Golden words by H.H. Dilgo Kyentse
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends,
There are just some people in the world who have great compassion and live their lives according to this compassion. They harm no one, they abide in love, they think of benefitting others, their speech/mind/body is directed to benefitting others and their presence inspires us to be more and better.
It does not matter whether you are Northern Buddhist, Southern Buddhist, Western Buddhist, Zen, Vietnamese Buddhist, Burmese Buddhist, Japanese Buddhist, Korean Buddhist, Cambodian Buddhist, Laotian Buddhist, Theravada, Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Nyingma, Kagyu, Gelug or Sakya. Why waste time debating which is the best when the whole purpose is to practise now and tame the mind. If our mind is tamed, then whatever tradition we belong to, that is the ‘best’ tradition for us while we respect the others. Train our mind and move on, not train the world.
You shouldn’t go for teachings that move mountains, your inner kundalinis, your channels, or gain enlightenment in one lifetime immediately. Though these teachings are esoteric and powerful, are you ready for them? Being ready takes decades of practice. So you have to be sure. I know of people ‘doing’ higher tantric practices for the last 15 years and gave up and just went back to hedonism. They weren’t ready it turns out. Instead of applying the fundamentals, they ran for the sky and just fell back down to earth. This is not the fault of the Dharma but our impatience, ignorance and sometimes arrogance. We should go for teachings that we can achieve and apply immediately. When we get some results we will feel encouraged to continue and then aspire to take on more. More by that time would be effortless. We should at this time go for ‘simple’ practices like Shakyamuni’s praise/mantra, Guru Rinpoche’s prayer/mantra, Tsongkapa’s Guru Yoga/mantra, Tara’s praises/mantra, Manjushri’s prayer/mantra combined with mind teaching trainings (lojong, 8 verses, Wheel of Sharp Weapons). Not all of those, but one of those according to our lineage or what our teacher has assigned. We should read the Lam Rim or Sakya Lam Dre depending on what lineage we belong to. Our daily meditations and actual sitting practice should be short and sweet. But our reading, contemplation and learning should be always throughout the day.
When our mind has a clearer understanding and taste of renounciation, bodhi mind (bodhicitta) and also some understanding of emptiness of all phenomena, then we can perhaps go for higher esoteric teachings and strong commitment practices/initiations – but not now. If we already have higher teachings, it’s all the more important to practice them along with the fundamentals immediately. But developing compassion, Guru devotion, wisdom, right livelihood, ethics, freedom from 8 worldly dharmas and be kind no matter what situation we are in are very profound practices as it is. Go for teachings we can assimilate and apply into our lives now and we can be consistent with. This should not be used as an excuse to never enter higher advanced teachings due to laziness either.
It is very important from the onset to associate with friends that encourage good qualities and avoid harmful qualities. In the beginning we are very vulnerable like a newly hatched baby chick and we need protection. As we progress, we can associate with anyone because instead of them dragging us down into wasteful activities, we pull them up to be more spiritual. How are we when we spend more time with our teacher and dharma friends? When we drift from our teacher and dharma friends, how do we think? Act? How does our attitude become? We may think we are enjoying some sort of ‘freedom’ but it is the freedom that leads to ‘prison’ within our minds eventually. So we can compare the differences when we are near spiritual friends and when we temporarily drift. Be honest and open.
If we come across people (no matter who they are) who criticize our practice, our teacher, our lineage, our faith, be patient and realize they need help, are ignorant, have ulterior motives or they may have good intentions but you are fine the way you are. They may have more knowledge than you, but it does not mean they have applied it or it applies to you. If you see someone bloodied and in an accident, you don’t ask what happened, or get frightened, you just find them help and deal with everything else later. Even if famous or well known people criticize your practice/lineage/lama, you have to take a step back and not be fazed by their fame but think to yourself:
- Has your lama benifitted you, loved you and gave you precious dharma? Being loyal to your lama is necessary.
- Has your practice helped you? Have you seen some changes in your mind? Even a little is a good sign.
- Has your lama encouraged you to be kind, hold your vows and develop higher states of consciousness? If so, your teacher is sincere.
- Has your lineage/Yidam/Deity blessed you with help, hope and blessings? Then continue and be firm.
- Has the teachings been given to you from pure motivation? Then appreciate it from the core by practising.
