Enhancement practices ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Enhancement 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.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Less pain ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Less desire means less pain.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Destructive emotions ~ 14th Dalai Lama

We should examine how destructive emotions harm us and others, cause discord in families and in society at large and even bring us physical health problems. Whether you are a national leader or a beggar on the street, destructive emotions disturb your peace of mind.

14th Dalai Lama

Just to live ~ Shunryu Suzuki

Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make our effort, moment after moment, is our way.

Shunryu Suzuki

Weeping deeply ~ Ajahn Chah

If you haven’t wept deeply, you haven’t begun to meditate.

Ajahn Chah

The three vital supports ~ Longchenpa

Begin with bodhicitta, do the main practice without concepts,
Conclude by dedicating the merit.
These, together and complete,
Are the three vital supports for progressing on the path to liberation.

Longchenpa

Nothing to be grasped ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

When a rainbow appears vividly in the sky, you can see its beautiful colors, yet you could not wear it as clothing, or put it on as an ornament. It arises through the conjunction of various factors, but there is nothing about it that can be grasped. Likewise, thoughts that arise in the mind have no tangible existence or intrinsic solidity. There is no logical reason why thoughts, which have no substance, should have so much power over you, nor is there any reason why you should become their slave.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Being inspired by everyday good fortune ~ Pema Chödron

Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts. Each time we drop our complaints and allow everyday good fortune to inspire us, we enter the warrior’s world.

Pema Chödron

True love ~ Lama Yeshe

True love does not depend on physical expression. You should realize this. True love is a feeling deep within you. It is not just a matter of wearing a smile on your face and looking happy. Rather, it arises from a heartfelt understanding of every other being’s suffering and radiates out to all of them indiscriminately. It does not favor a chosen few to the exclusion of everyone else. This is true love.

Lama Yeshe

Renouncing this life’s concerns ~ Gyelse Tokme Zangpo

The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to renounce this life’s concerns,
For friends and relatives, long acquainted, must all go their separate ways;
Wealth and prized possessions, painstakingly acquired, must all be left behind;
And consciousness, the guest who lodges in the body, must in time depart.

Gyelse Tokme Zangpo

Inner goodness ~ Tai Situ Rinpoche

Discovering inner goodness only truly happens through meditation. You can discover your inner goodness intellectually of course, but it is just knowledge of what is possible.

Tai Situ Rinpoche

Take joy in your sincere intentions ~ 17th Karmapa

Just look within to the virtuous thoughts you have had, and you will always find a reason to love yourself. Take joy in your sincere intentions. Everything starts with an intention. If you have been able to have beautiful aspirations, these aspirations will always be part of you, a beautiful part.

17th Karmapa

Understanding and love ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Understanding and love aren’t two separate things, they’re just one.

Thich Nhat Hanh

The basic problem ~ Kalu Rinpoche

The basic problem is that one believes that everything is real, and thus everything is treated as such.

Kalu Rinpoche

Examine yourself ~ Tilopa

Lo! This is self-awareness!
It surpasses all avenues of speech and thought.
I, Tilopa, have nothing to reveal.
You should know it yourself through inward examination.

Tilopa

Nothing genuinely works in samsara ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

It is vital to understand that however positive this worldly life, or even a small part of it, may appear to be, ultimately it will fail because absolutely nothing genuinely works in samsara.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

The real obstacle to resting meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche

You know the real obstacle to resting meditation? It’s too simple. There’s no “wow” experience, there’s nothing added, and there’s no work to do. It’s as close as the tip of your nose, meaning it’s too close to see. Sometimes teachers tell us: “Stop meditating.” This does not mean to give up awareness, but rather: “Don’t use a flashlight in the sunshine.” Assuming that we’re inherently insufficient, we use the mind’s equivalent of a flashlight to improve on the sun.

Mingyur Rinpoche

Discipline without ego ~ Chögyam Trungpa

Right morality or right discipline on the buddhist path is based on egolessness. If there is no one to impose discipline and no one to impose discipline on, then there is no need for discipline in the ordinary sense at all! If there is a tree, there must be branches. However, if there is no tree, there are no such things as branches. Likewise, if there is no ego, a whole range of projections becomes unnecessary. Right discipline is that kind of giving up process. It brings us into complete simplicity.

Chögyam Trungpa