When anxiety, panic and aversion arise, instead of being scared and unsettled, one needs to act in the following steps: first, realise them; second: observe them; and third, find their secret. Once mastering this secret, defilements lose their power of making you depressed or unsettled.
~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
We should refrain from thinking that all suffering and unfavourable conditions will be eliminated once we undertake dharma study. Even from the perspective of the Shravakayana, although having realised the selflessness of self, arhats still encounter undesirable conditions and experience karmic consequences.
~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
Countless buddhas in the past, including Shakyamuni Buddha, vowed to liberate all sentient beings when giving rise to bodhicitta, vowing to attain buddhahood after all sentient beings attain buddhahood. We haven’t attained buddhahood yet, but they have. Why? Buddhas make such aspirations out of vast compassion. Due to the greatest and sublimity of their aspirations, they attained buddhahood swiftly. Whereas we are preoccupied with our own interest, thus we are still struggling in the samsara.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
“If some people are endowed with the wisdom of the Buddha, some are not, then am I endowed with buddha nature or not? It’s difficult to answer. Will I succeed in my diligent practice?” Everyone possesses buddha nature, this is definitely so. Everyone has great potential, because we possess the wisdom of the Buddha innately, it’s up to us to find it’s existence. Once we succeed, all defilements will be gone, it’s that simple.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
Manjushri is the embodiment of wisdom of buddhas and bodhisattvas. The sword he holds in his right hand doesn’t aim at any sentient beings, rather, it aims at sentient beings’ ignorance, which leads to endless suffering and ruining one’s own happiness.
~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
Even having realizing the emptiness, one needs to be agreeable to sentient beings. As Guru Rinpoche said: “Even my views are as high as the sky, my attention to the law of karma is as fine as barley flour.” In other words, our views need to be open and high, but our conduct needs to be conservative and careful.
~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES
