WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

We study Buddhism to learn about wisdom and compassion. So called Buddhahood is the appearance of primordial wisdom and compassion when all greed, ignorance and anger ends. There is no other meaning than this.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Some people believe that Buddhism is a religion, which entails faith. Faith is necessary in Buddhism, however, the view of Buddhism as a religion is rather simplistic, because faith is just one element of Buddhism. The foundation and focal point are not faith, rather they are wisdom and compassion.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Happiness doesn’t stem from high speed and high pressure, rather, it comes from relaxation and freedom. Without developing an understanding of being content and having less desires, we can come to conclusion that the result is bound to be suffering.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

When I was a child, my mum told me: sunset is the sunlight of the dead. Upon seeing sunset, one needs to chant mani mantra. Now I come to realise that we need to chant mani mantra not because sunset is the sunlight of the dead; rather, we need to practice virtue because our life has lost one day.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

It’s stressed in shastras that we need to rely on the dharma, rather than the person. Which means in the course of dharma study and research, we need to have conviction and rely on the authentic dharma or truth, rather than rely on the person’s fame, status, or power. We need to analyze if this person’s words are in accordance with the dharma and the truth, if the answer is yes, then we can trust this person’s words. Otherwise, regardless how famed a person is, we should not follow this person’s words blindly.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

If mastering the mystery of mind, when encountering suffering, one is able, not only to face up with suffering courageously and calmly, but also give rise to joy due to one understanding that it’s a rare opportunity to practice when experiencing suffering and happiness. There is a mundane saying: Transforming sorrow into strength, which means transforming negative emotions such as sadness and sorrow into the progressing impetus on the path.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Preliminary practice entails five practices, starting from taking refuge, up to guru yoga. Relying on the capacity of these five practices, one can realise emptiness, which is referred to as realising the nature of mind in the Chan tradition, it means actualising the truth of phenomena. In tantric context, it’s referred to as realising the primordial wisdom. What is it meant by primordial wisdom? Buddha nature is the primordial wisdom.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Today cities have great environmental greening, the streets are decorated with colourful flowers. Instead of picking the flowers, we can accumulate great merit by visualising offering flowers to buddhas and chanting mantras. Why don’t you do it? Actually, you can offer anything beautiful you see to Buddhas. Thus, accumulating merit is fairly easy by adopting the skilful means of chanting mantras.

~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