Do you choose to fail?
Dear friends and students,
I received this email from a friend of mine recently and thought of sharing it with all of you because it is very inspiring.
Most of us have so much more than this man who fixes tyres. He makes no excuses, and he uses what he has to get on with life and just do it. Please carefully look at the pictures and pass it onto others. This man is incredible.
Whenever we want to complain, please think of this man. Never choose to fail. Because if you give it all you got and you still didn’t make it, you didn’t fail. Failure is attitude. Never choose to burdens others because you want to fail.
Do take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
This is really inspiring. Don’t forget to read the comments at the end. Silent inspiration: Punctured Tyre Repair.
Please forward this to all your friends.
Never believe what the lines of your hand predict about your future, because people who don’t have hands also have a future… Believe in yourself and don’t look down on others’ way of life, regardless… Take care.
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Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
Incredible ,high self esteem man who did manage to change or tyres using just his legs regardless of circumstances. Those with high self-esteem believe that they have the ability to succeed in whatever they come across. For this inspiring man ,he took the risk as he respect and believe in himselves.
He more likely to respect others, have fulfilling relationships, and lead productive and happy lives. It is all you can do in life is be who you are.
You cannot change what you are, only what you do…..quoted
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring man.
Looking at this picture of a very unfortunate man without arms, and yet still can use his feet to earn and survive on his on is truly inspiring. Normal people like us should think why we can’t do many things when we have normal abilities. Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for this touching and inspiring article.🙏
“Never believe what the lines of your hand predict about your future, because people who don’t have hands also have a future… Believe in yourself and don’t look down on others’ way of life, regardless… Take care.” This statement reminds me of always appreciate what we have and also don’t compared each one another. Everyone is unique and has their own capabilities. Thanks for the article.
Reading the article and looking at the pictures, is a great reminder for me not to complaint and be determined when we are task to do a work. The man in the pictures shows that we should not give up even though our physical form is not complete but make full use of what we have.
No matter what kind of pain, suffering or challenges we have, we just have to keep going. No point blaming and complaining. Just have to accept, move on and not burden any one with our negative attitude. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Looking at these pictures, the first thing that comes to mind is the admirable way in which the man in question handled his unfortunate fate in this lifetime. Rather than wallow in paralysing self-pity or being dependent on others, he opts to be self-reliant. It is also a testament of his will power and determination when he persevered to the point where he mastered the required skillset (of replacing tyres) which no easy feat considering his condition and the intricacies involved with his tasks. More significantly, is his current attitude in dealing with vicissitudes of life wherein his focus is moving forward with life rather than lament about something he can’t change. Therefore, it would not be farfetched to say that his acceptance of his fate enabled him to cope with the situation instead of being defeated or crushed by it. It really goes to show that one is the architect of one’s fate. Although what we have to deal with in life, be it adversities or pleasures, are primarily dictated by karma, the good news is that we are always in the position to do something about it. Just because we are in that situation now doesn’t mean we are powerless to effect change to how we experience this life and also to our future circumstances. Thank you for this sharing which served to remind us that the choice of suffering or otherwise, is ultimately up to us.
mortgagecrow Muchos Gracias for your article.Thanks Again. Fantastic….
I truly appreciate this article post.Much thanks again. Great….
Looking at these pictures it made me count my blessings and really reflect on how lucky I am to have all my limbs intake. This man has so little, is disable but he chose to be capable and to still be useful, independent and live. Nothing is worst then being alive and useless, and if we think we got it bad, we should look at this picture again.
So yes these pictures made me realise, if I have a complete human body and if I still choose to complain and be negative, I am then choosing to be useless and I am far more disable than this man in this picture. Like what Rinpoche always says, “healing starts with our attitude”. Basically it is really how we look at things and whether we want to take it positively or negatively, it really is all up to us and how we want to perceive the situation. It’s not about how many times you’ve failed and fall, it is what you do after the fall, what matters is picking yourself up and getting up again.
I am always amazed when I read articles like this. These people might be handicap physically, but they do not mould themselves to what the society think they can or cannot do. Most of us are abled bodied, yet we choose to just laze around and expect the world to give us everything that we need. Never once they would think that they could actually start small and work their way up. They would just blame everyone else about their failure, but never once they would have thought that they failed because it is because of their attitude that they have failed.
