Ultimate Loyalty
Everyone, please watch this, please share this. This is the ultimate loyalty… When I saw this video, it just broke my heart. It is very touching how other beings without speaking can melt us down or teach us something. You don’t need to understand any language when you watch this.
This dog refused to leave his fellow canine friend, who was injured during the recent earthquake tragedy in Japan. After about an hour, rescuers finally calmed him down enough and persuaded him to leave the side of his friend. The injured dog is now in a veterinary clinic while the dog who stood guard is being cared for at a shelter in Ibaraki Prefecture, Osaka. I am so HAPPY to know they both have been rescued.
It is so beautiful to see how one being loyally stands next to another being. When I had tremendous difficulties over ten years back, some of my so called students and friends were ‘not available’… some were downright rude and would not help in any way…It was shocking to me at the time. Now, I just take everything with acceptance and understand it’s not me, it’s human mind. I feel a lot of pity and sadness for them, because I look at some of them today and they are not where they could have been in a better place emotionally and spiritually if they weren’t different to everyone… I hear of them sometimes and it brings great sadness to my mind for them.. At the time, they were ‘too busy’, or didn’t have time, and all the promises and grandiose aspirations they made went down the drain when they were really needed if anything just as a friend. It didn’t matter if I am ordained or I am their teacher or just someone in need. They were conveniently gone. When I personally called them up for help or just assistance during those days, they would say they were not able to. These days some of them are back, some avoid because they know how they acted before. I saw the same thing with both my Gurus in the US at their centres. I saw this in the Monastery with my teachers also that some of their students turned against them or just left…. It use to shock my system to see this happening with my teachers, but now I understand, everyone’s real enemy is selfishness/self absorption…..that is who we need to really conquer. Until we do that, there will be no real friendships, real guru-student relationship, love, care, loyalty, peace, harmony, fulfillment and growth.
These days I am coming to terms with people who are loyal, not loyal, who come, stay, go, with, without agenda, come back, don’t come back and all the other combinations. I realize, it’s not really me, but it is up to me to show love, genuine concern, care and no expectations but good wishes towards all. For most who come into my path, it is my job to show love, care and courtesy. That is my job. I don’t expect them to do or not do their ‘job’. It’s not bitterness that make me think this way, more acceptance of human conditions. The quality I still admire the most is loyalty. People who stand by you firmly and I stand by them firmly. Who don’t run away because of a rumour or misunderstandings…but care enough to not listen or clear it…
I also admire integrity TREMENDOUSLY. You do what you say no matter what. You don’t run, escape, hide, lie, cover or avoid. But you do what you say and stick by your promise/word. When you don’t do that, you create so much disharmony around you. All those who come in contact with you eventually do not respect you and you cannot respect yourself…then deep inner anger arises…anger at the world, others, and actually it comes from anger to yourself. That is not necessary and it does not need to get to this point….integrity is the key. Integrity solves the anger. It’s one thing when other does something painful to you although you gave your best, but it’s different when you didn’t do your best and you know it, hide it and avoid..then self anger arise. This is destructive and sad and need not be… When you respect yourself because you know you did what you are suppose to, you don’t justify anymore and you become accepting. Your explanations are to clarify and bring wisdom to others not so much to justify/cover yourself..You become someone honored and respected. Love is integrity. Love is loyalty. Integrity and loyalty is an expression of true love without agenda.
When you are down, some avoid you, some are ambivalent and a few really come to your aid even if they have nothing. I have people around me now who stuck with me through the lean years. I know what kind of people they are and I respect them so much and love them for living genuine compassionate qualities. For those in my life that didn’t have integrity or loyalty, I am ok with them also and worry for them tremendously. For some I think, in this time they will not really transform or realize and that is their journey and perhaps it’s better our paths don’t cross again in the near future but not forever….we can’t help each other for now…Karma always catches up. Whatever you did, one day someone will not allow you to do it and it will catch up unfortunately. I will not be at the sidelines happy when it does, but hoping change from a fundamental deep level will arise. We will reincarnate. We do take our karmas that determine where we go while dying or in the bardo. Living in denial of Buddha’s fundamental truth does not help us or anyone in any way…embrace what can benefit us long term..let go and embrace and be firm…If we choose to not think of reincarnation, then think why would I choose a legacy of leaving everyone unhappy in the short time I was around. Love is not getting what you want, but giving what others need.
Tsem Rinpoche
See this very short and EXTREMELY TOUCHING VIDEO….it is so beautiful….
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/UltimateLoyaltyJapaneseDogRefusesToLeaveInjuredFriendBehind.mp4
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
In the Japan earthquake and tsunami, reporters found two dogs and filmed this two dogs. One injured, and another who steadfastly refuses to leave his buddy’s side. Friendship and loyalty when times are rough. It speaks volumes about the strength of character of our dogs. It’s sad, yet touching. And ultimately inspiring!. Japanese dog refuses to leave injured friend behind at the time his friend needs him most. That’s truly ROYALTY a strong bond between them, they remained royal to each other. Well I think animals are better off than a lot of humans when comes to love, loyalty and gratitude.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring sharing. To be ROYAL to all we met nor matter what happens.Being royal to our family, friends and teachers is the greatest virtue we can have.
