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Gratitude is rooted in remembrance. Therefore we must make a conscious effort to recall how others have helped us; if we don't do this, we will forget. - Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
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"The spirit to strive is easily observed in nature. Salmon swim upstream to lay eggs and multiply their offspring. A few blades of grass can survive between bricks. All the animals and plants in the wold strive to survive. How is it that we humans do not do the same? We should never give up the effort to improve ourselves. Any kind of job has its difficulties. However, with the spirit to strive for the best, we can produce outstanding achievements in any task. We can see restaurant workers waking up before dawn to prepare food for early business. Also, the street cleaner sweeps the street during midnight, so that people can enjoy a clean environment in the morning. It is evident that many people are doing the best they can to survive." - Hsing Yun
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You can rely on a teacher for guidance, but that teacher will go. Ultimately the job has to be done by yourself. You cannot rely on anyone or anything but yourself.
- Gehlek Rimpoche
- Gehlek Rimpoche
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Tibetan Buddhist monk Gehlek Rimpoche, teaches: "The world we are living in is impermanent. It changes from better to worse and vice versa. You have to develop determination of mind. You have to apply your mental power, what you might call good old-fashioned willpower." Then, he adds this insight: "You have to reason with yourself: 'I have much more important things to do with my life. I want to be of some benefit to myself and others. Am I going to . . . push myself down into depression? Or am I going to use my intelligence for some good?' "
Gehlek Rimpoche had a unique and painful moment to put into practice what he teaches. While speaking in Holland, he lost his bag which contained ten thousand dollars in cash. " This was much more than I had in all of my bank accounts put together. I also lost my credit cards and identification. This was on a Saturday. I couldn’t do anything or even leave the hotel until Monday." He gave himself until Monday morning to feel badly and mourn the loss and then, he says, "I decided that it was time to stop. I dedicated the loss of the money to the benefit of all beings and particularly to those who took it. Even so, every twenty minutes I would think, 'Oh my God, I lost a lot. How embarrassing if other people know.' When that happened, I told myself that I had already dedicated it. It was no longer mine. It was gone. So what was I crying for?"
Gehlek Rimpoche had a unique and painful moment to put into practice what he teaches. While speaking in Holland, he lost his bag which contained ten thousand dollars in cash. " This was much more than I had in all of my bank accounts put together. I also lost my credit cards and identification. This was on a Saturday. I couldn’t do anything or even leave the hotel until Monday." He gave himself until Monday morning to feel badly and mourn the loss and then, he says, "I decided that it was time to stop. I dedicated the loss of the money to the benefit of all beings and particularly to those who took it. Even so, every twenty minutes I would think, 'Oh my God, I lost a lot. How embarrassing if other people know.' When that happened, I told myself that I had already dedicated it. It was no longer mine. It was gone. So what was I crying for?"
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Materialistic society tries to arouse greed so you will spend your money, and yet never be contented with what you have. There is always something better, something newer. Ajahn Sumedho
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That was Charles T. Strauss, a Jewish business person from Chicago. It took place on Sept. 26, 1893 in Chicago where Anagarika Dharmapala, a Buddhist monk from Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka), administered a Sanskrit oath to Charles T. Strauss formally converting him to Buddhism. That made Strauss the first non-Asian American to embrace the Buddhist path.
Rick Fields, who has studied the history of Buddhism in America, described Strauss’ background as follows: “…of 466 Broadway, a New York City businessman, born of Jewish parents, not yet 30 years old, long a student of comparative religion and philosophy.”
Rick Fields, who has studied the history of Buddhism in America, described Strauss’ background as follows: “…of 466 Broadway, a New York City businessman, born of Jewish parents, not yet 30 years old, long a student of comparative religion and philosophy.”
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My Lama used to say that we need monastics but not ensconced in
monasteries forever. We need monastics to go into the world where
lay people live. We need to practice with each other. It is not in
special, controlled environments where we make progress; it is at the
market, on the road, in the office, at home with our families that we
live the Dharma. - Tashi Nyima
monasteries forever. We need monastics to go into the world where
lay people live. We need to practice with each other. It is not in
special, controlled environments where we make progress; it is at the
market, on the road, in the office, at home with our families that we
live the Dharma. - Tashi Nyima
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To develop an awakened mind, Buddhists commit themselves to three "jewels" - the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha. They self-inspire themselves by the example of the Buddha who was an ordinary human being, not a God. Secondly, they deepen their awareness and commitment by the studying and applying the teachings of the Buddha to their daily lives. And, thirdly, they maintain a connection to spiritual friends who will offer support, encouragement and guidance.
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One of two things must be done. Either surrender because you admit your inability and require a higher power to help you, or investigate the cause of misery by going to the source and merging into the Self. Either way you will be free from misery. - Ramana Maharshi
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We need to learn to forgive our humanness, to forgive our imperfections. - Godwin Samararatne