relative level, they are. For there is certainly a difference between the way
things are and the way they appear. As was said earlier, "These the two
truths are declared to be."
- -- The Wisdom Chapter: Jamgön Mipham’s Commentary on the Ninth Chapter of
+ -- The Wisdom Chapter: Jamgön Mipham's Commentary on the Ninth Chapter of
The Way of the Bodhisattva, translated by the Padmakara Translation
Group, published by Shambhala Publications
~
wish to practice in accordance with the teaching expounded by their master and
should (4) zealously adopt the supreme protection afforded by the merit
accumulated in their past and present existences. The venerable Nagarjuna
-refers to these four conditions as the ‘‘four wheels,’’ the idea being
+refers to these four conditions as the "four wheels," the idea being
that, just as someone riding in a (horse-drawn) chariot can cover in a short
time a distance that would take many days for a cow or ox, a Bodhisattva
taking advantage of these four conditions will progress speedily toward
Your dwelling place befits the task,
You keep the company of holy beings.
With highest aspirations and a store of merit,
- You have indeed the ‘‘four wheels’’ all complete.
+ You have indeed the "four wheels" all complete.
-- from "Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book One: Sutra Teachings", by
Jigme Lingpa, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, published
Will flow unceasing.
Especially to those who in the future meditate
Upon the subtle veins and energies,
- I’ll show myself--at best directly,
+ I'll show myself--at best directly,
Else in visions, or at least in dreams,
Appearing as a common person, or as the secret consort.
I shall clear the obstacles of those who keep samaya,
begging for alms, he came across a group of people and, perceiving the karmic
links that bound them together, commented:
- He strikes his mother, eats his father’s flesh;
+ He strikes his mother, eats his father's flesh;
His hated foe he dandles on his lap.
- Here is a wife that sucks her husband’s bones--
+ Here is a wife that sucks her husband's bones--
At this samsara how can I not laugh?
-- from "Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book One: Sutra Teachings", by
-- H.H. the Dalai Lama, from "The Heart of Meditation", translated and
edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, published by Shambhala Publications
~
- There’s a common misunderstanding among all the human beings who have
+ There's a common misunderstanding among all the human beings who have
ever been born on the earth that the best way to live is to try to avoid pain
and just try to get comfortable. You can see this even in insects and animals
and birds.
to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our
inquisitiveness is bitter or sweet.
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."
- But loving-kindness--maitri--toward ourselves doesn’t mean getting rid
+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."
+ 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
-or full of feelings of unworthiness. Meditation practice isn’t about trying
-to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending
+or full of feelings of unworthiness. Meditation practice isn't about trying
+to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending
who we are already.
Perhaps we will experience what is traditionally described as the fruition
of maitri--playfulness...
living beings who circle in samsara through their clinging to true existence.
For as it has been taught, it is in the nature of things that such an attitude
is born.
- -- from "The Wisdom Chapter: Jamgön Mipham’s Commentary on the Ninth
+ -- from "The Wisdom Chapter: Jamgön Mipham's Commentary on the Ninth
Chapter of The Way of the Bodhisattva", published by Shambhala
Publications
~
If appearances cease and you are without thoughts,
These are the doings of a lethargic shamatha.
But when you rouse yourself with mindfulness,
-It’s like a candle, self-luminous and shining bright,
-Or like a flower that’s naturally vivid and clear.
+It's like a candle, self-luminous and shining bright,
+Or like a flower that's naturally vivid and clear.
Like looking with your eyes at the glow of the sky,
Awareness-emptiness is naked, open, and clear.
-That nonconceptuality that’s luminous and clear
+That nonconceptuality that's luminous and clear
Is the arising of the shamatha experience.
On the basis of that meditative experience,
While supplicating the precious jewels,
Having been lifted up with a pure aspiration
To the completely pure path of seeing,
There, vipashyana directly realizes the purity that cannot be seen
-And then the faults of mind’s hopes and fears will be known.
-Without going anywhere, you’ll arrive at the Buddha’s ground.
-Without looking at anything, you’ll see dharmakaya.
+And then the faults of mind's hopes and fears will be known.