If so, then the teachings given to you are fine and continue. Never let others open doubt in you simply because you didn’t check or you are insecure. All teachings are good. If others continue to disparage your teacher/practice/lineage then forgive them. If others’ practices are different, it doesn’t mean it’s bad. Even if it is ‘bad’ we shouldn’t ostracize them and keep them away or point fingers at them and cast them out. We should be kind to them, keep them close and give them MORE KNOWLEDGE so they can eventually reform. Saying their practice is bad or wrong and ignoring them is against all that we strive for in developing compassion, renunciation, bodhi mind, love and the bodhisattva ideal or bodhisattva’s way of life. If someone is practising something ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’, we should be even more patient with them and give them knowledge slowly to amend their ways and not just throw them out and alienate them. Would we ignore a child who always play with matches, or teach them to stop? After all, our ‘enemies’ are our best teachers. Those who counter our beliefs give us a chance to look deeper and learn more so our faith is based on knowledge, understanding and study. Not fear and ignorance.
His Holiness Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche has spent his whole life bringing dharma, love and benefits to others without question. His teachings transcend time, space, and projected differences. I wanted to share them here with you to inspire you. I have not received any teachings from him, but neither did I receive any from Tsongkapa or Buddha Shakyamuni directly, so what? I can still read the teachings of these great beings and apply within myself and share with you. Practice with stable mind your lineage/tradition and never criticize others no matter what you hear. To criticize is counterproductive to your spiritual growth and feeds the negative habits. Be firm with your teacher, center, tradition, practices and help others to be firm with theirs too. That is the best way to move forward internally and externally.
Tsem Rinpoche
“To expect happiness without giving up negative action is like holding your hand in a fire and hoping not to be burned. Of course, no one actually wants to suffer, to be sick, to be cold or hungry – but as long as we continue to indulge in wrong doing we will never put an end to suffering. Likewise, we will never achieve happiness, except through positive deeds, words, and thoughts. Positive action is something we have to cultivate ourselves; it can be neither bought nor stolen, and no one ever stumbles on it just by chance.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“You have not obtained this precious human life just by chance. It is the result of having heard the Buddha’s name in a past life, having taking refuge in him, accumulated virtuous actions and developed some wisdom. There is no certainty that you will obtain this vessel again. If you fail to practise the Dharma in this life, it is certain that you will not obtain a human life. To neglect such an opportunity would therefore be very foolish. Do not waste it. Practise every day.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“A good mind is like a rich ground of gleaming gold, lightening up the whole sky with its golden radiance. But if body speech and mind are not tamed, there is very little chance that you will achieve any realization whatsoever. Be aware of your thoughts, words and actions at all times. If they take the wrong direction, your study and practise of the Dharma will be of no use.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Sooner or later, you will have to part from even your dearest friends. But one friend will never leave you, even though you may never be aware of its existence. It is the Buddha-nature, pure awareness. You begin to discover it by listening to the teachings of a spiritual master. The ties will deepen as you cultivate sustained mental calm and profound insight into reality. In the end, you will discover that it has always been near you and will always be with you. This is the truest friendship you can ever cultivate.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Spending your time with true spiritual friends will fill you with love for all beings and help you to see how negative attachment and hatred are. Being with such friends, and following their example, will naturally imbue you with their good qualities, just as all the birds flying around a golden mountain are bathed in its golden radiance.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Mind, like a crystal, is colored by its surroundings. You are bound to reflect the qualities and shortcomings of the good or bad friends whose company you keep. If you associate with the malevolent, the selfish, the rancorous, the intolerant, and the arrogant, their faults will affect you. You would do better to keep your distance.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The Buddha has manifested in our world; he has turned the wheel of the teachings and these teachings have survived until now. You have received them from an authentic teacher and are ready to put them into practise. Rather than frittering your life away in futile pursuits, should you not marvel at your good fortune and concentrate all your efforts on doing just that, without losing so much as an instant? “ ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The practitioner who has the greatest yearning devotion receives the greatest blessing. Even though rain falls evenly over the land, it is only where perfect seeds are properly cultivated and ready to sprout that a plant grows.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick; every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. But if, instead, you look at where your thoughts are coming from, you will see that each thought arises and dissolves within the space of that awareness, without engendering other thoughts. Be like a lion, who rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The compassion and wisdom of all the Buddhas is beyond partiality, yet it is those possessing faith and confidence who are proper vessels to receive their blessing.