14th Dalai LamaWe learn from the principle of dependent origination that things and events do not come into being without causes. Suffering and unsatisfactory conditions are caused by our own delusions and the contaminated actions induced by them.
The wisdom that realizes not-self ~ Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche
Khenpo Tsultrim RinpocheClinging to the idea of self is like clinging to the idea that a piece of rope in the dark is a snake. When the light is turned on and one sees that there is no snake there, one’s fear and suffering that arose from clinging to it as real dissolve. The snake never existed in the first place, so it was simply one’s clinging to that idea that caused the suffering and nothing else. The wisdom that realizes not-self is like the light that revealed the rope was not a snake.
Just like the wind moving through the empty sky ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheThere is no emotion that you cannot be rid of, because emotions are simply thoughts, and thoughts are just like the wind moving through the empty sky. There is nothing to them.
Remembering the guru ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheThe great Jigme Lingpa said that when a yogi pursues the path of enlightenment, he could spend years and years accumulating merit through all kinds of methods, but meditation that lasts the duration of a cup of tea is more penetrating to this solid hard wrapping of ours. Spending years and years in meditation is excellent, but it is nothing compared to a single moment of remembering the guru. Even just remembering the guru’s name will dispel confusion and accumulate countless oceans of merit.
Recognizing Who We Are ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaWhen it comes to the true nature of mind, this isn’t something that we get from a spiritual tradition or religion. It’s not something that we need to seek from a guru or that we need to find by going to a sacred place, but it’s a matter of recognizing who we are, whatever that it is. When we see this completely clearly, when who we actually are becomes completely evident and obvious to us, and we recognize it and appreciate it in a completely perfect way, then that I think is what is called recognizing the true nature of mind. Then we fully make this a reality for ourselves.
The habit of happiness ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhSuppose someone says something that angers you. Your old pathway wants to say something to punish him. But that makes us victims of our habit energy. Instead, you can breathe in and say, “Unhappiness is in me, suffering is in me, anger is in me, irritation is in me.” That is already helpful, recognizing your feelings and helping you not to respond right away. So you accept that anger and irritation in you, and smile to it. With mindfulness, you look at the other person and become aware of the suffering in him or in her. He may have spoken like that to try to get relief from his suffering. He may think that speaking out like that will help him suffer less, but in fact he will suffer more.
With just one or two seconds of looking and seeing the suf-fering in him, compassion is born. When compassion is born, you don’t suffer any more, and you may find something to say that will help him. With the practice, we can always open new neural pathways like that. When they become a habit, we call it the habit of happiness.
Doing our little bit of good where we are ~ Desmond Tutu
Desmond TutuDo your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
Samsara and Nirvana ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheSamsara is mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections.
Nirvana is mind turned inwardly, recognizing its nature.
The very foundation of courage ~ Ribur Rinpoche
Ribur RinpocheIf you put enough energy into practicing tonglen (taking and giving), that practice will become the very foundation of courage. Courageous compassion will increase so very much on the basis of such practice!
Unencumbered by ideas ~ Hui Neng
Hui NengConfused by thoughts,
we experience duality in life.
Unencumbered by ideas,
the enlightened see the one reality.
Any Encounter Offers Us a Choice ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronThis is an idea that seems difficult for Westerners to accept: when someone harms us, they create the cause of their own suffering. They do this by strengthening habits that imprison them in a cycle of pain and confusion. It’s not that we are responsible for what someone else does, and certainly not that we should feel guilty. But when they harm us, we unintentionally become the means of their undoing. Had they looked on us with loving-kindness, however, we’d be the cause of their gathering virtue.
What I find helpful in this teaching is that what’s true for them is also true for me. The way I regard those who hurt me today will affect how I experience the world in the future. In any encounter, we have a choice: we can strengthen our resentment or our understanding and empathy. We can widen the gap between ourselves and others or lessen it.
Dedicating all merits ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo
Gyelse Tokme ZangpoEven if others, in the grips of great desire, should steal,
Or encourage others to take away, all the wealth that I possess,
To dedicate to them entirely my body, possessions and all my merits
From the past, present and future — this is the practice of all the bodhisattvas.
Meditation on impermanence and death ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheMeditation on the impermanence of this life and the certainty of death is an extremely powerful method to destroy the delusions of anger and pride. If we want to destroy pride, anger, attachment and many other negative minds right away, the most powerful method is this meditation. If we want to relax and be happy, then we should remember the impermanence of life and death. If we are not happy with anger, our meditation on impermanence and death is so powerful, it can destroy the delusions like an atomic bomb.
Solitude ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha ShakyamuniApply yourself to solitude. One who is given to solitude knows things as they really are.
Ever present liberation ~ Ramana Maharshi
Ramana MaharshiThere is no greater deception than believing that liberation, which is ever present as one’s own nature, will be attained at some later stage.
Just don’t serve them tea ~ Shunryu Suzuki
Shunryu SuzukiLeave your front door and your back door open.
Allow your thoughts to come and go.
Just don’t serve them tea.
Simply resting ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe only difference between meditation and the ordinary, everyday process of thinking, feeling, and sensation is the application of the simple, bare awareness that occurs when you allow your mind to rest simply as it is-without chasing after thoughts or becoming distracted by feelings or sensations.
The business of your meditation ~ Lama Yeshe
Lama YesheMeditation is not on the level of the object, but on that of the subject. You are the business of your meditation.
Finding the time to practice ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahPracticing meditation is just like breathing. While working we breathe, while sleeping we breathe, while sitting down we breathe… Why do we have time to breathe? Because we see the importance of the breath, we can always find time to breathe. In the same way, if we see the importance of meditation practice we will find the time to practice.
Aspiration for the time of death ~ Longchenpa
LongchenpaWhen my time has come and impermanence and death have caught up with me,
When the breath ceases, and the body and mind go their separate ways,
May I not experience delusion, attachment, and clinging,
But remain in the natural state of ultimate reality.