17th KarmapaInterdependence is not a mere theory or interesting philosophy. It impacts our lives directly every single day. By deepening our awareness of interconnectedness, we can create a far more harmonious and healthy society and live far more satisfying lives. For that to happen, we can’t just stop our analysis at the interdependence of the physical world. The human heart and mind — what we might call our inner world — form an integral part of these webs of interdependence.
The ultimate austerity ~ Kangyur Rinpoche
Kangyur RinpocheThere is no other difficult practice equal to patience – not getting angry with someone who harms you, and even if you do get angry, not remaining so. It is the ultimate austerity. Therefore do not allow yourself even the slightest occasion for anger, which is incompatible with such a sublime austerity as patience.
Experience is like a mist in the morning ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheAn important point to remember is that whatever information we gather, we also filter, so what we’re left with is a very particular kind of understanding unique to ourselves. This understanding is not realization. It’s not even an experience. It is like a patch that will eventually fall off. It’s fine to be covered in patches of understanding because sooner or later they are bound to fall off so that experience can be revealed. However, we should also be aware that living with all these patches will prolong the time we spend on the path to enlightenment. How much time do we really have left in this lifetime? Twenty years? Thirty, if we’re lucky? Given that everything we have understood so far is nothing more than a patch that’s holding together our version of samsara, are any of us really willing to spend another ten years believing in that reality? We must, therefore, be prepared to peel off those patches.
But be aware that once the inner skin has been exposed, it’s possible to mistake it for the fruit, which is why we must always be ready to accept that it is just another skin. This is not a principle we apply only to hearing, contemplation, or reading; it’s even more relevant when we meditate. This is what is meant by the Tibetan saying “Experience is like a mist in the morning. It will evaporate.”
Be gentle in judging yourself ~ Thrangu Rinpoche
Thrangu RinpocheWe should be quite gentle in judging ourselves and remember that the habits we are fighting against come from beginningless time and are very strong. So from time to time there will be some backsliding — though in the long run there is progress and improvement. Furthermore, remember that even having entered the gate of the Dharma, having the intention to reduce our disturbing emotions, or being concerned about disturbing emotions is amazing because most people involved in samsara never even think about this.
Merging of the ultimate meaning with the ultimate mind ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaThe only way to experience deep meditative equipoise and subsequent realization simultaneously, and to overcome [the] perception that the two truths are essentially different, is by bringing about that realization of emptiness at the subtle most level of consciousness. What is required is the merging of the ultimate meaning, which is emptiness, and the ultimate mind, which is the innate mind of clear light. When this occurs, then appearances and emptiness no longer appear separately, and the subtle defilements are overcome.
Seeing naked awareness ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheRest at ease within the uncontrived nature of mind.
By looking, nothing is seen;
Seeing nothing is actually to see naked awareness:
That itself is Buddha Kuntu Zangpo.
The truth is the reality of mind ~ Dogen Zenji
Dogen ZenjiWhat is truth? The truth is the reality of mind which is formless and pervades the ten directions. It is being used presently right before your eyes, yet people do not trust it sufficiently, so they accept terms and expressions, seeking to assess Buddhism conceptually in the written word. They are as far away as the sky is from earth.
Practicing Dharma requires sacrifice ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheWe have to realize the Dharma is priceless. That does not mean Dharma is free. Practicing Dharma requires sacrifice, and sacrifice comes in many forms. If you are a hippie-dippy person and your guru tells you to get a job at a bank or to become a CEO, that is probably one of the most effective forms of guru yoga you could do. And if you are a fresh Ivy League graduate and your guru tells you it’s time to do a nine-year retreat, following that suggestion would be a good act of renunciation.
There is nothing more to it than that ~ Chatral Rinpoche
Chatral RinpocheYou might spend your whole life in pursuit of only food and clothing, with great effort and without regard for suffering or harmful deeds, but when you die you can’t take even a single thing with you. Consider this well. The clothing and alms needed to keep you alive are all you need. You might dine on the finest meal of delicious meat and alcohol, but it all turns into something impure the very next morning, And there is nothing more to it than that. So be content with life-sustaining provisions and simple clothes, And be a loser when it comes to food, clothing and conversation.
Just as space ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheJust as space can accommodate the whole universe – the mountains, continents, and so forth – the nature of the mind is so vast that it can accommodate the whole of phenomena.