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The wind blows through the sky and flies over continents without settling anywhere. It traverses space and leaves no trace. Thus should thoughts pass through our minds, leaving no karmic residues and not altering our realization of fundamental simplicity.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The master is like a great ship for beings to cross the perilous ocean of existence, an unerring captain who guides them to the dry land of liberation, a rain that extinguishes the fire of the passions, a bright sun and moon that dispel the darkness of ignorance, a firm ground that can bear the weight of both good and bad, a wish-fulfilling tree that bestows temporal happiness and ultimate bliss, a treasury of vast and deep instructions, a wish-fulfilling jewel granting all the qualities of realization, a father and a mother giving their love equally to all sentient beings, a great river of compassion, a mountain rising above worldly concerns unshaken by the winds of emotions, and a great cloud filled with rain to soothe the torments of the passions. In brief, he is the equal of all the Buddhas.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
photo by Matthieu Ricard, Tibet 1985
“Maintain that state of simplicity. If you encounter happiness, success, prosperity, or other favorable conditions, consider them as dreams or illusions, and do not get attached to any of them. If you are stricken by illness, calumny, deprivation, or other physical and mental trials, do not let yourself get discouraged, but rekindle your compassion and generate the wish that through your suffering all beings suffering may be exhausted. Whatever circumstances arise, do not plunge into either elation or misery, but stay free and comfortable, in unshaken serenity.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Recognizing the kindness of the lama, we remember his face, his expression, and his speech with devotion, again and again. An immediate sense of gratitude is present, and we know that through the lama’s presence and his blessings, hearing his voice and receiving his teachings, we will swiftly progress on the path of liberation.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“If you master your mind, it will remain naturally concentrated, peaceful and aware. You will even be able to wander around in a crowd without being distracted and carried away by desire or aversion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The essence of Guru Yoga is simply to remember the Guru at all times: when you are happy, think of the Guru; when you are sad, think of the Guru; when you meet favorable circumstances, be grateful to the Guru; and when you meet obstacles, pray to the Guru, and rely on him alone. When you are sitting, think of the guru above your head. When you are walking, imagine that he is above your right shoulder, as if you were circumambulating him. When you are eating food, visualize the guru at your throat center and offer him the first portion. Whenever you wear new clothes, first offer them to the guru, and then wear them as if he had given them back to you.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Never forget how swiftly this life will be over, like a flash of summer lightning or the wave of a hand. Now that you have the opportunity to practice dharma, do not waste a single moment on anything else.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Keep in mind the many beings who are suffering in the same way as you are, and pray that your suffering may absorb theirs and that they may be liberated from all suffering. In this way, illness can teach us compassion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The Buddha is not going to project you to Buddhahood, as if throwing a stone. He is not going to purify you, as if washing a dirty cloth, nor is he going to cure you of ignorance, like a doctor administering medicine to a passive patient. Having attained full enlightenment himself, he is showing you the path, and it is up to you to follow it or not. It is up to you now to practise these teachings and experience their results.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“It seems very important for all of us to seek ultimate peace and freedom. If we are constantly being disturbed and losing our inner peace and freedom, what kind of happiness do we have, after all?” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The teachings we need most are those that will actually strengthen and inspire our practice. It is all very well to receive teachings as high as the sky, but the sky is not that easy to grasp. Start with practices which you can truly assimilate – developing determination to be free of ordinary concerns, nurturing love and compassion – and as you gain stability in your practice you will eventually be able to master all the higher teachings.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“We should learn to see everyday life as mandala – the luminous fringes of experience, which radiate spontaneously from the empty nature of our being. The aspects of our mandala are the day-to-day objects of our life experience moving in the dance or play of the universe. By this symbolism the inner teacher reveals the profound and ultimate significance of being.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“When we engage in the practice of discovering space, we should develop the feeling of opening ourselves out completely to the entire universe. We should open ourselves with absolute simplicity and nakedness of mind. This is the powerful and ordinary practice of dropping the mask of self-protection.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Worries concerning the melodramas of day-to-day life serve no purpose. To fret in this futile manner is to be like the child who is delighted at having built a sand castle, and distraught when the sea washes it away.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Mind is what creates both samsara and nirvana. Yet there is nothing much to it – it is just thoughts. Once we recognize that thoughts are empty, the mind will no longer have the power to deceive us. But as long as we take our deluded thoughts as real, they will continue to torment us mercilessly, as they have been doing throughout countless past lives. To gain control over the mind, we need to be aware of what to do and what to avoid, and we also need to be alert and vigilant, constantly examining all our thoughts, words and actions.