Free ~ Mipham Rinpoche

If we are not trapped in the mire of mental constructs,
The manifestation of awareness is directly seen,
Free from constructs.
Without tying knots in the air with the rope of speculation,
May we be skilled in spontaneously resting in the genuine nature.

Mipham Rinpoche

Recognition of the nature of mind ~ Tai Situ Rinpoche

Another thing is meditation. For people who are beginners, to directly recognize the nature of mind is a little bit difficult because it is always there but there is no thing to recognize. Actually we always recognize it, but we don’t recognize that we recognize it because it is so easy, therefore it is difficult. So as beginners we need something. First we say the refuge prayer, sincerely, with full devotion, and we say bodhisattva prayers with full compassion. Then right after saying these prayers, with full devotion and compassion, temporarily our mind is free of defilements and is the embodiment of compassion and devotion at that time. To remain in that and observe that, to maintain that, is connecting with the recognition of the nature of mind. Then of course, afterwards, the real recognition of the nature of mind is as it is. Not devotion, not compassion, not any thing, but as it is.
Seeing the primordial, ever-present, ultimate primordial wisdom, even for a moment, will purify eons of karma. Therefore it is great virtue.

Tai Situ Rinpoche

Enjoy your Life ~ Shunryu Suzuki

The only way is to enjoy your life. Even though you are practicing zazen, counting your breath like a snail, you can enjoy your life, maybe much better than making a trip to the moon. That is why we practice zazen. The kind of life you have is not so important. The most important thing is to be able to enjoy your life without being fooled by things.

Shunryu Suzuki

Until we got it ~ Pema Chödron

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.

Pema Chödron

Eliminating unfavourable experiences ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Real peace and happiness has to come from the heart, from within. So therefore, to eliminate wars and destroying each other, to eliminate famine, disease and earthquakes, and to eliminate all other disasters and unfavourable experiences, all this can be stopped by having loving kindness toward each other. From having a good heart with loving kindness, negative action cannot arise.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Let go ~ Ajahn Chah

Let go. Whenever there is any feeling of clinging, we detach from it because we know that very feeling is just as it is.

Ajahn Chah

Fully alive and fully aware ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment, fully alive and fully aware.

Thich Nhat Hanh

The ordinary of the ordinary ~ Chögyam Trungpa

The awake state is the ordinary of the ordinary.

Chögyam Trungpa

Remembering and concentrating on positive thoughts ~ Khamtrul Rinpoche

Practicing means keeping remembering and concentrating on positive thoughts. Practice does not only mean retreats. We can practice with our experiences in daily life; to think or examine with positive methods. That is practice.

Khamtrul Rinpoche

Be your own guide ~ 17th Karmapa

Whether or not you go in a positive direction depends entirely on you. You have to be your own teacher and try to figure out what it takes to accomplish your goals. You have to be your own judge and try to get yourself to do the right thing and stop yourself from doing the wrong thing. Take responsibility for yourself. Only you know your own secrets; no one else can read your mind. If you want to make a change, don’t depend on the help of others without taking any initiative yourself.

17th Karmapa

Coming or Going? ~ Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

When we rub two sticks together that produces a fire that will eventually cease. However, the fire doesn’t come from anywhere when it starts to burn the sticks, and it doesn’t go anywhere when it dies out. Fire is empty of coming and going.
Similarly, ignorance – clinging to the belief in a self, the mental afflictions, or suffering – does not come from anywhere and does not go anywhere.
We can apply this to our dreams: whatever appears in dreams, be it happiness or suffering, does not come from anywhere and it does not go anywhere.
All phenomena are empty of coming and going.

Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

The illusory nature of everything ~ Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

The nature of everything is illusory and ephemeral,
Those with dualistic perception regard suffering as happiness,
Like they who lick the honey from a razor’s edge.
How pitiful they who cling strongly to concrete reality:
Turn your attention within, my heart friends.

Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche

Remain steadfast ~ Dudjom Rinpoche

Do not blame your past karma; instead, be someone who purely and flawlessly practices the Dharma. Do not blame temporary negative circumstances; instead, be someone who remains steadfast in the face of whatever circumstances may arise.

Dudjom Rinpoche

Keep your hands open ~ Taisen Deshimaru

Keep your hands open, and all the sands of the desert can pass through them. Close them, and all you can feel is a bit of grit.

Taisen Deshimaru

Fundamentally unperturbed ~ Mingyur Rinpoche

If we allow ourselves to relax and take a mental step back, we can begin to recognize that all these different thoughts are simply coming and going within the context of an unlimited mind, which, like space, remains fundamentally unperturbed by whatever occurs within it.

Mingyur Rinpoche

Using the present well ~ 14th Dalai Lama

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

14th Dalai Lama

Our natural inheritance ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Without ego as our primary reference point, mind is naturally open, unconfused, and able to enjoy everything without judgment. In essence, mind is unobstructed and free from ignorance, with the potential to experience everything in a fresh way. Revealing this potential is the purpose of the practice of self-reflection – and this is our natural inheritance.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Stepping-stones for awakening our compassion ~ Pema Chödron

There’s no way to make a dreadful situation pretty. But we can use the pain of it to recognize our sameness with other people. Shantideva said that since all sentient beings suffer from strong, conflicting emotions, and all sentient beings get what they don’t want and can’t hold on to what they do want, and all sentient beings have physical distress, why am I making such a big deal about just me? Since we’re all in this together, why am I making such a big deal about myself? The attitude of the ferryman is that whatever usually drags us down and causes us to withdraw into ourselves is the stepping-stone for awakening our compassion and for contacting the vast, unbiased mind of the warrior.