14th Dalai LamaInner peace will not come as a blessing from above. Inner peace comes from nurturing genuine love and compassion for others. Buddhism teaches us about bringing inner peace through the training of the mind.
Learn not to cling ~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro ThayeSince all virtuous thoughts and actions motivated by clinging to a concrete reality or to a self-cherishing attitude are like poisonous food, give them up. Learn not to cling, but to know the phantomlike nature of experience.
Focus on yourself ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha ShakyamuniFocus,
not on the rudenesses of others,
not on what they’ve done
or left undone,
but on what you
have and haven’t done
yourself.
The web of disturbing emotions ~ Nagarjuna
NagarjunaCovered by the web of disturbing emotions,
One is a sentient being.
Freed from disturbing emotions,
One is called a buddha.
Your own enlightenment ~ Dogen Zenji
Dogen ZenjiDo not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.
Offering to others the victory ~ Geshe Langri Thangpa
Geshe Langri ThangpaWhen others, out of jealousy
Treat me wrongly with abuse, slander, and scorn,
May I take upon myself the defeat
And offer to others the victory.
Migrating creatures ~ Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Traleg Kyabgon RinpocheAccording to the Buddhist tradition, we are on a journey whether we like it or not, because we are always in a state of transition. Sentient beings are referred to as drowa in Tibetan, which means ‘migrating creatures’. This is because we can never be in a particular place without moving physically, psychologically or spiritually. Whether we are thinking or sensing or experiencing emotions, everything is constantly being propelled or drawn forward. Emotions are “emotions in motion”, because even a state of agitation is a form of movement.
However, if we are not in a state of transition, we could not talk about transformation. Our life would be a closed book. But according to the Buddhist teachings, our lives are not closed books because of this constant forward movement. If we feel that we are stuck, that is only our misunderstanding of what is really going on, for something is always happening even if we do not notice it.
The enemies dwelling in your mind ~ Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje
Minling Terchen Gyurme DorjeWhen you have subdued an opponent,
A thousand more are still to be overcome.
Instead, crush your negative emotions,
Which are the enemies dwelling in your mind.
Make your life and practice one ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheIn brief, taking your own mind as witness, make your life and practice one, and at the time of death, with no thought of anything left undone, do not be ashamed of yourself. This itself is the pith instruction of all practices.
Clarity 24/7 ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheAwareness in itself is always clear, capable of reflecting anything, even misconceptions about itself.
Continuous love ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Thinley Norbu RinpocheIf we believe that mind is continuous, our love for others becomes continuous. If we recognize this continuity, we do not trust temporary, tangible circumstances or take them too seriously. Since it is tiring to switch between changing uncertainties, which are inherently impermanent and unimportant, we become less easily influenced by any circumstance. This creates the habit of stability so that our minds are less erratic, our lives are less chaotic, and our feelings for others are less changeable, which causes love to become increasingly deep and loyal.
The sun of real happiness ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheThe sun of real happiness shines in your life when you start to cherish others.
Just as it is ~ Tsele Natsok Rangdrol
Tsele Natsok RangdrolMeditation is solely maintaining your mind just as it is, without creating anything.
The best seeing ~ Milarepa
MilarepaThe best seeing is the way of “nonseeing”
the radiance of the mind itself.
The best prize is what cannot be looked for
the priceless treasure of the mind itself.
Threefold purity ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronAs we learn to relax with groundlessness, this enthusiasm will emerge. We practice what is called the threefold purity – no big deal about the doer, no big deal about the action, no big deal about the result. This joyful exertion is rooted in no expectation, no ambition, no hope of fruition. We just eagerly put one foot in front of the other and are not discouraged when we fall flat on our faces. We act without self-congratulation or self-censure, without fearing criticism or expecting applause. Through continual practice we find out how to cross over the boundary between stuckness and waking up. It depends on our willingness to experience directly feelings we’ve been avoiding for many years. This willingness to stay open to what scares us weakens our habits of avoidance. It’s the way that ego-clinging becomes ventilated and begins to fade.
Act with mindfulness ~ Longchenpa
LongchenpaTo be naked and so on in the middle of ordinary people,
We might think of such eccentric behaviour as part of higher asceticism,
But it is a reason for worldly beings to lose faith in what is pure.
‘To act with mindfulness’ is my heart advice.
The most important practice in Buddhist meditation ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhLooking deeply into the wrong perceptions, ideas, and notions that are at the base of our suffering is the most important practice in Buddhist meditation.
First get the priorities right ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul RinpocheInstead of self-importance, put others in the center. Do this at the aspirational level first. It’s not that you need to commit yourself to do anything outside of your mind. But, first get the priorities right.
The shortest path of realization ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThe literal meaning of guru yoga is ‘union with the teacher´s nature’. To blend your mind with the teacher’s mind is the most profound of all practices, and the shortest path of realization. It is the life force of the path and the one practice that includes all others. It was through relying on a spiritual teacher that all the bodhisattvas of the past generated the mind of enlightenment and reached perfection.
Cultivating wisdom ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo
Gyelse Tokme ZangpoThe practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cultivate wisdom,
Beyond the three conceptual spheres, alongside skilful means,
Since it is not possible to attain the perfect level of awakening
Through the other five pāramitās alone, in wisdom’s absence.