Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho
Do not miss this blog post dear friends around the world!
Do not lose hope. Others have much more difficult situations than us. But if we keep doing what we do consistently, there is hope that one day we can achieve. Being complacent, lazy, moody, selfish and self absorbed will never get us to what we want to achieve. Being hardworking, consistent and persevering will achieve something for ourselves and be a inspirational to many who need us to make it. Be kind to all the people around you by fulfilling your responsibilities. Don’t slack and someone else has to cover or pick up for you. Do what you are suppose to do and more. Be kind to everyone by never burdening them with your negative habituations and false sense of hopelessness. Don’t keep making excuses that you don’t have money or opportunities. You do have opportunities if you create it and social media is one of them. Social media is powerful. Embrace yourself and embrace various methods to find your dream and fulfill it. Be of benefit to others. Be courageous to be compassionate. Death is nearby, so it’s not over till it’s over.
There are two heroes in this story. Ms Shalla Monteiro didn’t just feel sorry for someone, but actually took the time, initiative, effort and care to reach out. Make an effort. She didn’t just pass by saying to herself she can’t do anything about this. She did do something. She decided to care and be compassionate. In the process, she changed the lives of this man Mr Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho, his family and inspired millions like me around the world. This is beautiful. Thank you for being compassionate as that is our real human potential. To be alive, to be compassionate, to work and benefit others is the real way to live our lives. Not living to gratify our own needs and nothing else.
Mr Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho has been on the streets living among garbage and begging, but not broken. He had more than many of us even when he was homeless. What did he have? The will to achieve. He kept writing and sharing it with those who will listen. He is a man and artist and not insignificant. To live and see his dream come true. Amazing to find heroes right there on the streets who are unwashed, un-kept, ‘unclean’ and homeless.
I want all my blog friends around the world to please watch this video at least twice. Share this post with at least ten person in your lives. They might need it. Read the captions, listen to the words and let it fill your heart with light and perseverance. Do not let depressions, self hatred, anger, vengeance, blame take over our minds. Do not let negative habituations rule. Do not let negative emotions that swirl in your heart and mind allow you to make rash decisions that you regret later deeply. If you have, then apologize and begin again. Swallow the worthless negative pride and false ego. Don’t lose chances that others wish they had. Create what chances you don’t have.
We are blessed to see this video. My deepest respects to Ms Monteiro and Mr Sobrinho. My deepest and most humble appreciations to Ms Sobrinho.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/the-conditioned.mp4
Published on Feb 8, 2014
Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho was homeless in São Paulo, Brazil, for nearly 35 years, and has become locally known to sit in the same spot and write every day. In April 2011, he befriended a young woman named Shalla Monteiro. Impressed with his poetry she decided to help him with his dream of publishing a book, she created a Facebook page to characterize the writing of Raymond. Neither could have expected what happened next
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Give yourself hope. In the process give others hope. Don’t leave it at hope. Keep working consistently and one day you never know what might happen. Better to keep trying then letting go of something you wanted but didn’t put the efforts to achieve. Maybe you wanted respect, position, genuine friends, peace, resources, love, to help others, attainments, a home, do charity or whatever. You have to work towards it consistently. If you give up, then you will be angry, bitter, depressed and despondent and those emotions take more energy from your life than positive consistent effort. Positive consistent effort is tiring, but just sleep and you’ll be rested. Being bitter, angry and depressed drains energy from you that sleep can never replenish. Either way use your energy. At least use your energy for something better. Tsem Rinpoche
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Truly touching and heart warming of a homeless man having a big dream. Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho was homeless living in makeshift shelter in São Paulo, Brazil. Day after day, he never loose hope continue writing poetry from the same spot where he stays for nearly 35 years. Many locals just passed him and ignoring him until a kind soul Shalla Monteiro befriended him and learned of his big dreams over decades. Raimundo always wanted to publish a book of his poems and his impossible dream came through after meeting Shalla Monteiro. From then on everything changed , He is then reunited with his family after decades apart.
In life never loose hope, never give up in whatever we pursue . All our dreams will come true if we have the courage, determination to pursue them.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
謝謝仁波切與我們分享這個鼓舞人心的視頻。每人心中都有个别的夢想，這無宿者也有這麼大的夢想，他是如此的堅定去實現它。每當我們面對逆境时，不應該抱怨什么的，因為連基本生活条件都不足，障礙重重旳流浪者都不言败，只为夢想而堅持到底。願Mr.Raimundo出版诗篇夢想速成。
hope
Salute to Mr Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho, no matter how is the condition and where he is, he still able to keep forward heading his wishes consistently…
May he blessed by 3 jewels always hence may more peoples can inspire from his actions and efforts to make us step out our comfort zone a little bit as the first step of mind transformation.
Dear Rinpoche,
The video and the article is truly inspirational.
