Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Saint Valentine's Day in webbed culture, so you have folks all over Twitter, Facebook, and other social media wishing each other imitation hearts and flowers... thinking about love.

Love and its sickness is a theme we like to explore here at Tenpa's World-Famous Original Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar and Virtual Karaoke Bar (noting, as an aside, that "karaoke" is the portmanteau of Japanese kara, "empty," and okesutora, "orchestra")... and, as the empty orchestra plays on,  here, and here, and here, and here, and here... from which generous portion you might get the notion we are somehow stuck to the subject.

If it is lovesickness you fear, this most chocolate of all days, then here is the cure -- courtesy of Keith Dowman's treasured translation of Shakbar Lama Jatang Tsogdrug Randrol's The Flight of the Garuda:

"EHMAHO! Now listen once again to this vagrant singing! At one time or another all of you have been injured by others. Conscientiously recollect in detail how others have wrongfully accused you and victimized you, humiliating you and grinding you into the ground, and how you were shamed and deeply mortified. Brood on these things, letting hatred arise, and as it arises look directly at its essence, at hatred itself. Then discover first where the hatred comes from, second, where it is now, and finally where it goes. Look carefully for its color and shape, and any other characteristics. 

Surely the vision of your anger is ultimately empty and ungraspable. Do not reject anger! It is mirror-like awareness itself. 

Then, all you lovers, think of the beautiful man or woman in your heart. You gluttons, consider the food you crave -- meat, cake, or fruit. You strutting peacocks, recall and dwell on the clothes you like to wear. You avaricious traders, think about the form of wealth you desire -- horses, jewelry, or cash. Carefully considering these matters, allow desire to arise, and when it arises, look directly at its essence, at the greedy and lustful self. Then discover first where it comes from, second where it is now, and finally where it goes. Look carefully for its color and shape and any other characteristics. 

This vision of your desire is ultimately empty and ungraspable. Do not reject it! It is discriminating awareness."

This is the unsurpassable king of all remedies, for the sickness this day commemorates, and whether it is better in the symptom or the cure, I leave entirely to your own dear intentions.