Author: Posts

When one thought has entered and another has not begun, we can rest in that space.  We train in returning to the unchanging heart of that very moment; all compassion and inspiration comes from that gap.

Balance between our times of privacy and times of being with others is achieved by developing clarity through moderation, meditation and times alone.  Whether with others or alone, keep serenity.  This will make our friendships more wonderful and you will enjoy being with others.

Your spirit is always with you and you can use it in any way you want; it is inexhaustible.  If you attempt to fix a picture of spirit in your mind you will lose it, why not be content with simply enjoying it?

Times of adversity are opposite of times of success.  Remain cheerful, this cheerfulness is the source of later successes.  In times of adversity be sparing with words and strong within; remain true to yourself. If you are oppressed by something that should not oppress you, the situation will be overcome, but you must be patient and keep good for all in your heart.

Quote: Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. ― George Bernard Shaw

Loving kindness towards ourselves doesn’t mean getting rid of anything.  The same with meditation, it is not about changing ourselves; it is really about befriending who we already are.  Accept yourself as you are, we can still be crazy, angry, jealous and have feelings of unworthiness.

The more information you take in, the more data you have to manage; this mere accumulation of knowledge is not enough.  Wisdom, not knowledge, is a qualitative value built on a quantitative foundation. One might say that wisdom is not simply a mental process, but the sum total of a human being.

If you feel the universe is agitated, go out at night and look at the stars in the sky. Settle your mind like the universe settle the stars in the sky. Once your mind is calm, it naturally expands and your mind becomes as vast and immeasurable as the night sky.

When change and improvements are called for, steps must be taken with a firm correct attitude, then they succeed.  Such changes must be given careful consideration, but not for too long.  After the change is made, note for some time how the improvements bear the test of actuality.

Quote: Change, like healing, takes time.

Openness and warmth of the heart are our true nature and condition, even when our neurosis feels more basic than our wisdom.  This open heart is always there, even though clouds may temporarily cover it.

When we have prowess, we accumulate not victories, but the experience of them.  Savor them; nobody can take them away from you.  Your prowess will pass, be thankful for the temporary gift, the experiences make it valuable, not the prowess or the victories.

To cleanse oneself of contaminations, such as anger or self-absorption, practice undiscriminating virtue.  To practice virtue, give without limitations, without prejudice to those in need.  If your willingness to give is limited, so is your ability to receive.

All things will come to you if you are modest and kind.  If you walk in truth and are devoted in your thinking, good fortune will come to you.  You can avoid mistakes by possessing as if you possess nothing.

Quote: Things never happen the same way twice.

What causes suffering is trying to avoid the facts of life, trying to avoid pain and trying to seek happiness.  When things are not going well and we feel depressed, lonely or inadequate, take notice of this important moment in your life because, at this moment, real transformation can take place. 

Concentrate on the resources you have, embrace your fate, work with it and take advantage of it.  When you get tired of holding on to things, you will then be able to live fully.  Simply realize the wealth you already have.

Being natural is desiring without craving and acting without excess.  Not defending or nourishing your false self you will find that greed, hatred and arrogance vanish by themselves. Toughening your resolve will create self-reliance and you will lose the sense of self and other.

All things change, prosperity is followed by decline; this is an eternal natural law.  Evil can be checked but not permanently abolished, it always returns.  This idea might produce melancholy, but should not, it ought only to keep us from falling into illusion when good fortune comes to us.

Quote: We meet no ordinary people in our lives.

Find out for yourself what is true by looking at the whole thing. We can find out what is true by simply studying ourselves and looking in every nook and cranny, whatever that feeling is or wherever that place is.

We are all on the path of life, it’s like climbing a mountain.  We all use different paths to climb the mountain and use different methods to reach the summit.  However, there is only one summit, there we no longer need our path or our method; it is where we all experience things directly.

When things arise let them come, when things depart, let them go, don’t possess, don’t expect.  Practice undiscriminating virtue.  Take care of those who are deserving also and equally take care of those who are not. 

Set fixed limits on your expenditures, also set limits on your actions; the limits of loyalty and disinterestedness.  If we live economically in normal times we are prepared for times of need.  If you go too far in setting limits on others they rebel, too far on yourself is injurious. Therefore, set limits on limitations.  

