CTR Quote of the Week

Practically speaking, how do we link our meditation with the everyday challenges that we face all the time? How do we build a bridge between

The world is filled with magical energy. We, on the other hand, are filled with unmagical properties. We do not understand who or what we

The most important point about magic is that it cannot happen in the realm of spiritual materialism. Magic can only take place when you begin

As students and teachers, we can cut down the fortress of spiritual materialism through how we work with situations. We don’t combat spiritual materialism through

In the beginning, a person uses the technique of meditation as a kind of game, because they are still imagining that they are meditating. But

The attitude one brings to meditation practice should be very simple, not based upon trying to collect pleasure or avoid pain. Rather meditation is a

The Buddhist view of freedom is misinterpreted a great deal. According to an encyclopedia from 1937, “nirvana” is freedom from all pain, all suffering, and

When a person is executing a work of art, there is a sense of contact, concentration, and a sense of mindlessness. At the time you

When you read poetry you shouldn’t try to understand the words, not even with the words of vajrayana disciplines. Don’t try to scrutinize and finger

Relating to the commentaries and treatises that great Buddhist scholars and saints have written: They weren’t thinking of which publisher they should go to, or

Karma provides clear, precise evidence that what we do is our own action, and what we get back is the result of our own state

Attaining enlightenment is related with giving up ego’s territory. When ego’s territory is completely surrendered–to no particular authority or present, but simply surrendered–to the point

If we don’t know who we are, where we are, or if we are at all–then we have no way of relating with the path.

The first step for you as a student is to sharpen your intellect and not buy anything that is presented without question. To wake yourself

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