You know the real obstacle to resting meditation? It’s too simple. There’s no “wow” experience, there’s nothing added, and there’s no work to do. It’s as close as the tip of your nose, meaning it’s too close to see. Sometimes teachers tell us: “Stop meditating.” This does not mean to give up awareness, but rather: “Don’t use a flashlight in the sunshine.” Assuming that we’re inherently insufficient, we use the mind’s equivalent of a flashlight to improve on the sun.
Mingyur Rinpoche
from the book Turning Confusion into Clarity: A Guide to the Foundation Practices of Tibetan Buddhism
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Mingyur Rinpoche.
Further quotes from the book Turning Confusion into Clarity:
- You are discovering yourself
- The mind of letting go
- Rejoicing
- Impermanence
- Freedom exists within our very own mind
- What creates samsara
- We are born buddhas
- The very first sign of waking up
- Recognition
- Not a substitute for practice
- Diligence
- Recognition of subtle shifts in mental behavior
- Befriending the monkey mind
- There is no absolute bad karma
- The student’s responsibility
- Becoming the awareness
- The Four Considerations for Choosing a Teacher
- Turning toward awakening
- Ordinary sangha