+Without going anywhere, you'll arrive at the Buddha's ground.
+Without looking at anything, you'll see dharmakaya.
Without achieving anything, your aim will be spontaneously accomplished.
-- from "The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa", By Tsangnyon Heruka,
Translated by Christopher Stagg, published by Shambhala Publications
~
Trying to find the pain in life is the renunciation of hinayana. Trying to
find the ambition in life, trying to reach higher goals, is the
-bodhisattva’s ambition in the mahayana. Trying to find the subtleties of
+bodhisattva's ambition in the mahayana. Trying to find the subtleties of
life is the tantric discovery of mystical experience in the vajrayana.
- -- Milarepa, from "Milarepa: Lessons from the Life and Songs of Tibet’s
+ -- Milarepa, from "Milarepa: Lessons from the Life and Songs of Tibet's
Great Yogi", by Chögyam Trungpa, published by Shambhala Publications
~
The root of our current unsatisfactory condition in a cycle of death and
other living beings, making a commitment to help all of them reach perfect
happiness.
-- from "Ask a Farmer: Ultimate Analysis and Conventional Existence in
- Tsong kha pa’s Lam rim chen mo", by Guy Newland from Changing Minds:
+ Tsong kha pa's Lam rim chen mo", by Guy Newland from Changing Minds:
Contributions to the Study of Buddhism and Tibet in Honor of Jeffrey
Hopkins, edited by Guy Newland, published by Shambhala Publications
~
order to gain experience with the inner subtle elements, which are the source
of the outer gross elements. Then they can make art which reflects what
people need.
- According to the Buddhist point of view, an artist’s intention is
+ According to the Buddhist point of view, an artist's intention is
compassion. Buddhist artists create in order to make a link with other beings
through their inner pure elements, and to transform their outer ordinary gross
elements into enlightenment by means of that connection.
real world grokking just not ready.
-- fred t. hamster
~
- Generally speaking, when we are too desirous of something in life, we’re
+ Generally speaking, when we are too desirous of something in life, we're
less likely to attain it. Success seems to increase in direct proportion to
the diminution of our desires. The same logic applies to our need for
recognition. We might want to be appreciated and respected, but we have only
-a limited ability to influence how other people respond and we can’t make
+a limited ability to influence how other people respond and we can't make
somebody show us gratitude any more than we can force someone to love us. If
we show love without expecting it to be reciprocated, we will have more chance
of finding love than if we simply yearn for it. Likewise, doing something
Rinpoche has given us the essential opening instructions for practicing
Pristine Mind meditation in four steps:
- Don’t follow the past.
- Don’t anticipate the future.
+ Don't follow the past.
+ Don't anticipate the future.
Remain in the present moment.
Leave your mind alone.
flowers grow in the summer but not in the winter. If causes were not
necessary, flowers would grow in the winter also. They would grow at all
times.
- -- Khenchen Thrangu, "Essential Practice: Lectures on Kamalashīla’s
+ -- Khenchen Thrangu, "Essential Practice: Lectures on Kamalashīla's
Stages of Meditation in the Middle Way School", published by Shambhala
Publications
~
suffer greatly. Therefore, sentient beings born in the states of the six
wanderers have nothing but suffering. If we think about that, compassion can
arise.