Through this article it is a classic example of that our attitude would make a difference, allowing us to either succeed or fail.
When I first saw this blog post and the question in the title, “Do you choose to fail?” the immediate thought that came into my head was “well yes, I guess I do!” because I do live so many of my days fearing that I’d fail that eventually, I do anyway.
The most important part of the sentence is the word “choose”, not the word fail… for really, it IS a choice. And I like what Rinpoche says here that, “if you give it all you got and you still didn’t make it, you didn’t fail.” But choosing to do nothing at all means we have already not accomplished anything or even started to step foot on the possibility of achieving something… so we’ve already failed on the outset. For with all the lovely perfect conditions I have in my life, I’m doing comparatively far less, with far less effort than this man simply because I have created limitations where they have been none and anticipated failures where they was no need to.
“This is all I have, I just have to deal with it.”
Although he has nothing, not even his own hands but he work hard by giving 300% from himself. He trained himself to used what he has to earn his own living. I am sure he do not have self pity, emotional or poor me attitude or he simply just do not have the time for that. After all he ever fail to depend on himself but no one else.
If someone like us can fail, yes we choose to.
What we think its impossible, this man see it as possible. We say this man has no hands, but this man replaced it with his feet to make a living! Amazing! We always put limitations on to ourselves because it’s easier to do that than to go all out to think of alternative ways to carry on a job. hopefully we don’t need to remember this man to remind us that we are meant to do great things with our lives!
I like reading inspirational stories, because they give me different perspectives and reminds me of beautiful things in this world and tell me that many things are possible if we want them, they give me hopes.
Many times we like to give excuses to ourselves, and so we end up not having to do anything. Sometimes, maybe what we need to have is just a thought and then put things into action. Too much thinking may not be good.
In a society where there is virtually no welfare system, people need to stand on their own feet. In this kind of environment, more inspiring and strong people emerge.
They are the good life examples for us.
人真正殘缺不在於身体，真正失败在於思维的殘缺。
He definitely does not let anyone stand in his way to be part of this world, inspiring stuff. Success and failure is ultimately in our own hands.
When someone with such a disability can do so much, it makes me think of what other things I can do with my fully abled body. Am I exploring my full potential?
The pictures says it all. Very inspiring.
如果有得選擇，我相信沒有人願意選擇失敗。因為，失敗的滋味並不好受，被稱為失敗者，相信也沒有多少個人願意的。所謂弱者當自強，身為失敗者或弱者，一定要往前看，不要再往後看了。為什麼?道理很簡單，因為不想被那失敗的不好滋味所包圍。
最近，與一些朋友聊天，他們對我說，我要擺脫失敗者这個稱號，唔，我覺得挺有意思的。我用自己的邏輯去分析，至少這是踏進成功門檻的第一步；因為我們承認了自己的短處，接受這樣差勁的自己，接受了；再去改變，效果往往大得很呢！詹仁波切的一句話：行動─>心識轉化─>成果。這該是每個失敗者必須了解的道理，不氣餒，不放弃，終有出頭天！！
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this eye-opener. As Lady Gaga’s song goes…I was born this way. In other words, we are all born in different ways. So the next time when we complain about work or are not happy with something, we must remember how fortunate we are, to have well-formed bodies and minds. May the less fortunate be blessed by the Buddhas…Om Mani Peme Hung…………………
sometimes people without the perfect physical actually has the perfect mind and heart of all. This picture is really touching and inspiring to myself, to see such a person with his disability, actually is not a hindrance to him, but it becomes an asset to him because he still have a pair of leg, and he uses it to its fullest potential, didn’t even gave up due to his condition.
But, being thrown at us a slightly difficult situation and condition, we will freak out, lose hope, demotivated, lose faith and worst felt useless and not meaningful to live anymore. If he can do it, If Nick Vujicic can live his life like a normal person even he is limbless, and being a motivational speaker, why couldn’t we.
Like what Rinpoche said before, what we are is what are mind thinks.
