Someone who has been captured with a hook has no option but to go wherever he is led. In the same way, if we catch hold of our mind – which risks being distracted by the objects of the six senses – with the hook of mindfulness, and with vigilance and carefulness, this will be of enormous benefit. We should use this watchman to constantly check how many positive or negative thoughts and actions we produce during the day. When we are able to control our minds through mindfulness, everything that appears in samsara and nirvana becomes an aid in our practice and serves to confirm the meaning of the teachings. All appearances are understood as being dharmakaya. We perceive everything in its natural purity, and there is nothing we can call impure.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book Zurchungpa's Testament
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Further quotes from the book Zurchungpa's Testament:
- Free from the extreme of existence and that of nonexistence
- All perceptions are similar to a dream
- Complete absence of doubt
- Examine your actions very closely
- Not fabricated, never stained
- Projections of the mind
- Spontaneous devotion to your teacher
- Superficial dharma practice
- Just as space
- Recognizing awareness
- Nothing else than the projection of one’s own mind
- Suitable vessels
- The even state of all-pervading peace
- When true realization dawns in one’s mind
- Two great sources of fear in samsara
- First mature your own mind
- No other way
- Not outside yourself
- Like two expressions on the same face