Monthly Archives: August 2019

The essence of the Vajrayana cannot be obtained from written words. It must be transmitted from mind to mind. The written words are mere lees and dregs; they are bricks and pebbles. —Kukai

To have subordinates, wealth, a retinue, good fortune, and fame spreading through the whole world —at the time of death, all this is of no benefit. To be diligent in your practice is my heart advice. —Longchenpa

To withhold the Dharma from any sentient being violates the Second Precept, the admonition against taking that which is not ours. What the Buddha and the Sangha have given freely to all sentient beings must not be selfishly appropriated for … Continue reading →

A beautiful object has no intrinsic quality that is good for the mind, nor an ugly object any intrinsic power to harm it. Beautiful and ugly are just projections of the mind. The ability to cause happiness or suffering is … Continue reading →

Never abandon the Dharma; don’t give up the aspiration to enlightenment for the benefit of all; don’t be miserly with the teachings; and don’t engage in any action that does not benefit sentient beings. —Mahavairochana Sutra

Bodhicitta is the mind for enlightenment (relative bodhicitta) and the mind of enlightenment (absolute bodhicitta). It is both the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all, and the perfectly enlightened mind that benefits all sentient beings. True samadhi, … Continue reading →

During the Golden Age of the Pure Dharma, there is doctrine, practice, and enlightenment. During the Silver Age of the Semblance of the Dharma, there is doctrine and practice, but infrequent enlightenment. During the Bronze Age of the Fading Dharma … Continue reading →

Loving-kindness is like the void, but even more profound. Consequently, loving-kindness can embrace everything. […] All things, even those that oppose each other, can co-exist in loving-kindness without conflict. With love, no one is ever wrong. Everyone is right. —Master … Continue reading →

In the Vajrayana, which teaches swift enlightenment, we do not dwell in the “no mind, no thought” (Skt. asphanaka, or “space filling”) samadhi. This is because this samadhi is void and denies all forms and phenomena, whereas from the standpoint … Continue reading →

The alaya, the ultimate basis of all (Tib. kun gzhi) —not to be confused with the alaya vijnana, the storehouse consciousness— affirms non-duality in diversity and manifests diversity in non-duality. This is not a play on words. Non-duality in diversity … Continue reading →