Touching
Dear friends, here is a touching short story of gratitude submitted by Caryl. It was touching to me and I wanted to share it.
Tsem Rinpoche
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The picture above is of my adopted mother Taylong Ly and I back in 2010. This wonderful lady played a major role in raising me after my birth father died. My birth mother (still living) had many health problems that made her unable to care for me properly. She also got into a bad relationship with a man she met soon after my father died, a man who beat me repeatedly. Taylong and her husband Sayeng with their two sons rescued me from a very abusive situation and took me in as one of their own, helping to raise me and made sure I never went hungry and never felt afraid.
Taylong and Sayeng have both passed away, but they are always in my heart. I miss them deeply, but I am sure they are now in better lives. We Buddhists like to talk about gaining good merits, and creating good Kharma. Well, these two people definitely gained tons of good merits not only for what they did for me, but also all the good deeds they did for other people. They were some of the most wonderful, kind, loving, caring people I had ever known. They definitely gained good merits and created good Kharma. I am confident that they both have had great rebirths.
I will always remember them, honor them, and cherish them.
Their sons will always be my brothers.
This is Taylong Ly and Sayeng Touch in the late 1980s
Sarada Touch, Sarado Touch, and Caryl Dumaine Lamont Munson
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Its a heart warming story of this man Caryl Dumaine Lamont Munson been taken care by a kind and compassionate lady Taylong Ly .Who treated him as if her own child. Caryl was abused during his younger day and was helped by this kind lady so much so he always treasure much of the time spent together with this family. He appreciated and remembered of his adopted mother’s kindness, caring and love even though both of her and husband has seen passed away.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful story.
We should always be thankful to those people in our life who are always there through thick and thin.
This is a lovely story to warm the hearts of anyone who reads it. When kindness and compassion are given so spontaneously and freely, it sparks off a lovely ripple effect. It causes Caryl to show the same love and compassion to others that he had received from Taylong and Sayeng.
Caryl remembers and repays the kindness of his adoptive parents by first forgiving and letting go of whoever or whatever had hurt or harmed him.In simple words that come direct from the heart, he has enunciated the abiding Buddhist tenets of love and compassion, forgiving and letting go.
Thank you Caryl for showing us how to repay kindness and show gratitude by reflecting the love and kindness of those who had loved you, in your own attitude of love and kindness.
It was touching to read Caryl’s story. How wonderful to show kindness to someone in need. We should never underestimate the small actions of given , it definitely will bring positive impact to receiver. We should appreciate and remember the kindness of others instead remember The fault .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the touching story about Caryl.
It is wonderful to note that he forgiven those who had hurt him in the past and he is doing more Dharma work, generating positive Karma.
This story serves to inspire that there will always be a a ray of light in the darkest blight…
Thank you.
This is probably one of the shortest honest and touching stories I’ve ever read. It is so rare to find kindness in our world today, and when you are from a bad childhood, to have someone rescue it from that awful situation is rare but it means Caryl also has some good karma to have these kind people cross path with him to help him. It goes to show that kindness and compassion has no barriers, yes I agree with you Caryl, I am certain they received a huge amount merits and good karma. Because of them, you are here with us, fine, healthy, happy and spiritual too 🙂 It is inspiring to know that through their compassion, you also learnt how to forgive and rise above your pain to bring happiness to others. This is what is inspiring to me, for not many people can do this.
It is always better to instil love, kindness, and compassion rather than guilt, fear and threats to children, fear be-gets fear and hence more negative feelings arises like anger, hatred, jealousy etc. which creates more problems in society. More crimes, more violence, more abuse. That is probably why we see so many youth/kids these day find killing an animal like puppies is like nothing. They don’t have empathy or feelings for another, and in fact enjoying it. Imagine what the next generation will be like if there was no kindness?!
Thanks Caryl for sharing your beautiful story with us, it gives “hope”.
Caryl’s story clearly shows that kindness and compassion is innate and once it surfaced can be taught by one to another and from that it can spread to others and eventually to many. His kindness and compassion to repay his adopted parents shows also that they were superb humans without agenda and this is reflected in Caryl.
I rejoice that you are helping others through the Dharma.
Caryl’s article moves me to tears. His adopted parents have been so kind and Caryl is lucky to have them as his parents. Caryl’s love for them touches my heart.
The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feelings for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obatacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life to strive for! Thus we can strive gradually to become more compassionate and can develop both geniune sympathy for other’s sufferings and the will to remove their pain. As a result, our own senerity and inner strength will be increased. This is a real touching story similar to Rinpoche’s one with the compassionate “Mama Kwan” and her brother at Taiwan during his childhood days.
This is an extraordinary story that the receipt of such kindness, and with his experience, Caryl related the essence and tenets of Buddhism.
May Caryl’s efforts to benefit others like what his adopted parents did and spread the Dharma be successful and touch the lives of many.
Wonderful to see the pictures. I knew about it long before. 🙂
That is very true. My good friend Joe P. Dorji knows a lot about me and my story. He has been a supportive friend for a number of years, always encouraging and understanding. I have many friends, but when it comes to honest friends, and when it comes to Dharma friends, Joe is one of the best. You can always trust him to be a loyal and dedicated friend.
This is indeed very touching and makes me feel happy knowing that there are people in the world that are not selfish or ignorant which is very good. One thing I would like to say is that she brought him in because she knew he needed help and looked over him, that itself is and extreme act of kindness and I hope she is well in her new life.
I am sure this man loves her so much because there are many people that are brought up being beaten by parents when they are drunk or just cruel like in the movies except that it is real and happens. She couldn’t know whether this boy was disturbed or scarred in such a horrible way that he could not be tolerated but she knew he needed help and people like this that cannot see others live in suffering are very rare and wonderful.
There is only one person that I can think of that cares for so many people and helps them through so many though situations, and that is our guru Tsem Rinpoche and he has helped us, taught us and cared for us so much through love and compassion because he will serve others before him and we love him for all he has done for us and others. He is the first person that I will think of when I think of people that make this world go round in a good way.
Hello Lucas. I want to thank you for your kind and understanding comments regarding my story. One thing I should have mentioned is that this family not only rescued me and cared for me, they also taught me to forgive and to show compassion for others. By their examples I was able to forgive those who hurt me and to continue living a happy life. Since they have passed away, I feel that the best way to pay them back for their kindness is by helping others as I can. I feel also that by sharing the Dharma with others, it is another way of repaying their kindness.
So again, thank you Lucas for your comments, and thank you Dear Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for so kindly sharing my story. I hope it will serve as a message to help benefit others.
With Highest Respect,
Caryl Dumaine Lamont Munson
They have raised you well and here I pay my deepest respect to this couple. Thank you for sharing Caryl!
May you have a beautiful life and have result in your spiritual path.