Practicing impermanence will eradicate our clinging to permanence, which is rather useful. For instance, even we cannot perceive the inner instantaneous impermanence of an object, if we realise that something is unreliable and impermanent, then we’ll overly cling to it, and reminding ourself over and over again: “since it’s unreliable, why bother to care and cling to it?” In this manner, our attachment will gradually decline.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
What does the word “renounce” mean? First, to renounce is to forsake all worldly concerns. In other words, to renounce is not to have any attachment to worldly things and, at the same time, to be fully aware of the suffering nature of samsara. Second, one must endeavor to seek liberation from all suffering. To lead a “renounced” life as a monastic monk or nun connotes the same meaning as one must leave home behind to pursue ultimate liberation. Home, in this sense, represents the secular world. It is not enough a clear evidence that one has renounced all worldly attachment by just walking out of one’s home and putting on a monastic robe; one must also have developed a genuine sense of revulsion toward samsara.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
When first joining Larung Gar, due to immaturity, we tended to be prideful when making progress in our study, H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche would regularly dismantle our ego by various means. Therefore, we dared not be conceited regardless how much progress we made. Our teachers were ruthless to a student with potential, seemingly scolding us daily. Because they were confident that the disciples would not get irritated and take off, thus he subdued us without holding back.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Shakyamuni Buddha taught us: birth, old age, illness and death are the natural law and nobody can escape from it. Attachment is the culprit to confront these suffering. Having attachment is bound to lead to suffering. How to face up with suffering is the most important task of life. Buddhism teaches us that the best way to confront this suffering is to let go of it.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Many meditators are stuck at the stage of shamata. This kind of meditation cannot liberate from birth and death. It can only reduce stress and fatigue; and produce siddhi. We have to go beyond this kind of medication. The only method is to realize emptiness.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
The goal of dharma practice is not to keep ourselves from ageing, or dying or being poor, rather, it’s about how we can be more compassionate, endowed with more wisdom, and benefit sentient beings more effectively.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Before attaining buddhahood, Vajrasattva made an aspiration: I vow not to attain buddhahood if I cannot enable anyone to chant my name, and supplicate to me for confessing to purify their obscurations. Given Vajrasattva had attained buddhahood, if supplicating to Vajrasattva by chanting the Vajrasattva Mantra or the Hundred-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva, one is bound to purify all obscurations.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Despite the fact that buddhas and bodhisattvas have transcended relative truth, not having a body of flesh and body, in order to liberate us, still they manifest a body of flesh and blood. BuddhaAmitabha of the Pure Land can’t liberate us, neither does Buddha Samantabhadra; although the sambhogakaya and the nirmanakaya of buddha are sublime, they are not able to liberate us, because they can’t communicate with us. Thus a teacher in a relative sense is vital.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
To generate uncontrived bodhicitta is difficult. From beginningless time, we have been habituated to arrange everything for ourselves, whereas the thoughts of benefiting sentient beings one-pointedly and sincerely are limited. Even these thoughts arise occasionally, the scope is very limited. We are so accustomed to selfishness and have never habituating the thought of benefiting others. Thus it’s really hard to give rise to bodhicitta. Nevertheless, even if the difficulties are greater, we need to exert ourselves to cultivate bodhicitta.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
