5· Alas for people in this age of residues! The mind's wholesome core of truth has withered, and people live deceitfully, So their thoughts are warped, their speech is twisted, They cunningly mislead others-who can trust them?
6. Alas! How depressing to see the beings of this degenerate age! Alas! Can anyone trust what anyone says? It's like living in a land of vicious man-eating demons - Think about it, and do yourself a big favour.
7· Not long ago, your consciousness was wandering alone. Swept along by karma, it took this present birth. Soon, like a hair pulled out of butter, Leaving everything behind, you'll go on again alone.
8. Of course what we want is our own good, So we have to be honest with our own selves: If we don't accomplish the essence of the Dharma for our own sake, Won't we be ruining our own life?
9· In this dark age, what people think and do is vile. None of them will help you, they'll deceive and trick you; And for you to be of any help to them will be hard; Wouldn't it be best to quit the whole rat race?
10.Though you serve your superiors, they will never be pleased; Though you look after your inferiors, they will never be satisfied; Though you care about others, they won't care about you. Think about it, and make a firm decision.
11. Being learned these days doesn't help the teachings - it just leads to more debate; Being realised these days doesn't help others -it just leads to more criticism; Being in a responsible position these days doesn't help govern the country well-it only spreads revolt. Think about these times with sorrow and disgust.
12. Though you explain, people miss the point or don't believe you; Though your motivation is truly altruistic, people think it's not. These days, when the crooked see the straight as crooked, You can't help anyone-give up any hope of that.
13· "All phenomena are like magical illusions," said the Buddhas; But these days the illusions are more illusory than ever, Trickeries conjured up by devious illusionists- Beware of the illusions of this degenerate age's ways.
14. "All talk is like an echo," said the Buddhas, But these days it's more like the re-echo of an echo. What the echoes say and what they mean are not the same, So don't take any notice of these insidious echo-words.
15. Whoever you see isn't human, but a fraud; Whatever people say isn't right, but just lies. So since these days there's no one you can trust, You'd better live alone and stay free.
16. If your actions conform with Dharma, you'll antagonise everyone; If your words are truthful, most people will get angry; If your mind is truly good and pure, they will judge it a defect. Now is the time to keep your own way hidden.
(This whole text refers to the degenerate times but I only shared these verses as the rest speaks of reciting the mantra of Chenrezig (Bodhisattva of compassion) and thought it was best to omit. However, these specific verses seem quite apt for these times.)
Definitely quite apt for these times but we must not let their behavior stop us from serving mankind for our Father, many of the people here in this group weren't frauds but genuine seekers. If I had just thrown down my sword and found the effort to put out truth futile then I would have essentially placed a road block in front of those who are in search of knowledge and truth too.
"Now is the time to keep your own way hidden." ....I don't agree with the way these monks segregate themselves from society, I find it a bit of a selfish cop out and not even what Buddha taught. We are not here to only serve ourselves we are here to serve others. I'm not suggesting we throw pearls to swine but even the negative reactions of others when you are relaying truth is character building for the one relaying it. Remember what Jesus said to Paul when he warned Jesus that if he went to a certain place they would kill him, Jesus literally called him a servant of Satan because when you fear death more than your service to God you serve the Devil.
1: 17: One of the less easy tasks for the enlightened man is to develop the ability to genuinely assess the service to be rendered in return for the things, with which he has been endowed, and to serve without selfish hesitation. Each man has his particular place in the ranks of those who serve, and his own talents and possessions should be regarded as a means of enlarging the pool of common good and the advancement of mankind. Those who deny their obligations inflict a lonely, awful doom upon themselves.
1:18: As the weakness and faltering of any one man lessen the total of service rendered and retard the advance, it becomes the obligation of the strong to protect the weak, not in order that they should be shielded from things leading to their ultimate good, or to carry a burden they decline, but to help them towards the attainment of strength. The aim should always be towards increasing the total amount of strength and ability at the disposal of the whole. - (The Kolbrin Manuscripts - Celtic Texts of the Coelbook: Book of Wisdom - Chapter 1)
Point 11 in the Root text actually reminds me of all the idiots who rock up on your YouTube channel Dee and do their best to destroy the teachings by attempting to debate with you and when they lose they resort to criticism. Fucking idiots!
In the decadent age, male spirits will enter men's hearts;
Female spirits will enter women's hearts; Goblins will enter children's hearts; Samaya-breakers will enter the clergy's hearts.
There will be a spirit in every single Tibetan's heart.
When goblins are taken for gods, a time of suffering will come upon Tibet.
Padmasambhava (~749AD)
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This degenerate time is no time for boasting; It is a time for arousing determination. This is no time for holding high positions; It is a time for keeping to a humble place. This is no time for having servants and disciples; It is a time for living in solitude.
This is no time for taking care of disciples; It is a time for taking care of yourself.
This is no time for analysing the words; It is a time for reflecting on the meaning.
This is no time for being out and about; It is a time for staying in one place.
Atīśa (c. 982–1054)