Inspiration to let the most depressed man, the most fallen, know that if you keep working, never faltering, hope is not lost. When Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho mentioned in his poem that “hope is heaviest weight a man can carry”…you can almost feel his mind has been burdened over the last 30+ years, yet he never gave up, and finally met Ms. Shalla Monteiro, whom subsequently helped fulfilled his dreams of publishing a book of poems.
Through a simple gesture of fulfilling Raimundo’s dreams, the steps she made and the actions she took really showed us all that sitting down and thinking “I might be able to help that poor man” is not going to help, but realistic actions do. And ultimately, helped the Sobrinho family reunite.
This is truly touching and heart warming. Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing something as short and sweet as this article.
I like this story very much because there are 2 messages to it.
1 is help others who are in need without judging and conditions. Most people at one point or another in their lives need a helping hand to overcome their obstacles. Never judge why they can’t overcome their situations themselves. If they can, they wouldn’t be where they are. Just like most people would never give up eating meat even though they know that the animals suffer so much just to fulfill their attachment. Does it mean they don’t deserve to be educated on the side effects of eating meat and the pain that is created to weaker beings? And yet they freak out when others create sufferings for them? Hypocritical right?
2 is never give up on your dreams. Without dreams, you’ve never lived. You’ve just existed. So don’t complain that you’re not happy because you’ve never persevered in what matters most to you and operate out of your comfort zone and self limiting belief system. Do something now and go all the way. It is when we go all the way with our dreams that more truths unfold just like the cliche says, “It’s the journey that counts.”.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspirational video.
This was such a nice post to read. Its nice to know that people still help people who need help. A lot of people don’t do this and this should change. People should be more aware of others especially when they need help.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring video with us. Everyone of us in life we have our dreams that so call we want to achieve imagine a homeless also have such a big dream that he is so determine to achieve it, I guess we should not complain whenever we face difficult situation because homeless have even more obstacles than us they do not even have the basic need that require for us to live . Happy to see that finally Mr.Raimundo dream come true.
The heart of suffering for Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho was his hope to achieve better, as he tells us. The difference between people who succeed and fail is how one channels that hope. He continued to do what he wanted to do and finally he was noticed. Without the constant effort, that would not have happened. Through his efforts, he managed to clear 57 years of ignorance for his family. He is getting his work published which is fufilling his own dream. He also created the opportunity for compassion (by Shalla Monteiro) to manifest. The video is so warm and fuzzy because of 3 factors from the Poet, the Woman and the Brother. Each of them offer up a piece of the puzzle, the writing of the poet and his commitment, the compassionate action of the woman and the Brother reaching out to find his family in order to help out.
Personally I would argue that this is not THAT big of a deal in the grand scheme of the world but instead, the essence behind this is much more important.
People can often underestimate the great things that can come from consistent hard work, which is why we would become lazy and inactive (I fall victim to this in things that matter…so much…). We often know better, yet do not put in the hours to achieve what we want. However, if everybody, or a large pool of people demonstrated the effort, dedication and compassion that is reflected in this video, the results that would arise from it would be Legendary. The environment we have been given should be worked on, to grow larger so that more people can access the fruits of our labour and therefore create the opportunities for more happiness. In this video it is shown that this can happen anywhere. Compassion is not loyal to a language nor race nor gender (nor human if you’re pushin it 😉 ), it is there for everyone and everything, but it is up to us to nurture it and spread it to others. For me, there is no greater feeling than helping somebody out, just for the sake of it. When I stray and be selfish, the residual feeling Sucks as anything else is just a short term delusion.
However actions, although done with effort and commitment, may not always be good. Many people have worked their whole lives for selfish reasons, money, power. If the motivation is to indulge ourselves or create suffering for others, then what is the point, we don’t need money or power to create suffering and delusions (we are already doing that without help). On the other hand, the motivation to create happiness in others, to manifest that also does not require money or power, but it is the happiness of others and ourselves which keeps us fighting on.
Anyway, thank you for sharing this, apparently I need to be reminded of the things I should already be aware of :/
Fight On!
35 years on the streets but he never gave up his dream of writing. Mr Raimundo never gave up hope. And it took this lady Miss Monterio to make the right connection. Because of her care, he connected back with his family members and also to realise his dream.
The video is very touching and inspiring. It showed that if we truly care for others we should go all the way to help and that was what Ms Shalla Monteiro did. She set a very good example for us to follow and she has my highest respect. Through her effort, a homeless man not only managed to be off the street, but was able to reunite with his family as well as realizing his dreams. A woman’s care and love changed a man’s life. If every human being is caring and treat each other with love and respect, the world will be a better place to live.
I do not know why Mr Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho was out on the streets for so long. However, his perseverance and his will to pursue his dreams were not tarnished by the fact that he was homeless. He did not lose hope and sat on the same spot and write daily. I guess through all these years of sitting down and writing, his body became hunch. His story is an inspiration for everyone. There is always hope if we keep doing it consistently and never give up when laziness, depression set in. Getting rid of material hygiene is easier as compared to mental hygiene. As Rinpoche said, “Positive consistent effort is tiring, but just sleep and you’ll be rested. Being bitter, angry and depressed drains energy from you that sleep can never replenish.” This is so true as when negative thoughts and depression arise, we chose to let it happen and start complaining and feel sorry for ourselves. We should stop complaining but to transform that negative energy into something positive which will be much better for us and the people around us.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this with us.