- -- Khenchen Thrangu, "Essential Practice: Lectures on Kamalashīla’s
+ -- Khenchen Thrangu, "Essential Practice: Lectures on Kamalashīla's
Stages of Meditation in the Middle Way School", published by Shambhala
Publications
~
meditate. In this world there were nihilists who said that one should not
meditate, doing only those activities that will bring about marvelous
happiness, comfort, and prosperity in this lifetime. The nihilists said that
-one should gather possessions and clothing, and if one’s body is sick, one
+one should gather possessions and clothing, and if one's body is sick, one
should take medicine, that these activities were justified, but that nothing
else was needed. Such a philosophy appeared in the world and with respect to
it there is this Buddhist teaching: You need a job for your livelihood, you
-- Longchenpa, from "Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind", published
by Shambhala Publications
~
- The most important thing is to have faith and trust in the Buddha’s
-words. The Buddha’s teachings were not taught to deceive us but to explain
-the way things actually are. Many people try to analyze the Buddha’s
-teachings, but how is it possible to scrutinize a buddha’s qualities? We
-don’t even know what will happen tomorrow, or when we will die, or anything
+ The most important thing is to have faith and trust in the Buddha's
+words. The Buddha's teachings were not taught to deceive us but to explain
+the way things actually are. Many people try to analyze the Buddha's
+teachings, but how is it possible to scrutinize a buddha's qualities? We
+don't even know what will happen tomorrow, or when we will die, or anything
about our future lives, so how could we possibly examine the teachings of the
Omniscient One? Since we are totally obscured by our strong disturbing
emotions, in order to progress on the path toward enlightenment, we have no
-choice but to have faith in the Buddha’s teachings and apply them in our own
+choice but to have faith in the Buddha's teachings and apply them in our own
lives.
The ability to practice Dharma depends on certain conditions. For
example, this is a rare time during which the teachings of the Great
-Perfection are said to flourish. We’re very fortunate that through
-Padmasambhava’s blessings, such teachings have appeared and we’re able to
+Perfection are said to flourish. We're very fortunate that through
+Padmasambhava's blessings, such teachings have appeared and we're able to
receive them. We must have accumulated incredible merit and made fervent
prayers very sincerely over numerous lifetimes to be able to encounter such
amazing teachings now. Still, most people are just too involved in worldly
one vessel breaks, then the reflection of the sun does not appear in it. Do
you think it is the fault of the sun that its reflection does not appear
there?"
- "No--it is just because the vessel is broken; it’s no fault of the sun."
+ "No--it is just because the vessel is broken; it's no fault of the sun."
"The knowledge of realization of Thusness, buddha-knowledge, is also like
this, appearing throughout the cosmos, without before or after: Buddha appears
in the clean mind-vessels of all sentient beings. If the mind-vessel is
--Walt Whitman
~
These delightful mountain solitudes
-Are like the family estate to the supreme guide’s heirs,
+Are like the family estate to the supreme guide's heirs,
And, as the best of protectors himself has said,
To rely on solitude is indeed the pinnacle of joys!
Forests, hermitages, and isolated dwelling places—
-These are the outer solitude of the Victor’s heirs.
+These are the outer solitude of the Victor's heirs.
Avoiding selfishness and fainthearted fears—
-This is the bodhisattvas’ internal isolation.
+This is the bodhisattvas' internal isolation.
Keeping, therefore, to outer forms of solitude,
Tame the inner afflictions through tranquility and insight
And aspire to the supreme conduct of Samantabhadra—
-Possessing such good fortune one is truly the Buddha’s heir.
+Possessing such good fortune one is truly the Buddha's heir.
With sweetly cascading mountain streams,
Rocky mountain shelters ascending to heaven,
The dance of the slender trees does not stir the passions,
And sweet birdsong brings neither attachment nor aversion,
-Enveloped in nonconceptuality’s gentle, cooling shade—
+Enveloped in nonconceptuality's gentle, cooling shade—
Such youthful companionship is surely better than a silent void!
-Undisturbed by noisy chatter, that thorn in meditation’s side,
+Undisturbed by noisy chatter, that thorn in meditation's side,
Alone in this excellent place of unattended solitude,
The old monkey of the mind has nowhere left to roam
And, settling down within, finds satisfaction.
Under the bright, oppressive sunlight of busy, bustling crowds,
Our faults and unhelpful thoughts eclipse the constellations,
-But when embraced by threefold solitude’s cooling nectar beams,
+But when embraced by threefold solitude's cooling nectar beams,
Such faults can easily be overcome through proper antidotes.
When it is undisturbed by rippling thoughts of sadness,
The pool-like surface of the mind is still, unmoving,
-And faith and compassion’s reflections readily arise.
+And faith and compassion's reflections readily arise.
In such constancy, what need is there for a companion?
If the mirror of mind is wiped clean, time and again,
And uncluttered with objects or circumstances,
Study, reflection, and meditation present a clear impression.
