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Awakening the Buddha Within
Here's a book I highly recommend 4 beginners ...
http://tinyurl.com/7g8joaa
Intro -
Those of us who embark on spiritual paths are motivated in different ways. Some of us want to know the unknowable; others want to know themselves; still others want to know everything. Some people want transformation; others want miracles. Many want to alleviate suffering, help others and leave the world a better place. Most of us are seeking love or fulfilment in one way or another. Everyone wants inner peace, acceptance, satisfaction and happiness. We all want genuine remedies to feelings of despair, alienation and hopelessness. Don't we all want to find spiritual nourishment and healing, renewal and a greater sense of meaning?
Perhaps you sometimes feel a homesickness, a sadness and a sense that something is terribly wrong. You might experience this as a yearning for something that is lost, something that seems so familiar and yet so distant. You might feel hungry and needy and aware that nothing has been able to fully satisfy you - at least not for very long. It's like drinking salt water while floating adrift on the great ocean; it's a drink that can't possibly alleviate your thirst.
Rejoice! You are living the core issues grappled with by every consciously alive human being. This is no small thing - this is 'The Big Time', the Great Way walked by all those who have awakened to freedom, peace and enlightenment. You're in the heavyweight division, wrestling with the multi-dimensional angels of life. You want to see them, you want to understand them, and - like Jacob - you want to be blessed by them.
Page 63 -
Each of us is fully endowed with luminous Buddha-nature, the potential for awakened enlightenment. Tibetans firmly believe that there have been and still are many enlightened beings who walk among us. In fact, there are yogis living anonymously everywhere without calling attention to themselves. Spiritual giants are universally accepted as heroes in Tibet where the names that are remebered aren't those of sports figures, politicians or movie-stars. Ask any Tibetan about Milarepa, the eleventh century, cave-dwelling yogi-sage. As Tibet's most beloved poet, Milarepa gained enlightenement in a single lifetime. Every child has heard his spontaneous songs of joyous wisdom.
Page 184 -
We give thanks to the many beings who helped bring us this food
Zen Mealtime Prayer
Those of you who went to summer camp may remember the lyrics of a camp song 'Be kind to your web-footed friends, for a duck may be somebody's mother'. Tibetans say that not only is that duck somebody's mother, it may have been your mother. It might have been your father, brother, cousin, or best friend, or anyone with whom you have unfinished karma to work out. According to traditional belief, we have all been cycled and recycled through innumerable forms in an inconceivable number of lifetimes - not unlike old wine in new, recyclable containers. Everyone has been kind and helpful to you in some past life, because everyone you meet has a loving relative; they should be treated accordingly.
If you are uncomfortable with this traditional rebirth teaching, think of it this way: Everyon you meet, both the wise and the foolish, has something to teach you. Everyone and everything can be celebrated and appreciated, each in its own way. Everyone can learn from your kindness. This is a very important teaching in Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a commonsense approach to life: Learn from all, judge no-one, be kind to all, and say thank-you.
Page 209 -
The next time you feel so angry you could scream, ask yourself: Who is making me angry? Perhaps the anger is subtly directed at yourself. When our expectations are not met, we tend to blame others and get angry. But is our discontent really their fault? Shantideva said that anger is the greatest evil because it is so destructive and can cause so much harm. The trained mind of the Bohdisattva, like a peaceful lake, is able to transcend anger. Even if people throw sparks into it, it doesn't explode because it's like water and not volatile. The untrained mind, on the other hand, can be likened to a big pool of gasoline. Every spark makes it explode. In life, there will always be sparks. But does there have to be an explosion? That's your responsibility. Nobody can make us angry if we have no seeds of anger left inside.
Enjoy!
http://tinyurl.com/7g8joaa
Intro -
Those of us who embark on spiritual paths are motivated in different ways. Some of us want to know the unknowable; others want to know themselves; still others want to know everything. Some people want transformation; others want miracles. Many want to alleviate suffering, help others and leave the world a better place. Most of us are seeking love or fulfilment in one way or another. Everyone wants inner peace, acceptance, satisfaction and happiness. We all want genuine remedies to feelings of despair, alienation and hopelessness. Don't we all want to find spiritual nourishment and healing, renewal and a greater sense of meaning?
Perhaps you sometimes feel a homesickness, a sadness and a sense that something is terribly wrong. You might experience this as a yearning for something that is lost, something that seems so familiar and yet so distant. You might feel hungry and needy and aware that nothing has been able to fully satisfy you - at least not for very long. It's like drinking salt water while floating adrift on the great ocean; it's a drink that can't possibly alleviate your thirst.
Rejoice! You are living the core issues grappled with by every consciously alive human being. This is no small thing - this is 'The Big Time', the Great Way walked by all those who have awakened to freedom, peace and enlightenment. You're in the heavyweight division, wrestling with the multi-dimensional angels of life. You want to see them, you want to understand them, and - like Jacob - you want to be blessed by them.
Page 63 -
Each of us is fully endowed with luminous Buddha-nature, the potential for awakened enlightenment. Tibetans firmly believe that there have been and still are many enlightened beings who walk among us. In fact, there are yogis living anonymously everywhere without calling attention to themselves. Spiritual giants are universally accepted as heroes in Tibet where the names that are remebered aren't those of sports figures, politicians or movie-stars. Ask any Tibetan about Milarepa, the eleventh century, cave-dwelling yogi-sage. As Tibet's most beloved poet, Milarepa gained enlightenement in a single lifetime. Every child has heard his spontaneous songs of joyous wisdom.
Page 184 -
We give thanks to the many beings who helped bring us this food
Zen Mealtime Prayer
Those of you who went to summer camp may remember the lyrics of a camp song 'Be kind to your web-footed friends, for a duck may be somebody's mother'. Tibetans say that not only is that duck somebody's mother, it may have been your mother. It might have been your father, brother, cousin, or best friend, or anyone with whom you have unfinished karma to work out. According to traditional belief, we have all been cycled and recycled through innumerable forms in an inconceivable number of lifetimes - not unlike old wine in new, recyclable containers. Everyone has been kind and helpful to you in some past life, because everyone you meet has a loving relative; they should be treated accordingly.
If you are uncomfortable with this traditional rebirth teaching, think of it this way: Everyon you meet, both the wise and the foolish, has something to teach you. Everyone and everything can be celebrated and appreciated, each in its own way. Everyone can learn from your kindness. This is a very important teaching in Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a commonsense approach to life: Learn from all, judge no-one, be kind to all, and say thank-you.
Page 209 -
The next time you feel so angry you could scream, ask yourself: Who is making me angry? Perhaps the anger is subtly directed at yourself. When our expectations are not met, we tend to blame others and get angry. But is our discontent really their fault? Shantideva said that anger is the greatest evil because it is so destructive and can cause so much harm. The trained mind of the Bohdisattva, like a peaceful lake, is able to transcend anger. Even if people throw sparks into it, it doesn't explode because it's like water and not volatile. The untrained mind, on the other hand, can be likened to a big pool of gasoline. Every spark makes it explode. In life, there will always be sparks. But does there have to be an explosion? That's your responsibility. Nobody can make us angry if we have no seeds of anger left inside.
Enjoy!
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