ordinary elements into their pure natures. Then buddhahood naturally comes
into our hands.
-- H.H. the Dalai Lama, from "The Path to Enlightenment"
+~
+ There are three kinds of people [who practice Buddhism]. Like all other
+beings, the lowest person wants happiness and not suffering or rebirth in the
+lower realms of existence, so he practices Buddhism to create the causes of
+rebirth in the human realm or in the heavenly realms of the gods. He does not
+have the power or the courage to leave worldly existence completely. He only
+wants the best parts of worldly existence; he wants to avoid the worst parts,
+and that is why he practices the Buddhist religion—to gain a higher rebirth.
+ The middling sort of person understands that the whole of worldly existence,
+no matter where one is born, is suffering by its nature, just as fire is hot
+by its nature. He wants to get out of it altogether and attain nirvana, the
+state that is entirely away from suffering.
+ The highest person realizes that just as he himself does not want to suffer
+and does want happiness, so also do all living beings have the same fears and
+wishes. He knows that since we have been born again and again from
+beginningless time in worldly existence, there is not a single sentient being
+who has not been our mother and father at one time or another. Since we are
+that close to all sentient beings, the best person is one who practices
+Buddhism in order to remove all these countless beings from suffering.
+ -- H.H. Sakya Trinzin, from "Treasures of the Sakya Lineage: Teachings from
+ the Masters", by Migmar Tseten
+~
+ To take refuge in the Buddha means to take refuge in the dharmas that
+constitute a buddha (a nonlearner). These consist of a buddha’s knowledge
+of the termination and nonarising [of the obscurations]. Together with the
+associated factors [of this knowledge], they consist of the five
+uncontaminated skandhas.
+ To take refuge in the sangha means [to take refuge] in the dharmas that
+constitute the sangha, which consists of [all] learners and nonlearners except
+for buddhas. It is by virtue of having attained their respective [dharmas]
+that the eight persons* are not separated from the path by [anyone], including
+gods. Therefore, they are called “sangha.” In other words, [the sangha]
+is represented by the five uncontaminated skandhas in the mind streams of said
+eight persons.
+ To take refuge in the dharma means [to take refuge] in the analytical
+cessation that is nirvana, that is, the two nirvanas [with and without
+remainder] of the noble ones.
+
+*The eight persons are also known as “the four pairs of persons”--stream-
+enterers, once-returners, nonreturners, and arhats, each divided into
+approachers to, and abiders in, these states.
+
+ --from "Groundless Paths: The Prajnaparamita Sutras, The Ornament of Clear
+ Realization, and Its Commentaries in the Tibetan Nyingma Tradition",
+ translated by Karl Brunnholzl, from Shambhala Publications
+~
+Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary
+Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
projects / feisty_meow.git / blobdiff