forever.
-- Tulku Thondup, from "The Heart of Unconditional Love", published by
Shambhala Publications
+~
+The method for taking all situations as the path is to rest within the essence
+of the mind. Within our minds, there are three aspects: the way things
+appear, how they are confused, and the way they actually are. We do not take
+our difficulties as the path in relation to how things appear or are confused,
+but in relation to how they actually are. We rest naturally within their
+nature—the clear and empty nature of the mind that is sometimes called the
+union of clarity and emptiness or the union of wisdom and the expanse. We
+rest within this, recognizing it. When we take sickness as the path, we look
+at the essence of the sickness without altering it in any way and just rest
+naturally within that. When we take the afflictions as the path, we just look
+at the essence of the greed, aversion, or delusion that has occurred. We do
+not follow the affliction or block it. We do not try to stop our thoughts.
+Instead, we look at those thoughts and at the afflictions that occur, and we
+rest naturally within their inherently empty essence.
+ -- Khenchen Thrangu, from "Vivid Awareness", published by Shambhala
+ Publications
+~
+I suggest that dana—in all its wonderful, profound simplicity--is a
+necessary and significant part of what Dr. Buddha would prescribe for our
+times. It can be understood without hours of study. It liberates us from
+acquisitive and protectionist habits. It mitigates individualism and
+nourishes community. Its meaning spans the most basic levels of practice
+through to the ultimate. It challenges "me" and "mine," fostering letting go.
+A reinvigorated and updated understanding and practice of dana can serve as a
+powerful antidote to consumerism’s ills. I see this as essential for
+Buddhism to stay on course as we navigate this bizarre postmodern world
+seeking genuine peace and liberation.
+ -- Santikaro, from "Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the
+ Urge to Consume", edited by Stephanie Kaza, published by Shambhala
+ Publications and Snow Lion Publications