Someone asked me recently if I am afraid to die. Truthfully, I am more afraid of not living my life fully — of living a life dedicated to cherishing and protecting myself. This fear-driven approach to life is like covering your couch in plastic so it won’t get worn. It robs you of the ability to enjoy and appreciate your life. It takes courage to accept life fully, to say yes to our life, yes to our karma, yes to our mind, emotions and whatever else unfolds. This is the beginning of courage. Courage is the fundamental openness to face even the hardest truths. It makes room for all the pain, joy, irony, and mystery that life provides.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

from the book It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

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Further quotes from the book It's Up to You:

• Ego’s indoctrination
• A practitioner’s approach to life
• The practitioner’s approach to life
• Just an expression of mind’s basic nature
• Like a homeless prince
• Taking our reactions less seriously
• Everything is workable for all of us
• The ground of practice is your direct experience