You will fall sick, experience pain, and encounter many adverse circumstances. At such times do not think, ‘Although I am practicing the Dharma, I have nothing but trouble. The Dharma cannot be so great. I have followed a teacher and done so much practice, and yet hard times still befall me.’ Such thoughts are wrong views. You should realize that through the blessing and power of the practice, by experiencing sickness and other difficulties now, you are purifying and ridding yourself of negative actions…. By purifying them while you have the chance, you will later go from bliss to bliss. So do not think, ‘I don’t deserve this illness, these obstacles, these negative influences.’ Experience your difficulties as blessings…when you do experience such difficulties, you should be very happy and avoid having adverse thoughts like, ‘Why are such terrible things happening to me?’

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book Zurchungpa's Testament

translated by Padmakara Translation Group


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Further quotes from the book Zurchungpa's Testament:

• The even state of all-pervading peace
• Suitable vessels
• Superficial dharma practice
• Two great sources of fear in samsara
• All perceptions are similar to a dream
• No other way
• First mature your own mind
• Not outside yourself
• The three higher trainings
• Free from the extreme of existence and that of nonexistence
• What a waste of time
• Like two expressions on the same face
• The moon’s reflection on water
• Perceiving everything in its natural purity
• Just as space
• Not fabricated, never stained
• Examine your actions very closely
• Spontaneous devotion to your teacher
• Just leave it like it is
• Complete absence of doubt