Having this precious human life is like having a well-rigged ship on which to sail across the ocean to an island of treasures. As Shantideva says in The way of the Bodhisattva:
Cross the sea of emotions
On the boat of human existence.You have not obtained this precious human existence just by chance. It is the result of having heard the buddha’s name in a past life, having taken refuge in him, accumulated virtuous actions, and of having developed some wisdom. There is no certainty that you will obtain this vessel again.
If you fail to practice the Dharma in this life, it is certain that you will not obtain a human existence in the next life. To neglect such an opportunity would therefore be very foolish. Do not waste it. Practice day and night.
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Further quotes from the book The Heart of Compassion:
- A practice based on your mind
- Opportunity
- Phenomena adorn emptiness, but never corrupt it
- Just projections of the mind
- Impermanence dawning in your mind
- The only thing that is really worth doing
- The three aspects of diligence
- The magnifying glass of your faith and devotion
- Protecting ourselves from future suffering
- Accepting short-term sufferings
- Cutting through subtler misconceptions
- I like suffering
- Meaningless activities without end
- No greater obstacle to Dharma practice
- Start observing your mind
- No more than an empty echo
- Before it is too late
- Never stop thinking about how to gain liberation
- The importance of relative bodhicitta