As the saying goes, “It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep.” We are after all ordinary people, unable to just give up our insatiable worldly desires overnight. But as mentioned above, it does not matter what we practice, Mahayana or Hinayana, as long as the aim is to attain ultimate liberation, genuine renunciation will gradually arise over time.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1
In the midst of nightmare, if one were to know that it is just a dream, then whatever fear or sadness felt then would vanish in an instant. If one can attain realization of emptiness, all suffering in life will also gradually disappear.
~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo
What can be detected by our five senses, including the people we meet and the surroundings we are living in, all indeed seem very real. They are like what we experience in a dream, which is also vivid to us. When we have a dream at night, we still have a strong attachment to our surroundings. We cannot deny the existence of our dream when we are in the dream. However, when we wake up from the dream, we suddenly realize that the dream and everything in it were unreal.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 3
My Guru, H.H. Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, once told me, before gaining realization, your understanding of the Dharma is like looking at the roads on a map. So strive on with diligence.
~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo
Taking refuge in a guru is not only prescribed in Tibetan Buddhism but also in Han Chinese Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. It is clearly stated in the precepts of Theravada Buddhism that, after receiving precepts, only after following a master for at least 10 years can a disciple be qualified to live on his own. Before that, free activities are disallowed.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 3
Buddhism holds that samsara is of suffering nature. Our customary view refute this idea. However, worldly happiness, as it is, has been found transient and insignificant after we carefully examine the human history and our own lives. Thus, we must admit that our views are obscured and arbitrary.
~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo
There are three reasons why we cannot attain liberation: First is the greed for external possessions, to the world and to the samsara; second is the attachment to ourselves, namely the self-grasping, self-cherishing or selfish mind; third is the attachment to the belief that everything in the material world is truly existent.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 9
Living in a complicated social environment with hurried pace of life, one will still be able to relax and savor the joy that comes with piece of mind if one can meditate one to two hours in the morning and evening every day. One may even discover what life needs the most along the way.
~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo
Buddhism can be said to be a special kind of culture since it encompasses many rich academic disciplines, among them philosophy, astronomy, geography, and science. Not only that Buddhism also have its own view on life, on right values, and on the world. In this chapter, we will introduce the Buddhist view on the world.
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.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 9
