Sakyong Mipham Quotes
We suffer because we want life to be different from what it is. We suffer because we try to make pleasurable what is painful, to make solid what is fluid, to make permanent what is always changing.
This is bravery: using the challenge of daily life to sharpen our mind and open our heart.
Whatever we do lays a seed in our deepest consciousness, and one day that seed will grow.
If we do not appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the human heart, how can we appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the natural world?
The self-assured strength that grows from knowing that we already have what we need makes us gentle, because we are no longer desperate.
We humans have come to a crossroads in our history: we can either destroy the world or create a good future.
The most outrageous thing we can do in this world is to accept what happens and fly with it.
Our only reliable source of strength is the goodness of our hearts. Our only foundation for coming to terms with the suffering of the times is our innate need to be decent human beings.
Even when we speak of selflessness, the mind goes to "me." We think, "I'm selfless," but everything is selfless.
True happiness is always available to us, but first we have to create the environment for it to flourish.
If you want to be miserable, think of yourself. If you want to be happy, think of others.
Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act non-virtuously, suffering results.
Meditation practice is relevant because in meditation our conceptual mind relaxes and we can feel who we are at heart.
We want to infuse our day with good habits so that we can turn seemingly mundane situations into a ceremony of goodness.
It seems we all agree that training the body through exercise, diet, and relaxation is a good idea, but why don't we think about training our mind?
It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor-the determining factor of success and happiness is contentment.
When we have gone beyond the boundaries of hope and fear, we are able to work with whatever comes our way.
Our mind is always subject to being distracted by thoughts of what happened in the past and ideas of what could happen in the future, but the living experience is what is happening NOW.
When people say that meditation makes them calm, they are often referring to this stability of the mind. A stable mind creates the foundation for a happier and more contented person.
Being human is a precious situation, and we shouldn't waste time in useless activities.
What distinguishes Shambhala is its intention of trying to create a society based upon certain principles. So, Shambhala's focus is not just on the individual, but on society as a whole.
When we appreciate something, that means we have allowed ourselves to relax and take it in.
If we cut speed and relax with what’s going on in our life right now, kindness and patience will naturally come about.
Shambhala teachings say we all have the potential to accomplish our enlightened nature - our basic goodness.
Enlightened Society is all about nurturing the human spirit - waking up to the goodness, kindness and strength that we already have.
Running and meditation are very personal activities. Therefore they are lonely. This loneliness is one of their best qualities because it strengthens our incentive to motivate ourselves.
The first thing you have to do is acknowledge the basic and fundamental goodness of all beings. If you don't, then you are going to have conflict. That's at the core of Shambhala.
When stress is the basic state of mind, even good things stress us out. We have to learn to let go.
If you see life as an opportunity, or if you see helping others as an opportunity, then all of a sudden you become joyous. You want to go forward.
You need to eat well, sleep well, and have a roof over your head, but don’t go much further than that before extending yourself to others.
Changing our decision sets up a bad habit. It reinforces decision-making as an expression of bewilderment and ignorance, instead of wisdom and freedom.
If you rise with a positive attitude - because everything is possible, everything is doable - if you have that level of confidence, you exude it. It actually inspires the people around you.
To shift the direction of our planet, we must now be willing to experiment with the theory that within the speed and stress, we are good.
Sometimes it seems like most people are being pulled into a negative energy, but then you meet strong individuals or strong leaders and they are free from it.
It's one thing to have the attitude of enlightenment and another thing to act in an enlightened way, which is conduct or activity.
What is really happening in meditation is that we are developing the ability to think when we want to, and to not think when we don’t want to.
What is amazing is how stuck people are in their own habits. It is really hard to get people out of their habits. But once they shift, it also is amazing how rapid the progress can be.
I want people to know you can live a life that is less aggressive and still have success.
