WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

Life in essence is a book of truth. It tells of many truths through the events happening around us - the varying tastes of life associated with cyclic existence, the illusive and dream-like nature of all nature phenomena. But we never pay much attention to the actual state of things, hence remain ignorant to this day.

  ~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo 

In Buddhist thought, the origin of samsara may be summed up accurately in one sentence: “It is seemingly far away, but it is actually right in front of you.” Why do we say that “it is seemingly far away, but it is actually right in front of you”? As to the first part, it is because all of us have experienced birth and death endlessly within samsara and, except for the Buddha, there is nobody else who could calculate the number of times we have transmigrated within samsara. Due to the length and distance of samsara’s cycle, it is therefore stated that “it is seemingly far away”. On the other hand, every living being has experienced the beginning and end of samsara with the appearance and disappearance of birth and death, deep sleep and thought. Therefore, it could be said that the beginning of samsara is “just right in front of you”.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 3

My Guru, H.H. Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, once told me, before gaining realization, your understanding of the Dharma is like looking at the roads on a map. So strive on with diligence.  

 ~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo

Don’t waste this life in neglect and ignorance, and miss the one chance for seeking freedom from samsara. In order to succeed, we must first begin by cultivating renunciation. Failing that, neither meditation nor mantra chanting can ever be deemed supramundane phenomena through which ultimate liberation can be attained. This is extremely important! Renunciation is the prerequisite to bodhicitta. Without complete renunciation, genuine bodhicitta can never be aroused.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1 

Prior to attaining any realization, we are like walking with the eyes closed. For us, the learning process during this period is just like the blind asking for direction on the road. Attaining realization is as if we open our eyes and see the way, but it is still the long way to go.   

~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo

There are three reasons why we cannot attain liberation: First is the greed for external possessions, to the world and to the samsara; second is the attachment to ourselves, namely the self-grasping, self-cherishing or selfish mind; third is the attachment to the belief that everything in the material world is truly existent.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 9  

For most of us, our belief in science is simply based on a few prominent scientists' words, not our own experiments. Similarly, with his supreme wisdom, the Buddha realized the truth of causality and revealed to us. Why do we doubt him ? Shouldn’t we use the same reasoning for both ?   

 ~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo 

As the saying goes, “It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep.” We are after all ordinary people, unable to just give up our insatiable worldly desires overnight. But as mentioned above, it does not matter what we practice, Mahayana or Hinayana, as long as the aim is to attain ultimate liberation, genuine renunciation will gradually arise over time.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1

In the midst of nightmare, if one were to know that it is just a dream, then whatever fear or sadness felt then would vanish in an instant. If one can attain realization of emptiness, all suffering in life will also gradually disappear.

 ~Depicted from the Seasonal Quotations of Khenpo