I was born; so I am living,
the fact is, it is just temporary,
the bitter truth is, I will have to leave someday,
sadly, neither you nor I can say when that ‘someday’ is.
should I live as I will live forever?
or should I live as I will leave forever?
I don’t have a choice to live or leave,
but certainly, I have a choice to make as to how I will live.
When I leave, where do I go?
I neither have a place nor home,
but I will be living somewhere in the hidden world,
according to my actions as I live now.
By then, I will have no families, friends, and companions,
I will live but an isolated life,
completely away from human existence.
When I leave, what do I carry?
can I take my belongings and the little wealth accumulated?
Isn’t it that I have to go empty-handed?
This is by default, the design of nature’s creation,
wonderful universal truth nobody appreciates.
Knowing this truth of birth and death, the uncertainty of life, and the design of life beyond life,
what choice do I make now and how should I choose to live?
I strongly believe in rebirth but do I qualify to receive this sacred privilege? Did I accumulate enough merits? If not, how much and how long should I continue accumulating merit?
Folks, let’s not count the merits and the blessings,
but keep doing good at all times,
and let the almighty be our judge for our thoughts and actions,
and receive all the blessings that we deserve.

                                                                                                          ~Yeshi Nidup

                                                                                                                Phuentsholing, Bhutan