Pema ChödronAs we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others – what and whom we can work with, and how – becomes wider.
Being truly alive in the present moment ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhWhen we learn to stop and be truly alive in the present moment, we are in touch with what’s going on within and around us.
Decency is free from trickery ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWhen we’re having trouble maintaining our ground or ourselves, we play all kinds of tricks. That trickery brings hope and fear. You’re so tempted; at the same time, you’re so afraid. Decency is being free from trickery, free from the tricks we play on ourselves or on each other to maintain our basic existence. In that way, decency is being loyal to others, loyal to the most intimate experiences that you’ve shared with others. Loyalty is twofold. Quite simply, it is a commitment to working gently with yourself and being kind to others.
Idiot meditation ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaIn order to meditate, it is very important to first identify what we are meditating on. If we meditate without identifying that, there is the danger it will become idiot meditation or idiot Dharma. If we do not first fully comprehend through listening and contemplating the meaning of what we are meditating on, how can we practice?
Without settling anywhere ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThe wind blows through the sky and flies over continents without settling anywhere. It traverses space and leaves no trace. Thus should thoughts pass through our minds, leaving no karmic residues and not altering our realization of fundamental simplicity.
The Four Noble Truth ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheOne of the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha is the Four Noble Truths. In fact the Four Noble Truths constitute the main theme within which all the Buddhist teachings can be understood to fit.
The real cause of our suffering ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronWhen you practice staying present, one thing you’ll quickly discover is how persistent the story line is. Traditionally, in the Buddhist texts, our tendencies with their habitual story lines are described as seeds in the unconscious. When the right causes and conditions come together, these preexisting propensities pop up like flowers in the springtime. It’s helpful to contemplate that it’s these propensities and not what triggers them that are the real cause of our suffering.
Why are we born? ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahWhy are we born? We are born so that we will not have to be born again.
We are responsible for our anger ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhWhenever the energy of anger comes up, we often want to express it to punish the person whom we believe to be the source of our suffering. This is the habit energy in us. When we suffer, we always blame the other person for having made us suffer. We do not realize that anger is, first of all, our business. We are primarily responsible for our anger, but we believe very naively that if we can say something or do something to punish the other person, we will suffer less. This kind of belief should be uprooted. Because whatever you do or say in a state of anger will only cause more damage in the relationship. Instead, we should try not to do anything or say anything when we are angry.
The cast iron frying pan of mindlessness ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWe are determined to ignore the possibility of any spaciousness in our experience. Space is completely frozen into mindlessness. There is a sense of being fixed, being part of a rock or a mountain. It is like flat air, which doesnt have any energy. We begin to feel that our head is being flattened on top, as though we were wearing a cast iron frying pan on our head. We are constantly carrying that big flat metal object on our head. That is the ultimate level of bewilderment or ignorance, which is addressed by the dharma, or the teachings. The dharma is able to communicate the truth by relating to the confusion of sentient beings.
Kindness ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaMy true religion is kindness.
Understanding dependent arising ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpochePhenomena adorn emptiness, but never corrupt it. If you have a thorough understanding of the way phenomena appear through dependent arising, it will not be difficult for you to understand the view of emptiness while remaining in meditation. On arising from such a meditation and entering the path of action, you will recognize clearly the direct relationship between actions and their results. This will enable you to discriminate easily between positive and negative actions.
Speech ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
The calmed say that what is well-spoken is best;
second, that one should say what is right, not unrighteous;
third, what’s pleasing, not displeasing;
fourth, what is true, not false.
Today is the death of yesterday ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheThe disintegration of all things in their current or original state is inevitable. Every change contains within it an element of death. Today is the death of yesterday. Most people accept that everything born must eventually die; however, our definitions of “everything” and “death” may differ. For Siddhartha, birth refers to all creation — not just flowers and mushrooms and human beings, but everything that is born or assembled in any way. And death refers to any kind of disintegration or disassembly.
The only condition for happiness ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhLetting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.
The sense of workability ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWe might feel terrible, utterly hopeless, but if we look at ourselves fully and thoroughly, we will find fundamental goodness. There is something that makes us look up at the blue sky or the clouds or the sun, something that allows us to polish our shoes and press our clothes. When we wake up in the morning, there is something that allows us to brush our teeth, comb our hair, or use a bar of soap. Such actions may seem rather ordinary, but they come from a very powerful instinct. That sense of workability comes from ultimate bodhichitta.
Three types of laziness ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaOne can be deceived by three types of laziness:
of indolence, which is the wish to procrastinate;
the laziness of inferiority, which is doubting your capabilities;
and the laziness that is attachment to negative actions, or putting great effort into non-virtue.
Everything is mutually interpenetrating ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheAll aspects of phenomena are completely clear and lucid. The whole universe is open and unobstructed – everything is mutually interpenetrating.
Self Trapped ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheSentient beings are like silkworms, create their own traps and die in them.
Simply notice that you are aware ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheClarity is part of the mind from the beginning, a natural awareness. Just acknowledge it, simply notice that you’re aware.