WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

The more attached we are to anything, such as wealth, fame, etc, the more we suffer. Suffering cannot be remedied if we have cyclic existence. Other saviors, refuge, our parents, friends cannot remedy suffering, rather, only the Three Jewels can. Only by relying on the Buddha and sangha, practicing dharma according to the Buddha’s guidance, can we uproot defilements and attachment, having let go attachment, all the suffering will be eradicated instantly.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

The meaning of life is nothing more than these two: the first is offering loving compassion and the second is the constant spiritual improvement. It is not about how much money or how many villas and luxury cars we have. The real value of life can be measured in the extent of loving kindness we share, and wisdom we accumulate, not how much material wealth we possess or goods that we acquire.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

In Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend”, there is a verse that says, "It has been said by the Buddha that among all wealth, contentment is the greatest. Be content. If you are content, then even if you possess no wealth, you'll be perfectly rich." Buddha has skillfully instructed us to recognize that contentment is the best kind of wealth. Therefore, we need to abide in contentment with less desire; a person who is content is truly rich even without any material wealth. Such a person can attain ultimate bliss.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

For most people, the life of a little fish is worthless and can be squashed at they desire. However, from the fish’s point of view, its life is more precious than the whole world’s assets. Humans’ lives might be worthless for other species of lives, but for ourself, our lives are more precious than anything. Can we see the world from the fish’s point of view?

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

For a practitioner, how do you measure whether you have properly practiced dharma? It is very simple. It can be explained in this sentence: Any dharma practice that you are engaged in and can help you to stop your afflictions is considered dharma; those that don't stop your afflictions, or give any positive result, is not dharma. (heidi)

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

What does the word “renounce” mean? First, to renounce is to forsake all worldly concerns. In other words, to renounce is not to have any attachment to worldly things and, at the same time, to be fully aware of the suffering nature of samsara. Second, one must endeavor to seek liberation from all suffering. To lead a “renounced” life as a monastic monk or nun connotes the same meaning as one must leave home behind to pursue ultimate liberation. Home, in this sense, represents the secular world. It is not enough a clear evidence that one has renounced all worldly attachment by just walking out of one’s home and putting on a monastic robe; one must also have developed a genuine sense of revulsion toward samsara.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Before attaining buddhahood, Vajrasattva made an aspiration: I vow not to attain buddhahood if I cannot enable anyone to chant my name, and supplicate to me for confessing to purify their obscurations. Given Vajrasattva had attained buddhahood, if supplicating to Vajrasattva by chanting the Vajrasattva Mantra or the Hundred-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva, one is bound to purify all obscurations.

~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

As the saying goes: One takes the behavior of one's company. The impact of one's environment upon oneself is difficult to determine. If you spend a long time with friends that are a bad influence, then not only will you not have the hope of arousing bodhicitta, but the good habits that you previously developed may fade away. A person's buddha nature can mature in this life, but due to encounters with others who are negative influences, the seed of buddha nature would not be able to mature and sprout. There would be no chance of liberation in this life. Isn't that a pity?

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES