One needs to make a strenuous effort in the Ngöndro Practices, it may take three or five years, or even longer. One should not hasten to seek results. The process is vital, one needs to engage in solid practice methodically. Some of Patrul Rinpoche’s students had practiced Ngöndro over ten or twenty times, eventually all of them attained enlightenment. We need to meet all criteria of attaining enlightenment through practicing Ngöndro. Our mind is so turbulent and our defilements are so severe, without the power of Ngöndro, it’s impossible for us to attain enlightenment.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

The way to dedicate according to the dharma is to wish for all sentient beings to reach sukhavati, to be liberated and reach Buddhahood, and have no consideration for one’s own benefit. Even though one did not ask for anything for oneself, cause and effect is never wrong. At the end, what one should have will appear at the appropriate time.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

We need to come to a clear understanding of what do we need? Is it money or happiness? Desiring both is difficult to achieve. Even endowed with some merit, one can make some profit through exertion, yet one might not be able to live an easeful life. Other than attaining a high level of spiritual achievement, how can one maintain a calm mind while being preoccupied with various engagements? Thus as an ordinary being, we have to choose one between these two.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Many who have not heard formal teaching of Mahamudra, are envious and eager for Mahamudra. But if we one day really have the chance to hear about Mahamudra, the essential sadhana of Mahamudra is described in a couple of sentences. Just like the principle script of “The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra” is only a few sentences. How can such simple words lead us to enlightenment? The most important help is the practice.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

If being able to bear sentient beings in our mind, and refraining from killing and doing life release, we’re genuine Buddhists. Striving to promote this spirit can make the dharma flourish and the wisdom light of the Buddha illuminate the world lastingly.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

The more socially competitive one is, the less happiness one attains. For instance, someone has a fancy car, but this person likes comparing. When others surpass him, he cannot maintain calm, exerting oneself to be competitive. Such pursuits are rather tiring. Being competitive is not a necessity of the life. Lots of suffering stems from being as such.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Once one has realized emptiness, then one can solve the final problem. The final problem is not how to have a better life, or make more money. It is resolving the problem of birth, old age and death. It is to be liberated from cyclic existence. It is not just for one’s own liberation. It is to return and liberate more sentient beings. To have more people be freed from life and death. This is the ultimate goal of our practice.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

The concept of non-self and emptiness are not easy to comprehend. From the beginningless time up to now, ordinary beings have an ingrained view of the existence of self, of other sentient beings, and of the external, phenomenal world. The view as such is so rooted that it’s rather difficult to change. One can gain some experiential understanding by listening to the teaching on emptiness and practicing on non-self repeatedly.

~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