We should refrain from thinking that all suffering and unfavourable conditions will be eliminated once we undertake dharma study. Even from the perspective of the Shravakayana, although having realised the selflessness of self, arhats still encounter undesirable conditions and experience karmic consequences.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
From the perspective of material life, our era has the most abundance of material wealth in human history. We possess advanced devices and products such as airplanes, wireless, computers, etc. However, compared with ancient people, we lost freedom, which is the most precious thing in the world. We need to contemplate on this problem and make some proper choices, endeavoring to give ourself more freedom.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Shakyamuni Buddha manifested as sick and taking medicine, these were mere manifestations for his future students. In fact, the buddha had perfected all the qualities and were free from the suffering of cyclic existence. Why did the Buddha manifest like this? He meant to educate his followers not to refuse medical treatment and taking medication when falling ill. Given that we need to go to doctors and taking medication when falling ill, why do we still need to engage in this practice? This practice will enable us to transform the illness into the path mentally while getting medical treatment physically.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
“If some people are endowed with the wisdom of the Buddha, some are not, then am I endowed with buddha nature or not? It’s difficult to answer. Will I succeed in my diligent practice?” Everyone possesses buddha nature, this is definitely so. Everyone has great potential, because we possess the wisdom of the Buddha innately, it’s up to us to find it’s existence. Once we succeed, all defilements will be gone, it’s that simple.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
In the process of limitless proliferation of our desire, can we experience happiness? No, we cannot. Because happiness is based on the sense of contentment, when desire is proliferated limitlessly, even if we experience the sense of contentment, it’s still transient.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
According to sutras, practitioners can be categorized into three levels. The supreme practitioners make progress daily, reaping results everyday day; the mid-level practitioners make less progress, but having breakthroughs monthly; the lesser practitioners make progress only yearly. We need to reflect on ourself, which kind of practitioners are we?
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Even having realizing the emptiness, one needs to be agreeable to sentient beings. As Guru Rinpoche said: “Even my views are as high as the sky, my attention to the law of karma is as fine as barley flour.” In other words, our views need to be open and high, but our conduct needs to be conservative and careful.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Shakyamuni Buddha once stated during transmitting dharma: it’s difficult for ordinary beings to analyse and comprehend the law of karma; thus before one’s wisdom reaches to certain levels, it’s best for one not to analyze the law of karma. Even analyzing it, one would not reap any result, rather, it’ll bring us doubt towards cause and effect, which will lead in turn to violating law and morality for some benefits of this life, causing harm to others with the wish not to be caught.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
There are two pith instructions to tame the mind: first, to realize the nature of mind is emptiness, then to abide in the state of emptiness. As Mipham Rinpoche stated: these two pith instructions include all pith instructions.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
