For those who hold vows
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear Pastors Moh Mei, Jean Ai, Shin, Yek Yee,
As spiritual aspirants (monks/nuns to be, Pastors representing the dharma, lay students who have taken refuge vows for enlightenment) it is very important we distinguish ourselves from ordinary lay people. We have have heard the dharma, know the truth of existence and understand the methods. We have to be different BECAUSE we have heard, know the truth and understand the dharma. So when we aspire by taking vows and focusing our minds towards enlightenment it is the direct outcome of our sincere aspirations. Sincere commitments arise from sincere aspirations. When the aspiration is sincere, then our commitments for it is easier. When we have sincere aspirations, then anything that challenges us will be seen as a method to curb the mind and not as an impossible hurdle.
When we take vows of any type, especially when we aspire to be monks/nuns, we are distinguishing in our mind stream and the mind stream of others our wish to be spiritually advanced. We wish to conquer ourselves. We wish this advancement for the sake of ourselves and the many others. We start with ourselves. But time is of the essence as we don’t have much of it. To take vows is to consciously eliminate the stimuli that would further reinforce negative habits and also to cut them. Vows is the key. As negative stimuli are the true source of all of our unwanted sufferings and they delay if not stop our spiritual growth. Our vows are to cut specific and general stimuli such as procrastination, forgetfulness, laziness, miserliness, ego based decisions, self gratification and the related. When these are cut or under control, then our actions and behavior are different naturally. Our actions will lead to improvement both for self and inspire others around us. We are to develop compassion, tolerance patience, hard work, ethics, right view, promises, consistency, stability, keeping words of honor and the likes as the correct stimuli and the vows we have taken are the keys. Cutting out wrong stimuli will serve to not worsen our mental state but ‘dry up’ the lake of samsara as the river which feeds it is diverted. Wrong stimuli is like toxic water from a factory going into a lake killing all the inhabitants of the lake slowly. Whereas correct stimuli (vows, promises, work, compassion, etc) is like fresh melted glacial water flowing into the same pond refreshing and enriching the denizens of the lake. The lake is our mind. The denizens our spiritual growth. The water flowing in is the stimuli we feed are feeding this mind.
For our spiritual growth and for us to increase the sangha, it all depends on feeding our minds with right stimuli by guarding our vows as we would our eyes. To keep our promises, do our work well and be consistent are the formulas for this to happen. (Some have requested to to take vows and that is wonderful. But hold the vows now, and ‘prove’ you really wish to do so to yourself and your teacher).
The whole reason to be a monk, nun, Pastor or sincere dharma student, is to cut the wrong stimuli immediately and that itself is not the goal but a correct path to reach our goals. Do not think transformation is the goal, but it is the tool in which we can use to reach our goal of mind awakening. So do not limit ourselves to say we are improving as that is not the goal but just a tool. Be vigilant of our minds.
Therefore holding the simplest of promises to the most ‘complex’ is possible when our determination arising from true aspiration is in place. As monks and nuns to be it is crucial that we are not reminded of our duties, our promises, our behavior and what work we are suppose to perform on a very fundamental level. As when we are reminded it sends the wrong habitual stimuli to our mind making our change of dress no different than before we changed our dress and shaved our heads.
As monks and nuns to be and Pastors, it is very important we keep our words of honor and our integrity especially with our dharma brothers and sisters and teacher. It is just as important for all spiritual aspirants in fact. Spiritual awakening is for all and not just sangha…it’s just sangha take the extra step and quicken the promise when keeping vows. Vows protect from wrong stimuli. As monks and nuns-to-be our wish to renounce negative stimuli is signified by our hair cutting, donning the robes and changing outer behavior. If our outer behavior is only subject to cutting our hair and wearing robes and nothing further, than we have used our greatest opportunity as perhaps another comfort zone for our ego to elicit respect, protection, support or the likes perhaps?
Therefore it is most important for sangha to be that we release our negative stimuli and immediately adopt positive stimuli as you have taken your vows already and also you are the leaders of the community or close to it. Leaders are not people who give orders, but people who show others that sangha (and dharma) is something worth to support because they focus all their time on development of the inner which reflected in their consistency, forthrightness, diligence, patience, compassion and tolerance. This is reflected in our work. Our work must reflect the correct stimuli. We want to cut from our mind all wrong stimuli and feed it correct stimuli so development occurs and each year we get closer to our spiritual goals as opposed to stagnancy or worse yet, degeneration.
As sangha to be we must make this preparation time or training time REALLY TRAINING TIME and not be lax. When we finally (due to tremendous merits) don the maroon robes, we have elicit admiration, respect and the folded hands of others because THEY KNOW WE HAVE WORKED TOWARD BEING WORTHY OF THIS. We plant the seeds of virtuous sangha in their minds. So there is no time to waste. Impermanence contemplations should kick in here. Our many years alive on this earth should not have served as time to cement our negative habits (stimuli) but age into wisdom and inspiration for others.
I am very happy and rejoice for those of you who keep even the simplest of my requests such as social media as among some of your assignments and duties. I see you five Pastors consistently on social media promoting events, activities, practice, our lineage, KFR, Kechara, and using different methods to do so. It warms my heart. Even when I am physically far away you make offerings of practice to me (labeled as your teacher) of doing something as simple as CONSISTENT SOCIAL MEDIA without reminders. Although outwardly making offerings to your teacher seems like it’s for the teacher, it’s really for yourself because the outer teacher leads to the inner teacher. Consistency is the offering in this case. You relieve the outer teacher to remind and therefore it is another plus point for your own inner teacher. This shows me the time I have spent with you has taken some positive effect in your mind stream and this gives me the GREATEST JOY AND REJOICE. I thank you. This creates causes to be near the dharma, hear the dharma, be near the teacher and the causes for dharma for ourselves. When we do the dharma we please the teacher. The outer teacher is the person who teaches us and the inner teacher is ourselves. When we please our inner teacher, then we gain courage, stamina, inspiration and blessings.
Keep up your social media and other works. I am very happy to see you on tweets (when I read them during my travels), fb and blog and see your participation. It really warms my heart in the cold climate of where I am currently.
Tsem Rinpoche
Although this message is for some specific people in Kechara, it applies to all persons who do their work with a compassionate heart diligently. We have many people in Kechara that work very hard and quietly behind the scenes and I appreciate them tremendously. I thank all of you so much. Some I may not always know how much you are doing, but I am sure it’s a lot. I thank you and offer my prayers. Kechara stands for benefit. We formed Kechara to bring benefit to others. We have to remember this always. To bring benefit to others. There are many obstacles and challenges, but all things that are good and benefit are like that. We cannot give up and we must let our better side win. Our better thoughts win. We must work towards that. Let the Dharma win. Let all those who need dharma win!
Bringing dharma to others really changes people’s lives. Also it is also this letter is good for people who are holding vows and the reasons behind it. Even if you are not involved in Kechara or working within Kechara, what I express here could apply to you also. I hope it helps.
I hope this short write up on vows benefits many others who are holding vows of any kind and or intend to. Vows are sacred, have karmic effects and help us in our integrity to others and ourselves. Integrity is the key to our future with others and ourselves.
Tsem Rinpoche
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In Buddhism, bodhicitta, is the mind that strives toward awakening, empathy, and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings. The practice of making vows exists in Buddhism. Taking vow to tame our desire and greed, being mindful when they arise in our heart and mind and taking care not to let them grow. Taking vow to overcome our stinginess by nurturing a heart of love for others and helping people in need. More so for disciplining one’s physical behaviour as well as not harming others . For those hold vows must be sincere and genuine. Rinpoche had encourages us to make vows that pertain to our spiritual practice. We vow to practice by putting our good thoughts in action, keeping ourselves on the path of doing good, and developing a heart of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. We’re in today, one in which the influence of Dharma is declining, making and upholding such vows is extremely important.
Thank you Rinpoche for this important teaching
Dear Rinpoche,
After two years down the journey with Kechara, I have realized the importance of social media, for I have benefited a lot from it. I used to read and social media Dharma stuff very often. However, since I’ve started working online, I’ve not been doing it quite often. Thanks to most of the Kecharians (especially those who are not even Pastors or Sangha to be) who consistently social media their works, Rinpoche’s advice or quotes, practices or latest blogposts every now and then. Due to their kindness and consistency, I am able to catch up the latest news from Kechara.
