SarahaThe root of everything in existence and beyond is – oh yes it is – it is mind.
When you realize this there is no meditation to do, just relax, take it easy, let it go.
Resting in what you are – why look for something else – that would be a foolish thing to do.
No thinking ”it is like this”, no thinking ”it ain’t like that”, everything is great in the native state.
A Sign of Strength ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaCompassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.
The happiness we seek is already here ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronThe happiness we seek is our birthright. To discover it we need to be more gentle with ourselves, more compassionate toward ourselves and our universe. The happiness we seek cannot be found through grasping, trying to hold on to things. It cannot be found through getting serious and uptight about wanting things to go in the direction we think will bring happiness. We are always taking hold of the wrong end of the stick. The point is that the happiness we seek is already here and it will be found through relaxation and letting go rather than through struggle.
Nothing to blame ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWhatever occurs — is part of the learning process. So there is nothing to blame; everything is the path, everything is Dharma.
Losing interest in childrens games ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheBy understanding emptiness, you lose interest in all the trappings and beliefs that society builds up and tears down – political systems, science and technology, global economy, free society, the United Nations. You become like an adult who is not so interested in childrens games.
Respectfully holding others as superior ~ Geshe Langri Thangpa
Geshe Langri ThangpaWhenever I interact with someone,
May I view myself as the lowest amongst all,
And, from the very depths of my heart,
Respectfully hold others as superior.
Practicing the authentic Buddhist path ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheIt is not enough to have just obtained this human form. You must at
once practice the authentic Buddhist path since the time of your death is
unpredictable. Furthermore, at death you should have no regrets and
should not be ashamed of yourself, like Jetsun Milarepa:In my, Milarepa’s, religious tradition,
We live so as not to be ashamed of ourselves.
The essence of Buddhism ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaThe essence of Buddhism is being able to distinguish what it is that we need to do from what it is that we need to give up. It is taking up virtue and giving up non-virtue. We need to identify what it is that will bring benefit to ourselves and others, and then we need to do that. We also need to identify what it is that will harm ourselves and others, and then we need to give that up. So you can condense it all into doing what is beneficial and giving up what is harmful. We need to know what the essence of dharma is, and then bring it into our lives.
Song of Spiritual Gain ~ Milarepa
MilarepaI prostrate myself at the feet of Marpa the Translator.
Disciples gathered in this place,
Listen to this song of final instruction.
By the compassion of Marpa of the Southern Cliffs,
The aged hermit Milarepa
Has accomplished the whole of his task.All of you, disciples and monks,
If you heed my words,
You will accomplish in this life
A great task for yourselves and others,
And so achieve the intentions of past Buddhas and myself.
All other actions
Go against the needs of oneself and others,
And fail to satisfy my wish.Without the guidance of a lama who has lineage
What benefit is there in seeking initiation?
Without the inner consciousness of the Dharma
What is the use of memorizing the Tantras?
What is the use of meditating according to instructions
If you do not renounce worldly aims?What good are ceremonies
Without attuning your body, speech, and mind to the Dharma.What good is meditating on patience
If you will not tolerate insult?
What use are sacrifices
If you do not overcome attachment and revulsion?
What good is giving alms
If you do not root out selfishness?
What good is governing a great monastery
If you do not regard all beings as your beloved parents?What use is there in building stupas
If faith does not grow in your mind?
What use is there in molding figurines
If one cannot meditate in the four divisions of the day?What good is it to commemorate my death
If you do not invoke me with deep veneration?
What good is it to lament my death
If you do not heed my instructions?
What good is it to view my dead body
Without venerating me when alive?Without disgust for samsara and the urge for liberation
What good is the virtue of renunciation?
Without learning to love others more than oneself
What good are sweet words of pity?
Without uprooting delusion and desire
What profit in serving the lama?
What good are great numbers of disciples
If they do not listen to my words?Give up all useless action,
It can only bring you harm.
A hermit who has fulfilled his goal,
I no longer need to strive.
The weapon for protection ~ Khunu Rinpoche
Khunu RinpocheThis bodhicitta that serves as a sword
to cut the shoots of the afflictions
is the weapon for the protection
of all wandering beings.
Dualistic mind ~ Lama Yeshe
Lama YesheYou can see how your dualistic mind functions in your daily life. Whenever you find something you like, you automatically start looking around to see if there’s anything better. There’s always conflict in your mind: “This is nice, but what about that?” The advertising industry is built on exploiting this universal human tendency and the world of material development has grown exponentially because one mind is always competing with another.
Guru yoga ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheGuru yoga is a method or skillful means for generating in ourselves the fervent devotion that enables us effortlessly the see the guru as the Buddha himself.
You are the Dhamma ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahFirst you understand the Dhamma with your thoughts. If you begin to understand it, you will practice it. And if you practice it, you will begin to see it, you are the Dhamma and you have the joy of the Buddha.
Living experience ~ Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
Namkhai Norbu RinpocheRealization is not knowledge about the universe, but the living experience of the nature of the universe. Until we have such living experience, we remain dependent on examples, and subject to their limits.
Advice for carrying out a practice ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaIn order to carry out a practice — such as constantly watching the mind — you should form a determination, make a pledge, right when you wake up: “Now, for the rest of this day, I will put into practice what I believe just as much as I can.” It is very important that, at the start of the day, we should set out to shape what will happen later. Then, at the end of every day, check what happened. Review the day. And if you carried through for that whole day your morning’s determination, then rejoice. Reinforce further your motivation to continue in the same line. However, when you do your reviewing, you may discover that you did things during the day that are contrary to your religious values and beliefs. You should then acknowledge this and cultivate a deep sense of remorse. Strengthen your resolve not to indulge in these actions in the future.
Just do it ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaUnderlying intelligence is always there. As long as we relate with our underlying primordial intelligence and as long as we push ourselves a little, by jumping into the middle of situations, then intelligence arises automatically. When you’re in the middle of a situation, you automatically pick up on what is needed. It’s not a question of how to do it — you just do it. And you find yourself doing it perfectly, even surprising yourself.
Let it be painful ~ Shunryu Suzuki
Shunryu SuzukiThe only way you can endure your pain is to let it be painful.
Using the potential of our mind ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheThe mind is also empty of true existence, of existence from its own side. This quality of mind, known as Buddha-nature, gives us the potential to free ourselves completely from all suffering, including disease, and the causes of suffering and to achieve any happiness we wish, including the peerless happiness of enlightenment. Since the mind has all this potential, we do not need to feel depressed or hopeless. It is not as if we have to experience problems forever. We have incredible freedom to develop our mind in any way that we wish. It is simply a question of finding the right way to use the potential of our mind.
Liking and disliking ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheI remember something His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse once told me. I used to be very wild, and sometimes people would report my actions to him in hope that he would scold me and discipline me. But instead, he would tell me who it was who told on me and would make a game of it. He used to say, “Don’t worry. You must remember that whenever there is one person out there who doesn’t like you or who thinks you are crazy, there will be a hundred people who are going to like you. And similarly, whenever there is one person who likes you, you shouldn’t get too excited about it, because there will be a hundred people who can’t stand you.” So liking and disliking are completely irrelevant.
Caring for Ourselves and Others ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaYou need to care for yourself, of course, but not to the total disregard of others. Your accomplishments cannot come at the expense of others.