WORDS OF WISDOM AUTHOR: KHENPO TSULTRIM LODRO

Great masters in the past had one character in common, which is not claiming how extraordinary one is, or being a reincarnation of some tulku, or being sent by Guru Rinpoche, or that one’s previous incarnation was some figure at the Buddha’s time. All great masters are broad-minded, humble and prudent. They would often claim “I don’t know” “ I cannot do it.” “I don’t have experience of realisation”, and so forth.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

One’s appearance is the manifestation of one’s mind, this illustrates that many people have obscurations, which can be detected from one’s appearance. The majority of people’s obscurations come from evil deeds committed in previous lives and this life, such as killing, having a wrong view and so forth. Shakyamuni Buddha taught many teachings which can purify obscurations. Among these methods, the Buddha repeatedly stressed to the future followers: one needs to endeavour to purify one’s obscurations: Of all the practices of generosity, the foremost is to refrain from killing, and engage in life release.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Arising in the morning is somewhat similar to the Buddha emanating Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya from Dharmakaya to benefit sentient beings. Thus we need to make an aspiration: “May all sentient beings attain dharmakaya, and emanate Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya from Dharmakaya to benefit sentient beings.”

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

When engaging in any act, be it killing, stealing, doing life release or practicing generosity, although we cannot perceive these acts’ existence after completing them, certain energy will be stored in our lowest level of consciousness, which is alaya consciousness. “Alaya” is sound translation of Sanskrit, it means a store house. It can be likened to a hard drive of a computer and can store lots of information.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Anyone who hasn’t attained liberation should not be conceited. Countless buddhas have appeared in this world, practitioners with greater capacity have attained enlightenment. Whereas we are still conceited in this degenerate time, we’ve lost our face in this samsara a long time ago.

~Depicted from  LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

Ignorance leads to attachment, such as clinging to external world, one’s own body, fame and gain. Without satisfying one’s desire, one will suffer. In order to satisfy one’s desire, one will engage in negative acts, such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying, etc. All negative acts stem from attachment and ignorance.

~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

All sentient beings wish to attain happiness as we do, hence we should refrain from undermining any beings’ happiness. All sentient beings wish to be free from suffering, hence we should refrain from causing suffering to any being. This is the principle of equality in Buddhism.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES

For many practices, transmission is empathised, especially of the Vajrayana. What do we mean by transmission? It means since the first turning of wheel of dharma of the Buddha, the stream of dharma handed down from one generation to another is called lineage, or transmission, which is non-stop, if it’s broken, then the great blessing of the dharma will not continue. Thus, notwithstanding the existence of scriptures,without oral transmission and transmission of pith instruction, the dharma would be extinct.

~Depicted from LUMINOUS WISDOM BOOK SERIES