Lamrim Quotes

“Since pervasive Atisha seemed equal to the Muni In dispelling the gloom of wrong conceptions, After setting his works, supreme wish-fulfilling jewels, Atop the victory-banner of hearing, thinking and meditating Certainly, this doctrine of the so-called “Kadampas” Which pervades all directions and sates every wish and desire, is marvelous.” From The Sacred Words of Manjushri […]

“Next, for the practice of ethical discipline, while meditating the master-deity on your head, reflect in the following manner: For the sake of all sentient beings, my mothers, may I quickly attain complete and perfect Buddhahood. For that purpose may I give up wrongful deeds that conflict with whatever vows I have taken, like the […]

“How to train in far-reaching generosity. Based on the motivation to attain Buddhahood in order to be of benefit to all sentient beings, practice 1) giving correct teachings to those destitute of Dharma instruction, 2) giving protection to those oppressed by the wrath of kings, soldiers, etc., those frightened by sentient beings such as ghosts, […]

“Ever-enhancing your enlightened motive of bodhicitta is the central axle of the Mahayana path. It is the basis and foundation for great waves of (enlightening) conduct. Like a gold-making elixir, (it turns) everything (you do) into the two collections, (building up) a treasure of merit gathered from infinitely collected virtues. Knowing this, bodhisattvas hold this […]

“At present most of the happy feelings that increase our attachment are minds of happiness that arise with respect to a relief of suffering. Yet there is no happiness by way of its own entity that is unrelated to suffering. For instance, if you suffer because you have walked too much, the mind of happiness […]

“From beginningless time you have been conditioned to believe that the wonders of cyclic existence are sources of happiness, and you have habitually projected upon them a false image of beauty. But if, as a remedy, you train yourself to meditate on suffering and unpleasantness, you will put an end to these wrong ideas. Candramogin […]

“Anyone with the nature to turn his or her back on the pleasures of compulsive existence And to turn back negative impulses of karma, And who takes keen interest in merely his or her own state of peace, Is known as a person of intermediate spiritual scope.” From Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment by […]

“The actual way to consider karma and its effects in general: A. How karma is certain B. The great increase of karma C. You do not meet with karma you have not created D. Karma you have created does not dissipate” From Textual Outline for the Medium Treatise on the Stages of the Path to […]

“Do not be obsessed with others. That is, you should analyze your own faults and not look into the faults of others at all. Otherwise you will only look for faults in your fellow practitioners…you will then naturally find faults even in Buddhas. Do not attribute faults to others, for if you do you will […]

“As for the prescriptive precepts [of taking refuge], they are to consider as the buddha jewel any image of a buddha’s physical form, even one of inferior artistry or materials, to view any scripture of four lines or more as the dharma jewel, and to regard as sangha jewels even those who show only the […]