the truth of suffering

the first noble truth, the truth of suffering, is the first real insight of pracitioner. it is quite delightful that such a practitioner actually has the guts, bravery, and clarity to see pain in such a precise and subtle way. we can actually divide pain into sections and dissect it. we can see it as it is, which is quite victorious. that is why it is called the truth of suffering.

Chögyam Trungpa

six words of advice

"don’t recall." let go of what has passed.
"don’t imagine." let go of what may come.
"don’t think." let go of what is happening now.
"don’t examine." don’t try to figure anything out.
"don’t control." don’t try to make anything happen.
"relax, right now, and rest."


tilopa

Intimacy

we don't want to be alone. at least we want other people to understand us. and they don't. the idea that someone else can really understand us is an illusion--as something that we maintain.

but there are moments of intimacy. there are moments when people absolutely meet. but you can't plan them; you can't strategize for them; you can't prepare for them; and you can't hold on to them. and generally speaking, those moments of intimacy only happen when people are willing to be completely alone.

as long as we are looking at others as potential escape routes for our own loneliness, intimacy is not possible.


Reggie Ray

transcendent perfections

perfectly give up belief in any true existence,
there is no other generosity than this.
perfectly give up guile and deceit,
there is no other discipline.
perfectly transcend all fear of the true meaning,
there is no other patience.
perfectly remain inseparable from the practice,
there is no other diligence.
perfectly stay in the natural flow,
there is no other concentration.
perfectly realize the natural state,
there is no other wisdom


milarepa

no choice

you have no choice at all. whatever happens is an expression of the guru. the situation could be painful or inspiring, but both pain and pleasure are one in this openness of seeing the situation as guru.

Chögyam Trungpa

living a myth

"Living" a myth implies a genuinely "religious" experience, since it differs from the ordinary experience of everyday life. the "religiousness" of this experience is due to the fact that one re-enacts fabulous, exalting, significant events, one again witnesses the creative deeds of the Supernaturals; one ceases to exist in the everyday world and enters a transfigured, auroral world impregnated with the Supernaturals' presence. what is involved is not a commemoration of mythical events but a reiteration of them. the protagonists of the myth are made present, one becomes their contemporary.

to re-experience the sacred Time, to re-enact it as often as possible, to witness again the spectacle of the divine works, to meet with the Supernaturals and relearn their creative lesson is the desire that runs like a pattern through all the ritual reiterations of myths.

myths reveal that the World, man, and life have a supernatural origin and history, and that this history is significant, precious, and exemplary.

Mircea Eliade

true love

true love hurts. it always has to hurt. it must be painful to love someone, painful to leave them, you might have to die for them. when people marry they have to give up everything to love each other. the mother who gives birth to her child suffers much. it is the same for us in the religious life. to belong fully to God we have to give up everything. only then can we truly love.

Teresa of Calcutta