Monthly Archives: October 2017

Teachings point to the truth, but are not The Truth. There can be various maps that guide us to our destination —some will be more or less exact than others— but none of them IS the destination. We cannot set … Continue reading →

In the movies, the action on the screen can make us laugh or cry; it can inspire or terrorize, entertain us or bore us to tears. The characters we see can seem pleasant or unpleasant, beautiful or ugly, special or … Continue reading →

Do not repay abuse with abuse. Do not become angry in return for anger. Do not strike back when struck. Do not expose the faults of others when they reveal your own.

The friend who is a helper, the friend in sorrow and in joy, the friend who gives good counsel, the compassionate friend —these four real friends the wise should know their true worth, and cherish them with care, just like … Continue reading →

What is in the past is already destroyed. What is in the future has not yet arrived. What is in the present does not abide. Although we contemplate in this manner the production, destruction, scattering, and demolition of extra-mental phenomena and phenomena arising … Continue reading →

It is unwholesome to mislead my Lama and those worthy of offerings, deceiving them about my qualities and practice. I shall never intentionally deceive someone worthy of offerings, but shall confess my faults, seeking correction. It is unwholesome to make … Continue reading →

From the Buddha comes the Dharma; from the Dharma, the Sangha of those who have deep realization; from the Sangha, recognition of the reality of Buddha Nature, pure wisdom.  Ultimately, when this wisdom has been made fully manifest, there will … Continue reading →

A small amount of salt in a glass of water makes the water taste salty. The same amount of salt in a large body of water is imperceptible. In the same way, when the mind is constricted, suffering looms large. … Continue reading →

In order to overcome any and all attachments to the phenomena of samsara, we should meditatively cultivate the intention definitely to leave cyclic existence, meditating on impermanence and suffering. Also, we should abandon taking to mind our own welfare and … Continue reading →

Direct perfect enlightenment with regard to all aspects and abandonment of the stains along with their imprints are called, respectively, ‘Buddha’ and ‘nirvana’. In truth, these are not two different things. Liberation is distinguished by indivisibility from qualities present in all their … Continue reading →