For most of us, our natural mind or buddha-nature is obscured by the limited self-image created by habitual neuronal patterns – which, in themselves, are simply a reflection of the unlimited capacity of the mind to create any condition it chooses. Natural mind is capable of producing anything, even ignorance of its own nature. In other words, not recognizing natural mind is simply an example of the mind’s unlimited capacity to create whatever it wants. Whenever we feel fear, sadness, jealousy, desire, or any other emotion that contributes to our sense of vulnerability or weakness, we should give ourselves a nice pat on the back. We’ve just experienced the unlimited nature of the mind.
Mingyur Rinpoche
from the book The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
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Further quotes from the book The Joy of Living:
- Your mind just as it is
- What Buddhists mean by happiness
- Thinking of yourself as limited
- The best part of all
- Oh, this is how my mind works
- Neither rejecting nor accepting
- Importance of the motivation
- Recognizing the inherent potential of your mind
- The practice of simply observing
- Just observe it
- Nothing more than the natural function of the mind
- Trying to do your best
- Meditation on compassion
- Setting the tone for your entire day
- Being diligent
- Essentially good
- An experience of absolute well-being
- The need to look at the mind
- Never disturbed
- Becoming aware