This man is really amazing for his great attitude and determination. I am always being fascinated by strong-willed people despite their physical limitations and conditions.
This story reminds me of a great US Olympic athlete in 1960…
“My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother”
La Perle Noire (“The Black Pearl”) Wilma G. Rudolph (June 23, 1940 – November 12, 1994) the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field in a single Olympic Games. She was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s.
Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at only 4.5 lbs and suffered infantile paralysis caused by the polio virus as a very young child. She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot which had become twisted as a result. Even after treatments to straighten her twisted leg, she had to wear a leg brace on from 6 to 9 years old. By the time she was twelve years old, she had also survived scarlet fever, whooping cough, chickenpox, and measles.
http://www.biography.com/people/wilma-rudolph-9466552
I remember from one of the scene in her bio movie, she was discussing her Olympic plan with her coach while she was still confined to wheel chair. Her coach said but your legs… then she replied, “Since when winning Olympic medals depends on legs?” She later proceed to win three Gold Medals at the 1960 Olympic Game in Rome.
Her remarkable recovery from severe physical disabilities and illness is due to her strong mind. Like our Rinpoche and the Buddha taught us, it is all in our minds – if we think we can do it, we can. Go all the way in everything we do, we will not fail…
Dear
Tsem Tulku Riponche,
Thank you.
This gentleman makes me feel good. I do look a his eyes full of joy , he is doing something for us. i do also enjoing doing something for others.
He is really wonderful, that is what i feel.
God bless him and You!
Thanks Rinpoche for the inspiring post. That is the real strength of human mind to overcome and compensate for physical disability.
Many valiant people, despite all the hindrances they faced being physically disabled have amazed the World with courage, determination, strength and amazing will. They managed to overcome all obstacles they faced and never let their disabilities come in their path of Glory! With determination these ‘EXTRAORDINARY BEINGS’ have made a difference in the lives of a lot of people. This wake-up blog reminded me of the World Famous Albert Einstein that I have read years ago, who became the greatest scientist of all time of the twentieth century. It seemed till the age of three he could not speak and was severely dyslexic and autistic. Soon he fought his disability and entered into the world of theoretical physics and he changed the face of physics and science forever. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s famous relevant Quote: “The greatest tragedy of life isn’t death, but what dies inside us when we are alive”. With folded hands, I thank you deeply Rinpoche, for this inspiring sharing and invaluable teachings!
The first thing that came to mind is: attitude.
Many much more privileged people get stuck or quit with smaller obstacles than this man. It shows us how much of ourselves we are wasting away in complaints and self-pity.
If we can just acknowledge the problem and move forward by taking action toward a solution, so much constructive energy and result can be created.
Rinpoche, thank you for sharing and the advise to remember this man whenever the thought of self-pity or complaint begin to arise. I believe it will help me develop a better attitude towards life in general.
This is sad to see the picture but 100% inspiring. Absolutely agreed that success or failure is a choice of our own commitment! The mind is much powerful than any physical structure but sad to say still many people out there think in an opposite way.
Thanks for sharing and may all the sentient beings possess strong and positive mind to benefit each others.
Take good rest always, Rinpoche. Thank you again 🙂
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for this inspiring blog post. This one cuts through the chase and no more excuses for me to not do things!
Thank you for this blog! “Don’t look down on others’ way of life”!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring story.
With these pictures clear enough to show all of us, nothing to complain about our life what’s not enough..etc
Anything is possible if we put our mind to it.
“Never believe what the lines of your hand predict about your future, because people who don’t have hands also have a future.” – Tsem Rinpoche
Man should never never never give up.Face it bravely and adapt and accomplish what we can. This man is a very very good example. Thank you Rinpoche. I will always keep in mind!!
Thank you Rinpoche for a wonderful inspiration. I have a lot of self-doubt and if this man who should have even more self-doubt could overcome it and make something of what he has, so could I and everybody else. Amazing inspiration.
This is very inspiring. He may be handicapped yet he does not complain or make excuses but make full use of what he has to survive and move on without any poor me attitude.
I like what MC says, limitations are in the mind. What we think of the man being handicapped is but only the physical aspect but for sure not his mind.
