Chögyam TrungpaUnderstanding suffering is very important. The practice of meditation is designed not to develop pleasure but to understand the truth of suffering; and in order to understand the truth of suffering, one also has to understand the truth of awareness. When true awareness takes place, suffering does not exist. Through awareness, suffering is somewhat changed in its perspective. It is not necessarily that you do not suffer, but the haunting quality that fundamentally you are in trouble is removed. It is like removing a splinter. It might hurt, and you might still feel pain, but the basic cause of that pain, the ego, has been removed.
Tag Archives: awareness
Space and awareness ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
Tulku Urgyen RinpocheIt is said that the difference between buddhas and sentient beings is like the difference between the narrowness and the openness of space. Sentient beings are like the space held within a tightly closed fist, while buddhas are fully open, all-encompassing. Basic space and awareness are innately all-encompassing. Basic space is the absence of mental constructs, while awareness is the ‘knowing’ of this absence of constructs, recognizing the complete emptiness of mind essence. Space and awareness are inherently indivisible.
The real point of meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe real point of meditation is to rest in bare awareness whether anything occurs or not. Whatever comes up for you, just be open and present to it, and let it go. And if nothing occurs, or if thoughts and so on vanish before you can notice them, just rest in that natural clarity.
Finding the lama in your heart ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheSince pure awareness of nowness is the real buddha,
In openness and contentment I found the lama in my heart.
When we realize this unending natural mind is the very nature of the lama,
Then there is no need for attached, grasping, or weeping prayers or artificial complaints,
By simply relaxing in this uncontrived, open, and natural state,
We obtain the blessing of aimless self-liberation of whatever arises.
Beginning to develop awareness ~ Tenzin Palmo
Tenzin PalmoAs we begin to develop awareness of the mind, the mind itself appears to divide into two. A new aspect of the mind arises. This is referred to variously as the witness, the seer, the knower, or the observer. It witnesses without judgment and without comment. Along with the arrival of the witness, a space appears within the mind. This enables us to see thoughts and emotions as mere thoughts and emotions, rather than as ‘me’ and ‘mine.’ When the thoughts and emotions are no longer seen as ‘me’ or ‘mine’, we begin to have choices. Certain thoughts and emotions are helpful, so we encourage them. Others are not so helpful, so we just let them go. All the thoughts and emotions are recognized and accepted. Nothing is suppressed. But now we have a choice about how to react. We can give energy to the ones, which are useful and skillful and withdraw energy from those which are not.
Non-Meditation ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheThe clarity, or natural awareness, is so much a part of everyday experience that it’s hard to recognize. It’s like trying to see your eyelashes without using mirror. So how do you go about recognizing it? According to the Buddha, you meditate – through not necessarily in the way most people understand it. The kind of meditation involved here is, a type of “non-meditation.” There’s no need to focus on or visualize anything.
Awareness itself ~ Dudjom Rinpoche
Dudjom RinpocheAlthough hundreds or thousands of explanations are given,
There is only one thing to be understood –
Know the one thing that liberates everything –
Awareness itself, your true nature.
Nonjudgmental awareness ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheMeditation is really a process of nonjudgmental awareness.
Truth is not something far away ~ Krishnamurti
KrishnamurtiWe do not have to seek truth. Truth is not something far away. It is the truth of the mind, truth of its activities from moment to moment. If we are aware of this moment-to-moment truth, of this whole process of time, this awareness releases consciousness or that energy to be. As long as the mind uses consciousness as the self-activity, time comes into being with all its miseries, with all its conflicts, with all its mischiefs, its purposive deceptions; and it is only when the mind, understanding this total process, ceases, that love will be. You may call it love or give it some other names; what name you give is of no consequence.
Liberation as Ever-Perfect ~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro ThayeLiberation as Ever-Perfect does not refer to the liberation of a buddha that has occurred in the past, such as that of Buddha Sakyamuni, but to the way in which countless beings are liberated right now and will continue to be liberated in the future simply by realizing their primordial purity. The basis, the path, and the ultimate result in this system are all of a singular, undifferentiated nature: total, pure awareness. Thus, the primordial freedom that one seeks to attain by practicing the spiritual path is something that one already possesses. Intrinsic freedom is itself the path that leads to the actualization of the goal.
No regrets ~ 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai LamaWe must each lead a way of life with self-awareness and compassion, to do as much as we can. Then, whatever happens, we will have no regrets.
Three step practice ~ Pema Chödron
Pema ChödronFirst, come into the present. Flash on what’s happening with you right now. Be fully aware of your body, its energetic quality. Be aware of your thoughts and emotions.
Next, feel your heart, literally placing your hand on your chest if you find that helpful. This is a way of accepting yourself just as you are in that moment, a way of saying, “This is my experience right now, and it’s okay.”
Then go into the next moment without any agenda.
Nonconceptuality ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheNonconceptuality is an experience of the total openness of your mind. Your awareness is direct and unclouded by conceptual distinction such as “I” or “other,” subjects and objects, or any other form of limitation. It’s an experience of pure consciousness as infinite as space, without beginning, middle, or end. It’s like becoming awake within a dream and recognizing that everything experienced in the dream isn’t separate from the mind of the dreamer.
Being truly alive in the present moment ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhWhen we learn to stop and be truly alive in the present moment, we are in touch with what’s going on within and around us.
Simply notice that you are aware ~ Mingyur Rinpoche
Mingyur RinpocheClarity is part of the mind from the beginning, a natural awareness. Just acknowledge it, simply notice that you’re aware.
The heart of meditation in action ~ Chögyam Trungpa
Chögyam TrungpaIn the post-meditation experience or meditation-in-action, when you are working with situations, there is no time to analyze, no time to hold on. At the same time, there is a gap. There is no time to refer back to oneself as “I am doing this,” no time to relate with me or ego awareness at all. There is just simple awareness. That awareness is regarded as the heart of meditation in action. It is compassion.
Right here and now ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhThe cosmos is our home, and we can touch it by being aware of our body. Meditation is to be still: to sit still, to stand still, and to walk with stillness. Meditation means to look deeply, to touch deeply so we can realize we are already home. Our home is available right here and now.
The Song of Natural Awareness ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaOm Swasti Jayentu.
Primordially pure, the expanse of all phenomena is great bliss.
All signs of elaboration stilled, it is spontaneously present.
In that glad realm, where the joyous ambrosia of the three vehicles is found.
May the sun of naturally arising awareness be victorious.
Protective Inner Wisdom ~ 17th Karmapa
17th KarmapaThere are many forces surrounding us that encourage us to follow along unthinkingly wherever our greed leads us. We are bombarded by advertising designed to convince us that our happiness depends on material goods. Today’s global culture tells us that having more of these goods is a measure of our success in life, and even of our value as a person. This message comes at us in many forms and from many directions, so we need a clear awareness of how greed works in order to protect ourselves from being deceived by these forces. We can then counteract them with inner wisdom about where real success and personal value come from.
The capacity of waking up ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat HanhThe capacity of waking up, of being aware of what is going on in your feelings, in your body, in your perceptions, in the world, is called buddha nature, the capacity of understanding and loving.