Author: Posts

The practices of loving kindness, compassion and equanimity offer no promise of a happy ending.  These practices are not about avoiding uncertainty and fear but how we relate to discomfort.  They teach us how to practice with everyday encounters, and with our emotions.

There is a great comfort in being part of something that is not tied to a place or state.  These teachings are not regulated to the material level, and they can never be taken away from us.  Putting  these teachings into our everyday practice they will be understood by all races and nations.

Attachment prevents the growth of one’s true being.  Loving, hating, and expectations are all attachments.  Stay attached to nothing and you can relate to everyone with an unstructured attitude.  Staying unattached you can benefit all things, simply learning and being.

Look at things exactly as they are and when faced with an obstacle rather than plunging ahead be patient, otherwise you may become agitated.  Patience is not mere empty hoping; it has the inner certainty of reaching your goal regardless how insurmountable the situation is.

Quote: Look, and its right before your eyes.

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

We should not ape the habits and theories of the ancients in the name of tradition.  We must be ruthless in this respect.  We must honor the classical without being irrelevant. Unless the force of tradition allows us to manifest a unique greatness, there is no reason to keep it.

Can you let go of dualities and embrace life without skepticism or panic?  Doing this, you will be able to reach the heart of oneness with everything.  The feeling of oneness is not something special, it is beyond that; it is simply the direct essential and complete truth.

Differences are unavoidable, the key is to seek harmony whether it is family, society, or nations, the clue is in one’s attitude.  Seek common ground on major issues while reserving differences on minor ones, and if you come together with sincerity and truthfulness, no problem cannot be solved.

Quote: Thoughts weaken the mind.  Desires wither the heart.

When we feel ready to give up, healing can be found in the tenderness of pain itself.  In there, reach out and touch your genuine heart of sadness, this heart is always there for us.  It can be brought to the light any time and it will glow as brilliantly as if nothing happened.

The ancients examined scriptures and debated actions of past scholars.  They affirmed experience over words and individuality over dogma.  They reduced everything in complexity until there was no contradictions, in this way they achieved sublime simplicity.

Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking about yourself.  When we don’t see the self as self, what do we have to fear?  See the world as yourself, treat the world as yourself, love the world as yourself, have faith in the way things are; then you can care for all things.

Look at your long-term priorities carefully and think about them.  When you see opportunities, do not leap at them but wait for the right time to take action.   If you want and desire without consideration of the consequences, this could lead to all kinds of entanglements.

Quote: The reason we have a lot of trouble is that we have selves. 

Even the best teachers get angry, jealous, and depressed and, because of that, they can give us guidance that we understand.  Teachers are no different than we are but who, through diligent effort, have come to understand themselves by observing their actions and thoughts and the effect they have on others.

We have to consider all things are connected.  Although relationships shift and differ for each of us, we must be aware of what connects us and take advantage of that.  Relationships are transitory, we must have constant awareness to fit ourselves into these changes.

Reflect whatever appears without judgement, whether it be a flower or a heap of garbage, a criminal or saint.  Whatever happens is all right.  Treat your own anger or grief just as you would treat an angry or grieving child; with compassion.

In difficult times people need to work together to overcome their difficulties.  If there are differences, seek common ground on the major issues while reserving their differences on minor ones.  If people deal with others in a spirit of equality, then peace and progress is possible.

Quote: One loses by pride and gains by modesty.

In these times we really do not have a choice but to learn, practice and follow the ancient teachings.  Not only will our friends and family benefit, but the rest of the world as well.  We all have the wisdom to create a wholesome, uplifted existence for ourselves and others.

As long as we continue to: learn, welcome new ideas, find new ways of doing things, continually expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, it is then that we are engaging in the ultimate creativity of the self.  This continuing act of creativity keeps us young.

Does one thing appeal to you more than another?  If so, then your mind is separated.  Keep your mind free of divisions and distinctions.  When your mind is detached, simple and quiet then all things exist in harmony; this way you begin to perceive the subtle truth.

Acting unobtrusively in dealing with people means dealing with them on their own terms.  This means having a quality of breadth like that of the earth, which supports everything and accepts everything, being responsive to everything in an adaptive way.

Quote: Convictions are more dangerous enemies of the truth than lies. —Nietzsche

Constantly apply cheerfulness, if for no other reason than just to feel good about yourself.  If you are in a cheerful mood the people you meet will cheer up as well, it is infectious.  If you have a sense of gratitude for everything, this will also help cheer you up.

We cannot abandon creative expression in our daily lives even though it seems hard to come up with something new.  Today we are free to communicate with our inner callings.  Go deep within to find the expression and creation of something new for you.

Our ego is fascinated by the realms of the senses, going from one desire to the next, one conflict to the next, and one self-centered idea to the next. Keep your mind from wandering, keep to your original oneness, let events take their natural course and understand things by letting them go.

To make successful progress you must be in harmony with natural laws.  In times of progress and successful development it is necessary to work and make the best use of the times.  These times of increase do not endure; therefore, they must be utilized while they last.

Quote: When circumstances are favorable to advance do not lose the opportunity.

If we approach life as an experiment, then we are willing to try things this way and that way, either way we have nothing to lose.  The trick is not to get caught up in hope and fear, remember if it is time for something to flourish it will, if not it won’t, keep experimenting.

Wisdom is a qualitative value built on a quantitative foundation.  Knowledge alone is not enough, you need to learn to manipulate what you have learned by direct experience, experimentation, and contemplation.  Wisdom is not simply a mental process, but the sum total of a human being.

Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.  If you seek people’s approval, you become bound to them.  Share with others these teachings and you will be immersed in the blessings that come from that.  Do your work and step back, let it be; this is the path to serenity.

By watching the workings of nature and the meaning of its laws, the underlying workings of the universe will enable you to give expression to those workings in your own person.  By watching the actions of others, this will allow you to put yourself in another’s place and understand their motives.

Quote: Whosoever inquires finds, this is certain; it has never been otherwise.

No matter where you are on your life’s path, either just beginning self-cultivation or practicing for years, as you practice you will become more awake and aware.  You further realize you are stepping further into groundlessness and entering into you-know-not-what.

When we have prowess, we accumulate victories, we should savor the experience of 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.

If you have a benevolent heart, you will nourish your community without trying to.  Be simple and generous, do work you enjoy, don’t try to control, don’t compare, don’t compete, be content with just being who you are; this way everybody will respect you.

In order to influence each other, both parties should be sincere and free from judgement.  Your heart and mind should be as pure as the clear sky and as open as the vast ocean.  Thus, acting in harmony and being open you can, accept all people without prejudice.

Quote: Detachment results in clarity, clarity expresses itself as love.

When we see suffering in our life, we can be curious, notice it, and be mindful of our reactions to it.  Our reactions are usually habitual.  Instead, we could see the next impulse come up and how we spin off from there, whether good or bad, without judgement or any intention.

When you get tired of holding on to things, you will then be able to live fully, simply realize the wealth you already have.  Concentrate on the resources you have, embrace your fate, work with it, and take advantage of it.  Ultimately, we cannot grasp anything permanently in life.

Let go of all desires, detach yourself from all things, dissolve all duality, the idea of good and bad, beautiful and ugly etc.; practice undiscriminating virtue toward everything and everybody.  These practices are the beginning of liberation and a harmonious oneness with all things.

When we are dealing with mistakes and errors of others, do not dwell on them, just simply pass them over if they are unintentional transgressions and forgive misdeeds right away.  Then conditions will ease and we can make our way back to ordinary conditions as soon as possible.

Quote: Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.