A big Thank You to all.
This brings to mind that people who have gotten the dharma, had studied and learnt the dharma from a qualified teacher their actions now must be different than before they met the teacher & dharma.
Consistency is more important than ‘talent’ or ‘potential’ for the dharma in my humble opinion, many people have great potential to be a force of dharma, but due to inconsistency and laziness, they do not realize their true potential.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this lovely message.
Rejoice to Pastor Moh Mei, Pastor Jean Ai, Pastor Shin and Pastor Yek Yee. Also appreciate to other pastors who have dedicated their time fully with tireless for the purpose to serve others and share the Dharma, especially on social media. Although I do not know well each of the pastors but I have learnt a lot from them via their social media sharing.
By holding vows and follow the 50 Verses of Guru devotion, the pastors and many students of Rinpoche also have kept their promise of commitments to share the dharma via social media consistently though Rinpoche is physically far away.
In order to achieve the attainments, we should see our guru is the same as the Buddha, always keep our words of honor, put whole-hearted effort and never transgress our guru’s advice. These are clearly stated in the 50 Verses of Guru devotion and also Lamrin. As such, we should not give up easily for the dharma no matter how much obstacles and challenges got to overcome.
Humbly,
Alice Tay
As a spiritual trainee I must thank Rinoche deeply for his short and inspiring write-up on vows benefits for us and many others who are holding vows. Integrity is of course undoubtedly the key to our future success with others and ourselves. We must also be prepared to endure hardships involved in any spiritual pursuit and be determined to sustain our effort and will power. As Rinpoche has mentioned there may be many obstacles and challenges which must be anticipated, but the key to a successful practice or to any multiple obstacle is never to lose our determination! Om Mani Padme Hung.
I remember Rinpoche has said that taking vows is to cut off focus on the outside, and to develop true altruism, to create the causes to hold sila. The reason is to get out of prison, to cut the causes to remain in the prison. May I have the good fortune to be a candidate for more vows and achieve the perfection of ethics.
“Although outwardly making offerings to your teacher seems like it’s for the teacher, it’s really for yourself because the outer teacher leads to the inner teacher. Consistency is the offering in this case. You relieve the outer teacher to remind and therefore it is another plus point for your own inner teacher.”
This is the essence of having a guru. I remember Rinpoche told us many years ago that the day guru meets the disciple, is the day the guru trains the disciple to be independent from the guru. The guru’s function is to guide the disciples towards Enlightenment.
Consistency is one of the key components to adopting positive stimuli and letting go of negative stimuli. As with any person of success, consistency is one of the key ingredients to their success. This is one of the qualities that Rinpoche always instill in us.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for giving us the valuable and profound teaching of holding to our vows and bring benefits to others through Dharma works. Based on my level of understanding, our inner motivations and sincerity lead to our outer actions that resembles the cause and effect, whereby the stimuli coming from the outside of us will affect our inner mind, behavior and inner motivation whether it is good or bad. Hence, by taking and holding to vows in Dharma, it will act as a shield or armor to prevent and stop the wrong stimuli from entering into our mind stream which can lead us deeper into samsara and sufferings due to our own deluded mind and negativities.
Thank you Rinpoche. May Rinpoche live long and stay in good health all the times.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
It is an extremely heartwarming message from a high lama writing to his students. I can feel the loving kindness and care through the words. The guidance and advice, the encouragement and nurturing are so very touching. The only thought that come to my mind is “Rinpoche is like the father caring for His only child.”
This message makes me realize the true meaning of holding vows and the effect on our outer behavior.
I also understand more on why it is extremely important to be consistent on our spiritual path.
And, it is hard work on being a worthy sangha / sangha to be.
Thank You so much, Rinpoche, for sharing this message with us. Please take care in the cold weather.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Now, we have heard the dharma, being taught the truth of existence and shown the path to enlightenment, we have to be different because we now know the method to curb our mind and transform ourselves. Hence, we shall aspire by taking vows and focusing our minds towards enlightenment. Here, Rinpoche mentioned that “to take vows is to consciously eliminate the stimuli that would further reinforce negative habits and also to cut them.” Holding our vows well means cutting out negative stimuli (pollutant or toxic) from entering into the lake (our mind), thus, freeing our mind up to adopt positive stimuli e.g. focus our time and effort on developing the inner qualities – consistency, forthrightness, diligence, patience, compassion and tolerance.
