Those who exhibit great passion for life are undeniably ones who never shrink back (from difficulty). Even if all the guns in the world were pointed at their chest, they would still stride proudly forward with their heads high, holding the truth in their hearts. The real reason for my admiration of Galileo lies not in his fame but in his courage to hold the truth in spite of those in power. While carrying out his life imprisonment in Rome, he was asked by one of his visiting students, “Someone once offered you a luxurious house as a gift. Why didn’t you accept it?” Galileo replied, “How could even the most beautiful house in the world compare to the truth in my heart?”
Determined to attain enlightenment and subdue his remaining arrogance while practicing under certain precepts, Tilopa decided to offer himself as a servant to a prostitute. For the following 12 years, he extracted sesame oil for her, never missing a single day. This eventually led to his great achievement. I’ve come to the conclusion that in this world it is not the scientists or artists who have beautified the souls of humanity, but the spiritual mentors such as Buddha Shakyamuni, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Confucius, Zhuangzi and Martin Luther King Jr. It is precisely the resolution of these Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and holy people, as well as their courage to persevere, that has brought about the transformation of so many peoples’ minds in this world. Whether one can become a person who truly makes an impact on others, then, depends solely on one’s perseverance and resolve.
From Shang Longrik Gyatso Rinpoche
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