54 Pearls: 36 – Cultivating inner Buddha
Cultivating your inner Buddha is not about manipulating your body. It is about uncovering the original nature of your mind by recovering its primordial, pristine state. FR
Cultivating your inner Buddha is not about manipulating your body. It is about uncovering the original nature of your mind by recovering its primordial, pristine state. FR
When practicing you should abandon ingrained habits of the heart and use a fresh perspective. You know that your old ways are not bearing fruit, so make a change. Only by consciously changing your approach will you be able to identify changes in the quality of your practice. FR
Buddhism requires steadfast faith not only in the guru, but even more so in oneself. FR
The Who, What and When of Liberation: A true guru is the one who transforms the mind from an afflicted state to one of equanimity. True Buddhist practice is what transforms the mind from an afflicted state to one of equanimity. True liberation occurs when the mind is transformed from an afflicted state to one … Continued
What is a yidam? A true yidam is none other than the original nature of your mind. The mind’s primordial state of wisdom is the only real yidam. FR
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not appear out of thin air. They are a product of transformation: the ordinary mind is reoriented through the exercise of compassion and wisdom. The more wisdom one accesses, the purer one’s internal state, the less one’s negative emotions and the closer one comes to liberation. FR
Our ordinary mind is fickle and changeable, always riding an emotional roller coaster. Today I’m happy, tomorrow I’m suffering. This is the ordinary mind which we have unfortunately made our “home.” But it is a flimsy structure built with the fragile walls of negative emotions. At any moment, it could suddenly fall to pieces. Buddhism … Continued
Our mind is similar to a computer. At the moment the only software on this computer is greed, hate, and ignorance. Therefore, every time we use our computer, we animate habitual behavioral tendencies and reactive emotions. We cannot use the Buddha wisdom software because it doesn’t exist on our computer. We have to get that … Continued
Established Buddhist practitioners need not disconnect themselves from any guru or lineage, even if they move on to practice with those with other affilations. The Dharma we have learned in the past has helped establish our present foundation. The objective of all Buddhist practices is the same. FR
Many people think that the Amitabha practice is one Dharma method, Guru Yoga is another, and the five preliminary practices are yet another….To look upon these as fundamentally different methodologies besets the mind with contradictions and invites doubt. The fact is there are no conflicts between the various Dharma methods, only within your own thinking. … Continued