So Too

Just as the whole world,

with its mountains, continents, and everything else,

exists within infinite space,

so too do all phenomena appear within Buddha Nature.

—Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

In Brief

The Victors who have relinquished the obscurations

have declared, in brief, that samsara

is the mind with stains, such as attachment,

and liberation consists of being devoid of these.

—Kambala, Alokamala

This Very Mind

I bow to my own mind

that dispels mind’s ignorance

by eliminating the mind-sprung web

through this very mind itself.

—Nagarjuna, Cittavajrastava

Luminous

Unborn, without aspects, changeless, radiant,

unequalled, infinite, nonconceptual,

without characteristics, just like space,

without center or circumference,

this luminous mind is seen by great beings.

—Bhavaviveka, Madhyamakahridaya

Effortless

As long as my body remains in this world,

food and clothing are indeed necessary.

I accept them as they are brought by my karma,

and make no effort to obtain them.

—Ippen Shonin

Ends

First, one puts an end to what is not meritorious.

In the middle, one puts an end to identity.

Later, one puts an end to all views.

Those who understand this are skilled.

—Aryadeva, Catuhshataka

The Heart

If we can reach the understanding of what we actually are,

there is no better remedy for eliminating all suffering.

This is the heart of all spiritual practices.

—Kalu Rinpoche

Spontaneously

Loving-kindness and compassion shine through the shutters in those moments when we spontaneously give aid or comfort to someone, not out of self-interest or thinking we might get something in return, but just because it seems the right thing to do.

—Mingyur Rinpoche

Restraint

How do noble disciples guard the sense doors? When noble disciples see a sight with their eyes… hear a sound with their ears … smell an odor with their nose … taste a flavor with their tongue … feel a touch with their body … know a thought with their mind, they don’t get caught up in the features and details.

If the sense faculties were left unrestrained, unskillful qualities of attachment and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, they practice restraint, protecting the sense faculties, and achieving restraint. That’s how noble disciples guard the sense doors.

—Ananda, Sekhasutta

The Posture

The meditative posture is not a means to obtain the right state of mind.

To take this posture is itself to have the right state of mind.

There is no need to obtain some special state of mind.

—Shunryu Suzuki