Active compassion ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Compassion is a verb.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Dharmadhatu ~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

It is space, ungraspable as a thing.
It is a spotless precious clear crystal.
It is the glow of the lamp of self-luminous mind.
It is inexpressible, the experience of a mute.
It is unobscured, transparent wisdom,
The luminous dharmakaya, sugatagarbha,
Primordially pure and spontaneous.
It cannot be shown through analogy by anyone,
And it cannot be expressed in words.
It is the dharmadhatu, which overwhelms mind’s inspection.

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

A disciplined mind ~ Buddha Shakyamuni

A disciplined mind brings happiness.

Buddha Shakyamuni

Immoral and moral actions ~ Tai Situ Rinpoche

We have to overcome our defilements and they are fueled by immorality. An action is defined as either “immoral” or “moral” depending on whether it feeds the defilements or not. If it does it is immoral and if it purifies and transforms them it is moral. Things do not become moral or immoral because rules have been made up for convenience. They become one or the other for this simple reason.

Tai Situ Rinpoche

Precious human rebirth ~ Lama Tsongkhapa

Understanding that the precious freedom of this rebirth is found only once,
Is greatly meaningful and difficult to find again,
Please bless me to generate the mind that unceasingly,
Day and night, takes its essence.

Lama Tsongkhapa

Passing the day with a kind-hearted mind ~ 17th Karmapa

Many problems are created in our world today because people do not engage in what will actually lead them onto a path that benefits them and brings happiness. From the time we open our eyes in the morning until we sleep at night, if we can pass the whole day with a kind-hearted mind and cheerful face, on good terms with people and talking pleasantly to them, our mind will be relaxed when we go to sleep at night. On the other hand, if we spend the day making others upset, if we fight, and even if we win, when we are going off to sleep at night we will have regrets and our mind will not be at ease.

17th Karmapa

Competing for honours and rewards ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo

The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to let go of attachment
To the households of benefactors and of family and friends,
Since one’s study, reflection and meditation will all diminish
When one quarrels and competes for honours and rewards.

Gyelse Tokme Zangpo

Commitment to pure Dharma practice ~ Kalu Rinpoche

By understanding death and impermanence, the suffering of samsara and the karmic process, you spontaneously discover a commitment to pure Dharma practice.

Kalu Rinpoche

The origin of all demons ~ Machig Labdrön

The origin of all demons is in mind itself.
When awareness holds on and embraces any outer object,
It is in the hold of a demon.

Machig Labdrön

Outside and inside ~ Dudjom Rinpoche

I recognize that the ultimate teaching of sutra and tantra
Is emptiness, but can’t make use of that recognition;

My mindstream stays hard as horn.
When I practice remaining in mind’s true condition
I am without stability,
yet I mouth off about the profound view
And toss cause and effect to the winds.
On the outside — I can give a show of good behavior;
On the inside — desire, attachment, greed rage like fire.

Dudjom Rinpoche

A shift in perspective ~ Mingyur Rinpoche

Buddhist practice guides us very gradually to let go of habitual assumptions and experiment with different questions and different points of view. Such a shift in perspective isn’t as difficult as it might seem.

Mingyur Rinpoche

Eradicating the root of all suffering completely ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The practice of religion, spirituality or dharma has to be a method that completely destroys all suffering, a method that brings about the complete cessation of suffering, and not just temporarily. That depends upon completely eradicating the root of all the billions of sufferings that exist — ignorance and all the other delusions that spring from the root of ignorance. True peace is received whenever we completely eradicate this root of suffering. In other words, cessation of ignorance, attachment and anger is real freedom, true peace — the peace that never changes; the peace that once received can never change, is everlasting.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Help or at least don’t hurt ~ 14th Dalai Lama

The essence of Buddhism is if you can, help others. If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.

14th Dalai Lama

Letting natural openness come to us ~ Pema Chödron

In any setting, we can allow a gap and let natural openness come to us. Find a way to slow down.

Pema Chödron

The children of the buddhas ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Those who practice the Dharma of the Mahayana in accordance with the Buddha’s intention are known as bodhisattvas. If you practice the teachings of the Mahayana, you can reach the level of the great bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri, in the best case, or become like the Buddha’s two main disciples Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, who were gifted with insight and miraculous powers.
Even if you are unable to practice to the full in this life, you will at least be reborn among the principal disciples of the future Buddha, Maitreya. The buddhas being those who have totally conquered the enemies of ignorance and the other emotions, they are often referred to by the synonym ‘Victorious Ones,’ while bodhisattvas, in many texts including the Tibetan original of the root verses of these teachings, are called ‘children of the Victorious Ones’.
Who, then, are the children of the buddhas? In the case of Buddha Shakyamuni, the child of his body was his physical son, Prince Rahula. The children of his speech were all those who heard him teach and attained the level of arhart – the great beings such as Shariputra, Maudgalayana, the sixteen arhats and others, who became the holders of his teachings.
Above all, the children of the buddha’s mind are the great bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri, who carry out their noble intention to bring all beings to enlightenment.
For, just as a great monarch with a thousand children would choose the one with the most perfect qualities to be his heir, so, too, a buddha regards as his authentic heirs the bodhisattvas who have perfected the union of wisdom and compassion.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Smile at fear ~ Chögyam Trungpa

When you are frightened by something, you have to relate with fear, explore why you are frightened, and develop some sense of conviction. You can actually look at fear. Then fear ceases to be the dominant situation that is going to defeat you. Fear can be conquered. You can be free from fear, if you realize that fear is not the ogre. You can step on fear, and therefore you can attain what is known as fearlessness. But that requires that, when you see fear, you smile.

Chögyam Trungpa

Human suffering ~ Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

When we accept ourselves as human beings – having similar needs, similar conditions, and similar basic experiences as all others – then we can think of our suffering as human suffering, rather than MY particular suffering or pain.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Inseparability ~ Maitreya

The disposition is empty of the adventitious stains,
Which are characterized by their total separateness.
But it is not empty of the unsurpassed qualities,
Which have the character of total inseparability.

Maitreya

A More “Feminine” Era ~ 17th Karmapa

It is time we truly recognize that the era of the hunter is past. This should be a more “feminine” era – an era when women make greater contributions to society. If we continue to devalue what women have to offer, we will continue harming women and continue overlooking and devaluing these virtues that are considered “feminine.” And these are precisely the virtues that the world needs more now.