14th Dalai LamaSometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something,
and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
Live with no mine ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha ShakyamuniSee them, floundering in their sense of mine, like fish in the puddles of a dried-up stream — and, seeing this, live with no mine, not forming attachment for states of becoming.
Taking delight in working with our fears ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul RinpocheIronically, we shrink from a pain that doesn’t actually exist. We speak about the truth of suffering only in that we experience it. But what is suffering really when we stop trying to push it away? This kind of questioning needs to be the theme of our lives. We need to take delight in working with our fears. We need to study them and ask ourselves: What am I so afraid of? Why do I need to protect myself?
Guru ~ Lama Yeshe
Lama YesheA guru is a person who can really show you the true nature of your mind and who knows the perfect remedies for your psychological problems. Someone who doesn’t know his own mind can never know others’ minds and therefore cannot be a guru.
Others cannot be blamed ~ Jigme Lingpa
Jigme LingpaBefore an incident is over and what has happened cannot be changed, it must be instantly remembered: »These harmful beings are controlled by passions. If I did not exist, there would be no cause for them to harm me, because when there is no object to harm, how can there be anyone who harms? The skandhas, elements and sense gatherings are root circumstances, and the favorable or adverse qualities such as the unmindful behaviour of body and speech are contributing circumstances, making me become a target that can be harmed by others. Others are not responsible for this and cannot be blamed. I myself took this karmic body, was born in such and such country, was given this name by parents, and reside in this place. These skandhas come from me and my grasping mind.« Remember this and do not reflect on the faults and behaviors of others.
Seeing where another person is coming from ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheMost conflicts between people stem from a misunderstanding of one another’s motives. We all have our reasons for doing what we do and saying what we say. The more we allow ourselves to be guided by compassion – to pause for a moment and try to see where another person is coming from – the less likely we are to engage in conflict.
Being ever more careful in our behavior ~ Thrangu Rinpoche
Thrangu RinpocheJust because mind, in its nature, is non-arising and empty, we cannot pretend that nothing exists, that there is no good and evil, no pleasure or pain, etc… In fact, the more the experience of our true nature deepens, the more we realize that we should be ever more careful in our behavior, attitudes, and motivation. We will then develop even more compassion, be kinder to others and more diligent.
Clinging to truth ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronThe truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.
Wide-awake empty cognizance ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheThe real problem is the state of mind of an ordinary person, which is always changing from one thing to another. Sentient beings are totally unstable, but someone who has truly recognized mind essence and stays in retreat in the mountains is completely free of suffering. Even in this lifetime one can be totally free of pain and progress further and further on the path of happiness. There is great benefit from this practice. It’s never pleasant to maintain the state of mind of an ordinary person, which is always changing. When unhappy, one is totally overcome by that feeling. Better to recognize wide-awake empty cognizance and remain like that.
Like a knot that is untied ~ Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tsoknyi RinpocheThere is only one mind; it is not that there are two minds, one recognizing the other. In the very moment of recognizing, it is like a knot that is untied. We don’t have to do anything further than that, leave it untied. In the moment of looking, it is already seen. It is not that later on we come to see. Why? Because mind and mind essence are very close. The second reason is that it is not that mind essence is something that we have to get our sights on; it’s not like that. It is not that we need to hold the awareness on it for a while, like one or two minutes and slowly it will appear within our experience. Since there is only one mind, the moment you recognize, it is simply a matter of letting go. The thinker or knower of that moment is just like a new knot, like a new thought. The moment you abandon it, it unties. We are already arrived at where we need to arrive at, we are already in the nature of mind.
Nothing but fading illusions ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThrough faith in the Three Jewels and the practice of generosity, it could happen that, by way of karmic fruit, we become rich, gain a high position in society and so on. This might lead us to think, ‘I am rich, I am important, I am the best, I have come out on top.’ If we practitioners have this kind of arrogance, our clinging to this life will increase and a demon will enter our hearts. If, on the other hand, we manage to enjoy happiness, possessions and influence without pride, we will understand that they are noting but illusions, insubstantial dreams, all of which will one day fade away. For as it is said of ‘all compounded things, which is accumulated will be used up; what is raised up will fail; what is born will die; what is joined together will separate.’
Still arriving ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhDo not say that I’ll depart tomorrow because even today I still arrive.
With a wicked mind ~ Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi LodröRight now, you might consider yourself young,
But, with a wicked mind intent upon your own wellbeing,
The daylight of your life will soon succumb to shadows.
Spiritual Path ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheWe follow a spiritual path because we want to defeat our emotions and attain enlightenment, and to achieve that goal we need discipline, guidance and the courage to confront everything we have spent many lifetimes trying to avoid.
Let it die or make it good ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahIf it isn’t good, let it die. If it doesn’t die, make it good.
Just leave it alone ~ Tai Situ Rinpoche
Tai Situ RinpocheWhen we have any kind of lust or attachment, which is very natural for all of us, then instead of looking at it as an enemy and as being terrible, or embracing it as wonderful and desirable, just leave it alone and look at that state of mind, which is very noticeable and very clear because of the lust and the desire.
We all try to see our mind but we cannot. This is a totally inappropriate example but somehow it helps you to understand. If there was a ghost and you had some special ghost-revealing dust-powder, if you threw the powder on the ghost you would see a powder body with two or four arms and maybe no head; scary. So it is like that – we cannot see our mind but when it is manifesting as second or third generation, as attachment or anger, we can see it, no problem.
So instead of looking at the emotion as negative or embracing and going after it, just look at it. Then you are able to see the nature of your mind, which is manifesting negatively in a form of attachment, but in essence it is the ‘kuntog thobpa yeshe’ (wisdom of perfect discernment or wisdom of great joy) or ‘nyampa nyi kyi yeshe’ (wisdom or equanimity) or ‘so sor tog pai yeshe’ (discriminating wisdom). That way it manifests and is how you are able to transform it ultimately. But relatively it is also very good.
The path delighting all the buddhas ~ Lama Tsongkhapa
Lama TsongkhapaThe one who sees that cause and effect operate infallibly
For all the phenomena of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa,
And for whom any objects of conceptual focus have subsided,
Has set out upon the path delighting all the buddhas.
Spacious meditation ~ Kalu Rinpoche
Kalu RinpocheIn real meditation, a bare state of awareness is necessary, so that the meditation has a spacious quality, a clarity and transparency of experience.
Discovering real goodness ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaDiscovering real goodness comes from appreciating very simple experiences. We are not talking about how good it feels to make a million dollars or finally graduate from college or buy a new house, but we are speaking here of the basic goodness of being alive — which does not depend on our accomplishments or fulfilling our desires. We experience glimpses of goodness all the time, but we often fail to acknowledge them. When we see a bright color, we are witnessing our own inherent goodness. When we hear a beautiful sound, we are hearing our own basic goodness. When we step out of the shower, we feel fresh and clean, and when we walk out of a stuffy room, we appreciate the sudden whiff of fresh air. These events take a fraction of a second, but they are real experiences of goodness.
The need to tame oneself first ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWe must recognize that without taming oneself, one cannot possibly tame others.