“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
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
If mankind has conviction in law of karma, it will not result in any loss, but rather mankind will lead a more peaceful, happier, harmonious life. The law of karma is the most justified law in universe, the hell realm is the most vicious prison in universe; these things can be verified.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
The Buddha told his disciples: it’s clinging to any objects that will become obstacles to liberation, not the value of the clung objects. At the time of death, if a rich person can distribute his assets properly, which leaves him with no attachment to his assets, the assets will not become obstacles to his liberation. To the contrary, even if one’s assets are not abundant, if one clings to them, then the assets will become obstacles to one’s liberation.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
According to Buddhism, the cause of sentient being’s cyclic existence doesn’t lie in the body, rather, it lies in karma. If karma exists, cyclic existence persists even if the body perishes. Because our alaya consciousness has lots of previous habitual patterns, when these habitual patterns ripen, the body comes into being. We can come to a conclusion that all phenomena is the by-product of alaya consciousness, be it a mountain, river, field, the sun, the moon, the stars or the body of sentient beings.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
It’s stressed in shastras that we need to rely on the dharma, rather than the person. Which means in the course of dharma study and research, we need to have conviction and rely on the authentic dharma or truth, rather than rely on the person’s fame, status, or power. We need to analyze if this person’s words are in accordance with the dharma and the truth, if the answer is yes, then we can trust this person’s words. Otherwise, regardless how famed a person is, we should not follow this person’s words blindly.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
“Love” in Buddhist context entails loving kindness and compassion. “Loving kindness” refers to sincerely wishing all sentient beings having happiness and the cause of happiness; “Compassion” refers to sincerely wishing all sentient beings are free from all suffering.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
In Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend”, there is a verse that says, "It has been said by the Buddha that among all wealth, contentment is the greatest. Be content. If you are content, then even if you possess no wealth, you'll be perfectly rich." Buddha has skillfully instructed us to recognize that contentment is the best kind of wealth. Therefore, we need to abide in contentment with less desire; a person who is content is truly rich even without any material wealth. Such a person can attain ultimate bliss.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
The antidote of greed is renunciation. Generating renunciation will eliminate greed or keep it at bay; the antidote of selfishness is bodhicitta. Generating bodhicitta will reduce and eliminate selfishness; the antidote of attachment is to realise emptiness. Once realising emptiness, all problems will be solved, such as greed, selfishness, attachment, etc. Thus it’s vital to realise emptiness.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
