I have one simple thing to give: from my heart I offer them my love and my hopes for their happiness. Even when there is little else I can offer, I truly wish to know the answer when I ask, “How are you? How do you feel? How is your mind? Are you well these days?” In earlier times, there seemed to be a genuine concern when asking, “How are you?” Now, this often seems like a mere formal­ ity. People might not have any real interest in hearing the answer to that question. Instead, what they really want to know is: “How is your business going? How much are you worth? What can you do for me?” Though there may be nothing tangible I can do for the people I meet, I can concern myself with their well-being. In a world where so little importance is placed on genuinely caring for others, and where true love and compassion seem to be rare, maybe this can have some value. The fact that there is one person in the world who cares and feels love for them does seem to touch people deeply. In a world of too little love, I can see that even just that simple expression of love makes a deep impression on people. It brings some real happiness. Just asking and earnestly waiting to hear how people feel en­ tails a very small shift in behavior. But it could help us cultivate a habit of connecting heart to heart, and of sincerely caring for oth­ ers. I think that on a larger scale, too, the attitude of inquiring and listening attentively to what others feel and need forms a sound basis for any social action. It is a way to ensure that love infuses all that we do to benefit others.

~~~

HH 17th Karmapa 

Book The Heart is Noble

Shambala publications