Raimundo is definitely one of the most inspiring people ever, he didn’t give up his dreams although he was put through very difficult times. I’m glad that he got to fulfil his dreams after the so many things, people like him really needs to be respected.
Tear fill my eyes. A beautiful story of great wisdom that arise from seeing the world for what it is. Raimundo’s words comes from the conditioning of samara. Yet, they are full of hope and faith.
From Raimundo’s story, I also learn that impact we can each have on others simply by caring and transforming that care into action. Ms Shalla is epitome example of kindness in motion and she, as a person, completely changed the lives of many by simply embracing the nature of humanity we each have within us.
This is really touching as it is very inspiring to see others help others when they have hit rock bottom. Most of us would ignore the hidden talents of some people because of how they look. This should change. People should see people for who they are not how they look.
Wow! Mr Raimundo is amazingly strong in spirit! i am humbled – living in so much comfort, relatively; yet weak-willed and not self-motivated – that’s me!
Thank you very much, Rinpoche – you have lifted my spirit, again!
This video is so inspirational. He continued doing what he loved to do everyday though he was in a poor physical environment. Even still, his goal of publishing a book about his poems never went away. His desire and will power is an inspiration to me. I find it difficult continuing what I do if I receive negative criticism. Instead of carrying on with consistent hard work, the negative feelings as Rinpoche writes in his teachings, like anger and bitterness arise. And from this, an inability to let go of the negative feelings I’ve felt. This video really puts in to perspective that anything is possible however far you are from your goal, but giving up won’t get you there. Being persistent and caring in your practice will and realising that there are people out there who are compassionate enough to help you along the way.
This article reminds of the fantastic work Kechara Soup Kitchen’s staff and volunteers are carrying out in an increasing number of locations. May KSK continue to provide more and more opportunities for us to practise compassion. Syabas (congratulations) KSK!
不管情况是如何不如意，我们永远都不应该放弃自己，失去希望。
别因为善小而不做，别认为不起眼的自己没什么作为而开始放弃自己。生活的刻板、压力抹杀了我们对自己、对社会的希望。麻木的我们开始只顾自己，却不知道生活的快乐是帮助别人。
“Damned is the man who abandons himself. These six words show that the worse the situation is, never, ever should a man consider it lost”
The Conditioned, Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho
（感恩感谢 Tsem Tulku Rinpoche 和我分享的一则真人故事。看了感触很深。）
写诗，Raimundo 35 年从未停止过。流浪的他，就在奥拓德皮涅罗斯，圣保罗的一个街角， 无墙无盖，静静的带着希望，通过诗篇道出我们都忽略的故事，或生命的炽热。他希望有一天能出版他的诗集。
在当地他已是人人皆知的流浪者，直到一天Shalla Monteiro 和这不起眼的人物交谈，阅读了他的诗，决定为他开设面子簿，通过小小的力量帮助被社会忽略的他。从那日开始，越来越多的人前来和他交谈，交流。直到一天 Shalla 收到一个讯息，来自于Raimundo 的弟弟，因为Shalla 一个小小的键盘动作，他们终于寻着家族里遗失的一位成员，一个内心里极大的愿望。
Raimundo 的诗集即将整理出版，也再一次体验家庭温暖。
Great video. Even in the worst situations all is not lost. Such an inspiring story.
I’m really touched by this video, it is always beautiful and inspiring to see heroes like Ms Shalla Monteiro help people that have such incredible hidden talents brought to justice. I wonder how Raimundo Arrunda eventually ended up on that island but it doesn’t matter now that he is safe and together with his family. I’m happy that Raimunda Arrunda was brought back together with his brother, it just shows you how powerful social media can be.
It’s sad to know that many of us do not take notice of hidden talents because we are blinded by their “unclean” appearance. I found Raimundo’s quote very moving “Material Hygiene, Mental Hygiene; Here, I don’t know which is harder to practice.” I find it very powerful considering where he previously came from to where he is now. Without losing hope and not giving up on his dreams relentlessly Raimundo Arrunda was able to inspire millions around the world.
I believe and agree what Rinpoche is teaching “Positive consistent effort is tiring, but just sleep and you’ll be rested. Being bitter, angry and depressed drains energy from you that sleep can never replenish.” It is true, when negative thoughts start to cloud your mind you start to develop strong negative energy that is hard to get out off, because anger and depression is a continuous cycle you begin to develop a self absorb mind of a “poor me” attitude. Only way to get out of it is by focusing out, be kind and compassoinate to others.
The moment Raimundo and his brother was walking together was a really beautiful image, I hope his brother would take good care of him. Looks like his elder brother and Raimundo seems to have a hunch back, hope its nothing serious.