It is touching to see the dog standby with his friend until someone came to rescue him. Even animals knows how to care for others. It’s a shame that we human are so selfish and hurt each other. If all of us practise compassion, love and care for each other, we will have a peaceful and harmony world. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
1984 Los Angeles-Left to right: Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, monk assistant to Zong Rinpoche and the 18-year-old Tsem Rinpoche prior to ordination. Read more- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/me
I was walking past a second hand shop on Western Ave selling old things. They had a Japanese-style clay Buddha which was beige in colour on the floor, holding the door open. I thought the shopkeeper would collect a lot of negative karma without knowing if he kept such a holy item on the floor as a doorstop. So I went in to talk to him, but he didn’t look like he wanted to talk or that he even cared. So I asked him the price and he said US$5. I purchased it so he did not collect more negative karma. I was 17 years old and that was in 1982.
I escorted my new Buddha home and washed it lightly and wiped it. I placed it on my altar and was happy with the Buddha. I would do my meditations, prayers, sadhanas, mantras and prostrations in front of this shrine daily. When I left for India in 1987, I could not bring this Buddha along and gave it to a friend. It was a nice size and I made offerings to this Buddha for many years in Los Angeles. In front of the Buddha I placed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s photo. I remember I was so relieved that the price was affordable. But US$5 that time was still expensive for me but worth it I thought. But I was happy to have brought the Buddha home. Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
Very touching…..seeing this dog standing by his fellow canine friend who was injured in the recent earthquakes ravaged landscape, nor matter bad the situation. That’s true friend and loyal having a special bond between both of them. After much persuasion he left and the rescuers helped the injured dog to a shelter home. It’s a happy ending and it taught a lesson what is loyalty. If those who stand by our side during bad time and what ever happened still stands by are our true friends . Being royal to our family and friends is the greatest virtue we can have.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Thank You for the article and video Rinpoche, its indeed very touching. I’m pretty sure that seldom people can do what the doggie did, he has just taught us the power of unconditional love and loyalty. Its amazing to be able to witness this kind of qualities being practised by the animals, its something not even humans have it. Animals are capable of teaching us a lot of things if we just spend time and observe them. This doggie here has definitely showed the world that they are not just ordinary beings without feelings. Its because of this, that’s why videos are made or recorded to remind us. I’m very glad that both of them were saved and are doing well now. May both of them have good health and long life. May they be loved and will never have to go through this again.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing very touching article. This makes me examine myself am I a person with integrity, loyalty and did I stay with friends through the thick and thin, or honour whatever promises I have made?
It is so important for us to honour whatever promises we have made with integrity and loyalty.
Thank you for the reminding. I will try our best to do it.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Rinpoche. Loyalty and integrity are a must as far as I’m concerned. There is a saying here in the Vast Green Expanse: A person is only as good as their word. I’m not sure I believe that. I think a person is only as good as their actions. O.o
I’m always astonished and humbled when our animal friends display the traits of integrity and loyalty better than humans. For dogs to love, there is no agenda. They love completely and from their hearts, totally and unconditionally. A few years ago we had an elderly poodle that our akita girl was very fond of. When Danny (the poodle) died of a stroke, she was devastated. She didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep, nor did she want to go for walkies or play. All she wanted to do was lay down in the spot where Danny passed away. She was very loyal to him, so totally devoted to him. She adored him. We were very worried about her mental state and we wondered if she’d ever be happy again. Later on, I rescued a miniature Schnauzer. She’s happy again and adores her little friend. Even so, She still lays down on that spot where Danny passed away. I know she still misses him.
Although animals are in a lower realm than we are in, we humans are more selfish then the animals are. Maybe animals will fight to death because of food, personal space and mate but it is also because they can’t think like we humans can. And because of us humans are able to think what is best for ourselves, we don’t care about other people anymore except for our love ones. I say we should learn to be more caring starting from now.
It is just amazing how little animals have such qualities in them so strongly, yet for us humans we are lack in qualities like this. It tells us that when it comes to humane qualities, we cannot even compare ourselves to these animals.
We would just watch others die and not help. It teaches us that we will be able to do things like that if we put our hearts to it. Helping and caring constantly, not even letting ourselves slip in that aspect for a second.
This is so heart warming. The doggie has so much love, loyalty in him, this is just very wonderful to watch. Although it’s just a 2 minutes, but I think it means a lot. What a beautiful dog, seldom people can do what the doggie does. Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Wow, i love how loyal this dog is. It is so cool how it can just sit there and wait, protect and take care of the other dog. Dogs have so much love in them. So much.
Truly, other beings can teach us so much without them having to speak. Animals may appear to be brainless but if you watch their actions, they do think.
I love dogs. They have great amount of faithfulness in their hearts. We have heard of so many stories of this nature from many places.
