So if you really wish to benefit others, the first step is to attain realization yourself. You must first mature your own mind; otherwise you will be incapable of helping others. Giving other people water is impossible unless you have a jug with water in it. If it is empty, you might make the gesture of pouring, but no water will come out.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book Zurchungpa's Testament
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Further quotes from the book Zurchungpa's Testament:
- All perceptions are similar to a dream
- No other way
- Not outside yourself
- The three higher trainings
- Free from the extreme of existence and that of nonexistence
- What a waste of time
- Like two expressions on the same face
- The moon’s reflection on water
- Perceiving everything in its natural purity
- Just as space
- Not fabricated, never stained
- Examine your actions very closely
- Spontaneous devotion to your teacher
- Just leave it like it is
- Complete absence of doubt
- Projections of the mind
- Nothing else than the projection of one’s own mind
- When true realization dawns in one’s mind
- Recognizing awareness