Article
[…] with whom you have differences. In difficult situations, it leads you to find a way that meets the vital interests of all concerned when possible and to minimize the pain when that is not possible. Compassion puts you directly in touch with the human condition. It cuts through beliefs. It goes straight to the heart.
Article
Deep questions about values and ethics arise around the issues of abortion, life support, and elective suicide for those with debilitating and terminal illnesses. In these and other circumstances, call up compassion so that you see clearly, go empty in all the complexities so you know what is, and in that knowing act without hesitation.
Chapter 7 of “37 Practices in Four Parts”
[…] used yesterday, “the full catastrophe.’” So, in our meditation, because we lead very active lives, our mind is very rarely going to be perfectly quiet. My retreat director, who was a wonderful person, I don’t think he’d lain down for 40 years. Certainly during all the time we were practicing in retreat, he had […]
Chapter 6 of “Chö: Cutting Through the Thickets of Thinking”
[…] interruptions, obsessions with mortality, local disturbances, physical disturbances, and our own parents. In short, all sentient beings whose numbers are as infinite as space will attain the direct understanding of the Supreme Mother. Consequently, I take up the profound practice of the holy ground where obsessions are cut down. All spirits weak and small, […]
Chapter 5 of “Chö: Cutting Through the Thickets of Thinking”
[…] interruptions, obsessions with mortality, local disturbances, physical disturbances, and our own parents. In short, all sentient beings whose numbers are as infinite as space will attain the direct understanding of the Supreme Mother. Consequently, I take up the profound practice of the holy ground where obsessions are cut down. All spirits weak and small, […]
Chapter 3 of “Chö: Cutting Through the Thickets of Thinking”
[…] interruptions, obsessions with mortality, local disturbances, physical disturbances, and our own parents. In short, all sentient beings whose numbers are as infinite as space will attain the direct understanding of the supreme mother. Consequently I take up the profound practice of the holy ground where obsessions are cut down. Now, we invite all of […]
Article
[…] speech untrustworthy as she tries to recite poems that she thought she knew, but the words come out all wrong. Finally, she has had enough and speaks directly out of her experience, “You’re nothing but a pack of cards!” Immediately, her dream dissolves and she wakes up. So it is for us. When we […]
Chapter 4 of “Chö: Cutting Through the Thickets of Thinking”
[…] awakening mind for yourself and all the disruptive forces and disturbances in your own mind, which is to say the totality of your experience—everything—to come to the direct understanding of the Supreme Mother which is a way of saying buddhahood or full awakening. So we form that intention as we recite this verse. All […]
Article
[…] understanding things only through words, only through concepts. This form of understanding is limited both in its effectiveness and power. The knowing that comes through meditation is direct and doesn’t depend on thought or concept. Misconception 4: The purpose is to become a psychic superbeing. Again, the purpose is to uncover awareness, not to […]
Chapter 9 of “Mind Training in Seven Points”
[…] spontaneously wouldn’t it? Without ever formulating a sense of person. You follow? So one doesn’t lose functionality here. But one is able to act from direct perception, direct knowing, without relying on conceptual knowing. “Oh, someone’s fallen down and I’m going to help them up.” You feel how different that is? Student: [Unclear] Ken: Right. […]
Article
[…] and we don’t know whether we are in pattern or presence. We know only from the result whether we acted out of habituated pattern or out of direct awareness. If the situation blows up in our face, we have to pay. We see our part in it if and only if we have brought […]
Article
[…] say nothing in certain situations, or to do what everyone else is doing because that is what is done — and that can be a problem. The direct experience of mind nature is a critical moment for all of us. Many people see it as an end of a journey, when it is better […]
Article
[…] practice works in its own ways, reconfiguring your whole system. Intention is important here, but it is important not to confuse intention with goal. Intention is a direction, such as “I’m going to go north.” A goal is a definite destination, such as “I’m going to go to such-and-such a city.” When we set […]
Article
[…] with getting what we need and keeping what we have. How do we know which imbalances or struggles to address, which way to turn, or where to direct our attention and energy? This question takes us beyond the domain of Buddhist practice to the notion of practice in general. The German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk’s […]
Practice Material
[…] good fortune and reputationMay spread all over the world.When you die, these things will not help you at all.Work at your practice—that’s my sincere advice. 8.Managers, assistants, directors, and suchProvide the infrastructure for both communities and religious institutions.But your involvement in such matters gives rise to worry and concern.Limit your business—that’s my sincere advice. […]
