Sometimes, we have strange ideas about the Buddha. We go to him for refuge and then think that he will extend his large hand down from the sky and lift us out of samsara. Actually, the Buddha came into the world, taught the path to liberation, and then passed away. Since we cannot go looking […]
Inside each of us there is a noble heart. This heart is the source of our finest aspiration for ourselves and the world. It fills us with the courage to act on our aspirations. Our nobility may be obscured at times, covered over with small thoughts or blocked by confused and confusing emotions. But a […]
To begin with, what is Dharma? Generally, when most people try to practice Dharma, or say that they practice Dharma, they sometimes understand it as a ritual, something that you do with your body, your speech, or through special actions or activities. And if that is the case, then you need to devote special time […]
The main point is that if we are going to be real practitioners of the dharma, then we need to become independent practitioners, people who actually know how to practice by learning how to be quite direct and honest with ourselves. We might think we can always be sitting in front of our teacher or […]
When you pose a question, you are simply asking for what comes to mind spontaneously as a response. Likewise, in reply I only state whatever comes to mind at that very moment. It is a spontaneous exchange. Apart from this, there is no true dialogue. 17th Karmapa
It is important that we develop the habit of distinguishing between wants and needs, because much more than just our own personal well-being is at stake. We only have to look at the rapid degradation of our natural environment in order to see the destructive effects of our consumerism. 17th Karmapa
Each person must find his or her own path. Nonetheless, seek guidance from wise and compassionate people and listen to them earnestly. This will help you find the best way to proceed – now and in the future. 17th Karmapa
Sometimes harsh words must be said in order to help someone, but generally when we speak harshly, it is because we are angry, and it does not help. It is difficult to speak harsh words with love and compassion. In these situations, we can take ourselves as an example. Putting ourselves in someone else’s place, […]
By meditating on happiness for others, our own mind knows happiness, and eventually we will be able to benefit others as well. There is a direct correlation between helping others and the extent of our practice. As far as our practice to assist others goes, so far will its benefits and results reach. 17th Karmapa
What is the definition of practice? Taming our mind. Those of us who are supposed to be practicing Dharma should carefully examine ourselves – our body, speech, and mind – and become mindful of what we are doing. Otherwise, it is quite possible that although we have the form of a practitioner, we are not […]
When Buddhism talks about emptiness, it is not talking about a type of non-existence whatsoever, but rather the teachings on emptiness point to the notion of possibility, that anything can happen. The teachings on emptiness are about a fundamental sense of opportunity that is a part of reality, a fundamental presence of a gap or […]
Nurtured by my mother’s love and warmth, I stepped anew into this human world. Its limitless and ever-changing marvels I pursued with a restless, grasping mind, tasting joy, sorrow, laughter, and anguish. At the end of my days, once again, I must pass into a state of dissolution. This is the nature of the world […]
The dharmakaya is naturally arisen, the ultimate, The sambhogakaya is all-pervading, bliss-emptiness unceasing; Through the nirmanakaya pouring forth a rain of joy, May auspiciousness in all its glory be present. 17th Karmapa
Interdependence and emptiness show us that there are no fixed starting points. We can start from nothing. Whatever we have, wherever we are — that is the place we can start from. Many people have the idea that they lack what they need in order to start working toward their dreams. They feel they do […]
I have noticed that sometimes people speak of our planet as a thing. This attitude will not lead to the feelings of closeness and affection that would move us to take care of the earth. As we know, the earth is not a dead rock floating in space. It is a living system, in itself […]
Our priceless pure heart is not something that can be purchased at a pharmacy, poured into our body, or obtained through a cure. If we went to a major city looking to buy it, we could not purchase this pure heart no matter what price we were willing to pay. How do we find it? […]
Returning to the idea of kindness to oneself as an aspect of compassion, one thing about this is that if one attempts to cultivate compassion for others, love for others without having compassion and love for oneself, one will have no basis within oneself for that cultivation. It is a little bit like trying to […]
We have to think about compassion from many different angles, not just thoughts, but something that comes from our heart and our bones. Then you are a follower of mahayana. If you give up on one sentient being then you lose bodhicitta. 17th Karmapa
The degree to which we are able to offer, or surrender, our body, speech, and mind to our guru depends on the amount of confidence we have in ourselves and in our teacher. Milarepa, for example, endured countless difficulties during his discipleship under Marpa. Yet for Milarepa, these experiences were beneficial because he had stable […]
Put simply, to think in terms of the harm that comes to us via all sentient beings engenders hatred toward others and is based on a principal belief in selfishness. We should not think, “Oh, lots of horrible things have been done to me” and get stuck on that. Instead, if we nurture the other […]