There are two sides to a coin. When we are in difficulties, life is tough, but we learn the most during this time and we can REALLY see who are our best friends and who are not.
It can be very painful to see the real faces of some people but I have learnt to accept it when it happens. I wont complain, but will have to accept it that this is human nature (like Rinpoche has said) and I will continue to do my best.
I watched this video shortly after the earthquake/tsunami in Osaka. I was very touched and was emotional. It struck me that even animals can have such incredible loyalty and some people can’t even say “thank you”. Makes us no different from animals really… and in this instant, the dog seems a lot more worthy of friendship than some humans.
I wonder what makes people “choose” to be loyal or not. Yes, I do believe it is very much a choice and hence if one is not, you know where they stand and where you stand with them… no ifs and buts.
For me personally, I find that it is always at my most trying times, when I am at the lowest points in my life when I realize or see who my true friends are. I too had to go that a while back. From someone who could not get past the front door/entrance of an event without bumping into someone I knew and was sucked into a conversation to someone who dreaded and avoided the falsity of it all. Indeed I am man of extremes and may not be the answer but
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing as always such pertinent stories using Rinpoche’s very own experiences to teach us unworthy and oblivious students!
Loyalty is truly precious as it is so rare in today’s time. I learn that it is easy to have many “friends” on sunny days who swiftly disappears when the going gets rough. I have felt great disappointment, sadness and even anger towards these friends. However, the Dharma taught me to look at the situation differently: to look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow stronger from.
Through Rinpoche’s teachings, I have reflected that I am the common element between all these different individuals. Therefore, it is my karma to attract these types of friends and it is best to use this circumstance to challenge my attitude and grow to be a better person. In the 8 verses of mind transformation, I learn that they are my supreme teacher to develop forgiveness. Last but not least, realizing the rarity of loyalty, I learn to cherish dearly the loyal and solid friends who stood and still stand by me through the good times and the bad times.
I pray that loyalty and integrity will persevere through these degenerate times where self cherishing is so prominent and dominant.
is it loyalty, or attachment?
because in my opinion loyalty is a virtue we produce, in order to secure and maintain our particular belief or cause..
without a proper cause/belief,it may be wise to call it attachment..or maybe,. loyalty to attachment. and i don’t know if that is useful,according to Buddha’s teaching..
Best Regard and Respect..
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche. It’s a very moving video. I learned a lot from this blog post and it cleared my mind and worry a lot.
Much love
Valentina
Dear Rinpoche,
This video moved me to tears. I have known very few humans who have ever shown such loyalty. My family adopted a year old male poodle when we moved from Louisiana to Washington in 2009. His name is Chibi and I swear it’s one of the best decisions we ever made. He’s my best friend. Most of what I have learned about unconditional love was taught to me by Chibi. I’m going to share this on FB.
Sincerely,
Jessi
Dear Jessi, So beautiful to hear about Chibi. Chibi is very lucky to be with you and vice versa. You must promote for the rest of your life tirelessly the adoption of animals abandoned. Many ppl don’t like to take abandoned or lost pets, but this is very important. These animals are use to human love and social contact, suddenly they don’t have..it must be traumatic and their little hearts ache. Please promote this.
I would like you to contact my PA Beng Kooi and she will send Chibi and very blessed Doggie pendant I developed here. It has a image of Manjushri and a very blessed string blessed by the sangha of Gaden and High lamas. I had thousands of these strings commissioned in 1992. It is very good for the animals to wear them and I will gift one for Chibi to be blessed.
Much care, Tsem Rinpoche
bengkooi@hotmail.com
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you so much. Chibi is very important to me. I want my best friend to live a long life filled with happiness and good health. A Doggie pendant blessed by you will be a blessing for the whole household as well as for Chibi because having him around is a gift in and of itself.
Sincerely,
Jessi
Action will speaks louder than words. Loyalty , friendship , integrity is not only through spoken words but what we do , how we react in good and bad times , through thick and thin that will be our own judgement. Who are we as a person is definitely always through our action. Whether it is or not to another human being , to another friend , Our Guru , Lama , relatives and etc that we must indeed be true to ourself & others. Never hurt anyone , never harm anyone. I think thats part of spirituality as well.
Thank you for reminding always.
Loyalty can always enhance love and care to a person and vice versa. Loyalty can also bring a person’s bonding closer. You cannot show loyalty superficially. It can only come from habitual and from the Heart. If you show loyalty the reaction you get will be gratitude. When there is gratitude love will set in. Then comes care will be given. I am sure Rinpoche will definitely take care of Seng Piow because he has shown so much loyalty to Rinpoche by sticking with Rinpoche until today. Even animals can show loyalty to another animal friend just like the dog that stood by his injured friend after the Earth Quake in Japan.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
It’s true sometimes where the best quality of ‘humanity’ is displayed by our friends that do not speak.
I wish to have your patience and wisdom should I ever encounter any disappointment. I will try to remember what you have shared, and push to be better than me right now.