Tenzin Palmo Quotes

When we read history we find that in all ages people have thought, this is the dark age.

First you have to help yourself.

As a human being, we have everything we need. It's enough suffering to give us incentive to go on, but not so much that we don't know where to turn.

Merit clears away obstacles.

When I heard that our bodies change when we get a bit older, I thought, oh good, now I'll go back to being a boy again. But it didn't happen like that.

We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is going to move.

All of us are playing roles, and there's nothing wrong with playing roles because we have to live in this world - the problem is only when we believe in those roles.

Keep your practice very simple and don't be too ambitious.

Actually we've got countless lifetimes, so relax.

The future of Dharma is in women's hands now because they have this energy which was never really tapped.

We shouldn't be too naïve, or taken in by charisma.

People get very deep experiences and they think they're enlightened. That's not enlightenment, that's just some realization.

The Buddha always emphased the important of good friends.

In fact there are beautiful people in this world doing incredibly selfless acts over and over and over. Dedicating their lives completely for the welfare and happiness of others.

Just entering into the dharma and taking refuge and bodhisattva vows is a tremendous amount of merit, but we need more and more and more.

With sincerity from the depths of your heart to do the best you can, just keep going and don't worry too much that you're not Milarepa or Rechungpa.

We should develop a deep appreciation for all the we have, and not waste it, otherwise we'll die with deep regrets.

In the beginning especially, we won't realize we're changing.

On a relative level where we live, we need to have a sense of identity, otherwise we'd fall apart, wouldn't we?

I think we females have a lot of work to do for each other.

Try to develop some genuine love and compassion, some real caring for others.

I find that being with other people dissipates my energy.

In one way I would like to teach, but I have no qualifications to teach Westerners.

It's only when all the dust is completely gone from the mirror, and there is only mirror, no dust, that we're really enlightened. So that's a lot of work.

To be completely enlightened means that you're a Buddha.I don't speak of enlightenment.

There are many wonderfully qualified teachers out there, but that doesn't mean that each teacher is suitable to the same person, anymore than people fall in love with the same person.

In this life you have obstacles.

The thing to do in this lifetime is to create more merit.

As my lama always told me, I learned that I practice better when I'm by myself.

As women become more educated and confident, they can start adding their voice.

Sometimes people come and they have so much pain and confusion in their eyes... what to do? A few words is a little bit of balm but doesn't really solve the deep disease within.

Distraction is the main problem for us all - what the Buddha called the monkey mind. We need to tame this monkey mind.

We all have our own karma and so different teachers will be meaningful to different students.

One thing in the Buddhadharma is that we are not our body, we are not our gender.

When Tibetan lamas die they stay in a realization of clear light nature of the mind for several days or weeks.

It takes a tremendous amount of merit to meet with the dharma - especially if you have an interest in it.

Whether we're in retreat or out in the world, we should try to develop the quality of awareness as much as possible.

I've often said that the seventh paramita should be a sense of humor, so we don't take ourselves too seriously.

If you become a monk because it's an easy life, because you're going to be fed, and sheltered and people will respect you, then that is not a very meritorious motivation.

I do think that someone who decides to devote themselves entirely to the spiritual life, that that is more meritorious.

The problem is that our inherent ignorance keeps us in samsara and unable to benefit ourselves and others on a really deep level.

Wherever we are and whatever we're doing, we're either conscious, or we're not.

I really don't know what I could teach and don't really plan to teach.

In our endless past lives, we've all done everything, you name it, we've done it. Good, bad, intermediate.

Of course, now as a woman you can do so much, without being necessarily a rinpoche.

There are other ways of benefiting than by being a recognized tulku and sitting on a throne.

Still all the tulkus being born are men.

Look at your own potential. Don't overestimate your capabilities and push too hard, or underestimate them and use that as an excuse to be lazy.

At one time I thought that if I could really understand renunciation and bodhichitta from the depths of my heart, then, for this lifetime that would be enough.

I'm glad that I'm female.