If I Realized No Self

(to the tune of “If I Were A Rich Man”)

If I realized no self

yadabedabadabedabedabebadabum

I would know exactly who I am

If I realized no self

I’d know I’m composite

yadabedabadabedabedabebadabum

If I knew I was an imputation

Not a person with substantial self

I’d see the great big circle of samsara

Compulsively born as skandas

Living as if pleasure wasn’t pain

With beings wandering up to higher rebirth

Or down to the lower realms

Trapped in beginningless, endless suffering

I would apply all four marks of impermanence

And their very opposites

Birth ends in death; death ends in birth, too

And meeting, parting, gathering, consumption

And the things that rise and fall

Alternating without interruption

I would see disadvantages of samsara

Nothing at all is trustworthy

Pleasure only leads to increased desire

And it goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on

That is the most painful thing of all

If I realized no self

yadabedabadabedabedabebadabum

I would know exactly who I am

If I realized no self

I’d know I’m composite

yadabedabadabedabedabebadabum

Now I see I’m no substantial thing

I can stop this eternal suffering

Oh, what joy could perfect conduct bring?

If I realized no self

Inspired by the teachings of Drupon Khenpo Lodro Namgyal (as translated by Jim Scott) in the Rigpe Dorje Spring Program at Pullahari Monastery. Written by Tania Israel, March 24, 2008 at Pullahari.