Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheWhen some great teachers of the past reflected on the rarity of human existence, they did not even feel like sleeping; they could not bear to waste a single moment. They put all their energy into spiritual practice.
In the realm of mind essence ~ Milarepa
MilarepaVeiled by ignorance,
The minds of man and Buddha
Appear to be different;
Yet in the realm of Mind Essence
They are both of one taste.
Sometimes they will meet each other
In the great Dharmadhatu.
Let it be ~ Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahDo not try to become anything.
Do not make yourself into anything.
Do not be a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be.
What you walk, let it be.
Grasp at nothing.
Resist nothing.
If you haven’t wept deeply, you haven’t begun to meditate.
It is I who am at fault ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo
Gyelse Tokme ZangpoThe practice of all the bodhisattvas is never to speak ill
Of others who have embarked upon the greater vehicle,
For if, under the influence of destructive emotions,
I speak of other bodhisattvas’ failings, it is I who am at fault.
Very grievous fault of not understanding your own mind ~ Padmasambhava
PadmasambhavaEven though that which is usually called “mind” is widely esteemed and much discussed, still it is not understood or it is wrongly understood or it is understood in a one-sided manner only. Since it is not understood correctly, just as it is in itself, there comes into existence inconceivable numbers of philosophical ideas and assertions.
Furthermore, since ordinary individuals do not understand it, they do not recognize their own nature.And so they continue to wander among the six destinies of rebirth within the three worlds, and thus experience suffering. Therefore, not understanding your own mind is a very grievous fault.
Feeling left behind ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheHow often we get jealous when someone receives a better or a higher teaching than we do? Their getting enlightenment means your wish is at last coming true. With their receiving higher teachings, or someone becoming better practitioners, this means at last your aspiration is being realized! But instead, we feel jealous or we feel envious, but still, we have this feeling of “I am being left behind”. Who cares? If you are a genuine bodhisattva you shouldn’t care about these things.
Whatever you do ~ 4th Shechen Gyaltsab
4th Shechen GyaltsabWhatever you do — walking, eating, sitting, and so forth — abandon laziness, indolence, apathy, negligence, and distraction. Master the habitual patterns that make you resist any change in your body, speech, and mind, even in the most insignificant activities. Once you have embarked on the path of liberation, it is inappropriate to behave in an ordinary way: observe your mind all the time with vigilance and lucidity. If you have committed a negative act, regret it and promise never to do it again. Be glad if you have committed none.
Buddhist Logic ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaGenerally speaking, there are many aspects to Buddhist logic, but the following is the main point; the continuation of material things and the continuation of consciousness are something separate.
Because the continuation of consciousness is understood through the experience and awareness that there is clarity in our mind, it is not something you can actually see, or experiment with from the outside. Because in this century people are much more materialistic, it is very difficult to demonstrate to them this fact of the mind’s continuum, for them to understand the fact of the mind continuing.
Although there could be different methods, traditionally meditation is one way to understand it. Through meditation your basic or unrefined consciousness goes deeper. It becomes more and more clear and subtle. At a certain level you can actually remember your past lives. So therefore, when you go deeper into your consciousness, at a more subtle level of consciousness, real clarity can be experienced.
It also sometimes happens that your mind can be brought into a deeper consciousness through medical science, and then maybe sometimes you can also experience certain memories of the past. So there are also other ways.
Not be seen again ~ Shantideva
ShantidevaMy foes will become nothing.
My friends will become nothing.
I, too, will become nothing.
Likewise, all will become nothing.
Just like a dream experience,
Whatever things I enjoy
Will become a memory.
Whatever has passed will not be seen again.
The approach of the very best practitioners ~ Yangthang Rinpoche
Yangthang RinpocheUntil you perfect the view,
Don’t count your practice in years or months,
But decide to dedicate the whole remainder of your life to Dharma practice.
This is the approach of the very best practitioners.
Giving up the eight worldly dharmas ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheGiving up the eight worldly dharmas does not mean making these eight objects non-existent; it means making attachment to them non-existent.
All encompassing deep awareness ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhIf you touch one thing with deep awareness, you touch everything.
The same is true of time.
When you touch one moment with deep awareness, you touch all moments.
Bright moon ~ Nagarjuna
NagarjunaSomeone who has acted carelessly,
But later becomes careful and attentive,
Is as beautiful as the bright moon emerging from the clouds.
The cause of our enlightenment ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronSentient beings are the cause of our enlightenment. When they bother us, we learn patience; when they’re suffering, we learn loving-kindness and compassion. No matter what reaction they evoke,we can relate to them in a way that leads to buddhahood. Instead of buying into aversion, we become tolerant. Instead of staying stuck in selfishness, we extend a hand to someone in distress. Instead of letting jealousy sabotage us, we train in rejoicement therapy.
The Six Vajra Verses ~ Garab Dorje
Garab DorjeThe nature of phenomena is nondual,
but each one, in its own state,
is beyond the limits of the mind.
There is no concept that can define
the condition of “what is”
but vision nevertheless manifests:
all is good.
Everything has already been accomplished,
and so, having overcome the sickness of effort,
one finds oneself in the self-perfected state:
this is contemplation.
Limited meditation ~ Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
Thinley Norbu RinpocheIf we really want to be sublime meditators, we should not set a time period for our meditation, as it is the modern meditator’s style. We should not count the hours or minutes because limited time makes limited meditation. Our ordering, limited gross and subtle elements’ mind cannot release itself into the sublime, limitless, secret essence of the elements if we are bound by exact time. If our mind is bound by anything, it is never vast. If we are trapped and limited by time, place and direction, how can we have Wisdom Mind confidence? How can we understand other people’s faculties and benefit other beings? How can we help limited mind with limited meditation mind.
Stopping to See Miserable Conditions as Problems ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheLeave the mind in its natural, undisturbed state. Don’t follow thoughts of “This is a problem, that is a problem!” Without labeling difficulties as problems, leave your mind in its natural state. In this way, you will stop seeing miserable conditions as problems.
The fearless sage ~ Longchenpa
LongchenpaHe who loves others and serves them does not slacken his effort when his life is endangered: the fearless sage with true sense of responsibility never forsakes others’ desperation.
No words can describe it ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheNo words can describe it
No example can point to it
Samsara does not make it worse
Nirvana does not make it better
It has never been born
It has never ceased
It has never been liberated
It has never been deluded
It has never existed
It has never been nonexistent
It has no limits at allIt does not fall into any kind of category
No chewing gum is simplicity ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaSupposing you feel an itch in your pocket, but you don’t have any chewing gum on that particular day. You should feel contented; you should feel relieved. “For heaven’s sake, I don’t have any chewing gum! That’s fine.” A chance to appreciate that simplicity has been presented to you. Ordinarily, people talk in terms of obstacles: “I had a bad time. I didn’t have any chewing gum in my pocket. I had a bad day.” But you could switch gears altogether: “It was such a relief to find that I didn’t have any chewing gum in my pocket. I feel fine; I just let go.” You can have some appreciation of obstacles becoming simplicity.