Holiday Greetings from Losang / December 2011
We are all once again busy preparing for the holiday season and the New Year. Last year we did the same thing about this time and now the year 2011 will soon come to an end. Time truly goes so fast!

At this time of year I love the decorations, and for many years now I put a wreath on my door. I put it up after Thanksgiving and it stays till after the New Year. As I get older, the wreath is also getting older and it holds many wonderful memories. The other day, as I was hanging it on the door once again, there was a feeling that I had just put it up, but then I thought "oh my, another year has passed."

As I mentioned I love to see lots of lights and decorations during the holiday season. The Christmas trees with their colorful lights inside homes as well as outside, remind me how light removes difficulties and darkness. Although the holidays can be joyful, they can also be difficult and full of stress. Especially today all over the world, there are so many economic and political problems, and so many people are struggling with their own financial situation. Since I came to my hometown, the City of Brotherly Love, I have seen many homeless people. Nowadays, I see so many more people living on the streets. There are even more young homeless women now, and I hardly saw this before. Perhaps we need to shine even more light this holiday season.

As you may know, I grew up in India, which is a Third World Country and there are so many homeless people there, and at one time I too was homeless. Yet, in the United States it is heartbreaking to see so many homeless people, because we live in such a rich country! I have had a few opportunities to visit City Hall in recent months, and meet those in the Occupy movement and offer my support. Yesterday (November 28, 2011) was the deadline to vacate the space where they had been staying, so I was there with them and prayed. I prayed for equality, because we all need the same things: financial equality, safety, a place to live, and good health, as well as love and kindness. I prayed because we truly need changes to our political, economic and social systems. As I was standing there yesterday, I was reminded of the song Imagine by John Lennon. It is such a simple song, yet so profound. I hope that at this time next year everyone has a job, a home, and happiness to enjoy the holiday season.

So much has happened in the world over the past year. So much has changed in the world of politics, economy, and environment. For example, I never thought or dreamed that His Holiness the Dalai Lama would step down as political leader of Tibet, yet it has happened. This transfer of power was done by a generous and kind leader who is always willing to foster the power within people, rather than hold on to it himself. We have, however, seen leaders who try to cling to their power and resist the shift of power to the people. Some rulers who held so much power not only lost their hold on power, but sadly, some even lost their lives. We think that some of these powerful leaders would last forever or never change, but just in the last year we have had incredible evidence that everything is impermanent.

Where I live is close to the Delaware River and when I have time I go sit by the river to meditate or do prayers. Across the river from Philadelphia is the city of Camden, New Jersey, one of the most difficult places in the USA. I used to visit the prison that was located in Camden, as it was close to my home. I had become good friends with some of the inmates and we commented how wonderful it was that they had a view of the river, of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and of the city of Philadelphia. Even though they may have committed a crime that caused them to be imprisoned, they are still human beings who enjoyed the view and it lifted their spirits. However, the prison has been torn down because it was on the riverbank, a location that is desirable for development. This land will now become home to luxury condos.

Now, as I sit by the river on the benches, I look where the prison used to be and dream that the prison is no longer there because all the inmates are free and have gone home. It gives me a wonderful feeling to imagine this to be true. Then I look at the river, and notice how the shapes, colors, and designs on the river change, and recently there are many leaves floating along that have fallen from the trees. Not long ago, these leaves were green and hanging in the trees so beautifully, making lovely songs as the wind flowed through the branches. Now these leaves have fallen from the trees and are flowing in the river. Everywhere we look, there is the message of impermanence, showing change that we may feel is for the worse or for the better, but change nonetheless.

We are all so beautiful, but at the same time we sometimes forget that we are like the leaves that are now flowing on the river. The leaves release themselves from the branches when it is time to let go, but when we look at ourselves inwardly we see that we are very different from the leaves. We observe that within ourselves, it is difficult to perceive change and difficult to accept change. We struggle because although reality is telling us one thing—that everything changes—we cling to what has been.

What we really need to change is our mind. I really want to see change in my own mind. When I look in my mind to change for the better, and when I compare it with the leaves changing from green to yellow, I notice that my mind tends to change less readily. When I wish to control my mind, it can still be difficult sometimes. Even though I see that everything around me is changing, and some of these changes are happening very quickly, when it comes to changing my mind for the positive (away from normal habituation), it appears that changes are happening so slowly. Although it may be slow, however, it is important to never give up hope and to continue to pursue our goal to one day tame the mind - to tame our crazy monkey mind.

Furthermore, though reality changes with each moment, we should not sit passively by and just let change happen around us, we can play a role in making change happen. We can help make positive change for the environment, economy, society, as well as within ourselves. When I listen to some of the speeches made by politicians, I sometimes wish people would contemplate the real causes of suffering in our environment and our societies today. When I listen to the political speeches, I feel anxious sometimes because the messages are negative and divisive, and I truly hope that we do not return to the Dark Ages. However, one of my favorite quotes from Shantideva says, "If something needs to change, and there is something you can do, why worry, because there is something you can do. If something needs to change and there is nothing you can do, why worry, because there is nothing you can do anyway." So let's do what we can, without worry.

So during the holidays we think of our family, friends, and especially our close loved ones. I know that the closer we are to someone, the more difficult it can be. Although we may feel that someone is being difficult, we need to remember they are probably feeling the same about us. We all share in creating difficulties for one another, yet we can also share in creating joy with one another. So when I see the beautiful lights and decorations, I hope and pray that every family and every living being has loving kindness, joy, and peace for the holidays. After all, the most important thing is LOVE.

So I wish to all my friends that you have a meaningful holiday season, where you give one another the powerful gift of love. We can produce infinite love within ourselves, and do not have to import it from China or buy it in a store. It doesn't cost a dime, yet it is the most important gift we can give. I pray that we can produce love infinitely.

Happy Holidays and I Love You!
Your Friend, Losang Samten

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