I am a simple monk from the eastern Himalayas,
Blessed by a guru who outshines the thousand buddhas.
Under his splendid compassion
I studied the precious Buddhist philosophy.
Neither do I have to shield kith and kin from worldly pleasure,
Nor do I have authority to manage their possessions—
Ordained in my youth,
I have no reason to do so.
No possessions to weed out the root of life,
No alcoholic spouse to be maddened by
And no child to plunder the food from my mouth,
I relish an incredible peace being alone.
Neither was I stricken by the shadow of mischievous friends,
Nor have I been afflicted by words of deception.
In this delightful and wondrous institute,
The breath of repose I take over again and again.
Inside the paradise-like classroom,
Under the unwaged masters,
I study the priceless sutra and tantric texts.
Now, I radiate in my heart the wholesome views majestically.
By Yegay Norbu
8th Year, NNI
