Buddhists can have many teachers, including the root teacher, however we need to acknowledge there are mere guides down a road, it’s oneself who walks the road. If a teacher fails to guide us down the road and a student fails to walk the road, then it’s both the teacher and the student failing on the path of practice.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Before engaging in main practice, we need to cultivate renunciation, which entails four practices of outer preliminary practices: preciousness of human body, the impermanence of human life, the infallibility of the law of karma, and the defects of samsara. Once having cultivated renunciation, we should not hurry to engage in practice of calm abiding and meditative concentration; rather, we need to cultivate bodhicitta. Without bodhicitta, there is no aim in our practice. Without aim, what’s the point of engaging in meditative concentration and dzogchen practice?
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
There are two ways to realise Dzogchen: one is to listen to dharma extensively, then to accumulate immense merits by engaging in the practice of cultivating renunciation and bodhicitta, the practice of mandala offering and embarking on the path of bodhisattvas. When accumulation of merit rises to a certain level, one can realise emptiness; another way is to rely on the qualified master’s blessing. The premise to receive such blessing is to have devotion. The stronger the devotion, the more blessing one can receive.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Having received teachings from his teacher, Milarepa was asked by his teacher to practice on his own, thus he never saw his teacher again. Due to fervent faith in his teacher, he could attain enlightenment in his very life. Without having strong faith in one’s teacher, even should one stay with their teacher every minute, one will not necessarily receive the blessing of the teacher or attain enlightenment.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
According to the dharma, the methods a practitioner and a commoner use to address a problem are different. However, our dharma study tends to have only literal comprehension without putting it into practice, thus we only have accumulated merit of listening to the dharma and lack actual effect of the dharma. When facing layers of grave pressure of life, we act similarly to non-Buddhists. Therefore, we need progress and develop in this respect.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Death is vital for everyone, because this is the reality everyone is reluctant to face but have to face. For ordinary beings, death is a dark, unknown area, pervaded with despair, mystery, suffering and sorrow. When facing death, almost everyone feels panicked and fearful, these are all due to the misunderstanding derived from not understanding death. If having gained a correct understanding of death, then fear will be dispelled, and preparations for death can be made.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
For those who know nothing about Buddhism and do not have any religious believes, when they are dying, tell them: you will be leaving this world momentarily, in a little while, you will meet with many terrifying phenomenon. No matter what terrifying sound, phenomenon you encounter, don’t be afraid, but face them with courage. At the same time, take refuge, make an aspiration and use the three jewels to conquer fear.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
If we want to end trouble, first we have to find the source of the trouble. Buddhism focuses on cause and effect for all worldly and nonworldly matters. If we want to destroy the effect, then we have to find the cause. Only when we find the cause, can we break and destroy it. When the cause is destroyed then the effect will disappear on its own. This is a very rational method.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Does western science promote being doubtful of anything? Since this is the case, we need to be doubtful of our own existence, our sensual feelings from ears, eyes, nose and tongue, and even our own perception. We cannot only be doubtful of the existence of the creator, theism, and idealism, etc, yet not be doubtful of ourself. If this is the case, then it’s a partial and biased act.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
