CTR Quote of the Week

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

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.