I travel to Dallas several times a year where I have a spiritual friend, Tashi Nyima, a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He has a small sangha for whom he offers teachings and leads meditation. His teachings and his person are of great benefit to me. At one of his sessions, Tashi explained that hope is not a preferred concept in Buddhism. Hope is wishful thinking that things will change "down the road" without taking the necessary steps. Furthermore, hope moves a person from the present moment to some distant future which may or may not arrive. Hope is unreliable. Tashi explains more fully why Buddhism dosesn't like or use the word 'hope' below . . . .
We are surrounded by compassion and supported with kindness on every side. This is not wishful thinking or mundane piety. We took Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha —unerring and permanent protection.
We can worry about the situations we encounter along the way all we want, but it is neither helpful nor necessary. All is for the best, if we bring it onto the path. The heart that wishes universal enlightenment is infallible.
As we develop certitude through our practice of calm abiding and insight, the various shards of the view that we now have will gradually coalesce into a stable —never static— View, like the proverbial pieces of a mosaic. As the View becomes wide and deep, we can observe the mental continuum and know the interdependence of all phenomena.
The one essential teaching of the Buddhas is that They are not unique, that there is a fundamental equality of all sentient beings. We are all free, all fully enlightened. Right now.
Amideva is the name we call ourselves, awakening to our true, perfectly enlightened nature. om amideva hrih
Rejoice! There is no fear. There is no (need to) hope.
We are surrounded by compassion and supported with kindness on every side. This is not wishful thinking or mundane piety. We took Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha —unerring and permanent protection.
We can worry about the situations we encounter along the way all we want, but it is neither helpful nor necessary. All is for the best, if we bring it onto the path. The heart that wishes universal enlightenment is infallible.
As we develop certitude through our practice of calm abiding and insight, the various shards of the view that we now have will gradually coalesce into a stable —never static— View, like the proverbial pieces of a mosaic. As the View becomes wide and deep, we can observe the mental continuum and know the interdependence of all phenomena.
The one essential teaching of the Buddhas is that They are not unique, that there is a fundamental equality of all sentient beings. We are all free, all fully enlightened. Right now.
Amideva is the name we call ourselves, awakening to our true, perfectly enlightened nature. om amideva hrih
Rejoice! There is no fear. There is no (need to) hope.
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