In each of our countless lives in beginningless samsara, we must have had parents. In fact, we have taken birth so often that, at one time or another, every single sentient being must have been our mother or father. When we think of all these beings who have been our parents wandering helplessly for so long in samsara, like blind people who have lost their way, we cannot but feel tremendous compassion for them.

Compassion by itself, however, is not enough; they need actual help. But as long as our minds are still limited by attachment, just giving them food, clothing, money, or simply affection will only bring them a limited and temporary happiness at best. What we must do is to find a way to liberate them completely from suffering. This can only be done by putting the teachings of Dharma into practice.

True compassion is directed impartially toward all sentient beings, without discriminating between those who are friends and those who are enemies. With this compassion constantly in mind, we should perform every positive act, even offering a single flower or reciting a single mantra, with the wish that it may benefit all living creatures without exception.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Tibetan Masters

translated by Matthieu Ricard


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Further quotes from the book On the Path to Enlightenment:

• Our journey will have been useless
• Seeing the inner teacher
• Just as clouds
• You who have a precious human life
• Clarity and emptiness
• Whatever you do
• Free Perception
• Like gold hidden in its matrix
• Apply yourself unrelentingly to spiritual practice
• Right Time
• The alternation of thoughts
• Trample on anger with realization
• The only way to become buddha
• Only the fool wants more pain
• Cut the knot of greed
• The four boundless qualities
• The ultimate nature of mind
• See the difference
• The enemies dwelling in your mind
• To end suffering