WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

The problem of modern people is that they have the mentality of “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. Being discontented, in order to fill up their inner hollowness, they tend to slave away to earn money, then shopping up a storm. Just like some people going fishing, it’s not the fish they desire, rather, they’re satisfied with the process of fishing. Similarly, many people are not after money, they are obsessed with the lust of seeing increasing numbers in their bank account, thus even having possessed several properties and cars, they still continue to seek wealth.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

One who practices compassion will become broad-minded, helpful, having discovered the meaning of life. The energy of loving kindness one exudes will make people around him or her easeful, cheerful and warm. Even practicing compassion for ten minutes will attain countless merit.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

In our everyday life, when getting irritated and anxious, we need to stop to investigate what exactly make us upset? Our body is void of thinking, being free from the concept of happiness and unhappiness. It’s the consciousness which give rise to defilements. Then what exactly is consciousness? By reflecting as such, we might reach a state of realisation.

~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

Virtue and evil are the same in terms of the scale of its karmic result. Even engaging in an insignificant, positive act will enable us to experience good health and longevity in the next five hundred lifetimes; however, committing an insignificant, negative act will enable us to experience poor health and short life span in the next five hundred lifetimes or even longer. These are due to insignificant acts leading to great results.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

What is worrying is that many who receive empowerment today do not emphasize the secret mantra vehicle vow. Those requesting empowerment do not even know these vows are required for the empowerment. So they think once they receive empowerment, everything will be great. The fact is, once one receives empowerment, the difficulty is in maintaining the secret mantra vehicle vow.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

If one regularly engages in killing in this life, then one tends to like killing when one’s old enough to discern right from wrong in the next life. If one likes drinking alcohol in this life, then one will like it as well in the next life; this habit will persist in every life. One’s behavior in this life is similar to that of in the next life, this is referred to as causally concordant behavioural result. The buddha taught this; today, of the people who can recollect their pervious lives, many of them have such inclination, such as liking smoking both in previous life and this life.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

One needs to make a strenuous effort in the Ngöndro Practices, it may take three or five years, or even longer. One should not hasten to seek results. The process is vital, one needs to engage in solid practice methodically. Some of Patrul Rinpoche’s students had practiced Ngöndro over ten or twenty times, eventually all of them attained enlightenment. We need to meet all criteria of attaining enlightenment through practicing Ngöndro. Our mind is so turbulent and our defilements are so severe, without the power of Ngöndro, it’s impossible for us to attain enlightenment.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Manjushri is the embodiment of wisdom of buddhas and bodhisattvas. The sword he holds in his right hand doesn’t aim at any sentient beings, rather, it aims at sentient beings’ ignorance, which leads to endless suffering and ruining one’s own happiness.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES