If You Didn't Exist, by Thinley Norbu
Even the most mysterious miracles cannot occur without complementing your purity.
Buddha Shakyamuni cannot rest with the tranquil gaze of his lotus eyes underneath the Bodhi tree; Guru padmasambhava cannot play magically with countless sky-walking dakinis; Lord Jesus canot walk weightlessly across the water; Prophet Moses cannot see the radiantly burning bush; Brahmin Sarahapa cannot straighten arrows, singing wisdom hymns with his arrowmaker girl; Crazy saint Tilopa cannot eat fish and torture naropa; Greatest yogi Milarepa cannot remain in his cave singing and accepting hardships without complementing your purity.
You are so patient.
Whoever wants to stay,
If you don't exist,
Cannot stay.
Whoever wants to go,
If you don't exist,
Cannot go.
Whoever wants to taste or touch,
If you don't exist,
Cannot taste or touch.
Whatever our actions,
You are always supporting
Patiently without complaining.
But we ignorant beings
Are always ungrateful,
Stepping on you,
Calling you Earth.
You are so constant.
Whoever wants to be purified,
If you don't exist,
Cannot be purified.
Whoever wants to quench their thirst,
If you don't exist,
Cannot quench their thirst.
Whoever wants to hear,
If you don't exist,
Cannot hear.
Whatever our actions,
You are always flowing
Ceaselessly without complaining.
But we desiring beings
Are always ungrateful,
Splashing you,
Calling you Water.
You are so clear.
Whoever wants to fight,
If you don't exist,
Cannot fight.
Whoever wants to love,
If you don't exist,
Cannot love.
Whoever wants to see,
If you don't exist,
Cannot see.
Whatever our actions,
You are always glowing
Unobscuredly without complaining.
But we proud beings
Are always ungrateful
Smothering you,
Calling you Fire.
You are so light.
Whoever wants to rise,
If you don't exist,
Cannot rise.
Whover wants to move,
If you don't exist,
Cannot move.
Whoever wants to smell,
If you don't exist,
Cannot smell.
Whatever our actions,
You are always moving
Weightlessly without complaining.
But we envious beings
Are always ungrateful,
Fanning you,
calling you Air.
You are so open.
Whoever wants to exist,
If you don't exist,
Cannot exist.
Whoever doesn't want exist,
If you don't exist,
cannot cease to exist.
Whoever wants to know phenomena,
If you don't exist,
Cannot know phenomena.
Whatever our actions,
You are always welcoming
Spaciously without complaining.
But we ignorant beings
Are always ungrateful,
Emptying you,
calling you Space.
You are our undemanding slave,
Tirelessly serving us, From ordinary beings to sublime beings,
To fulfil our wordly wishes.
You are our powerful queen,
Seductively conquering us,
From ordinary beings to sublime beings,
Into desirable qualities.
You are our Wisdom Dakini,
Effortlessly guiding us with your magic dance,
From ordinary beings to sublime beings,
Into desireless qualities.

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