The goal in Buddhism is to enter into clarity. In everyday life, the longer we can abide in clarity, the more quickly compassion, love, and faith will grow; afflictions will also diminish gradually until finally Buddhahood is attained.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - Suffering is just a Paper Tiger

It is not necessary to forgo family, life, or work to practice meditation. While enjoying material wealth and family life in this world, we can make time for practice on a regular basis. If we can stay calm and relaxed in the midst of life ’s activities, we will be able to experience happiness that comes from the deep recesses of our mind.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - The Tibetan Buddhist View on Happiness

What is enlightenment? It is returning to clarity. Starting out from clarity, we experience ignorance, attachment, afflictions, karmic creation, and suffering. In the end when ultimate realization is attained, we return to the original clarity and complete a full circle.

Whether we are corporate executives or workers under great pressure, if we can meditate every evening for twenty minutes or half an hour, and let go of the negative emotions accumulated over the course of a day, we will be able to maintain a happier state of mind going into our sleep. In so doing, we effectively regulate both body and mind. According to psychologists, five minutes of deep meditation is equivalent to an hour of sleep. Hence, the practice of meditation every evening helps not only to regulate both body and mind, but also to maintain a high energy level. 

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - The Tibetan Buddhist View on Happiness

How do we realize the innate clarity of our mind?

We gain this realization by way of meditative practice. Once realization is attained, we will suddenly see there is actually no suffering, happiness, anger, desire, or discursive thoughts in clarity. This clarity or Buddha nature is also called Tathagatagarbha.

Within clarity are compassion and wisdom. A true Buddhist practitioner should seek neither rebirth in heaven nor supernatural power but realization of the true nature of mind wherein unlimited compassion and wisdom are already included.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - Suffering is just a Paper Tiger

It' s easy to talk about returning to clarity. However, to actually realize the state of clear light, we must invest both time and effort. Apart from the buddhas and bodhisattvas who can choose their own manifestations, all of us who are here in this world have neither the right nor freedom to choose where we want to go. When causes and conditions mature, we follow wherever they take us. Nevertheless, we are already here in this world and have learned how to return to clarity, the direction we take in life is in our own hands. We must appreciate and seize this truly unique opportunity! 

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - Suffering is just a Paper Tiger

No one understands death. Many people are unwilling to talk about, listen to, let alone confront death. Actually, death is not the conclusion of life, just one of the processes of cyclic existence. The beginning point of this cycle is clarity. From clarity, all kinds of thought are produced; at the end when we die, we return to clarity. Again from this clarity or state of clear light, our next life is produced. Hence, the origin of all of our consciousness is clarity.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - Suffering is just a Paper Tiger

Meditating on illusion and counting the breath are both effective ways of reducing stress. We can practice these methods even if we choose not to learn the Dharma. Although they are Buddhist practices, there is no religious component in the two methods. Just as yoga is neither Hindu nor Buddhist, the above practices need not be associated with Buddhism, and can be taken up strictly for health reasons. 

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series: The Paper Tiger - The Significance of Buddhist Philosophy Today

Buddha Sakyamuni did not deny that material things can resolve a lot of suffering. When we do not have food to eat or clothes to wear, material goods are of primary importance. However they cannot solve all our problems. I believe all of us in the twenty-first century are increasingly clear on this point. Hence, in the end we still need to return to the tranquil surface of the ocean; we need enlightenment. With enlightenment, we can eradicate all our suffering.

~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series : The Paper Tiger - Suffering is just a Paper Tiger