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“It is always beneficial to be near a spiritual teacher. These masters are like gardens or medicinal plants, sanctuaries of wisdom. In the presence of a realized master, you will rapidly attain enlightment. In the presence of an erudite scholar, you will aquire great knowledge. In the presence of a great meditator, spiritual experience will dawn in your mind. In the presence of a bodhisattva, your compassion will expand, just as an ordinary log placed next to a log of sandalwood becomes saturated, little by little, with its fragrance.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“In the midst of clouds of impermanence and illusion, dances the lightning of life. Can you say you won’t die tomorrow? Practice the Dharma.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The stronger our devotion, the greater the blessings. But to have no devotion is like hiding oneself in a house with all the doors and shutters closed. The sunlight will never get in.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“To make a lamp burn brightly, without flickering, one puts it inside a glass lantern to protect it from the wind. Similarly, to develop deep concentration we have to prepare the mind and still our thoughts with devotion and correct attitude.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“In Tibet after 1959, under conditions of intense persecution, tens of thousands of people continued to practise the Dharma secretly, and they have emerged from their ordeal with even greater faith. But in your case nobody is forbidding you to pray or to practise. So recite the Mani Mantra, reflect on the teachings, and fuse them into your being by meditating on them every day, even if it is for no more than a few moments. The Dharma is something that you yourself have to practise, no one else can do it for you.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“One of the meaning of the word Dharma is that which holds. It holds and guides those who give themselves to it with confidence. A person being swept away by the swift current of a river can be gripped by a firm hand and handed on to the bank. In the same way, the teacher’s hook can pull us out of the round of the deaths and rebirths, as long, as we can hold out to him the ring of our faith.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Long ago, in one of Lord Buddha’s precious lives, when he was a Bodhisattva in the form of a snake, some cruel children caught him to death. Had he been wanted, the Bodhisattva could have annihilated them with a single glance; but as his heart was free from the slightest thought of anger, that was not what he did. Instead, he prayed that through the connection they were making with him by killing him, they would in future become his disciples and be led by him to enlightment. This exemplary courage and patience was the result of his complete realization of voidness and compassion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The literal meaning of Guru Yoga is ‘union with the teacher’s nature’. To blend your mind with the teacher’s mind is the most profound of all practices, and the shortest path of realization. It is the life force of the path and the one practice that includes all others. It was through relying on a spiritual teacher that all the Bodhisattvas of the past generated the mind of enlightment and reached perfection.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Once you have the view, although the delusory perceptions of samsara may arise in your mind, you will be like the sky; when a rainbow appears in front of it, it’s not particularly flattered, and when the clouds appear, it’s not particularly disappointed either. There is a deep sense of contentment. You chuckle from inside as you see the facade of samsara and nirvana; the view will keep you constantly amused, with a little inner smile bubbling away all the time.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Obstacles can arise from good as well as bad circumstances, but they should never deter or overpower you. Be like the earth, which supports all living creatures indiscriminately, without distinguishing good from bad. The earth is simply there. Your practice should be strengthened by the difficult situations you encounter, just as a bonfire in a strong wind is not blown out, but blazes even brighter.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The practitioner who has the greatest yearning devotion receives the greatest blessing. Even though rain falls evenly over the land, it is only where perfect seeds are properly cultivated and ready to sprout that a plant grows.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The guru is the equal of all the Buddhas. To make any connection with him, whether through seeing him, hearing his voice, remembering him or being touched by his hand, will lead us toward liberation. To have full confidence in him is the sure way to progress toward enlightenment. The warmth of his wisdom and compassion will melt therefore of our being and release the gold of the Buddha-nature within.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: “A dharma-practitioner should be able to cope with all possible circumstances, neither created by the good nor cast into despair by the bad. In either case, free from expectations and doubt, one should remember the guru. Happiness and sorrow, joy and suffering, though nothing in themselves, can become either a help or a hindrance on the path. What we ourselves make of these experinces is the test of the genuiness of our practise. This is the true essence of the guru yoga and is itself the main practise.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“When an enlightened master who has wisdom and compassion meets a disciple who has faith and diligence, it is as if the sun’s rays where suddenly concentrated through a magnifying glass and focus onto dry grass, causing it to burst into flames, at once. In the same way, the blessings we receive will correspond directly to the intensity of our devotion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“As long as you, like most people, fail to recognize the true value of human existence you will just fritter your life away in futile activity and distraction. When life comes all too soon to its inevitable end, you will not have achieved anything worthwhile at all. But once you really see the unique opportunity that human life can bring, you will definitely direct all your energy into reaping its true worth by putting the Dharma into practice” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The practice of Dharma should bring you to the point where you can maintain the same constant awareness whether in or out of practice sessions. This is the quintessential point of all spiritual instruction; without it, however many mantras and prayers you recite, however many thousands of prostrations and circumambulations you do, as long as your mind remains distracted none of it will help to get rid of your obscuring emotions. Never forget this most crucial point.”~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Once you have recognize the empty nature of mind, to allow love to rise for someone who is harming you becomes easy. But without that recognition, it is very hard to stop anger from arising instead, is it not? Look into it, and you will see that mind is what does positive actions, and mind is what make circumstances negative.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The more you attempt to reject external phenomena, the more they will spring back to you. Hence, therefore, the importance of recognizing the empty nature of your thoughts and simply allowing them to dissolve.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The wide open expanse of spiritual realization, the true condition of mind, is like the sky, like space, without centre, without edge, without goal. Dissolving into the expanse of emptiness, it has no limits and no boundary. Everything I see, everything I hear, my own mind and the sky, all merge.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“To go beyond samsara and nirvana, we will need
the two wings of emptiness and compassion.
From now on, let us use these two wings
to fly fearlessly into the sky of the life to come.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“The master and the disciple will never be separated;
May your life be long and firm like the earth.
May the circumstances always be joyful and harmonious.
May the auspiciosness of your joy and Dharma practice prevail.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“In truth, if you cannot tame your own mind, what else is there to tame? What is the use of doing many other practices? The aim of the whole Buddhist path, both Basic and the Great Vehicles, is to tame and understand your mind.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“There should be no insult or humiliation that is to great to bear. If you were ever to feel it was justifiable to respond vindictively, the exchange of bitter words and recriminations that ensue would be bound to inflame and escalate the anger on both sides. This is how people start to fight and kill each other. Murders and wars all begin with just one angry thought.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
A warm photo of His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama with His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Mastery of the mind is achieved through constant awareness of all your thoughts and actions. Check your mind over and over again, and as soon as negative thoughts arise, remedy them with the appropriate antidotes.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“If you have no mastery over your mind and are influenced and conditioned by habitual tendencies, even in the quiet of an insolated retreat your thoughts will follow one upon another like ripples on water. Memories of past events will well up vividly in your mind – as will plans, decisions, and speculation about your future. You will spend your whole time running after thoughts and concepts, a lot of mental activity with no benefit at all for your practice.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Once you overcome the hatred within your mind, you will discover that in the world outside, there is no longer any such thing as even a single enemy.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Were hatred, pride, jealously, desire and stupidity to decrease, not only conflicts but also epidemics and natural calamities in the world will decrease as well, like smoke disappearing when a fire is extinguished.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“When we begin to win the struggle to free ourselves from the waves of afflictive emotions, the mind will become like a calm and vast lake. This peaceful state, the natural tranquility of mind, will lead to deep samadhi [concentration], which is the pacification of wandering, deluded thoughts.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
‘What is the difference between money and enlightenment?’
His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche answers: “Money can be finished but enlightenment will never be finished.”
“There is no emotion that you cannot be rid of, because emotions are simply thoughts, and thoughts are just like the wind moving through the empty sky. There is nothing to them.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
“Even if we have met a teacher and received instructions, however, we will never be able to receive his blessings if we do not have fervent devotion and complete confidence in him and his teachings. And without his blessings we will not progress along the path. First of all, therefore, we need to generate devotion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
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Great teachings by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche a Vajrayana master, scholar, poet, teacher. Been recognized by Buddhists as one of the greatest realized masters. H H Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche has spent his whole life bringing dharma, love and benefits to others. Each and every golden words from this great Master gives us a lesson.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this.