I have met many fully physically equipped human beings, not going anywhere in their lives and living in delusion of their failure being the fault of other people (not giving them a chance) environment (weather not right) etc etc. Suggest what, many times I am also one of these people I meet.
It comes to my mind this saying “a poor workman blames his tools”. So sad!
Classic case of people who just do it without grudges, complains and hate. No matter what happens, we just do it and take stories like this to be our inspiration.
This man has incredible strong will power, very inspiring! Can do or cannot do is all in our own minds.
This story reminds me of an old saying”I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet”. I have to stop giving excuses not to trying hard enough. Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing and always inspiring.
A truly inspiring article that puts us able bodied people to shame. As the saying goes: If the mind is willing, so is the flesh.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inpiring story with us. Yes, we should let our mind control our body and not our body control our mind.
It also serves as a remind to me that to appreciate & treasure the human body that i have now and do more and more.
thanks again Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this story with us. It is always humbling to see handicapped people who do not give in to their disabilities but fight every inch to live and survive.
It give a wake up call to “normal” people like us, what we are moaning about are all excuses…..just get up and do it should be our “attitude”. It is true we dont need to change tryes to survive, but we can use our fully intact body to do so much more to help and benefit those in need.
Infact in life, all it matters is about “attitude”. Shifting that “cannot” to “can” and “will not” to “will’ is all it takes to make a difference.
The saying goes: When there is a will, there is a way. Mind over matter. Very inspiring story! Now let’s see how many of us can put that into practice and be another inspiring being to others just as what this tyre changer did for us.
This man in his physical condition is supposed to be “incapacitated” but he is able to do what he does even better than we who have full faculties. He may be physically disadvantaged, but he still has a mind. Hence suffice to say it has to do with the mind, which gives rise to attitude and depending on the attitude, our actions arise. Thus what we can or cannot do is actually better described as what we want or don’t want to do.
Here is another story which my sister just shared with me after reading this post: http://newscontent.cctv.com/news.jsp?fileId=110259
This is a very humbling real-life story. And this man is not the only one in the world who doesn’t dwell on “poor me” despite having “less” than what most of us has. In fact, he has “more” than what a lot of us fortunate and privileged folks… determination and courage. The photos send a strong message: JUST DO IT.
Thank you so much for sharing Rinpoche. This is truly inspiring. He has no arms yet he is able to do what a full limbed person can do. He doesn’t use this as an excuse to beg instead he makes do with what he has. I have all four limbs yet I still make excuses. Something for me to reflect on. Mind over matter! Thank you Rinpoche..
Sadhu! to him. He is so self-reliance, with right mind set & effort he makes his life thro. Sad to see those physically perfect doing nothing or some begging. Wish everyone will have right attitude.
“Never choose to fail. Because if you give it all you got and you still didn’t make it, you didn’t fail. Failure is attitude. Never choose to burdens others because you want to fail.”
Thanks to Rinpoche for sharing this. Whenever I have negativity or nearly want to give up on something, Rinpoche always share out those articles that actually pull me back to the right path – think positive, fearless of accepting the failure and never give up easily.
I must transform to help others. 🙂
We should be grateful that we are complete physically. Need to cherish what we have and live with the right attitude and motivation. I will always bear this line in mind, always:’Never choose to fail. Because if you give it all you got and you still didn’t make it, you didn’t fail. Failure is attitude. Never choose to burdens others because you want to fail.’
I’m speechless. I shall stop complaining, moan & groan from henceforth !
Not only does this man have no hands, his right foot is also deformed. I have often seen people with disabilities giving up and waiting to be looked after. I have also seen people with disabilities wasting their lives away in anger and bitterness.
Our arms and legs are just instruments and what drives them is the mind. We can allow circumstances to determine the state of our mind or we can cultivate an attitude that determines our circumstances. In this example, because the man has the correct attitude, he may have some limitations but he is certainly not handicapped mentally and therefore he is also not handicapped physically.
Force to live circumstances this person didn’t give up hope and continue living. Once I saw someone who has only one leg doing sweeping for a shop owner. I thought, if it is me I might have been given up. What crosses their mind? They just moved on, I guessed. Very inspiring…
Amazing, and truly inspiring! Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this.