Chögyam TrungpaRelative truth, or kundzop in Tibetan, is the phenomenal world, which is an outfit, a self-existing show. The phenomenal world is a performance, living theater. Relative truth is a show-off, a bluff. There is no substance, but there are still a lot of things going on. The relative world should not be looked down upon, however. This dressed-up world is actually very hard to work with. To realize the relative truth as truth, you need to transcend neurosis and psychosis. When you have become sane through your relationship with the teacher, or your spiritual friend, and you have experienced egolessness fully, you see that the real world is actually a real world. You see the world of reality completely and fully without any problem and without any big deal.
Drive all blames into oneself ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronThere’s a slogan in the mahayana teachings that says, “Drive all blames into oneself.” The essence of this slogan is, “When it hurts so bad, it’s because I am hanging on so tight.” It’s not saying that we should beat ourselves up. It’s not advocating martyrdom. What it implies is that pain comes from holding so tightly to having it our own way and that one of the main exits we take when we find ourselves uncomfortable, when we find ourselves in an unwanted situation or an unwanted place, is to blame.
This slogan is a helpful and interesting suggestion that we could begin to shift that deep-seated, ancient, habitual tendency to hang on to having everything on our own terms. The way to start would be, first, when we feel the tendency to blame, to try to get in touch with what it feels like to be holding on to ourselves so tightly.
Bare attention ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheObservation, giving bare attention to whatever you happen to be experiencing at a particular moment, is meditation.
Trying to do your best ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheWe think we’re being diligent by sitting down to meditate for hours at a stretch. But real diligence doesn’t mean forcing yourself beyond your natural limits; it means simply trying to do your best, rather then focusing on the result of what you’re trying to accomplish. It means finding a comfortable middle ground between being too relaxed and too wound up.
Friends ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaAlthough each of us has our own personality, our circle of friends can influence and change us. So it is important to rely on friends who have intelligence and integrity.
What is the difference between crazy wisdom and just being crazy? ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn the case of ordinary craziness, we are constantly trying to win the game. We might even try to turn craziness into a credential of some kind so we can come out ahead. We might try to magnetize people with passion or destroy them with aggression or whatever. There’s a constant game going on in the mind. Mind’s game- constant strategies going on- might bring us a moment of relief occasionally, but that relief has to be maintained by further aggression.
In the case of primordial craziness, we do not allow ourselves to get seduced by passion or aroused by aggression at all. We relate to these experiences as they are, and if anything comes up in the midst of that complete ordinariness and begins to make itself into a “big deal,” then we cut it down- without any special reference to whether it is good or bad. Crazy wisdom is just the action of truth. It cuts everything down. It doesn’t even try to translate falseness into truthfulness, because even that in itself is corruption. It is ruthless, because if you want the complete truth, if you want to be completely wholly wholesome, than any suggestion that comes up of translating whatever arises into “your terms” is not worth “looking into.”
On the other hand, the usual crazy approach is completely up for that kind of thing – for making whatever comes up to fit into your thing. You make it suit what you want to be, suit what you want to see. But crazy wisdom becomes completely accurate out of the moment of things as they are.
Without hope for anything ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaReal compassion is without attachment. Pay attention to this point, which goes against our habitual ways of thinking. It’s not this or that particular case that stirs our pity. We don’t give our compassion to such and such a person by choice. We give it spontaneously, entirely, without hoping for anything in exchange.
Preparing the mind to develop deep concentration ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheTo make a lamp burn brightly, without flickering, one puts it inside a glass lantern to protect it from the wind. Similarly, to develop deep concentration we have to prepare the mind and still our thoughts with devotion and correct attitude.
Unconditional Love ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaIt is important to recognize that love, concern, and affection are not optional. We do not need any reason to offer love and affection. It is possible to have love without prices and without conditions. We do not need any further compensation beyond just giving our love. And love is an indefinitely renewable resource. For the well-being of society and for our own personal growth as well, it is crucial that we learn to love without needing a reason or reward.
The capacity of waking up ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhThe capacity of waking up, of being aware of what is going on in your feelings, in your body, in your perceptions, in the world, is called buddha nature, the capacity of understanding and loving.
Paranomic awareness ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn fact the word freedom itself is a relative term: freedom from something [eg. impatience], otherwise there is no freedom. And since it is freedom from something, one must first create the right situation, which is patience. This kind of freedom cannot be created by an outsider or some superior authority. One must develop the ability to know the situation. In other words, one has to develop a paranomic awareness, an all-pervading awareness, knowing the situation at that very moment. It is a question of knowing the situation and opening one’s eyes to that very moment of nowness, and this is not particularly a mystical experience or anything mysterious at all, but just direct, open and clear perception of what is now without being influenced by the past or any expectation of the future, but just seeing the very moment of now, then at that moment there is no barrier at all.
For a barrier could only arise from association with the past or expectation of the future. So the present moment has no barriers at all. And then he finds there is a tremendous energy in him, a tremendous strength to practice patience. He becomes like a warrior. When a warrior goes to [a spiritual; not physical] war [which he must participate] he does not think of the past or his previous experience of war, nor does he think of the consequences for the future; he just sails through it and fights, and that is the right way to be a warrior. Similarly, when there is a tremendous conflict going on, one has to develop this energy combined with patience. And this is known as right patience with the all-seeing eye, patience with clarity.
Use riches in a constructive way ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
It is said that, “the richer people get, the more miserly they are,” and this saying is often true. Avarice makes you unhappy. It exposes you to rebirth in the florin of tortured spirits. Rather than store useless riches, use them in a constructive way. Be generous toward those in need, build stupas, and make offerings to the Three Jewels. The more generous you are, the more you will prosper. Generosity should always be exercised impartially toward all – the poor, the sick, the aged, the traveler from afar – without discrimination between friend and stranger, between those on whom we count and those from whom we can expect nothing. In giving, be free of ostentation, of favoritism, and of any expectation of reward
Awareness of whatever occurs ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheIf your remember that awareness of whatever occurs is meditation, then meditation becomes much easier than you think.
Capacity for Change ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWhen you are dreaming of what is possible for your life, you should know that anything is possible. You may not always feel it or see it, but you never for a single moment lack the capacity to change course. Your life is subject to infinite revision.
Give up the paranoia ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaThe open path is a matter of working purely with what is, of giving up altogether the fear that something may not work, that something may end in failure. One has to give up the paranoia that one might not fit into situations, that one might be rejected. One purely deals with life as it is.
Helping others with sincere motivation ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaIf you help others with sincere motivation and sincere concern, that will bring you more fortune, more friends, more smiles, and more success. If you forget about others’ rights and neglect others’ welfare, ultimately you will be very lonely.
Becoming free from Suffering ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheAs long as we don’t recognize our real nature, we suffer. When we recognize our nature, we become free from suffering.
Discovering our innocence ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIt is possible for us to discover our own innocence and childlike beauty. Discovering the innocent childlike quality in us does not mean being reduced to a child. Rather, we become fresh, inquisitive, sparkling. We want to know more about the world, more about life. When our preconceptions are stripped away, we begin to realize ourselves—it is like a second birth. We discover our innocence, our primordial quality, our eternal youth.
Form Meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheForm meditation is actually very simple. In fact, we practice it unconsciously every day whenever we stare at a computer screen or watch a traffic light. When we lift this unconscious process to the level of active awareness, deliberately resting our attention upon a specific object, the mind becomes very peacefull, very open, and very relaxed.
Suitable vessels ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheSomeone who has faith in the Three Jewels and the teacher, who is interested in hearing, reflecting, and meditating, and who is very diligent should be given the teachings without reserve, for this will bring great benefit. “Instructions” here refers to major instructions — the profound instructions that lead to liberation and enlightenment — and not to minor instructions for curing sickness, dispelling obstacles, and creating prosperity in this life.