H.H. Dilgo Kyentse was a Vajrayana master, scholar, poet, teacher, and head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Even though Dilgo Kyentse was from a different lineage, yet all these meaningful quotes teachings had the similarity of what Tsem Rinpoche had taught us. Reading all those quotes, is simply truly meaningful fill with wisdom when we take our time to understand it. Almost all the quotes, wordings and phrases will be a teaching for me. An absolute treasure trove of profound teachings .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these golden quotes with us.
Visiting here again to find some “boost” to move on. Sometimes how our mind can trick us daily from being happy to miserable and sad or vice versa.
Nevertheless, I always remind pray that may I remember my Guru’s advice so that I will not be strayed away from the path. Thank you Rinpoche for this article and I am attracted to this few lines of golden words from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche ?
“Even if we have met a teacher and received instructions, however, we will never be able to receive his blessings if we do not have fervent devotion and complete confidence in him and his teachings. And without his blessings we will not progress along the path. First of all, therefore, we need to generate devotion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this very inspiring article, filled with so many precious phrases from H.H Dilgo Kyentse.
These phrases have also been shared/taught by Rinpoche in this blog or in you tube teachings etc. They are the foundation of our path and if we use them in our lives consistently, results will manifest.
We are so lucky to have these Great Lamas who have the wisdom to use their rebirth and lives to teach the Buddha Dharma, to help us be better people, to help us bring forth our Buddha nature, to help us benefit others and to make this world a better place !
H.H. Dilgo Kyentse did give very sound advice. Though he is from a different school and lineage, what he teaches, as far as I can see from his quotes here, is the same core teachings that Rinpoche has taught us. Maybe the finer nuances are different but the base, the foundation is the same. It’s like an allergy, where I am allergic to MSG and you are allergic to peanuts. Both can be detrimental to our health and does not mean that you peanut allergy is better off than my MSG allergy. MSG may not affect you at all but it affects me. Likewise, what may be good for you may not be good for me. So, to each their own.
“To criticize is counterproductive to your spiritual growth and feeds the negative habits. Be firm with your teacher, center, tradition, practices and help others to be firm with theirs too. That is the best way to move forward internally and externally.”
It’s the same with teachers, center, tradition or practices. Thank you, Rinpoche for clarifying this for us.
Thank you Rinpoche for this beautiful article.
“The wind blows through the sky and flies over continents without settling anywhere. It traverses space and leaves no trace. Thus should thoughts pass through our minds, leaving no karmic residues and not altering our realization of fundamental simplicity”.
Becoming One with the source.. the Union of the Mind, by realizing Emptiness, all duality and samsara’sufferings will vanish into the skies.
Becoming One with the Guru..through Guru Devotion, is the superhighway towards merging towards the Source of the path.
With folded hands.
[…] “Some people spend all their energy, and even risk their lives to achieve fame. Fame and notoriety are both no more than an empty echo. Your reputation is an alluring mirage that can easily lead you astray. Discard it without a second thought, like the snort you blow from your nose.” ~Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche […]
It was a wonderful quotes and is so meaningful.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post.
“Even if we have met a teacher and received instructions, however, we will never be able to receive his blessings if we do not have fervent devotion and complete confidence in him and his teachings. And without his blessings we will not progress along the path. First of all, therefore, we need to generate devotion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Indeed, I am so fortunate to have Rinpoche as our Guru that always tirelessly finding all ways to teach us the precious Dharma and lead us the way to enlightenment. I will push myself to work harder and harder on my mind, practice compassion, be kind to others and challenging myself to be a better person each day. This life is so short and impermanent, since I have the chance to learn and do Dharma, I should even treasure it and do more and more.
Thank you so much Rinpoche for sharing these words that are full of Wisdom and most of all, thanks so much for being my Guru that teaches me tirelessly. May I always serve you life after life.
