To expect happiness without giving up negative action is like holding your hand in a fire and hoping not to be burned. Of course, no one actually wants to suffer, to be sick, to be cold or hungry – but as long as we continue to indulge in wrong doing we will never put an end to suffering. Likewise, we will never achieve happiness, except through positive deeds, words, and thoughts. Positive action is something we have to cultivate ourselves; it can be neither bought nor stolen, and no one ever stumbles on it just by chance.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones

translated by Padmakara Translation Group


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Further quotes from the book The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones:

• The spear of mindfulness
• Don’t be like that
• Three turnings of the wheel of Dharma
• The shadow of our actions
• Following the view
• Seeing the truth of the teaching
• At the time of death
• The only way to obtain lasting happiness
• The gift of the Dharma
• No greater virtue
• The intention to benefit others
• Mastery of the mind
• A lump of earth
• Remember death
• Stillness and movement
• This is very shortsighted
• Two ways to meditate
• Mind filled with faith
• Ordinary worldly goals