The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step

Cause and effect

Cause and effect

To expect happiness without giving up negative action is like holding your hand in a fire and hoping not to be burned. Of course, no one actually wants to suffer, to be sick, to be cold or hungry – but as long as we continue to indulge in wrong doing we will never put an end to suffering. Likewise, we will never achieve happiness, except through positive deeds, words, and thoughts. Positive action is something we have to cultivate ourselves; it can be neither bought nor stolen, and no one ever stumbles on it just by chance.

– Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book “The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones”

With thanks to Just Dharma Quotes

Blame

The purpose of acknowledging the law of karma is instructive, not punitive.

greatmiddleway.wordpress.com

April 15, 2018

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Whether we assign blame to others or ourselves, the negative emotion that accompanies blame is unskillful. Blame entails not only assigning responsibility for an unwelcome consequence, but also imputing malice or evil intent to the one performing the act.

The law of karma, as taught by the Buddha Shakyamuni, lies beyond all concepts of human morality, right and wrong, good and evil. It is merely the understanding that causes produce effects. Gravity does not intend for us to fall and hurt ourselves when we trip; fire does not intend to cause us pain when our skin is burned by a flame.

When water comes in contact with a surface, that surface becomes wet. We do not blame the water for making the surface wet –that is its nature. Similarly, when our wrong views (ignorance of the nature of self and all phenomena) and afflicted emotions (attachment, aversion, and indifference) lead us to act in unskillful ways, there is no question of guilt and blame.

The purpose of acknowledging the law of karma is instructive, not punitive. When we understand that there is a relationship of cause and effect between our actions and the consequences we experience, we are liberated from victimhood. We are no longer subject to a random universe where evil befalls us without rhyme or reason. We are free to make our own way.

We do not study the law of karma to learn the specific reasons ‘why’ something happens. That exercise is futile. We understand the law of karma in order to make the determination to place positive, skillful causes in the continuum of our experience from here onwards.

The law of karma, of cause and effect, is not meant to lead us to recrimination, guilt, and blame. On the contrary, it is the acceptance of our capacity to be free from suffering and the causes of suffering, and embrace happiness and the causes of happiness.


Cause and Effect

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Gems of Wisdom – Zen Tradition


From Benefit to Enlightenment

Source: From Benefit to Enlightenment | Great Middle Way

greatmiddleway.wordpress.com
Sept 9, 2017

wpid-taranatha-e5a49ae7bd97e982a3e4bb96e5a4a7e5b888-13-jpgPerfect enlightenment arises from the awakening mind (bodhicitta).

Awakening mind arises from a pure and excellent aspiration.

Pure aspiration arises from great compassion.

Great compassion arises from great love.

Great love arises from affection for sentient beings.

Affection for sentient beings arises from appreciation and gratitude.

Appreciation and gratitude arise from the perception that sentient beings are our benefactors.

—Jetsun Taranatha, paraphrasing Master Atisha


Three steps to paradise

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I was in darkness, but I took three steps and found myself in paradise. The first step was a good thought, the second, a good word; and the third, a good deed.
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The Garden Of Pensiveness


What you feel you attract

Meditation Masters


Intro to Buddhism: Dependent Origination, Madhyamika view of Emptiness (24 min)

As always HH will give a short intro to Buddhism before the start of any of his teachings. This intro was given to students during the teaching of ‘Heart Sutra & 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva’, September 2010.

This part 2, HH talks on the more advance buddhist topics such as Law of Causality & Dependent Origination & the Madhyamika school of Emptiness which may be suitable for more advance practitioners.