Lama Zopa RinpocheSo, from now on, what am I going to do? Instead of cherishing myself I’m going to cherish only other sentient beings and with my three doors of body, speech, and mind I am going to work to bring the greatest benefit to other sentient beings. Decide that this is what you are going to do this year, this month, and especially today.
The First Miracle of Mindfulness ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhThe first miracle brought about by mindfulness is your own presence, your real presence. With this energy dwelling in you, you become completely alive. When the energy of mindfulness is dwelling in you, Buddha is dwelling in you. The energy of mindfulness is the energy of Buddha. It is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit is, there is also understanding, life, healing, and compassion. Where mindfulness is, true life, solidity, freedom, and healing also manifest. We all have the ability to generate this energy of mindfulness. Do walking meditation, breathe mindfully, drink your tea mindfully, and cultivate this energy that dwells in you, that illuminates you, and makes life possible.
At ease ~ Tilopa
TilopaLike the state of space, the mind transcends thought. Set it at ease in its own nature, without rejecting it or maintaining it. When the mind is without objective content, it is Mahamudra. Through familiarisation with that, supreme enlightenment is achieved.
Every morning ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaEvery morning when I wake up, I dedicate myself to helping others to find peace of mind. Then, when I meet people, I think of them as long time friends; I don’t regard others as strangers.
The Innate Beyond Subject And Object ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpochePhenomena are the radiance of the innate absolute;
Mind’s nature is the wisdom of the innate absolute.
The ultimate teacher – phenomena and mind merged in one taste –
Dwells naturally within myself. Ah ho! What a joy!
Buddha’s medicine ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahIf you’ve trained properly, you wouldn’t feel frightened when you fall sick, nor be upset when someone dies. When you go into the hospital for treatment, determine in your mind that if you get better, that’s fine, and that if you die, that’s fine, too. I guarantee you that if the doctors told me I had cancer and was going to die in a few months, I’d remind the doctors, “Watch out, because death is coming to get you, too. It’s just a question of who goes first and who goes later.” Doctors are not going to cure death or prevent death. Only the Buddha was such a doctor, so why not go ahead and use the Buddha’s medicine?
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo
Gyelse Tokme ZangpoThe practice of all the bodhisattvas is to take refuge in the Three Jewels,
Since they will never fail to provide protection for all who call upon them,
For whom are the ordinary gods of this world ever capable of helping,
As long as they themselves are trapped within samsara’s vicious cycle?
Joining fear and uncertainty with genuine confidence ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaGoing into your fear is like going through a fog. The key is whether you’re regarding what you experience as simply something real or instead as monumental entrapment, imprisonment. If you panic further, you breed cowardice. If you don’t, then you just have an experience of fear. It’s a matter of invoking fundamental confidence. If you are able to join fear and uncertainty with genuine confidence, then you will come through to the other side. Dealing with the two sides of the coin in yourself is difficult, but it can be done. You discover a further commitment to working with yourself and a further feeling of connection in your life.
Relating to the guru ~ Tenzin Palmo
Tenzin PalmoSometimes, even if the lama is sitting in front of you, you can feel there’s a thousand miles between you; likewise, you can be a thousand miles away and feel that the guru is right there sitting in your heart.
Trying to find a Buddha ~ Bodhidharma
BodhidharmaTrying to find a Buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space. Space has a name but no form. It’s not something you can pick up or put down. And you certainly can’t grab it. Beyond this mind you’ll never see a Buddha. The Buddha is a product of your mind. Why look for a Buddha beyond this mind?
A noble vision ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaI recognize that this wish to create a better society, end all the suffering of all beings everywhere, and protect the entire planet may not seem particularly feasible. But whether or not we accomplish such goals in our lifetime, it is nevertheless deeply meaningful to cultivate such a vast sense of responsibility, and the wholehearted wish to be able to benefit others. This outlook is so wholesome and noble that it is worth developing, regardless of the probability of actually accomplishing such a vast vision.
Coming to know yourself ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheAlso like getting to know a friend, discovering the nature of your mind is a gradual process. Rarely does it occur all at once. The only difference between meditation and ordinary social interaction is that the friend you’re gradually coming to know is yourself.
Like a tiny fish flashing about in a lucid pond ~ 1st Panchen Lama
1st Panchen LamaWhile in a state of total absorption, like a tiny fish flashing about in a lucid pond and not disturbing it, intelligently inspect the self-nature of the person who is meditating.
Beyond hopefulness and hopelessness ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Thinley Norbu RinpocheSuffering in hopefulness is the eternalist. Suffering in hopelessness is the nihilist. Beyond both hopefulness and hopelessness is the Buddhist.
As they truly are ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheAs the Buddha said to the gathering of monks during his teachings on the vinaya, discipline helps us maintain samadhi, becoming accustomed to samadhi lengthens our periods of sobriety, and sobriety is none other than wisdom. Having realised wisdom, we are no longer bound by desire, anger and ignorance, and are able to perceive all phenomena as they truly are.
Suffering, causes, cessation and path ~ Maitreya
MaitreyaIllness must be understood, its causes eliminated,
Wellbeing must be attained, and medicine taken.
Likewise, suffering, its causes, their cessation and the path
Must in turn be understood, eliminated, realized and relied upon.
The practitioner’s approach to life ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul RinpocheWe can realize the beauty of our own inner nature when we stop manipulating everything that crosses our path as a way to fortify a sense of self. This is the practitioner’s approach to life.
Use your life ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronUse your life to wake you up.
Being in the present ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheBeing in the present is so important in buddhism. It is the core strategy of buddhism to do whatever it takes to keep the mind present, to have ones mind from going astray. Every single method that exists in buddhism is for that result.
No matter what you do ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheNo matter what you do, no matter what situation you are in — whether walking, sitting, eating or lying down — always suspend your attention within the nature of nondual awareness. That’s it!