MahaYog - Yoga 🔱 and Buddhism ☸️

Life circumstances are by nature fleeting and unstable. How can we expect to build lasting happiness on such an unreliable foundation as impermanence and instability? This is one aspect of the paradox of the pursuit of happiness: we expect to find it in pleasant circumstances, but those are by nature temporary and inevitably leave us disappointed. Pakchok Rinpoche

Do not separate appearances, taking them to exist externally, and awareness, taking it to exist internally. Remain in the indivisibility of appearances and awareness. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

The most important education is learning to cultivate a good heart. When you do that from childhood, not only your words but also your actions become virtuous. And when the time of death comes, there will be nothing to worry about—because you have lived your entire life with a kind heart, helping others. Through that goodness, your next life will be fortunate, and you will lack nothing. If you help others, all your wishes will be fulfilled. Lama Zopa Rinpoche

The Therma of Guru Padmasambhava, revealed by the tertön Guru Namtsé, states: “Now that we find ourselves in the age of Kali Yuga—when the Dharma is a rarity—any true master in this era who is capable of transmitting the teachings to even ten people is without a doubt a Bodhisattva.” Therefore, we should always hold our masters as precious. Even if a person is unable to engage in contemplation or meditation, yet possesses devotion and calls out to the master with sincere faith, then through the power of that heartfelt invocation—interwoven with the lineage transmission—they will not fall into the lower realms for many lifetimes. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche

It is not enough to simply improve physical health. Mental well-being and consciousness must also improve. The physical nature of the body must be transformed. The personality, too, must undergo a transformation in its psychological and mental structures. You must experience freedom not only from illness, but also from the bonds and whims of the mind. Hatha Yoga Pradipika

One of the most persistent misconceptions is the belief that the source of our dissatisfaction lies outside ourselves. Alan Wallace

There are five critical times in your life: The first is early morning, when the pure part of food separates from the impure, when your mind is sharp, your body rested, your intellect clear, and your bindu has increased. At this time, the power of both faults and virtues is magnified—so it is essential to recognize any thought that arises as an expression of desire, and to channel it onto the Path of virtue. The second is dusk, when the bindu declines and a sense of unease may arise. The enchantments of gods and demons grow stronger. This time is reminiscent of death. Again, the power of both faults and virtues is heightened—so it is crucial to recognize any thought that arises as an expression of fear, and to use it on the Path of virtue. The third is when powerful kleshas or turbulent thoughts arise. If you are unable to take them as the path, they may cost you your life, cause you to break your vows, disrupt your samadhi, and distort the true Path. Therefore, recognize them and unite them with the Path. The fourth is when nondual primordial awareness arises and your mind manifests as the very essence of the thought-free state. Use this on the Path of means. By applying the key points within these exercises, practice continuously, without a moment's distraction. At this time, impulses and karmic connections take shape. This is a vital moment, so it is important to make a firm resolve. You must not allow impulses and karmic connections to become mixed with ordinary conceptual thinking. If an impulse is driven by conceptual thought, it is like a medical error—applying a cooling remedy to an illness of cold. The fifth is when the time of death arrives. At that moment, you are entirely at the mercy of your particular 'connecting karma,' so this is highly significant for forming virtuous karmic connections. Let go of all unwholesome deeds and recall all wholesome ones. Focus your mind on the specific practice you have thoroughly mastered, and in each moment, remain free from delusional experiences. In short, this is an extraordinarily important time for forging a positive karmic connection. Guru Padmasambhava

If you see things with true understanding, there is no clinging in your relationship with them. They come—pleasant and unpleasant alike—you see them, and there is no attachment. They come and they go. Even if the worst kinds of defilements arise—greed or anger—you have enough wisdom to see their impermanent nature and let them fade away. But if you react to them—liking or disliking—that is not wisdom. You are only creating extra suffering for yourself. Ajahn Chah

