Externally, the teacher appears in human form and teaches the path to liberation. Then comes a time when, through his instructions and his blessings, one comes to a realization identical to his. Then one sees that the inner, or absolute, teacher has always been present. It is simply the nature of one’s own mind. Jamgon […]
If you follow after thoughts and afflictions Such as hatred, anger, and desire, It will cause you to take birth in the three lower realms. To be born in any of them brings about unimaginable torment. Whatever afflictions or sufferings occur, By looking at their essence they vanish into emptiness. There is no way for […]
If contentment does not arise within your mind Even if you have everything you could ever want, you’ll be like a beggar. Those who are content and rid of clinging Are always rich even without possessions. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Unless mind is tamed within, Outer enemies will be inexhaustible. If you tame the anger within, All enemies on earth will be pacified. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Self and other — everything — is as a dream; There isn’t even the slightest thing which is truly established. When you maintain the natural state as it is Without spoiling or fabricating your mind, The emptiness of all inner and outer phenomena Is realized to be the sky-like union of clarity and emptiness. That […]
All of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are your own mind; They don’t arise from anything else in the slightest. Everything, such as joy and suffering, good and bad, High and low, are the conceptual constructs of mind. If your mind is pure, you are buddha: Wherever you reside is a pure realm; Whatever you do is […]
All of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are your own mind; They don’t arise from anything else in the slightest. Everything, such as joy and suffering, good and bad, High and low, are the conceptual constructs of mind. If your mind is pure, you are buddha: Wherever you reside is a pure realm; Whatever you do is […]
Atisha, the protector of the snowland, said: “Among many, examine your speech; When you stay alone, examine your mind.” Briefly he taught these two points. The mind is the root of faults And the mouth is the gateway for these faults to emerge. Thus, always watch over both. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Adverse conditions are spiritual friends. Devils and demons are emanations of the victorious ones. Illness is the broom for evil and obscurations. Suffering is the dance of what is. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
If you follow any thought or emotion, major or minor, and let your mind wander outward, your work is in error and you’re no different from an ordinary person. Turn your emotion right in and look right at your mind. When you look at it, nothing is seen. Relax completely, let everything go, and rest […]
Mind itself and the true nature of objects have no reality whatsoever and are beyond intellect and inexpressible. This one point could well be the synopsis of all teachings. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Getting butter from milk is only possible because milk already contains cream. No one ever made butter by churning water. The prospector looks for gold in rocks and not in wood chips. Likewise, the quest for perfect enlightenment only makes sense because buddha-nature is already present in every being. Without that nature, all efforts would […]
If, as you meditate on mind training, your personality becomes stiff with pride and arrogance, its as though you have reduced a god to a demon; dharma has become non-dharma. The more you meditate on mind training and dharma, the more supple your personality should become. Act as the lowest servant to everyone. Jamgon Kongtrul […]
Since all virtuous thoughts and actions motivated by clinging to a concrete reality or to a self-cherishing attitude are like poisonous food, give them up. Learn not to cling, but to know the phantomlike nature of experience. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
The noble ones share a single ultimate view, But arrogant ones bend that to their own interests. Those who show all the teachings of the Buddha as without contradiction can be considered learned people, But who would be foolish enough to think that those who cause discord are holders of the dharma? Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro […]
Just as a king overpowered by self-interest Is not worthy of being the protector of the kingdom, A sectarian person is not worthy of being a holder of the dharma. Not only that, he is unworthy of upholding even his own tradition. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Do not discuss the faults of others. Realize that their “faults” are actually your own impure projections. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Continue practice into everyday life with a single meditation, always keeping in mind the intention to help others in all activities, eating, dressing, sleeping, walking, or sitting. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
The root of the entire dharma is mental rejection of the concerns of this life. Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
You must find freedom from disturbing emotions and ego-clinging by constantly examining and investigating your course of experience. Therefore, turn your attention to an object that gives rise to disturbing emotions. Examine carefully whether they arise or not. If they do arise, apply remedies vigorously. Again, look at ego-clinging to see what it is like. […]