X-Git-Url: https://feistymeow.org/gitweb/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=database%2Ffortunes.dat;h=a8b0d17ad2a8b6c0aed5776eb8a252560798e3f8;hb=f590bba5ff799c7d5ce43efbb95f783af68a1036;hp=15e5c0ff97f56c2520dee0b35bf5b537fa6421aa;hpb=db9c7713aade50fe6251c120b26ef983935859fd;p=feisty_meow.git diff --git a/database/fortunes.dat b/database/fortunes.dat index 15e5c0ff..a8b0d17a 100644 --- a/database/fortunes.dat +++ b/database/fortunes.dat @@ -38605,3 +38605,93 @@ self-envisioned magical illusion of hope and fear, we should hang loosely in the flow. --Tulku Pema Rigtsal, "The Great Secret of Mind: Special Instructions on the Nonduality of Dzogchen", translated by Keith Dowman +~ + The feelings of joy and sorrow do not exist from their own side. Although +they exist as conceptual imputations, you cling to them as existing from their +own side. Feelings do not exist by their own intrinsic nature; rather, they +are identified on the basis of contributing circumstances. + Therefore, this analysis is cultivated as an antidote for that [false +conception of intrinsic existence]. The meditative absorption that arises +from the field of discriminative investigation is the food of the +contemplative.—Shantideva + Feelings do not truly exist; they are not found when sought through +analysis; they do not exist independently, but exist by the power of +convention. Thus, the means for overcoming the misconception of the true +existence of feelings is meditation on their lack of such existence. This +entails analyzing the mode of existence of feelings. + Such investigation is an aid to meditative absorption and leads to the +integration of meditative quiescence and insight. That increases the physical +vitality of the contemplative and enhances the power of his [or her] spiritual +practice. Thus it is called the nourishment of the contemplative. + -- H.H. the Dalai Lama, "Transcendent Wisdom". +~ +It is not enough merely to look into the space of happiness or sadness; it is +important to have pure presence constant in that flow. If the power of +meditation is not constant, it is impossible to remain long in the place of +nondual perception. Thoughts that arise intermittently will break the +continuity, and radiating out from this, like ripples on a pond, the poisonous +taste of emotion will arise to obstruct the meditation. As gross thoughts +increase, ripples become rough waves that intensify the emotion. Until subtle +emotions are left behind, we cannot eradicate suffering, so it is crucially +important to sustain the state of meditation. When we gain strong familiarity +by staying in that space for a long time, then no matter what thoughts arise, +whether gross or subtle, they will not be able to dislodge us: upon +recognizing the first thought, whatever thought it may be, in that very +moment, we realize it to be the play of the spontaneous creativity of +dharmakaya. Like a wave falling back into the ocean, the thought vanishes +into the dharmakaya. In that space of naked empty pure presence that is the +view, always cherishing thoughts of the five poisonous emotions and all the +movements of body, speech, and mind, and the acts of eating, sleeping, moving, +and sitting, we are known as the yogins and yoginis who stand guard over the +shifting dharmakaya display. This is the supreme method of sustaining the +essence of meditation. According to Dzogchen teaching, this is unadulterated +by any kind of focus; it is called "the great meditation that is +nonmeditation." + --Tulku Pema Rigtsal, "The Great Secret of Mind: Special Instructions on the + Nonduality of Dzogchen", translated by Keith Dowman. +~ + Who is more shameless in this world, + Than one who abandons to samsara’s ocean of suffering + All the mothers who have tenderly cared for him since beginningless time + And instead strives toward the peace of a solitary nirvana? + --Shechen Gyaltsap Pema Namgyal + + In each of our lives since beginningless time, our mother carried us within +her body for nine months. She took care of us when we were helpless babies; +she gave us food, education, and protection. In return, we feel love and +gratitude for her kindness. + Why not extend our respect and appreciation for our mother to everyone else? +If we take a broader perspective, we can consider that, within the countless +existences we have lived, every being has been our mother at one time or +another. Don’t they also deserve our kindness now? We can extend the same +debt of gratitude that we owe our present mother to all sentient beings. By +doing so, we naturally begin to develop a deep concern for the happiness of +others, and this feeling makes sense to us. + We take the refuge vow not just for our own sake, but also for the sake of +all sentient beings. This is bodhichitta, or the altruistic mind, which aims +for the enlightenment of all sentient beings. + --Shechen Rabjam, "The Great Medicine That Conquers Clinging to the Notion + of Reality: Steps in Meditation on the Enlightened Mind" +~ + Direct perfect enlightenment [with regard to] all aspects, + and abandonment of the stains along with their imprints + [are called] buddha and nirvana respectively. + In truth, these are not two different things. + —Arya Maitreya + +All aspects of the knowable—all absolute and relative phenomena—are +directly known. Through this knowledge one is immediately and perfectly +enlightened. This is the aspect of realization. All the adventitious +defilements—the two veils along with their remaining imprints—are +abandoned without any exception. This is the aspect of abandonment. These +two qualities have been led to ultimate perfection. They are therefore named +"perfect buddha" ["perfectly awakened and expanded"] from the +viewpoint of the former aspect, and "nirvana" ["gone beyond any torment +and pain"] from the viewpoint of the latter aspect. These two aspects are +contained in one and the same meaning, the meaning of the tathagatagarbha, +whereas a difference only lies in the convention of the different terms. In +the sense of the absolute field of experience of the noble ones’ primordial +wisdom the qualities of realization and abandonment are therefore completely +inseparable and do not exist as two different things. + -- Arya Maitreya, "Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with + Commentary", with commentary by Jamgön Kongtrül Lodro Thaye