My faith n believe
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I am not Buddhist, I have been studying mainly Vedanta and the path of Self Inquiry or Atma Vichar for many years , I know of Tsem Rinpoche from viewing his videos on You Tube during last few years .There is one thing that I cannot brush away and that is some very close intimate feeling and love for the Bhuddist way and of their teachers, it is like a groove that reaches into my mind and pulls me towards a feeling of love,it may very well be a spiritual vasana ,( I don’t know your terminology for this Sanskrit word)it means, a tendency from the past,some seed may have been planted by some lama guru somewhere some time ,I have no idea.I only know there is some root connection, I did spend some time in Bodhgaya and in McCleod Ganj and traveled around India meeting Rinpoches, Lamas and monks briefly .I even heard a Puja at the Mahabodhi Stupa and cried when I had to leave that place,candles lit up the evening and to this day I do not know what that puja was; but the song being chanted was very charming and full of love.I once saw the vivid colorful vestments of the Tibetan dancers in my mind vigorously moving one evening full of energy, later on I saw a video of HH Dilgo Kyenste Rinpoche dancing in the same hat and dress.
I can see true contentment very clearly in the expression of HH Dilgo Kyenste Rinpoche it shines on all .
Full prostrations to the Varja Diamond that is his lotus feet, resting in the heart of all Beingness .
Wonderful words
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for taking the time and writing this blog post. What i learnt from Rinpoche’s post:
– When Rinpoche mentioned that we should tame our mind to move on and not to move the world, it struck me as it is so true. All changes begins with me, as in my mind. Everything begins with me. The way we ‘see’ the world and the way we react to situations all stems from me, myself, and I.
– Before we can receive higher tantric practices, we have to be very familiar and understand the fundamentals first. This is the same as learning to crawl/walk before we can run. Step by step. By familiarizing ourselves with the fundamentals of preliminary practices, we are like laying bricks/foundations for a building. Then only our understanding can be firm.
– When we have a stable and tame mind, then only will we see things in a clearer manner and understand better. Then we will not be fazed when others challenge us. We can share what we know and exchange opinions. Part of our practice is offering our victories to others even when we know others might not be right.
– I also learnt that we mustn’t criticize other centers or fellow practitioners even if we are of different traditions/beliefs. We all follow Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings. Everybody has a different mindset/thinking hence the 84,000 different teachings from Lord Buddha to cater to us.
When I read the quotes from H.h Dilgo Kyentse, somehow the way Kyentse Rinpoche reminds me of Tsem Rinpoche. The wittiness in the photos, (so cute!) and the essence of the quotes are somewhat similar. I have no doubt that Kyentse Rinpoche’s quotes (and Rinpoche’s) are of highly attained Lamas. So profound!
I must admit that it is quite tough for my simple mind to read all of the quotes and properly digest them as there are manyyyy of them. Will re-read the quotes and contemplate on them.
Thank you so very much for sharing, Rinpoche!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this profound teaching and wonderful post with a lot of quotes and direct teaching from HH. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. All of these teaching should apply into our daily life. Everything is impermanence, we must not wasted our time. We must focus on our dharma practice and transform our mind.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this teaching.
This is totally true and so meaningful, that I can easy understand it now. Also I can gain more Dharma knowledge from this post 🙂 We all should always remember what we had practice and what we had learn from Dharma, since we all have this chances to get teachings directly from a Guru.
喜欢他提及的。我们可以学佛学法，如天一样高，但是否我们能够掌握。重点是我们需要以自己的根据，一步一步认真的学。这也是我们长犯的错误：一步登天。
钱和证悟的差别在于钱可尽，证悟则存。我们看不到证悟的好，所以不会去珍惜。一切都是我们对于事物的认知。
任何传承都好，真正修行更重要。
“Even if we have met a teacher and received instructions, however, we will never be able to receive his blessings if we do not have fervent devotion and complete confidence in him and his teachings. And without his blessings we will not progress along the path. First of all, therefore, we need to generate devotion.”
“In truth, if you cannot tame your own mind, what else is there to tame? What is the use of doing many other practices? The aim of the whole Buddhist path, both Basic and the Great Vehicles, is to tame and understand your mind.”
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Thank you Rinpoche for The Golden Words by HH Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche.
These short quotes carry so much teachings. Guru devotion must be in place for us to receive our Guru’s blessings and along the way, we must transform ourselves and learn to tame our monkey mind.
