Pema ChödronWhen we don’t run from everyday uncertainty, we can contact bodhicitta.
Intention ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaEven within buddhism, there are various descriptions of this, but in the mahayana tradition it [is] taught that the main criterion for an action being virtuous or non-virtuous is whether one’s intention is or is not virtuous. If you hold the motivation in your mind to be of benefit to others and that they may come to enjoy temporary and ultimate happiness and well-being, whatever actions of body, speech, and mind you may perform, they will all be on the side of virtue. But if you act with a negative mindset, out of a motivation that is afflicted by being jealous, malicious, competitive, and so on toward others, whatever you do will be non-virtuous. In brief, whether an action is considered as virtuous or non-virtuous depends mainly upon the underlying motivation or mindset either positive or negative. The results of good actions will also be good, while the outcomes of bad actions will be negative and painful.
Awareness is like the light of the new moon ~ Jigme Lingpa
Jigme LingpaAwareness does not engage with objects of the ordinary mind. It is “self-cognizing primordial wisdom.” This can be illustrated by the “light” of the new moon: a profoundly indwelling luminosity, which does not radiate outward. Therefore, despite the fact that the five primordial wisdoms are spontaneously present in awareness, the latter is without thoughts related to sense objects. By contrast, even when it is still, the ordinary mind nevertheless “moves” and follows after different objects. It is like the light of the moon on the fifteenth of the month, which radiates outward and engulfs everything.
Synopsis of all teachings ~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro ThayeMind itself and the true nature of objects have no reality whatsoever and are beyond intellect and inexpressible. This one point could well be the synopsis of all teachings.
Confronted with the truth ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheMost of us tend to resent being confronted with the truth, and from resentment springs denial. The most obvious example is that we feel annoyed when we are forced to acknowledge the illusory nature of our lives and the reality of death. We also take exception to contemplating it, even though death is an irrefutable universal truth. Our habitual reaction is to pretend it will never happen — which is how we deal with most of the other inconvenient truths we find difficult to stomach.
Precious human life ~ Shantideva
ShantidevaSo hard to find such ease and wealth
Whereby to render meaningful this human birth!
If now I fail to turn it to my profit,
How could such a chance be mine again?
Without the personal advice of Buddha ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheWithout the personal advice of Buddha, our only option is to rely on the existing generalisations provided by the dharma that are themselves the result of centuries of guesswork. Not very encouraging news in some ways, but do not despair. This guesswork may be hundreds of years old, but it was originally developed by some of the greatest scholars and practitioners ever to have walked this earth. So rest assured that if the answer to the question “What do I do if I want to follow the path of dharma?” turns out to be shamatha meditation or the four foundations, you won’t go far wrong.
The pleasure to be without desire ~ Nagarjuna
NagarjunaThere is pleasure when a sore is scratched,
But to be without sores is more pleasurable still.
Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires,
But to be without desires is more pleasurable still.
The Confusion of Dualism ~ Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
Namkhai Norbu RinpocheBut if, through fundamental misperception of reality, the individual enters into the confusion of dualism, primordial consciousness, which is in fact the source of all manifestation (even of dualistic consciousness and, in fact, of all phenomena), itself becomes obscured. The individual’s deluded mind then mistakes the manifestations of its own pure, innate primordial awareness for an external reality existing separately from itself, which it endlessly, and ultimately unsuccessfully, attempts to manipulate, trying in vain to bring an end to the continual underlying sense of dissatisfaction and unease which is the inevitable experience of the obscuration of pure awareness. The experience of underlying dissatisfaction (or ‘dukha’ in Sanskrit) that unavoidably arises with a deluded mind, continues, no matter how ‘successful’ the individual becomes in dealing with his or her world in materialistic terms, until the individual regains the experience of the primordial state.
The indivisibility of the two truths ~ Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul RinpocheUltimately we need to realize the indivisibility of the two truths, but claiming that the relative refers to existence, while on the absolute level things do not exist, will never qualify as the view of the middle way. When we realize the one genuine nature of the correct relative, the two truths will merge inseparably, beyond the conceptual extremes of existing, not existing, permanence and nothingness. As it says in the Mother Prajnaparamita:
‘The real nature of the relative is the real nature of the absolute.’
How to overcome dreamy dullness ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheIn meditation practice, you might experience a muddy, semiconscious, drifting state, like having a hood over your head: a dreamy dullness. This is really nothing more than a kind of blurred and mindless stagnation. How do you get out of this state? Alert yourself, straighten your back, breathe the stale air out of your lungs, and direct your awareness into clear space to freshen your mind. If you remain in this stagnant state you will not evolve, so whenever this setback arises, clear it again and again. It is important to be as watchful as possible, and to stay as vigilant as you can.
The quintessence of the path ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Dzongsar Khyentse RinpocheThe quintessence of the path is to have the wisdom that realizes egolessness. Until we have this wisdom, we have not understood the essence of the Buddha’s teaching.
The great benefit of developing compassion ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe great benefit of developing compassion is that through understanding the needs, fears, and desires of others, you develop a deeper capacity to understand your own self – what you hope for, what you hope to avoid, and the truth about your own nature.
A general optimism toward ourselves and others ~ Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Traleg Kyabgon RinpocheHappiness doesn’t mean never feeling sad or distressed; rather, it is reflective of a general optimism toward ourselves and others.
Tantra Does Not Have a One-Track Mind ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn the tantric tradition there are different approaches or styles of action, and everybody does not have to be uniform. Tantra does not have a one-track mind. There are different kinds of relationships with things, and you can identify yourself with all or one of these. You can take pride in what you are, what you have, your basic nature. Tantra permits different aspects of you to shine through, rather than your having to be channeled into one basic set of characteristics. It allows your basic nature to come through.
Shamata and vipassana ~ Thrangu Rinpoche
Thrangu RinpocheIf one practices śamatha meditation without vipaśyanā, one will not be able to understand the true nature of phenomena; one will just be able to rest the mind on something. It is like being on a vacation; one experiences peace on a vacation, but one does not get any lasting results from it.
If you practice vipaśyanā without śamatha, you will not be able to eliminate whatever negativity needs to be eliminated, because vipaśayanā without śamatha is unstable. So even if you have the understanding of vipaśyanā, your mind will be agitated. Therefore you need to have both śamatha and vipaśyanā.
Where else ~ Dogen Zenji
Dogen ZenjiIf you are unable to find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?
The wise do not grieve ~ Buddha Shakyamuni
Buddha ShakyamuniThe world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.
Enhancement practices ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheEnhancement practices, for instance, are to develop devotion to the enlightened ones and compassion for sentient beings. Devotion and compassion strengthen the recognition of mind nature. Other practices also further enhance mind essence; however the Third Karmapa stated the most essential point when he said: “In the moment of love, the empty essence dawns nakedly.”
In the moment that either devotion or compassion is felt sincerely, from the core of our heart, there is really nothing to obscure us any longer. The more we train in devotion to all enlightened masters, buddhas and bodhisattvas, the more our progress in recognizing mind essence will be enhanced. In exactly the same way, generating loving kindness and compassion for all beings will also help tremendously to enhance our realization of buddha nature.
Less pain ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Lama Zopa RinpocheLess desire means less pain.