In Buddhist scriptures, sometimes the ocean is used to represent people’s psychological state. At times, the blue sky and clouds are used to describe people’s nature or psychological movement.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

According to the dharma, the methods a practitioner and a commoner use to address a problem are different. However, our dharma study tends to have only literal comprehension without putting it into practice, thus we only have accumulated merit of listening to the dharma and lack actual effect of the dharma. When facing layers of grave pressure of life, we act similarly to non-Buddhists. Therefore, we need progress and develop in this respect.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Concerning violating precepts, there are twofold problems, one is violating precepts, the other is not confessing. The Buddha expounded in the sutras and shastras of the Shravakayana that two kinds of people are worth praising: those who observe pure precepts and those who are willing to confess. This applies to any precepts.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Nowadays, most people are not interested in profound theories. They don't bother if samsara actually exists and ignore this issue altogether. Apart from having interest in videos, audios and other media that stimulates the senses and brings excitements, people are not very much interested in in the search of truth, which requires some deeper thinking.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

According to tantric teachings, there are many Chakras in the centre of our heart and throat. These Chakras and wind cannot be perceived by our naked eyes or machines, however they exist. When one is in control of these winds, all discursive thoughts lose their vitality. At present we are not in control of the operation or movement of wind, thus we are bombarded with discursive thoughts.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Practicing impermanence will eradicate our clinging to permanence, which is rather useful. For instance, even we cannot perceive the inner instantaneous impermanence of an object, if we realise that something is unreliable and impermanent, then we’ll overly cling to it, and reminding ourself over and over again: “since it’s unreliable, why bother to care and cling to it?” In this manner, our attachment will gradually decline.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

The goal of dharma study is to dispel suffering. To dispel a part of suffering of samsara is referred to as Buddhism oriented towards the rebirth of the human and heavenly realms; to dispel all the suffering of samsara is referred to as the Shravakayana Buddhism; to endeavour to dispel all the suffering of samsara for the sake of oneself and all sentient beings is referred to as Mahayana Buddhism. From this perspective, Buddhism is the method to dispel suffering.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

One needs to make a strenuous effort in the Ngöndro Practices, it may take three or five years, or even longer. One should not hasten to seek results. The process is vital, one needs to engage in solid practice methodically. Some of Patrul Rinpoche’s students had practiced Ngöndro over ten or twenty times, eventually all of them attained enlightenment. We need to meet all criteria of attaining enlightenment through practicing Ngöndro. Our mind is so turbulent and our defilements are so severe, without the power of Ngöndro, it’s impossible for us to attain enlightenment.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Other than our teacher, Vajra friends have no responsibilities to observe other’s good or bad points, which has nothing to do with us. When giving rise to a thought of other’s flaws, one needs to remind oneself: “Thinking he has flaws is due to my mind being impure. If my mind were pure, then I wouldn’t find faults in others; it must be my own mistake and illusion. In the vision of a realised being, all phenomena is the mandala of the buddhas, and pure.”

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES