WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

Lay practitioner’s practice starts from observing precepts. Observing precepts is also considered as a kind of practice and it is in fact most vital. I have met many lay practitioners who, despite the fact that they have taken refuge in the Three Jewels and believed they’re a seasoned practitioner, have yet to take the five precepts of lay practitioners. This is rather unreasonable. In order be a lay practitioner, observing precepts is paramount. Precepts are the foundation of all practice and developing wisdom. Without observing precepts, one is not a genuine practitioner, thus observing precepts is compulsory.

~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

When seeing the happiness of other people, two types of emotions might occur: jealousy and rejoicing. Jealousy makes us unsatisfied, while rejoicing brings us happiness and allowing our merits to increase.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

In degenerate times, sentient beings suffer from severe obscurations, and practitioners suffer from weak devotion in the Three Jewels and waning diligence compared to that of the Buddha’s time, thus it’s essential to lay a solid foundation of preliminary practice, which leads to the possibility to realise emptiness.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

From the perspective of material life, our era has the most abundance of material wealth in human history. We possess advanced devices and products such as airplanes, wireless, computers, etc. However, compared with ancient people, we lost freedom, which is the most precious thing in the world. We need to contemplate on this problem and make some proper choices, endeavoring to give ourself more freedom.

~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

Many people are practicing preliminary practices, prostrating several hundred times daily. When prostrating, if one can chant the mantra: om namo manjushriyé soha, namo sushriyé soha, namo uttamashriyé soha, then the merit of prostration will multiply by 10 million time. However, the preliminary practice of prostrating for 100,000 times cannot be replaced by chanting this mantra once.

~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

Arising in the morning is somewhat similar to the Buddha emanating Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya from Dharmakaya to benefit sentient beings. Thus we need to make an aspiration: “May all sentient beings attain dharmakaya, and emanate Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya from Dharmakaya to benefit sentient beings.”

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES