17th KarmapaThe dharmakaya is naturally arisen, the ultimate,
The sambhogakaya is all-pervading, bliss-emptiness unceasing;
Through the nirmanakaya pouring forth a rain of joy,
May auspiciousness in all its glory be present.
Our buddha genes ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaOur buddha heart contains certain qualities, which we could call our true buddha genes. We all possess these particular buddha genes. Isn’t it strange to say that the mind has genes? But it turns out to be true. These buddha genes have two characteristics: They are able to see through and not be afraid of the reality of the phenomenal world. Second, these genes also contain gentleness; they are ever so loving, which goes beyond just being kind. They are extremely tender and absolutely free from any form of aggression. They are so soft and kind.
Devotion ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThe stronger our devotion, the greater the blessings. But to have no devotion is like hiding oneself in a house with all the doors and shutters closed. The sunlight will never get in.
There are no fixed starting points ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaInterdependence and emptiness show us that there are no fixed starting points. We can start from nothing. Whatever we have, wherever we are — that is the place we can start from. Many people have the idea that they lack what they need in order to start working toward their dreams. They feel they do not have enough power, or they do not have enough money. But they should know that any point is the right starting point. This is the perspective that emptiness opens up. We can start from zero.
Giving the giver ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWhen one gives completely, there is no one left to watch what is being given, and no one to appreciate how generous one is being. This is called “giving the giver.” The more one surrenders in this way, the more richness develops. There is never a problem of running out of things to offer. One’s human life is in itself an immensely rich situation to offer.
Inquisitiveness ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWhen you were very young, three years old, you didn’t want to look into the possibility of escape, particularly, because you were so interested in how things were done. You used to ask your father and your mother all sorts of questions: “Why is this so, Mommy? Why is this so, Daddy? Why do we do this? Why don’t we do that?” But that innocent inquisitiveness has been forgotten, lost. Therefore you have to re-ignite it. Getting into your cocoon of habitual behavior happens after that initial inquisitiveness. Once there was tremendous inquisitiveness happening and then you couldn’t care less. You thought that you were being mistreated by your world, so you jumped into your cocoon and decided to ignore the whole thing…. Actually using our sense perceptions properly – inquisitiveness – is so important.
Whatever shakes you ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaWhatever shakes you should without delay, right away, be incorporated into the path.
The Earth Is a Living, Breathing, and Constantly Giving Goddess ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaI have noticed that sometimes people speak of our planet as a thing. This attitude will not lead to the feelings of closeness and affection that would move us to take care of the earth. As we know, the earth is not a dead rock floating in space. It is a living system, in itself as a whole and in each and every part. I do not see the earth as an inanimate object – a lump of stone. I think of it as being alive. Sitting on the earth, I feel that everything exists. In this way, we could easily think of the earth as a goddess – a living, breathing, and constantly giving goddess.
Pure heart ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaOur priceless pure heart is not something that can be purchased at a pharmacy, poured into our body, or obtained through a cure. If we went to a major city looking to buy it, we could not purchase this pure heart no matter what price we were willing to pay. How do we find it? With the sincere wish to discover it, we discipline our mind with our mind. When such a motivation is born within us, we and others are benefitted and so our lives become meaningful. With a pure motivation that does not wane and with great courage that does not despair, may each one of us endeavor to make our lives meaningful.
Cultivating compassion and love for oneself ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaReturning to the idea of kindness to oneself as an aspect of compassion, one thing about this is that if one attempts to cultivate compassion for others, love for others without having compassion and love for oneself, one will have no basis within oneself for that cultivation. It is a little bit like trying to donate or give money to others when you have no money to give. In order to give, you first have to acquire what it is you wish to give. In the same way, in order to be able to cultivate genuine compassion for others, we must start by cultivating compassion for ourselves.
Follower of mahayana ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWe have to think about compassion from many different angles, not just thoughts, but something that comes from our heart and our bones. Then you are a follower of mahayana. If you give up on one sentient being then you lose bodhicitta.
Boredom ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaBoredom is important in meditation practice. It increases the psychological sophistication of the practitioners. They begin to appreciate boredom and they develop their sophistication until the boredom begins to become cool boredom, like a mountain river. It flows and flows and flows, methodically and repetitiously, but it is very cooling, very refreshing.
Involvements ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaAs far as your personal requirements are concerned, the ideal is to have fewer involvements, fewer obligations and fewer affairs, business or whatever. However, so far as the interest of the larger community is concerned, you must have as many involvements as possible and as many activities as possible.
Daily meditation practice ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe ultimate goal of meditation practice is to bring awareness to every moment of one’s life, not just the time one spends in a formal meditation session. That said, setting aside time each day to cultivate awareness is an indispensable part of the process. Most people find that the more time they devote to meditation “on the cushion,” the easier it is to bring awareness to their experiences “off the cushion.”
You can relax and let go wherever you are ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaYou can appreciate your life, even if it is an imperfect situation. Perhaps your apartment is run down and your furniture is old and inexpensive. You do not have to live in a palace. You can relax and let go wherever you are. Wherever you are, it is a palace.
Effort ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIt has been said in the Buddhist teachings that without exertion, you cannot journey on the path at all. When you are taking a holiday or a vacation, you are very inspired to wake up in the morning, because you are expecting to have a tremendous experience. Exertion is like the minute before you wake up on a holiday trip: you trust that you are going to have a good time, but you also have to put your effort into it. So true exertion is some kind of celebration and joy, which is free from laziness.
Giving up goal, aim, and object ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn our approach to spirituality, jumping or leaping is a very dignified thing to do. It is being willing to be an explorer on the biggest scale, willing to be a samurai in the widest sense, willing to break through, to be a warrior. The leap consists of giving up goal, aim, and object at the same time.
A professional laugher ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaI have been confronted with many difficulties throughout the course of my life, and my country is going through a critical period. But I laugh often, and my laughter is contagious. When people ask me how I find the strength to laugh now, I reply that I am a professional laugher.
All your polarities are valid ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaA critical attitude towards oneself doesn’t mean that you have to be hateful of yourself. The critical attitude can be accompanied by compassion and warmth. All your polarities are equally valid, whether weakness or strength. There’s no point in splitting your basic being into several parts and trying to suppress certain parts and cultivate others. If we don’t have allegiance toward samsara or nirvana, then we free ourselves from any dogma, any bondage. Some sense of ultimate relaxation begins to occur.
Your smile ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhTo meditate does not mean to fight with a problem.
To meditate means to observe.
Your smile proves it.
It proves that you are being gentle with yourself,
that the sun of awareness is shining in you,
that you have control of your situation.
You are yourself,
and you have acquired some peace.