Some people believe Buddhism opposes all forms of material enjoyment, enforces complete control over desire, and promotes ascetic practice. Actually, this is a misunderstanding. The Buddha said followers have the right to enjoy, not reject, what they are entitled to — wealth which is properly acquired or blessings accumulated during a past life from virtuous activity. The Buddha did not deny, to a certain extent, material goods can bring happiness. However, he made it clear not all happiness comes from material goods. He also said the happiness derived from material things is very short-lived and unreliable.

~ Depicted from THE PAPER TIGER - The Tibetan Buddhist View on Happiness

If you want to put Dharma into daily life, first and foremost you must have Buddha Dharma in your heart. If your heart does not have Dharma at all, what is there to integrate into your daily life? Then, there’s nothing to be done. Therefore, the primary thing is to have the right understanding and view, and, in order to integrate Buddhism into daily life, one must also generate a sense of renunciation and bodhicitta.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series  7

The Ornament of Clear Realization by the Bodhisattva Maitreya named seven supreme methods. Every one of the six paramitas (generosity, morality, patience, diligence, contemplation and wisdom) that a bodhisattva practices must incorporate the seven supreme methods. These seven can be summed up more concisely in three. The virtuous actions we undertake, like meditating, burning incense or prostrating, should all be done in accordance with the three supreme methods. If so, even a simple act, such as offering a butter lamp or kneeling down to pay homage to the Buddha, can be the cause of enlightenment. Otherwise, no amount of virtuous deeds can lead us to the path of liberation or be the cause of Buddhahood.

~ Depicted from THE RIGHT VIEW - The Three Supreme Methods—the ultimate methods of cultivating virtue and training the mind

2. External cause. For example, upon seeing your neighbor with a nice car, a thought comes up: I must buy a car better than that one. The thought wouldn’t have come up if you did not see the neighbor’s car in the first place. So, seeing the neighbor’s car is the external cause for this desire to arise.

~ Depicted from "THE HANDBOOK FOR LIFE"S JOURNEY : On The Three Poisons - How to Handle Desire"

We can break down happiness into endless types. To simplify, however, there are essentially two kinds: one is happiness derived from worldly things; the other is happiness which does not come from worldly things. Within the second kind, one type is a feeling of great happiness over and above general wellbeing. This feeling is experienced during the course of serving or benefiting other sentient beings — a pursuit also shared by the bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism.

~ Depicted from THE PAPER TIGER - The Tibetan Buddhist View on Happiness

Apparently, even non-Buddhist practitioners with some spiritual realization may still be confused about the workings of cause and effect, not to mention people without any right view or understanding. These non-Buddhist practitioners are usually well learned; some may even have acquired certain clairvoyance over worldly matters. However, they jumped to a conclusion only based upon what they saw—virtuous people took rebirth in the lower realms—and from it the conclusion was drawn that cause and effect could not have existed. Then books were written and theories developed based on this conclusion, which gradually formed into a sect after attracting enough followers. This is how nihilism was established.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1

What are the three supreme methods? They are: 1. motivation; 2. actual practice with a mind free of clinging and concepts; 3. dedication.

~ Depicted from THE RIGHT VIEW - The Three Supreme Methods—the ultimate methods of cultivating virtue and training the mind

1. Everyone has the seed of desire, except bodhisattvas of the first bhumi and arhats who have destroyed the seed. For ordinary people, the seed of desire is always stored in the mind even when there is no thought of wanting anything or in deep sleep, just not that obvious. This is the primary cause.

~ Depicted from "THE HANDBOOK FOR LIFE"S JOURNEY : On The Three Poisons - How to Handle Desire"

One should also think, “When facing hurt and insult, if I can calm down and endure it, not only will this cause other people to look at me in a different light, but it will also contribute to my inner discipline. If everyone treated me well, how would I have the chance to practice patience? Since they have created such a good opportunity for me, and helped me accumulate this positive karma, how is it that I neglect to recognize their kindness and remember to express my gratitude, but rebuke them with harsh words instead?”

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 10