Purity and impurity depend on oneself. No one can purify another. Dhammapada

Dharma practice should bring you to a point where you can maintain the same unbroken awareness—whether you are in formal session or going about your daily activities. This is the essence of all spiritual instructions. Without it, no matter how many mantras and prayers you recite, no matter how many thousands of prostrations and circumambulations you perform—if your mind remains distracted, none of it will help you free yourself from defiling emotions. Never lose sight of this most vital point. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Any success, big or small, in spiritual or worldly matters, depends on the merit you have accumulated. So do not neglect even the smallest virtuous deed. Just do it. Likewise, do not overlook even the slightest mistake—simply refrain from making it. Dujom Rinpoche

As a result of resting the mind in a state of calmness, the clarity of the nature of mind begins to shine. However, most of us do not experience this calmness; our minds are as turbulent as a hurricane. Though it is difficult, we all have the capacity to calm the mind — and this can be accomplished through joyful effort and courage. All teachers, including your own root master, are none other than your own awareness itself. Whatever finds its completion in primordial awareness has always been within you. Palden Sherab Rinpoche

FIVE KINDS OF GENEROSITY YOU SHOULD NEVER WITHHOLD 1) Offer others a smile through your face. 2) Give others a kind and loving gaze through your eyes. 3) Speak of others' good qualities through your mouth. 4) Wish others well from the bottom of your heart — through your heart. 5) Show others respect and reverence through your body. *** One day, a poor man met the Buddha and asked him: — Buddha, why am I so poor? — Because you don't practice generosity. — But how can I practice generosity when I have nothing to give? — You have five things with which you could practice generosity — but you don't. — Please, tell me what they are. — With your face, you could give smiles to others — but you don't. With your eyes, you could look at others with love and care — but you don't. With your mouth, you could speak words of goodness to others — but you don't. With your heart, you could wish happiness for others — but you don't. And with your body, you could do good for others — but you don't.

To truly gauge how deeply this practice has taken root in your life, measure yourself against Geshe Chengawa. He practiced without pause—he never even slept. Geshe Tonpa once urged him, "You really should rest, my son, or you'll make yourself ill." Chengawa replied, "Yes, I know I need rest. But when I consider how rare and precious this human life is—with all its freedoms and advantages—I simply cannot bring myself to take that rest." He remained sleepless his entire life and recited the mantra of Achala nine hundred million times. We should continue our meditation until a conviction of that same magnitude awakens within us. Patrul Rinpoche

In fact, passion causes suffering the very moment it arises, and although some of its manifestations may seem quite pleasant, ultimately all emotions cause pain. It may seem that desire brings bliss or at least satisfaction, but at the same time, it gives rise to both the hope of experiencing even more of such feelings and the fear that this may never happen, making suffering in this situation inevitable. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

The purpose of our life is not just to solve our own problems, or to find our own personal happiness. The real meaning of our life is to be of benefit to others—to help living beings, whether one or many. To free countless sentient beings from suffering and lead them to the supreme happiness of full enlightenment—that is the true reason to live. That is what gives our life meaning. Each one of us carries a universal responsibility: to bring the greatest possible happiness to all living beings. Lama Zopa Rinpoche

It should be clearly understood: anyone who directly realizes the nature of emptiness experiences the spontaneous generation of bodhichitta. There is no realization of emptiness that does not contain bodhichitta as its inseparable essence. Just as heat is the nature of fire, compassion is the nature of emptiness. Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche

In Buddhism, the following paradox is explained: a person who strives with all their might solely for their own good very intricately creates the very causes of their own suffering. Conversely, a compassionate person who helps all people, without dividing them into "us" and "them," lives happily. The more a person cares for the happiness of others, the greater their own sense of well-being becomes. Developing closeness and kindness toward others automatically lightens the soul. It is precisely a person's compassionate attitude toward all living beings that creates the causes for their own future happiness. Yeshe Lodoy Rinpoche