When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual
discipline, they often think that somehow they’re going to improve, which is
a sort of subtle aggression against who they really are. It’s a bit
-like saying, “If I jog, I’ll be a much better person.” Or the scenario
-may be that they find fault with others; they might say, “If it weren’t
-for my husband, I’d have a perfect marriage.” And “If it weren’t for
-my mind, my meditation would be excellent.”
+like saying, "If I jog, I’ll be a much better person." Or the scenario
+may be that they find fault with others; they might say, "If it weren’t
+for my husband, I’d have a perfect marriage." And "If it weren’t for
+my mind, my meditation would be excellent."
But loving-kindness--maitri--toward ourselves doesn’t mean getting rid
of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years.
We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous
Publications
~
In texts we inherited from India, the basic principle is sometimes called
-the “fundamental innate mind of clear light” and the “fundamental innate
-wisdom of clear light”— these two terms having the same meaning. In other
-texts, it is called the “space-diamond pervading space,” whereas in even
-others it is called the “jewel mind,” as, for example, when it is said,
-“Separate from the jewel mind, there is no buddha and no sentient being.”
- Then, in Tibet, in some texts, it is called “ordinary consciousness”
-and “innermost awareness.” These terms are used in the context of speaking
+the "fundamental innate mind of clear light" and the "fundamental innate
+wisdom of clear light"— these two terms having the same meaning. In other
+texts, it is called the "space-diamond pervading space," whereas in even
+others it is called the "jewel mind," as, for example, when it is said,
+"Separate from the jewel mind, there is no buddha and no sentient being."
+ Then, in Tibet, in some texts, it is called "ordinary consciousness"
+and "innermost awareness." These terms are used in the context of speaking
about freedom from thought, which is psychologically and experientially
-described as “self-release,” “naked release,” and “unimpeded
-penetration”; we will be discussing these in detail later. The innermost
+described as "self-release," "naked release," and "unimpeded
+penetration"; we will be discussing these in detail later. The innermost
awareness is said to be the basis of the appearance of all of the round of
-suffering (called “cyclic existence”) and also the basis of liberation
-(called “nirvana”). Everything, without exception, is complete in the
-continuum of innermost awareness. It is even said to be “naturally arisen,”
+suffering (called "cyclic existence") and also the basis of liberation
+(called "nirvana"). Everything, without exception, is complete in the
+continuum of innermost awareness. It is even said to be "naturally arisen,"
since it has always been and always will be.
-- H.H. the Dalai Lama, from "The Heart of Meditation", translated and
edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, published by Shambhala Publications
Publications
~
When they related this to Buddha, he poured water into a little vessel and
-asked, “Will this water remain without evaporating?” Because India is very
-hot, the Hearers thought, “In a few days the water will evaporate. This
-must mean that our virtue will not remain at all.” They were extremely
-worried. Then Buddha asked, “If this water is poured in the ocean, how long
-will it stay? It will remain until the ocean itself evaporates.”
+asked, "Will this water remain without evaporating?" Because India is very
+hot, the Hearers thought, "In a few days the water will evaporate. This
+must mean that our virtue will not remain at all." They were extremely
+worried. Then Buddha asked, "If this water is poured in the ocean, how long
+will it stay? It will remain until the ocean itself evaporates."
Therefore, if you do not just leave this virtue, but dedicate it, making a
prayer petition that it become a cause of help and happiness for limitless
sentient beings, then until that actually occurs, the virtue will not be lost.
-- Patrul Rinpoche, from "Beyond the Ordinary Mind: Dzogchen, Rimé, and the
Path of Perfect Wisdom", Translated by Adam Pearcey, published by
Shambhala Publications
+~
+ Our endeavor is not religious, but rather a test of what we as a human
+ being can become, the greatest unfolding of our potential.
+ -- Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
+Because everything leans, you belong to something much, much greater than what
+you may often refer to as "the world" or "my life"; you belong to something
+greater than your community, political party, nation, or even this magnificent
+planet Earth. You are a noble citizen of the boundless field of contingent
+relationships, pratityasamutpada.
+ -- Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, from "The Logic of Faith", published by
+ Shambhala Publications
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