-What is there to prevent the dawn of Dharma’s light?
+What is there to prevent the dawn of Dharma's light?
Hunger, thirst, cold, and the like—all forms of physical affliction—
Together with sadness, fear, and all such mental suffering,
-- Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, from "The Logic of Faith", published by
Shambhala Publications
~
-It is through the teacher’s blessing that you see
+It is through the teacher's blessing that you see
The self-arisen primal wisdom, inexpressible,
Beyond both word and thought.
And in the moment of its seeing,
That is, the fundamental natural state
Where, from the very first,
Phenomena are all exhausted.
-It is mind’s luminosity,
+It is mind's luminosity,
The self-arisen primal wisdom.
Many names it has received, yet all have but one meaning:
Ultimate reality, beyond the range
-- Longchenpa, from "You Are the Eyes of the World", published by
Shambhala Publications
~
-Milarepa’s Song on the Way of the Yogi
+Milarepa's Song on the Way of the Yogi
I am just a man, a yogi of Tibet;
I am Milarepa.
-I’ve studied little but have many key instructions.
-Though I’m humble, I have great perseverance.
+I've studied little but have many key instructions.
+Though I'm humble, I have great perseverance.
I sleep little and have great endurance in meditation.
-I’m an expert in all by knowing one thing
+I'm an expert in all by knowing one thing
And I understand everything to be one:
I am an expert in genuine reality.
On my small seat, stretching my legs is pleasant.
With thin clothes, my body is perfectly warm.
With small bits of tsampa, my stomach is full.
My example is that which all meditators aspire to.
-I’m a gathering place for those with faith.
-I’m an object of reliance for those fearful of birth and death.
+I'm a gathering place for those with faith.
+I'm an object of reliance for those fearful of birth and death.
I go in no fixed direction
And I stay in no one particular place.
For conduct, I go without reference points.
And no notion of clean or dirty food.
For me, the pain of the afflictions is small.
I have little self-regard and few desires.
-I’ve little attachment to perceiver and perceived
-And I’ve loosened the knots of the state of nirvana.
-I’m a friend of the elderly, a shoulder to lean on,
+I've little attachment to perceiver and perceived
+And I've loosened the knots of the state of nirvana.
+I'm a friend of the elderly, a shoulder to lean on,
And a playmate for young children.
-I’m a yogi who roams the country far and wide.
+I'm a yogi who roams the country far and wide.
May you devas and humans be healthy and happy.
-- Milarepa and Tsangnyon Heruka, "The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa",
published by Shambhala Publications
~
-It’s very important to keep examining your mind at all times and be aware of
+It's very important to keep examining your mind at all times and be aware of
what occurs in it. We have this habit of criticizing others; we are very good
at pointing out their faults, but we have a hard time being aware of our own
flaws. Examining the faults of others will not benefit anyone and only leads
to more disturbing emotions, blocking our path to liberation. Whatever anyone
-else does, let them do it. It’s not your business to find other people’s
+else does, let them do it. It's not your business to find other people's
flaws, and even if you do point them out, there is no way for you to correct
them. On the other hand, it is very important to watch your own mind and
train in subduing and reducing your own disturbing emotions. Analyze your
mind, constantly watch your thoughts, recognizing whether they are positive or
negative, and become aware of your faults. If you constantly observe yourself
and analyze your thoughts, you will eventually be able to tame your mind.
-Since we haven’t been able to purify our karmic and emotional obscurations,
+Since we haven't been able to purify our karmic and emotional obscurations,
our gross disturbing emotions can come up anytime, and whenever these emotions
come up, we should apply the antidote by looking into our mind and trying to
understand that all phenomena are emptiness. If you leave your mind in a
relaxed state without contriving anything, disturbing emotions will cease.
-- Drubwang Penor Rinpoche, from "An Ocean of Blessings", published by
Shambhala Publications
-
+~
+In general, all joys and sorrows that seem outside
+Are magical creations of one's mind alone;
+Reflections from inside that appear outside,
+Not things outside that have come near.
