When The Chocolate Runs Out By Lama Yeshe

When the Chocolate Runs Out by Lama Yeshe is a wonderful book about the impermanent nature of life, and cutting through attachment to sensory pleasures. Lama Yeshe was a key person in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the west. In this book he shows us how to find inner happiness even when things seem to be going poorly. Often times when we don't get what we want, we "get nervous, upset: “Oh no! Now I’m unhappy!”(Lama Yeshe 1) Lama Yeshe showed that "it’s not the absence of chocolate that’s making us unhappy; it’s our fixed ideas, and our misunderstanding the nature of chocolate." (Lama Yeshe) I picked the song the eight reminders by an 11th century Tibetan Yogi, Milarepa. In his song he reminds us that all of our sensory pleasures cannot help us when we die, and that ultimately we need to be happy without anything. In buddhism we beleive in rebirth. Many wealthy people are not happy, and have relationship problems and family issues. Wealth or pleasure ultimately does not bring us happiness. When we die, "our empty hands can take nothing with [us]"and we are totally unprepared for death, and pass away scared as to what will happen to us. (Milarepa) This is what Milarepa sung, and what Lama Yeshe teaches in this book. That we need to accept impermanence, not knowing what will happen, or when we will die. He shows us that pleasure does not bring us salvation, but training our minds brings us happiness. An Indian monk said that we don't put shoes on the whole earth, we only put them on our feet. As long as we have our internal negative emotions we can never be happy. Lama Yeshe shows us how to remove our negativity out of our mind. This is what Milarepa reminds us of in his song. He asks us to contemplate this until we "cannot help but seek the Buddha’s Teachings". (Milarepa) He is asking us to be certain that inner change will bring us happiness. Today, psychologists have proven that 90% of the sadness or anger we experience is based on overexagerating the situation. Both Milarepa amd Lama Yeshe show us how to stop this exaggeration and remove our subtle grasping at permanence, leading to full happiness. It is not that we can have no wealth, but that we need to be comfortable with all change and be happy with whatever we have. Overall, this book is filled with helpful knowledge and the song has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me.

 The Eight Reminders By Milarepa

Castles and crowded cities are the places
Where now you love to stay;
But remember that they will fall to ruins
After you have departed from this earth!
Pride and vain glory are the lure
Which now you love to follow;
But remember, when you are about to die
They offer you no shelter and no refuge!
Kinsmen and relatives are the people now
With whom you love to live;
But remember that you must leave them all behind
When from this world you pass away!
Servants, wealth and children
Are things you love to hold;
But remember, at the time of your death
Your empty hands can take nothing with you!
Vigour and health
Are dearest to you now;
But remember, at the moment of your death
Your corpse will be bundled up and borne away!
Now your organs are clear,
Your flesh and blood are strong and vigorous;
But remember, at the moment of your death
They will no longer be at your disposal!
Sweet and delicious foods are things
That now you love to eat;
But remember, at the moment of your death
Your mouth will let the spittle flow!
When of all this I think,
I cannot help but seek the Buddha’s Teachings!
The enjoyments and the pleasures of this world
For me have no attraction.
I, Milarepa, sing of the Eight Reminders,
At the Guest House in Garakhache of Tsang.
With these clear words I give this helpful warning;
I urge you to observe and practise them!