Thank you very much, Rinpoche, for this clear and concise Dharma teaching.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Dear Rinpoche,
This article is very informative and this is what i had learnt from it.
1.Sincere commitments arise from sincere aspirations. When the aspiration is sincere, then our commitments for it is easier. When our motivation is sincere when doing dharma work, we will be able to overcome obstacles especially inner obstacles.
2. To take vows is to consciously eliminate the stimuli that would further reinforce negative habits and also to cut them.Taking vows are not done to restrict our freedom and punish ourselves with rules. On the contrary, taking vows will set our mind free and protect ourselves from doing negative action that will harm us.
3.The whole reason to be a monk, nun, Pastor or sincere dharma student, is to cut the wrong stimuli immediately and that itself is not the goal but a correct path to reach our goals. Spiritual practice is about changing ourselves to be better people by removing bad habis and traits in us. Mind trasnformation is very core of spiritual practice which can lead us to enlightenment.
Humbly,
Chris
Your words of advise are going deep in me and bring me back to who I am. Endless gratitude and deepest respect to Rinpoche always.
Dear Rinpoche,
thank you for your precious words, they really hit my heart core. long live Rinpoche._/\_
I recall something Rinpoche mentioned perhaps not directly to me to someone who told it to me and that is if we don’t want to hold vows, then we want to harm others. Can’t argue with that actually. If we keep to any vows, then the chances to break everyone vow is very high. If we harm others there is no way anything can protect us.
Thank you Rinpoche for this important teaching. We must be sincere in our aspiration as sincerity enforces our determination to commit. When we are aspired to take vows, it is a step to conquer and advanced ourselves to consciously eliminate stimuli that reinforce negative habits in us. To hold the promises, we must be diligent in doing our work and consistent in our actions, would in return help us in our integrity and be able to benefit not just ourselves but many others.
Thanks for Rinpoche’s sharing. Holding vows stop us from thinking of harming others. This is not a restrictions on our actions, yet it form a protection for us not generating any more negative karma. The Pastors are working very hard and show as a good example to promote Kechara, Rinpoche and Gelup lineage, i salute to them . It touch my heart when Rinpoche mention” we form Kechara to bring benefits to others”, this will in my heart and put into actions to benefit others.
Yup Grace, agree with u…
“Holding vows stop us from thinking of harming others. This is not a restrictions on our actions, yet it form a protection for us not generating any more negative karma.”
We should follow to at least prevent for new Negative Karma hence use our limited times in this life time to gain more Merits to purified our countless previous life Negative Karma.
Salute to Rinpoche, Pastors, all monks and nuns ect that holding so much vows everyday.
It is so important for us to examine our aspirations and motivation from the beginning and continuously to ensure that they are sincere and genuine. Until we finally develop proper motivation and true aspirations, our efforts will be inconsistent and perhaps erratic too
I was very afraid of taking the refuge vows years back just like a lot of new friends now. But now I totally agree that the vows are not meant to restrict us but a way to consciously eliminate the stimuli that reinforce our negative habits that create further sufferings to us.
Human rebirth is precious and rare and time is short too. It would be foolish not to use this human body to waste this precious opportunity to develop our mind and benefit others now that we have met the Holy Dharma. Worst still if we use it to further cement our negative habits and convince others to do so.
Rinpoche, thank you very much for the precious reminders and guidance. They are making my head spin (but in a very good way!) I promise to follow these advice to heart.
Holding vows seems so restrictive and controls what we want to do. This is the mind set of most people and as such many promises are broken and consequences of such broken promises are devastating at the very least. But with selfishness in our mind stream, all is alright as long as we are alright, without due consideration to how we have others in their state of mind.
From my personal experience, my practice of holding to my vows had made live easier for me to deal with what I like and dislike as I look less into what I experience but the consequences of my actions as to whether I will be able to leave someone in a better place.
There are moments, I do not practise and hold my vows strong enough and regret the consequences of my reactions to people, events etc. This create regrets and sadness in me.