Quote: Letting go of everything will bring peace to your heart.

Meditation takes us just as we are; it gives us time alone with ourselves.  This complete acceptance of ourselves just as we are, with unconditional friendliness, gives us a simple direct relationship with ourselves.

The ancient teachings are simple, they are profound and yet plain.  They contain the entire truth of the universe.  To understand them and learn the truths, take joy in doing your work and the service that comes to you, this will put you in harmony with life.

The truth is always right there before you. What you need is always right in front of you, all you have to do is open your mind and heart.  You can do this by having a self-cultivation practice and being present in this moment. Accept you don’t know and the clearer and more open you become.

To bring about abundance, a union of clarity with energetic movement is needed.  If you possess these two attributes and go forward, your influence will be felt and you will be met with recognition.  However once abundance is achieved, we also must prepare for the decline that must follow. 

Quote: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Life is a good teacher and a good friend; things are always changing if we could only realize it.  That off-center state we feel with change is the ideal situation where we can open our hearts and minds beyond limit.  That state is a very tender, nonaggressive, open-ended state of affairs.

If you want to catch the subtle things in life, you need to refine yourself, but then the coarser things of life become more obvious.  If you don’t want the coarse, the solution lies in going with the flow of life, uniting with it, then we no longer seek to hold on or reject.

Surrendering to the flow of life, giving up all concepts, judgements and desires, your mind will become naturally compassionate.  The more we can let go of things, the more present they become and the clearer our insight becomes to the truth of life.

If you adapt to the times, the situation becomes favorable; but do not wear yourself out with mistaken resistance.  At the same time, we must have firm principles so that you do not vacillate when there is only a question of current opinion.

Quote: If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.

You may feel bad about who you are, or have addictions you cannot control, whatever; this is a good place to start your self-cultivation practice.  This could be simply going for a walk, saying hello to a stranger or a meditation practice.  A good place to start is where you are and a good time to start is right now.

Once we feel we have sufficient knowledge and power we must be careful, not let it get the better of us and lose our sense of inquiry into what is right.  Use your common sense and be humble.  Do not brag about your power or use it unwisely; doing so will cause you suffering.

Surrendering to the flow of life, giving up all concepts, judgements and desires, your mind will become naturally compassionate.  The more we can let go of things, the more present they become and the clearer our insight becomes to the truth of life.

If we wish to know what a person is like, we need only to observe on whom he bestows his care and what side of his own nature he cultivates and nourishes.  If we want to take care of the world, cultivate and nourish the good parts of your character and the world changes with you.

Quote: The very center of your heart is where life begins – the most beautiful place on earth.

We can never avoid uncertainty by trying to control the uncontrollable, looking for security and predictability and always wanting to be comfortable and safe.  Practice using your tools of loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. This will awaken your tender heart and then you will be able to go with life’s flow.

The natural world provides us with shelter, nourishment and makes living possible.  A natural place to concentrate is on your navel.  You will find doing this great vitality comes your way, as well as physical well-being; like being connected to your source.

The rules we live by today interfere with our essential beingness.  Emancipate yourself from these rules, this is the key that unlocks the door of your self-realization.  We are deserving, regardless of our achievements or contributions.

The real nature of man is originally good, but it became clouded by contact with earthly things and therefore needs purification before it can shine forth in its native clarity.  This purification will give you easy progress, widening expansion and clarity.

Quote: Don’t think too much, just do it.

We already have everything we need.  We cling to out identities of jealousy, anger and addictions. They are like clouds blocking the sun; all the time the warmth and brilliance is right there. We don’t need to change, just be who you are, look at yourself differently from your usual way.

Of course, no one is required to make an effort in life, we can all go the easy way.  What we attract doing this is not the goodness, the happiness, the joy that we need to lead a full satisfied life, but the demons and misfortunes.  Do a little more each day to make your life and the lives of others more rewarding.

Life style is not to withdraw from civilization, not about escaping into a life of meditation.  It’s about engaging fully in life; it is about commitment to transcending our humanity.  Be models in your community and examples of personal and social transformation to all.

To remove obstacles in life, join forces with friends of like mind. This way you will succeed. You should not blame others for your mistakes but seek the error within yourself.  This introspection will give you occasion for inner enrichment and education.

Quote: It’s not about being wrong, but how we do better.