Before one comes to this realization, the way to practice with a mind free of clinging and concepts is to conduct all practices earnestly, faithfully and whole-heartedly with the conviction of renunciation and bodhicitta. Though, for the time being, there is still certain difficulty in truly freeing the mind of attachment and concepts, as long as renunciation and bodhicitta are firmly established, the true nature of phenomena will become fully evident over time. This is because the relationship between bodhicitta and realization emptiness; emptiness shall be realized with relative ease once renunciation and bodhicitta have been generated. 

~Depicted from The Right View

The happy life we are having now is not permanent. There is bound to be suffering in the future. Some people do not see the point of preparing for future lives because they are not feeling any obvious distress right now. Yet worrying about the well-being in their old age, they will do all they can to make money even without concerns for karma and retributions sometimes. This is very foolish. It has never occurred to them that they have already been born human and that no matter how hard this life is, it is nowhere close to the severe suffering born by those in the three lower realms. Where will we be reborn next time? Will we have another human birth like this one ? No one knows. So, to be well prepared for the next life should be the rational thing to do. What does it take to be well prepared ? It certainly is not wealth or fame we need but spiritual practice. Although Theravada practice can solve our own problem, it does not help others. Consequently, we must strive to arouse bodhicitta as it is the only means to help both ourselves and other beings to liberation. 

~Depicted from The Right View 

A disciples also asked Buddha, ' How come the three kinds of clean flesh were allowed to eat during the first turning of the wheel of Dharma, but not now?" The Buddha replied, " Precepts are like stairs going up one step at a time. During that time, some people who had the chance and the capacity to learn Buddhism came for the teaching. If asking them not to eat any meat right away, which they were unable to comply, would have created obstacles to their practice.". So, out of compassion, the Buddha initially permitted them to eat three kinds of clean fresh. Afterward, through gradual guidance, they were led to quit meat altogether. 

~Depicted from The Right View 

Money is not omnipotent. This is Buddha had said long ago. But now it has been proven so more and more clearly. The data above evidently show that our sense of happiness did not come from material prosperity. 

Everyone is seeking a happy life, yet all seems to be experiencing unhappiness of one kind or another. More and more people realize that having more money and possessions is not guaranty for more happiness. This truth has been well elucidated in the Buddhist texts, which the economists and psychologists in the West only found out now. 

~Depicted from The Right View 

Offering of Dharma is particularly important. If we are given two choice: 1. we can release all the fish in the market free of charge on condition that we do not recite the Buddha's names for them or feed them nectar pills; 2. we can recite mantras, feed them nectar pills and bless them to set them free. Which one should we choose ? Make sure it is the latter. 

~Depicted from The Right View

It is a common phenomenon nowadays to see people keep putting off practicing the Dharma and just idling the days away, as if they are sure of a second chance to be born a human again or to listen to Mahayana teachings and encounter Mahayana teachers once more. But there is no guarantee of that second chance ever coming through. Now in this life, we, the fortune few, have met basically all the necessary conditions required for the journey to enlightenment. We ought to treasure this truly rare opportunity and immediately set about the task of practicing the Dharma. 

~Depicted from FROM BELIEVERS TO BODDHISATTVAS

Actually, many people have been making the same mistake. That is, all the efforts that they put into the preliminary practice only go to fulfill the requirement of certain amount of mantra recitations, missing the essential points of the teachings instead. To handle the practice this way is a foolish waste. The saving measure is to carefully examine the motivation for whatever we do, be it undertaking to practice to supreme Vajrayana, the foundational five preliminaries, or just doing daily activities.

~Depicted from The Right View 

From now on, we should all try our best to live the way that the Buddha had prescribed for us, one that is not devoid of material comforts. It is good enough to have a car to drive, watch and clothes to wear; they dont have to be name brands. To be content with fewer desires not mean that one cannot own anything. That would be impossible any way. In fact, there is an unbreakable rule in the Vinaya that it should not demand ordinary people to do anything that they are incapable of doing. The Buddha knew very well our limits and thus would not ask for something impossible of us. He did not say that everyone must lead a life of hardship but that we should control our desires and spend time and energy for something more meaningful in life. Otherwise, we can never be really happy or accomplish anything worthwhile. Do consider this point carefully. 

~Depicted from The Right View

Certain religions like to stress the mysterious power of ghosts and spirits. Although Buddhism does not deny their existence, it believes the biggest demon in the world is deeply embedded tendency to cling to the self. Outer demons can only affect our daily life in small ways, such as causing illness or obstacles. They cannot bind us in samsara, not even if the ghosts of the entire universe combine their forces. Only clinging to the self has such power. Yet, we have never realized that this fellow, Self, who abides in our mind at all times and whom we are very fond of, is really a demon. If we are tired of taking the same route back to samsara again, we must first eliminate this demon. Only then can we be completely free of its interference. 

~Depicted from FROM BELIEVERS TO BODDHISATTVAS.