In conclusions, holding onto vows will be very liberating to our mind to have peace and comfort with ourselves.
Thank you, Rinpoche for this teaching as to the importance of vows both for our Wonderful group of Monks/Nuns to be and our Pastors and most of all to all Kecharians. Holding onto our vows will make Kechara a place to benefit.
Dear Rinpoche,
I really love your closing when you said “The outer teacher is the person who teaches us and the inner teacher is ourselves. When we please our inner teacher, then we gain courage, stamina, inspiration and blessings.” Here’s to pleasing both our inner and outer teachers.
With folded hands.
Dear Rinpoche,
The taking of vows is to tame the mind. To set a path that one could follow to cultivate enlightenment. For those who are purely on this religious path, then, it would make complete sense. Vows are needed to train the mind to accept the journey on this pathless path.
On the other hand, for those who are not serious about spiritual transformation and cultivation but look at a religious practice as merely a means to escape his hardships and failures, then, vows, rules and regulations are a threat to the ego and thus rejected.
Ultimately, the internal changes in a person are crucial to the acceptance of vows.
Thank you for this profound essay and email.
With folded hands,
Wendy
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this and for reminding us about how important vows are. I truly think that vows in general can make us better people. They help us be kind to others and be compassionate and thoughtful in every way. I look at vows like instructions and how to be happy.
I used to think that vows are like a prison that keep us within the 4 walls & block all our freedom in life. After taking my refuge vow years ago & trying my very best to hold the vows, sometimes ok but sometimes not….As years passed my feeling was quite the opposite, especially when I am stuck with difficult situation trying to make the right decision, I reflect on the vows to guide me along. It is not about right or wrong but it helps to make the situation easier & more pleasant for everyone.
When we practice holding the vows we will experience the benefits & then holding the vows is no longer a challenge. I rejoice for the Pastors, monk & nun to be & those who are holding theirs vows because vows are the methods to make us a better person & free us from the misery that we experience in life & bring us with joy,unregretful feeling & peace.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this valuable teaching & I shall continue to hold the vows with my very best effort so that to inspire others to do the same.
With folded hands!
Why take vows? As said, it is to distinquish ourselves from others, to eliminate our negative habits and to cut them off so as to become spiritually advanced. We are to develop compassion, tolerance, patience, ethics, right-view, consistency and keeping our words of honour. Negative habits, such as laziness, procastination, miserliness, ego-based delusions and self-gratification should be eliminated. We are to treat our mind as a lake, the denizens our growth, the water flowing in is the stimulus we feed to our mind. We must be vigilant of our mind constantly! Enlightenment is said to be no longer a myth. It does exist and workable. By our taking of the vows, we have somewhat made a commitment that we are going to develop this ambitious project by working very hard towards enlightenment in order to make it come true, through our Guru devotion! Om mani padme hung!
Oh wow… Nice to see Uncle Eddie posting on Rinpoche’s blog. I hope you are reading this. Good that you are constantly on Rinpoche’s blog. I hope everything is great in your life and that you are doing your mantras and sadhanas daily along with your wife. It is great that we do Dharma work to curb our negativities and the best is to do it to our old age and where we can grow old gracefully in the Dharma thus inspiring many people.
The vows that we hold initially may seem to bring inconveniences in life as it directly counter our’s old habituation of being lax, unethical, being a miser… when we had heard the holy Dharma, understand it, agreed upon it and had the wish to be free from our’s self created problems that bring suffering and also effected others that are dear to us. we go for refuge to the Three precious jewels with aspired mind to stop performing these unbeneficial actions and to bring benefit to others.
The vows we received from our preceptor/guru who is the embodiment of Three jewels is the beginning of an unlearning process while we learn to practice the new beneficial one.
Hence it leads to more freedom rather than what that bond us in cyclic suffering.
The pastors and others that hold to their commitment serve as role model to show for how the Dharma could be practice in contemporary era.
