Tulku Urgyen RinpocheSelf-existing wakefulness is the realized state of all buddhas from the very beginning; it is primordial. Self-existing wakefulness is in all beings; it simply needs to be known. Our chance to do so comes when it is introduced to us by a qualified master. Our inherently present wakefulness is not something we’ll find in the future, nor something we had in the past. It’s present ‘right now’. And it’s something that we don’t have to accept or reject. Don’t do anything about it: don’t adopt it, don’t avoid it, don’t entertain any hope or fear about it, don’t try to change it or alter it or improve it in any way. It is not necessary at all.
Things That Tend to Be Misleading ~ Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche
Khenpo Tsultrim RinpocheIf you understand that all the misleading appearances of worldly existence are not intrinsically real, they will not tend to mislead you.
If you have attachment to friends and enemies as being real, they will mislead you. But if you have equanimity towards both, they will not mislead or deceive you.
If you see a lot of change or transition, that will tend to mislead you. But if you understand the intrinsic nature beyond change, it will not be misleading.
If you cling to the reality of birth and death, there is much deception. But if you realize there is no birth and death, there’s no deception.
If you believe in the existence of suffering, there’s much deception. But if you realize there’s no suffering, there’s no deception.
If you believe that self and other are separate, there’s much deception. But if you recognize that they are not two separate things, there’s no deception.
If you understand this true nature of deception, discursive thoughts will be liberated in their own place.
Bringing yourself closer to the dharma ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWhat is most important is to use one’s study of dharma texts to bring oneself closer to the dharma itself. This is something that each person must do for themselves, and it is what I am concentrating on, what I am putting my main effort into. First, you feel that there is some gap between yourself and the dharma. Then you strive to make that gap smaller, to bring yourself nearer and nearer to dharma.
Happy day by day ~ Lama Yeshe
Lama YesheIt is never too late.
Even if you are going to die tomorrow,
Keep yourself straight and clear and be a happy human being today.
If you keep your situation happy day by day,
you will eventually reach the greatest happiness of enlightenment.
The Freedom of Others ~ Nelson Mandela
Nelson MandelaFor to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Great human potential ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaAs human beings we are gifted with this wonderful human intelligence. Besides that, all human beings have the capacity to be very determined and to direct that strong sense of determination in whatever direction they like. So long as we remember that we have this marvellous gift of human intelligence and a capacity to develop determination and use it in positive ways, we will preserve our underlying mental health. Realizing we have this great human potential gives us a fundamental strength. This recognition can act as a mechanism that enables us to deal with any difficulty, no matter what situation we are facing, without losing hope or sinking into feelings of low self-esteem.
Peace is present ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhPeace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.
Pervasive dissatisfaction ~ Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Traleg Kyabgon RinpocheNormally we think our happiness is contingent upon external circumstances and situations, rather than upon our own inner attitude toward things, or toward life in general. The Buddha was saying that dissatisfaction is part of life, even if we are seeking happiness and even if we manage to find temporary happiness. The very fact that it is temporary means that sooner or later the happiness is going to pass. So the Buddha said that unless we understand this and see how pervasive dissatisfaction or duhkha is, it is impossible for us to start looking for real happiness.
Non-Meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe clarity, or natural awareness, is so much a part of everyday experience that it’s hard to recognize. It’s like trying to see your eyelashes without using mirror. So how do you go about recognizing it? According to the Buddha, you meditate – through not necessarily in the way most people understand it. The kind of meditation involved here is, a type of “non-meditation.” There’s no need to focus on or visualize anything.
Very Open From Deep Within ~ Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tsoknyi RinpocheSometime go outside and sit,
In the evening at sunset,
When there’s a slight breeze that touches your body,
And makes the leaves and the trees move gently.
You’re not trying to do anything, really.
You’re simply allowing yourself to be,
Very open from deep within,
Without holding onto anything whatsoever.
Don’t bring something back from the past, from a memory.
Don’t plan that something should happen.
Don’t hold onto anything in the present.
Nothing you perceive needs to be nailed down.
Simply let experience take place, very freely,
So that your empty, open heart
Is suffused with the tenderness of true compassion.
Wisdom mind ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Thinley Norbu RinpocheI bow to my own wisdom mind
which is my best wisdom teacher,
the source of all visible and invisible qualities.
Sentient beings are always in time and place.
If sentient beings are in time,
my wisdom teacher dances magically in time.
If sentient beings are in place,
my wisdom teacher dances magically in place.
If really examined, you never remain anywhere.
You are only display.
To whatever never remains,
to you my best wisdom teacher, I bow.
Keep going ~ 16th Karmapa
16th KarmapaYou keep going. That is the bodhisattva’s way. As long as it benefits even one being you have to, without any sense of discouragement, go on.
Illusion looking at illusion ~ Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche
Nyoshul Khen RinpocheEverything has the nature of being empty.
When the empty looks at the empty,
Who is there to look at something empty?
What is the use of many classifications,
Such as ‘being empty’ and ‘not empty’
As it is illusion looking at illusion,
And delusion watching delusion?
This stream of enlightened mind ~ Milarepa
MilarepaAll the water and drink you’ve consumed
From beginningless time until now
Has failed to satisfy your thirst or bring you contentment.
Drink therefore of this stream
Of enlightened mind, Fortunate Ones.
Delight ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaDelight in itself is the approach of sanity. Delight is to open our eyes to the reality of the situation rather than siding with this or that point of view.
Taking to heart the key instructions ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheUnderstand this: it is more important to take to heart the key instructions than to receive a great many teachings.
The pith instruction of all practices ~ 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.
Developing love and compassion in everything you do ~ Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul RinpocheAlways take the lowest place. Wear simple clothes. Help other beings as much as you can. In everything you do, simply work at developing love and compassion until they have become a fundamental part of you.
The vast effects of loving kindness ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheAll the peace and happiness of the whole globe,
the peace and happiness of societies,
the peace and happiness of family,
the peace and happiness in the individual persons’ life,
and the peace and happiness of even the animals and so forth,
all depends on having loving kindness toward each other.
Just keep looking at your mind ~ Thrangu Rinpoche
Thrangu RinpocheWhat’s recommended is that if you have a good experience, don’t get too excited. And if you have a bad experience, don’t mistake it for a serious deviation or a sidetrack that you have to find your way back from. If you have a bad experience, just continue practicing as you were. In other words, whatever happens, just keep looking at your mind.