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:

• First mature your own mind
• What a waste of time
• Not outside yourself
• The three higher trainings
• Perceiving everything in its natural purity
• Like two expressions on the same face
• No other way
• Just leave it like it is
• 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