In the current general cultural milieu of the Western world, expression of desire allows emotions to be actively encouraged, actively stimulated, and over-blown, all within the contextual appreciation of this as something healthy. If one has a desire, one is encouraged to fulfill it. If one has an emotion, one is encouraged to stimulate it, to bring it to development by expressing it. Generally, this is seen as a healthy thing to do, while actually, in terms of karmic development, this approach tends to create a disproportionate exaggeration of desire and attachment.

Kalu Rinpoche

from the book Gently Whispered: Oral Teachings by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche

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Further quotes from the book Gently Whispered:

• The basic problem
• The path of Mahayana
• Not feeling totally at the mercy of one’s emotion
• Being aware of thoughts as they arise
• A shift in attention
• Spacious meditation