The imagination to see the other as free and happy ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWith compassion, you need to be able to envision the end goal – the happiness that you want the other to attain. It is not the case that when you feel compassion you only see suffering and pain and cannot see anything beyond that. Rather, you have the imagination to see the other as free and happy, and you keep that aim in mind”
View, meditation, conduct and result ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheThe realization that all phenomena of samsara and enlightenment are emptiness inseparable from naked awareness is the view.
To release present awareness within the spacious natural state and then to sustain the self-liberation of thoughts without grasping is meditation.
All post-meditative activity done harmoniously with the Dharma is the conduct.
The complete manifestation of that abiding nature is the result.
Meditation posture ~ Dogen Zenji
Dogen ZenjiSit on a cushion in a manner as comfortable as possible, wearing loose clothing. Hold your body straight without leaning to the left or the right, forward or backward. Your ears should be in a line with your shoulders, and nose in a straight line with your navel. Keep the tongue at the roof of the mouth and close your lips. Eyes are slightly open, and breathing is quiet through the nostrils.
Keep on suffering ~ Ajahn Fuang Jotiko
Ajahn Fuang JotikoBirth, aging, illness, and death: these things are normal. Birth is the normal way of things, aging’s the normal way of things, illness and death are the normal way of things. Get so that you can see clearly that this is the way things normally are. That’s when a sense of disenchantment can arise. You’ll be able to loosen the grip that these things have on you. You’ll be able to pull them out, root and all.
We’ve suffered as the slaves of defilement and craving for how long now? Can you remember? Ask yourself. Can you remember all you’ve been through? And how much longer are you going to let it keep on happening — this holding and carrying and weighing yourself down? How many eons have you been doing this? Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of eons. Can you count them all? Of course you can’t. And how much longer will you have to keep on suffering in this way? If you’re still stubborn, still unwilling to listen to the Buddha’s teachings, this is the kind of reward you’ll have to expect out of life. Do you want it? Do you like it? If you don’t want it, then you’ll have to develop the goodness of your mind so that you can see your way out of this, so that you can see your defilments, so that you can see the suffering and harm they cause.
No particular ~ Shabkar
ShabkarMy native land is all lands,
In no particular direction.
My monastery is the solitary mountains,
In no particular place.
My family is all the beings of the six realms.
Learning something new every time ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaOur attitude is that of someone doing research, looking into the different characters and inclinations that living beings have. We should never think, “I’m fine. I’ve learned enough. I don’t need anything more. I’m great.” Rather, we can look at our encounters with living beings in all their brilliant variety as a chance to be educated about how to benefit others. If we approach our relationships with living beings in this way, we will receive only benefit and profit through our relationships with living beings because we will be learning something new every time.
Path of enlightenment ~ Padmasambhava
PadmasambhavaWhen you realize that all that appears and exists to be your mind, there is no path of enlightenment apart from that.
The root of samsara ~ Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
Namkhai Norbu RinpocheJust as a person who has a ‘bile’ disease sees a shell as being yellow even if one can see objectively that that is not its true color, so in just the same way, as a result of the particular karmic causes of sentient beings, the various illusory visions manifest. Thus, if one were to meet a being of each of the six states of existence on the bank of the same river, they would not see that river in the same way, since they each would have different karmic causes. The beings of the hot hells would see the river as fire; those of the cold hells would see it as ice; beings of the hungry ghost realm would see the river as blood and pus; aquatic animals would see it as an environment to live in; human beings would see the river as water to drink; while the demi-gods would see it as weapons, and the gods as nectar. This shows that in reality nothing exists as concrete and objective. Therefore, understanding that the root of Samsara is truly the mind, one should set out to pull up the root. Recognizing that the mind itself is the essence of Enlightenment one attains liberation. Thus, being aware that the basis of Samsara and Nirvana is only the mind, one takes the decision to practice.
Exploring the connections of my karma ~ Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche
Chagdud Tulku RinpocheI have no wings, but still I fly in the sky;
I have no magical power, yet like magic
I journey throughout realms of illusory display,
here and there, in nine directions,
exploring the connections of my karma.
The path is practical ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheThe goal we are aiming for is not far off in the distance; the goal is already here and now, just as the path is working here and now. The path is practical.