Dear Rinpoche,
Regardless whether we are a teenagers our adults, we tend to misinterpret /misused our roles as a human beings. Are we here to eat, sleep, drink ,be jolly and chasing after all materialistic objects and eventually as we get old and sick…..waiting for death to come? Often we tend to behave or hold to our vows when we are within the Dharma Centre premise and eventually, the moment we out in the samsaric world, automatically we will withhold or hesitate to adhere to the vows!! Therefore, I can regard that Kecharians are very fortunate to have a Guru to remind us from time to time and of course we cannot rely on the Guru constantly. Nevertheless, I am still trying hard to hold to the vows and apply the Dharma practice in my daily activities.
Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness. Please rest well and hope to see Rinpoche again.
With Folded Hands
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share this advice. I am glad that my work gives a little comfort to Rinpoche.
I recently read what Dromtonpa said about the demarcation between Dharma and non-Dharma:
“If it is a remedy against affliction, it is Dharma; if not, it is not Dharma. If it is at variance with all worldly people, it is Dharma; if it is in accord with the worldly, it is not Dharma. If its trace is positive, it is Dharma; if not, it is not Dharma.”
As always, my Lama, you have given explanations and commentary for the most profound texts in the form of simple & practical advice that is well suited for all of us at our level, to remind us that taking vows seriously means consciously eliminate the stimuli that would further reinforce negative habits.
I will remember this always and as Rinpoche said, and not be contented with the wrong view that this is a goal, but merely a tool.
Please take care Rinpoche.
Thanks very much, Rinpoche, for this timely teaching n reminder. Wt folded hands n deepest gratitude, Sofi
Thank you Rinpoche for a great teaching on the spiritual significance of holding our vows and commitments and thank you to the Pastors for showing exemplary behaviour for all Kecharians. Rinpoche has a wonderful way of bringing technical Dharma to the understanding of everybody.
Rinpoche’s emphasis on commitments is somewhat lacking in most teachings because it was a given in the Tibetan environment. However, in today’s world of exposure to various different teachers and their lineages, it has become of paramount importance. This is also due to the fact that distractions these days are many and focussing and keeping our commitments has become a rarity.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this insightful explanation on how vows help us to dry up the samsaric lake. Much too often we do not realise this because we are drowning in it and yet we think it is ok. We cannot even see the difference and do not realise we are actually drowning/suffering.
Last time when people hear this word “vows” it is something that scares people off but now with the Pastors taking on more vows than the norm refuge vows, it inspires people to want to take on more and do more and truly understand the meaning of vows.
It is a misconception of our ignorant mind to think that vows are suffocating and causes us to be in “prison”. For us who have such thoughts, we are deeply truly suffering, it is almost like someone saying, continue torturing me, slicing me, it is okay because I do not want to get better. It’s like a mental patient trying hard consistently to commit suicide. So really there is no point and no help can be really given to someone like that. It is very sad and we can only hope one day this person will have some merits to see the light of true freedom and happiness.
Thank you Rinpoche for the reminder that Kechara is for the benefit of all the sentient beings out there from time to eternity.
Thank you so much your courage.
Dear Rinpoche,
I will remember my vows and commitments to Rinpoche.
Thank you for the write up about holding vows.
It will further strengthen my resolve to keep them.
Thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for reminding us about holding our vows no doubt about it is very difficult for some of us because our habituation but I must said I will try hard because this is the only way to release our own suffering.
I rejoice for all the Kecharians who work very hard and all the pastors who serve others tirelessly .
With folded hands
Shelly tai
Dear Rinpoche,
I will take this as personal advise. You have on many occasions repeated this advise and I would like to think that I have taken this advise to heart but I know that my practice have been at best mediocre. What I can say is that I am try very hard. I hope that, this advise need not be repeated for me and I will keep my vows sincerely and walk the paths for myself with others’ welfare as the motivation that is above myself. This, I must say is really difficult but I will apply the Dharma diligently.
From what I observe, I am quite amaze that all the Monks and Nuns to be and the Pastors seems to be transformed and on a mission these days (compared to before they took their vows). This shows that they have taken Rinpoche’s advise to heart. I rejoice.
Rinpoche, please rest well. Good Night! With folded hands!
Dear KH Ng, I am glad that you also noticed that all the Monks and Nuns to be and the Pastors seems to be transformed and on a mission these days (compared to before they took their vows). I did too. Their transformation must be apparent. Good for them. I rejoice.