Where does low self-esteem come from? Those with low self-esteem tend to have highly developed egos; they long to be best at everything and valued highly by everyone they meet, and imagine their ego is repressed, weak and needs boosting. But once we develop the attitude of a bodhisattva, we have little or no ego and therefore there is no “I” to worry about giving all the good stuff away or to be bothered by the bad stuff. Bodhisattvas lack “ego” as a reference point, and therefore their confidence continues to grow, giving even the idea of low self-esteem no chance of raising its ugly head. So don’t be afraid of applying the bodhichitta of aspiration again and again.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
from the book Not for Happiness: A Guide to the So-Called Preliminary Practices
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Further quotes from the book Not for Happiness:
- Opposite direction to dharma
- Sources of our inspiration
- Practise whichever method works for you
- Intention to benefit all sentient beings
- Sadness
- The decision to follow a spiritual path
- Absolutely nothing genuinely works
- The merit of maintaining mindfulness
- Right intention
- As they truly are
- Merely the product of your own perception
- To reject your aggression is a weakness
- Dharma is not a therapy
- Spiritual practice is like riding a bicycle
- Maintaining a strong grip on the habits
- Everything we experience is a product of mind
- It’s all a matter of motivation
- The signs of progress
- Adapting the Dharma
- No substitute for being guided by a guru