Heartfelt Advice on Worldly Codes of Conduct

By Thukwan • Chokyi Nyima

( Khenpo Sodargye Tibetan Chinese translation, Wisdom Compassion Translation Center Chinese English Translation )

Homage to the Guru and the Three Jewels!

While it is not reasonable for the youth to teach the elders, it is very appropriate for the older generation to educate the younger generation. This article, which expounds Heartfelt Advice on Worldly Codes of Conduct, was written to be of benefit to the youth.

It is undoubtedly good to be righteous, but if one is too righteous in this defiled time of degeneration, one will be made a fool of by others just like a beggar’s monkey. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to be careful of the extent of your righteousness.

It is not bad to be articulate, eloquent and persuasive, but if one talks endlessly at any time and place, then everything about oneself will be laid bare to others. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to be careful of the extent of your speech.

It is obviously good to be wise when appearing slow witted, concealing one’s abilities and biding one’s time, but if one keeps quiet too much, nobody is able to find one’s wisdom. Just as a hidden fountain, which spurts secretly, does not quench anyone’s shirt. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to be careful of the balance between expression and reservation.

Although worldly people say it is good to hate the evil, like for example enemies, if you always get fiercely angry without good reason, you will become everybody’s enemy just like a watchdog. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to avoid losing your temper easily.

It is undoubtedly good to have sweet speech and a good heart. However, in this time when good people are not always fully appreciated and deluded people dominate the world, excessive kindness and weakness can turn out to cause scorn and insult. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to find the appropriate balance between softness and toughness.

It is undoubtedly very good not to lust for wealth, but in this age when penniless beggars are spurned by everybody and the dogs of plutocrats are treated as distinguished guests, it is my heartfelt advice to appropriately save some money.

Business conducted dishonestly such as giving short measures and cheating customers can disturb the peace of a whole country. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to accumulate wealth through proper means and abandon wrong business approaches driven by the desire for excessive profits.

It is all right to be good at saving money, but if one is too miserly and unwilling to spend a penny , relatives and friends will leave and people will betray this kind of person, and one will become isolated and helpless like a ghost guarding treasure. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to be careful of the balance between saving money and giving.

It is undoubtedly good to be sociable and have many friends, but wicked friends can lead you astray, and finally destroy you and others, with the result of putting both in a dangerous situation, like falling into a river. So, it is my heartfelt advice to be careful when making friends.

Very few people can constantly be completely carefree and not affected emotionally by situations however, if one is too moody, one will be spurned by others and even lose friends and companions. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to keep a relatively stable mind.

To mercilessly plot against and deceive friends or relatives who trust and take refuge in one, is to be like a wild dog that has no idea of right and wrong and is to be a shameless person. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice to have shame and be reliable.

Those who flatter and praise people but criticize them behind their backs, being two-faced, are just as vicious as poisonous snakes with two tongues that protrude when they open their mouths. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice not to talk too much either in front of people or behind their backs.

It is very rare for people to always say yes to every request and then keep their promises. The more readily one promises something, the easier it is to forget or renege on that promise. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice not to easily trust those who always readily make promises.

Too many thoughts lead to trivia in proportion; once you are involved in too much trivia it is most likely that you could not begin well and end well; if you cannot begin well and end well, it will bring harm to yourself and also derision from others. Therefore, it is my heartfelt advice not to think too much or engage in too much trivia.

When respected by people, you should have self- awareness; when supplanted by others, you should make strenuous efforts to be strong. It is my heartfelt advice to be independent.

The above texts are worldly instructions. The Buddhist instructions are expounded elsewhere. No matter whether people read this or not, what I have written above is out of an altruistic mind.

May this be auspicious!

(This concludes the translation of the Heartfelt Advice on Worldly Codes of Conduct.)