Lama Zopa Rinpoche

We have been following the self-cherishing thought from beginningless rebirths until now
and because of that we have been suffering. We have lived our life with the self-cherishing
thought; we have followed the self-cherishing thought. The self-cherishing thought has been
like our parents, like our guru. And because we have followed it we have been suffering in
samsara for countless lifetimes. That is what has been happening and will continue to
happen if we don’t transform our mind. The suffering of samsara will be endless. Therefore,
while we have this life where we have all the opportunities to learn and practice, we must
practice the Dharma and generate the ultimate good heart, bodhicitta.
The Buddha transformed his mind. He was the same as us, beset with all the same problems,
the same relationship problems, selfish thoughts, negative emotions and so forth. Just like
us, he suffered in samsara from beginningless rebirths. But the Buddha managed to change
his mind from cherishing the self to cherishing others. He achieved ultimate happiness,
enlightenment, sang-gyä, the cessation of all obscurations and completion of all realizations.
This is something we have not yet done. By following the self-cherishing thought, the
suffering of samsara has not ended. If we don’t do something in this life to change that by
developing a good heart, the ultimate good heart, bodhicitta, then the suffering of samsara
will probably become endless.
That is what Shantideva means when he asks us to compare ourselves to the buddhas. Look
at the difference. From having so many problems, like us, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha
became the “Mighty One,” the Buddha, whereas we are still suffering sentient beings.
Shantideva also mentioned,
If I do not actually exchange my happiness
For the sufferings of others,
I shall not attain the state of Buddhahood
And even in cyclic existence shall have no joy. 14
Unless we give others our happiness and take their suffering upon ourselves we will be
unable to completely transform our mind and so will not be able to eliminate all the
obscurations and complete all the realizations. In other words, we won’t be able to achieve
the highest goal. Furthermore, while we are trapped in samsara there is no real happiness.
Leaving aside happiness in future lives, by following the self-cherishing thought even our
work for this life will fail.
Because of the self-cherishing thought we have to experience so many obstacles, such as not
succeeding in what we do, being unable to find a job and so forth. That is the result of our
karma, from past lives or this life, of being jealous of others’ success or not letting them have
success. The motivation was the self-cherishing thought, thus creating jealousy and causing
us to harm others in order to steal their success. Even if we are able to find a job, no matter
how hard we work we are unable to succeed. In that way, cherishing the I ensures we will fail
in whatever we do.
If we renounce self-cherishing and cherish others instead, if we practice patience and
compassion for others, then the numberless sentient beings receive no harm from us. That is
peace and happiness. That is what every one of them receives from us. And, as I have just
30