+
+Knowing this well, when analysis
+Severs the root of the basic mind,
+You will abide in the true sky of reality
+Beyond this fog of appearance.
+
+This so-called existence is a fiction.
+This so-called nonexistence is a fiction.
+Untainted by all such fictions,
+The nature of the mind is perfect buddhahood.
+
+Thoughts of "is" and "is not" are like ripples in water;
+They follow one after the other.
+Dissolving easily into the aimless state,
+They arrive at the ocean of the primordial sphere of reality.
+
+Appearances are the magical display of the mind.
+The mind is empty, without base, without foundation.
+By holding baseless phenomena to be the self
+You and I wander in the realm of samsara.
+
+Without pursuing perceptions,
+When you look directly at the perceiver itself,
+You will see your own inexpressible face;
+The path to achieve buddhahood is not far.
+
+Through the blessings of the divine three foundations,
+May you quickly find the emptiness of your own mind,
+And from the kingdom of the ever-pure great perfection,
+Bring about the great aims of boundless beings.
+ -- from "Gendun Chopel: Tibet's Modern Visionary", by Donald S. Lopez
+ Jr., published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+Parallel to compassion, the Buddhist teachings emphasize loving-kindness—the
+wish for others to have happiness and the causes of happiness. A traditional
+way of generating loving-kindness begins by looking at our own constant
+longing for happiness and its causes. Then we contemplate how all others have
+this same longing, every bit as intense as our own. When we understand that
+we are no different from other beings in this way, we see how unreasonable it
+is to care so much more about ourselves than others. We do so only out of
+sheer habit—ignorant habit. At that point, once we've shed some light on
+our habit, we turn our mind toward others, wishing them happiness as much as
+we wish it for ourselves. Then, in our daily lives, we try to behave in
+accord with this wish, by being kind with our actions, in our speech, and in
+our thoughts.
+ -- Dzigar Kongtrul, from "Training in Tenderness: Buddhist Teachings on
+ Tsewa, the Radical Openness of Heart That Can Change the World",
+ published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+So many wonderful qualities are already present within us, just waiting to be
+discovered. The key lies in understanding that things are impermanent and
+unreal. Sadness, of course, is not an end in itself. But deep sorrow comes
+with realizing that everything we previously took to be lasting and real is
+actually just about to disappear—and it never even existed in the first
+place. Such sadness and disillusionment have a wonderful effect. Sorrow
+makes us let go. As we stop chasing futile and ultimately painful goals, we
+embark on the spiritual path with superior strength and resolve.
+ -- Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, from "Sadness, Love, Openness: The Buddhist Path
+ of Joy", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+The blind ant runs about for the sake of happiness.
+The legless worm crawls about for the sake of happiness.
+In brief, all the world is racing with each other,
+Running toward happiness, one faster than the next.
+
+Sometimes, seeing a goddess is revolting.
+Sometimes, seeing an old woman creates lust.
+Thinking, "This is it," something else comes along.
+How can the deceptions of the mind be counted?
+
+Our attitudes change so much
+From childhood to when we are old and decrepit.
+Analyze your own experience and you know this.
+How can you have confidence in today's thoughts?
+
+Due to the mind's insanity, we do not recognize our own face,
+Yet we constantly measure the secular and sacred, heaven and earth.
+Courageous are we who seek lasting refuge
+In this series of mistaken appearances.
+ -- from "Gendun Chopel: Tibet's Modern Visionary", by Donald S. Lopez
+ Jr., published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+When people say that I have worked a lot for peace, I feel embarrassed. I
+feel like laughing. I don't think I have done very much for world peace.
+It's just that my practice is the peaceful path of kindness, love,
+compassion, and not harming others. This has become part of me. It is not
+something for which I have specially volunteered. I am simply a follower of
+the Buddha, and the Buddha taught that patience is the supreme means for
+transcending suffering. He said, "If a monk harms others, he is not a monk."
+I am a Buddhist monk, so I try to practice accordingly. When people think
+this practice is something unique and special and call me a leader of world
+peace, I feel almost ashamed!
+ -- H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, from "The Bodhisattva Guide", published
+ by Shambhala Publications
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