Depending on each of our own conditions and capacity, all of us should at least try to be vegetarian from now on.  Our motivation, though, should be different from that of the non-Buddhists, whose primary concerns are mostly health related rather than for their future lives or compassion for other sentient beings. We should not only stop eating meat but should also vow never to eat meat again. Absent the vow, simply stopping eating meat would not be considered a virtuous deed on its own. The vow should go like this: “By the merit of ceasing to eat meat now, may I never eat meat again in all my future lives.”

~ Luminous Wisdom : 1

Karma (or cause) has a kind of unique ability. Although our naked eyes cannot see how rice seeds will germinate, the seeds do have within themselves the capacity to do so.  Likewise, when a karmic seed is sown in the alaya consciousness, it will yield fruit when all the right conditions come together. This fruit is also called a karmic effect,  and this particular capacity of the alaya consciousness to yield karmic fruit is the inherent nature of the cause.

After a person has killed a being or stolen things, the karmic seed of such actions will remain in this person’s alaya consciousness. When it will germinate is uncertain, however. The scriptures often used the analogy of harvesting crops to illustrate the timing of karmic effects. There is a wide variety of grains and vegetables and the length of time for them to ripen varies. Some may ripen in only one to two months, and others five or six months, or even longer. The types of seeds, the geographical location, and the climate are all contributing factors to this disparity.    

~ Luminous Wisdom 1 ：On Cause and Effect

In the teachings of Guru Padmasambhava, he says that he would instruct different kinds of sentient beings by manifesting into different forms, lives, identities and appearances in Tibet, the Han areas, and even all over the world, in order to liberate them. In this degenerate time, humans are selfish and lack of faith. They hold numerous wrong views, and they are endangered by psychological crises and frequent natural disasters. At such a juncture, the blessings of Guru Padmasambhava will be even greater than those of other buddhas and bodhisattvas.

～ Luminous Wisdom 10 : The Guru Yoga Practice of The Seven Line Prayer

As far as what has been taught regarding the twelve links of dependent arising, the end of these twelve links is aging and death. After one cycle ends with aging and death, another cycle begins again with ignorance. Thus, we go round and round, cycling repeatedly through life and death.

～ Luminous Wisdom 3: The Buddhist Theory of the Origin of Species

Every sentient being is endowed with wisdom, but our wisdom is limited in depth and scope because we lack proper training of the mind. Zhi hui du refers specifically to the training of the mind, cultivating the wisdom that allows us to reach the unsurpassed state of attainment,  buddhahood. From an outsider’s point of view, the process appears to be mysterious and connected in some way with religion; a true practitioner, however, knows this training of the mind to be very real.

~ Luminous Wisdom 9 : The Significance of Buddhist Philosophy Today

We must be aware that, as far as any of the worldly dharmas are concerned—whether money, fame, status or people—as long as there is attachment, they will give us a great deal of suffering. The more intense the attachment, the greater the pain they will give us; the pain may even go beyond the happiness that thing originally brought us.  This is certain. To stop the suffering in this world, we should, first and foremost, abandon our attachment.

~ Luminous Wisdom, 4

At the time that Bodhidharma came to China to give Dharma teachings, Emperor Wu of Liang asked him, “I did many good deeds, such as being vegetarian and reciting the name of the Buddha, just like a monk. How much merit have I earned?” Unexpectedly, Bodhidharma exclaimed, “No merit!” Why? Because all the good deeds that Emperor Wu of Liang did may had no connection to liberation, and were irrelevant to its attainment.

~ Luminous Wisdom 9: The Principles of Liberation

In the same way that physical illness needs the right medication to be cured, cyclic existence can only be stopped through practicing the Dharma. To effectively counteract defilements and attachment, one must exert a sharply opposing force. The exertion of this counteracting force is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

In other words, the purpose of undertaking Dharma practice is bring the endless cycle of rebirth and death to a halt, not unlike what the right medicine does for a patient.

~ Luminous Wisdom 1: The Four Noble Truths

The worldview is firstly a specific knowledge; but more importantly, it is one of formulating this knowledge into ways and methods which can be used in our daily life. One aspect deals with regulating our own mind; the other aspect deals with benefiting sentient beings, bringing happiness, a healthy life, and joy to more people — this is also the basic tenet of Buddhism.

Excerpt from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger ~ The Significance of Buddhist Philosophy Today