CTR Quote of the Week

As a human being you possess — or are supposed to possess—intelligence, and develop a critical attitude toward what you are doing. You are supposed

In order to present the teachings of spirituality properly, you have to have a very good understanding of basic sanity. You also have to have

I don’t feel that I have to convince you that spirituality is the highest and the best idea that humankind has ever come up with.

The point of this book, Cynicism and Magic, is not necessarily to make you into a great scholar, or great meditator for that matter. It is

A common misunderstanding is that the meditative state of mind has to be captured and then nursed and cherished. That is definitely the wrong approach.

We often think there is a conflict between exertion and just letting ourselves be there. However, exertion is letting yourself be there, in this case.

Meditation is the key to seeing yourself as well as to seeing beyond yourself. Seeing yourself is the first aspect, discovering all sorts of terrible

You shouldn’t try to cast fear out. Instead, fear should be regarded as the kindling to build a big fire of fearlessness. You have to

You should see the vividness of the phenomenal world. When you have a problem appreciating a chrysanthemum or the sunshine, that is a sign of

The whole process of mahamudra [an advanced vajrayana practice and realization] is seeing the situation of life as a pattern. That’s why the word mudra

Every one of us has our own version, our own particular style of keeping secrets of all kinds. You might appear to be well groomed,

The question of basic pain, or cosmic suffering, is not so much one of physical pain, but it is more like a basic ache, basic

For the followers of the teachings of Buddhism, there is a need for great emphasis on the practice of meditation. One must see the straightforward

We always ask a question when there is uncertainty. Questions would not arise at all if we did not have the creative ground of uncertainty

In the tradition of Buddhism, each person in the lineage of teachers develops a self-understanding which adds to the situation. The process is like handing

In our practice and in our life, working with all the challenges is an ongoing journey, not just a one-shot deal. When we meditate over

Focusing on possibilities for some higher attainment or transcendence can be a hindrance and a distraction in meditation and in life. We become more self-conscious,

When we first practice meditation, we don’t begin “properly.” We begin as we are. We may even begin in a somewhat distorted or confused way.

Everyday experiences are usually regarded as somewhat mundane and unimportant. If you are seeking a transcendental experience in meditation, then daily life may seem too

The sensations of being alive may be threatening and a bit confusing, and we may develop a powerful reaction or survival instinct in relationship to

When we talk about elegance, we are not talking in terms of arrogance. When we talk about fearlessness, we are not talking about heavy-handedness. Genuineness

While I was growing up in Tibet, I was so attracted to the American way of life and the Western style of doing things. I

We shouldn’t discount the powerful seed of gentleness that we all possess. Even the most vicious animals possess natural affection and gentleness for their young.

From the dictionary’s point of view, sadness has negative connotations. If you feel sad, you feel unfortunate or bad. Or you may be sad because