Buddha ShakyamuniLet none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.
The experiences of the six realms ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaAnd strangely enough, these experiences of the six realms – gods, jealous gods, human beings, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell – are ‘space’, different versions of space. It seems intense and solid, but in actual fact it isn’t at all. They are different aspects of space – that’s the exciting or interesting part. In fact, it is complete open space, without any colors or any particularly solid way of relating. That is why they have been described as six types of consciousness. It is pure consciousness rather than a solid situation – it almost could be called unconsciousness rather than even consciousness. The development of ego operates completely at the unconscious level, from one unconscious level to another unconscious level. That is why these levels are referred to as loka, which means ‘realm’ or ‘world’. They are six types of ‘world’. Each is a complete unit of its own. In order to have a world, you have to have an atmosphere; you have to have space to formulate things. So the six realms are the fundamental space through which any bardo experience operates. Because of that, it is possible to transmute these spaces into six types of awakened state, or freedom.
Any minute ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheDeath could come any minute so transform your life into dharma.
The way to become enlightened ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheThe way to become enlightened is to train in recognizing mind essence and become stable in this recognition.
Drop it and relax ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronTo begin with, in meditation we can notice how emotions and moods are connected with having lost or gained something, having been praised or blamed, and so forth. We can notice how what begins as a simple thought, a simple quality of energy, quickly blossoms into full-blown pleasure and pain. We have to have a certain amount of fearlessness, of course, because we like it all to come out on the pleasure/praise/fame/gain side. We like to ensure that everything will come out in our favor. But when we really look, we’re going to see that we have no control over what occurs at all. We have all kinds of mood swings and emotional reactions. They just come and go endlessly.
Sometimes we’re going to find ourselves completely caught up in a drama. We’re going to be just as angry as if someone had just walked into the room and slapped us in the face. Then it might occur to us: ‘Wait a minute -what’s going on here?’ We look into it and are able to see that, out of nowhere, we feel that we have lost something or been insulted. Where this thought came from we don’t know, but here we are, hooked again…Right then, we can feel that energy, and give ourselves a break. Beyond all that fuss and bother is a big sky. Right there in the middle of the tempest, we can drop it and relax.
Right effort ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaEffort is crucial in the beginning for generating a strong will. We all have the Buddha nature and thus already have within us the substances through which, when we meet with the proper conditions, we can turn into a fully enlightened being having all beneficial attributes and devoid of all faults.
The very root of failure in our lives is to think, “Oh, how useless and powerless I am!” It is important to have a strong force of mind thinking, “I can do it,” this not being mixed with pride or any other afflictive emotion.
Moderate effort over a long period of time is important, no matter what you are trying to do. One brings failure on oneself by working extremely hard at the beginning, attempting to do too much, and then giving it all up after a short time. A constant stream of moderate effort is needed. Similarly, when meditating, you need to be skillful by having frequent, short sessions; it is more important that the session be of good quality than that it be long.
Knowing the truth ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahWhen we know the truth, we become people who don’t have to think much, we become people with wisdom. If we don’t know, we have more thinking than wisdom or no wisdom at all. A lot of thinking without wisdom is extreme suffering.
The big spider in the middle of the web ~ Tenzin Palmo
Tenzin PalmoSo the whole Buddhist path on one level can be a way of understanding how to loosen and eventually drop our desperate grasping at this sense of me. Right there at the center of the universe and definitely the big spider in the middle of the web that we are all weaving. Which we imagine if we can only keep satisfied, if we can only please, if we can only keep feeling that it’s worthwhile, we will be happy. And not recognizing that that is the cause of all our suffering.
Like reflections of the moon ~ Dogen Zenji
Dogen ZenjiEnlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.
Listening, Reflecting and Meditating ~ Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul RinpocheListening to the teachings—you’ve already heard hundreds of teachings,
But when you haven’t grasped the meaning of even one teaching,
What’s the point of more listening?Reflecting on the teachings—even though you’ve listened,
If the teachings aren’t coming to mind when needed,
What’s the point of more reflection? None.Meditating according to the teachings—
If your meditation practice still isn’t curing
The obscuring states of mind—forget about it!
Alive in the present moment ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhWe can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.
Projections of the mind ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheAll our different activities are projections of the mind, created by our thoughts. If you follow these deluded thoughts, there will be no end to your mind being upset by delusion, just as when the wind blows over the surface of a lake, the crystal clarity of the water is masked by ripples. It is therefore important to control the mind by applying the view, meditation, and action, both in meditation and in postmeditation, for major situations and minor ones.
Our version of reality ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Thinley Norbu RinpocheWe may say we can only believe in what can be experienced or proven, but actually we believe selectively in what can be experienced or proven as long as it is compatible with our other conceptions. We accept and use intangible abstractions of intangible times, places, and circumstances to support what we think is tangibly true, turning intangible to the tangible through our conception. Because we are only interested in our version of reality, we miss the potential opportunity to connect tangible qualities to intengible qualities through wisdom’s influence.
Appreciating everything around you ~ Gyalwang Drukpa
Gyalwang DrukpaAppreciate and rejoice, without any expectation. It doesn’t matter if people are unkind to you, it doesn’t matter if people betray you, it doesn’t matter if people don’t even say ‘thank you’ to you; by appreciating everything around you, from happy experiences to sad, your life will become meaningful, full of understanding, joy, strength and fearlessness.
Equal nature ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaFrom the space of the utterly pure extent of phenomena, deep and clear wisdom expands.
Mind’s primordial nature is forever free of elaboration.
Not deluded by habitual mind or samsara and nirvana as they naturally arise.
To this expanse, the equal nature of all things, I bow.
Reducing a god to a demon ~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro ThayeIf, 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.
Becoming and Dissolution ~ Mahasi Sayadaw
Mahasi SayadawA bubble bursts soon after it has been formed. A mirage conjures up an image of reality which disappears on close examination. There is absolutely no substance in either of them. This is common knowledge. As we know their true nature, so also must we know the true nature of the phenomena. When a meditator acquires knowledge of concentration through the observance of the dissolution of the aggregates (khandha), he will discover that the known object and the knowing mind are all in a state of flux, now appearing, now vanishing. They are transitory. There is no essence or substance worthy to be named “mine” in them. They signify only the processes of becoming and dissolution.
Expanding compassion ~ Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tsoknyi RinpocheThe true bodhisattva spirit grows out of this personal sense of freedom. You discover that you don’t feel so needy anymore. You don’t crave another refueling – with shamatha or with other people’s love and attention – because you know within yourself how to be free, how to be confident. With this sense of security and freedom, you begin to direct your attention to the needs of others. The compassion expands.
The electricity of spiritual practice ~ Bokar Rinpoche
Bokar RinpocheBodhicitta is the electricity of spiritual practice. If it is cut, nothing works anymore. Animated with bodhicitta, all ordinary activity, all works in the world become a path to awakening.
Objectless meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheObjectless meditation is like accepting whatever clouds and mist might obscure the sky while recognizing that the sky itself remains unchanged even when it is obscured.