There is no certainty that we will not fall victim to disease, evil forces and so on. If we are afflicted by serious illness, we should think, “There are countless beings in this world suffering in the same way as I.” In this way we should generate strong feelings of compassion. If, for example, we are struck by heart disease, we should think, “Wherever space pervades, there are beings suffering like this,” and imagine that all their illnesses are concentrated in our own hearts.

If we are struck by evil forces, we should think, “By making me suffer, these evil beings are helping me to practise Bodhichitta; they are of great importance for my progress on the path, and rather than being expelled, they should be thanked.” We should be as grateful to them as we are towards our Teachers.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book Enlightened Courage: An Explanation of the Seven-Point Mind Training

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Further quotes from the book Enlightened Courage:

• Anger is an illusion
• Signs of realization
• Well rewarded
• Forsaking all self-centeredness
• The degree of self-clinging
• Failing to use the instructions as an antidote
• Morning pledge
• Bodhicitta practice
• Taking advantage of suffering
• Honest examination
• The vows of the Mind Training
• Give up hoping for results
• All Dharma has a single goal
• The three essential factors on which the accomplishment of the Dharma depends
• Begin the training sequence with yourself
• The impurity of our perception
• Always be sustained by cheerfulness
• Delusion
• Antidote to our ego-clinging