For a practitioner, how do you measure whether you have properly practiced dharma? It is very simple. It can be explained in this sentence: Any dharma practice that you are engaged in and can help you to stop your afflictions is considered dharma; those that don't stop your afflictions, or give any positive result, is not dharma. (heidi)
~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
In Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend”, there is a verse that says, "It has been said by the Buddha that among all wealth, contentment is the greatest. Be content. If you are content, then even if you possess no wealth, you'll be perfectly rich." Buddha has skillfully instructed us to recognize that contentment is the best kind of wealth. Therefore, we need to abide in contentment with less desire; a person who is content is truly rich even without any material wealth. Such a person can attain ultimate bliss.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Nowadays, most people are not interested in profound theories. They don't bother if samsara actually exists and ignore this issue altogether. Apart from having interest in videos, audios and other media that stimulates the senses and brings excitements, people are not very much interested in in the search of truth, which requires some deeper thinking.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
As the saying goes: One takes the behavior of one's company. The impact of one's environment upon oneself is difficult to determine. If you spend a long time with friends that are a bad influence, then not only will you not have the hope of arousing bodhicitta, but the good habits that you previously developed may fade away. A person's buddha nature can mature in this life, but due to encounters with others who are negative influences, the seed of buddha nature would not be able to mature and sprout. There would be no chance of liberation in this life. Isn't that a pity?
~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
In Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend”, there is a verse that says, "It has been said by the Buddha that among all wealth, contentment is the greatest. Be content. If you are content, then even if you possess no wealth, you'll be perfectly rich." Buddha has skillfully instructed us to recognize that contentment is the best kind of wealth. Therefore, we need to abide in contentment with less desire; a person who is content is truly rich even without any material wealth. Such a person can attain ultimate bliss.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
The goal of dharma study is to dispel suffering. To dispel a part of suffering of samsara is referred to as Buddhism oriented towards the rebirth of the human and heavenly realms; to dispel all the suffering of samsara is referred to as the Shravakayana Buddhism; to endeavour to dispel all the suffering of samsara for the sake of oneself and all sentient beings is referred to as Mahayana Buddhism. From this perspective, Buddhism is the method to dispel suffering.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
People often ask: Buddhism speaks of reincarnation, but with the current population explosion, where do these extra people come from? According to reincarnation, when a person dies, he or she can be born as a human. But, beings from all six realms can also be born into the human realm. Therefore, the extra people that co Hme to the human realm can be from these six realms. (Heidi)
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