Thank You so much Rinpoche! I love quotes and have always love reading them. I am so glad i found this beautiful and nourishing blog of yours Rinpoche! Thank You very much! _/\_ (with both hands together)
Thank you Rinpoche for the quotes.
all these quotes teaching are exactly that Tsem Rinpoche is teaching us, but the only difference is they don’t use the same word. This is what Rinpoche mentioned, a Guru who are here to teach you, they will focus on your transformation, so they will give you teachings that make you transform to be a better person.
While going through H.H. Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche’s quote, I saw so much similarity with Tsem Rinpoche’s teaching, it is all about guru devotion, being kind, have integrity, etc.
I will definitely come and read again one by one and to understand the meaning.. this quotes also reminded me of one book, “If not now, when?” coffee table book. the teaching are short and sweet and it carries great meaning.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s.I really enjoyed reading his quotes are very powerful and meaningful! .
Thank you Rinpoche for retrieving the nice quotes from HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Some of the quotes are indeed quite deep and need contemplation. 🙂
What Rinpoche said about learning what we can apply immediately, and not those high training which we cannot “appreciate” for now. I have met many people who always run around looking for initiations and always looking for very “deep” teachings, but sad to say, from their actions, “basic” teachings of compassion towards others are not applied to their lives.
I am glad to have Rinpoche to point out to us that we should learn from basic, apply them immediately, then only go for higher teachings.
Love this from H.H –
“The guru is the equal of all the Buddhas. To make any connection with him, whether through seeing him, hearing his voice, remembering him or being touched by his hand, will lead us toward liberation. To have full confidence in him is the sure way to progress toward enlightenment. The warmth of his wisdom and compassion will melt therefore of our being and release the gold of the Buddha-nature within.”
“Recognizing the kindness of the lama, we remember his face, his expression, and his speech with devotion, again and again. An immediate sense of gratitude is present, and we know that through the lama’s presence and his blessings, hearing his voice and receiving his teachings, we will swiftly progress on the path of liberation.”
“The essence of Guru Yoga is simply to remember the Guru at all times: when you are happy, think of the Guru; when you are sad, think of the Guru; when you meet favorable circumstances, be grateful to the Guru; and when you meet obstacles, pray to the Guru, and rely on him alone. When you are sitting, think of the guru above your head. When you are walking, imagine that he is above your right shoulder, as if you were circumambulating him. When you are eating food, visualize the guru at your throat center and offer him the first portion. Whenever you wear new clothes, first offer them to the guru, and then wear them as if he had given them back to you.”
“The master and the disciple will never be separated;
May your life be long and firm like the earth.
May the circumstances always be joyful and harmonious.
May the auspiciosness of your joy and Dharma practice prevail.”
Love this quote from H.H Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing the wonderful quotes by H.H
Best Regards : Erickksiow
Thank you for sharing this wonderful quotes with us.
lovely inspering quotes
Thank you for Rinpoche sharing Golden words by H.H. Dilgo Kyentse. I will share to anyone who is clinging on some attachment with this quote :‘What is the difference between money and enlightenment?’
His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche answers: “Money can be finished but enlightenment will never be finished.”
Learning Dharma can let our mind ” Peaceful ” .
All the quote above by H.Holiness Dilgo Kyentze rinpoche is so profound teaching of compassion and fill with wisdom.
I like this quote. “Even if we have met a teacher and received instructions, however, we will never be able to receive his blessings if we do not have fervent devotion and complete confidence in him and his teachings. And without his blessings we will not progress along the path. First of all, therefore, we need to generate devotion.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Its to show how you to develop guru devotion in you to help your spiritual practice.
pranaam to all masters ………..
saber mas
Good for better life
Thank you Rinpoche for taking so much time to share these golden quotes with us. If we apply the methods to tame our minds, coupled with guru devotion and compassion, we can progress in our spiritual journey.
“Mastery of the mind is achieved through constant awareness of all your thoughts and actions. Check your mind over and over again, and as soon as negative thoughts arise, remedy them with the appropriate antidotes.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
i found it very moral and useful for my life. thank you very much
Dear Rinpoche,
The Golden words by H.H Dilgo Kyentse are some of the antidote to my monkey mind. Also to understand more in Guru Devotion. Many of the quotes are so powerful, I will share these to my friends , my contact.
Thank you
With folded hand
/\
Reading the wise words of HH Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche brings forth to my mind the similar teachings that HE Tsem Rinpoche has been teaching over the years, and Tsem Rinpoche is still teaching the same.
Dilgo Kyentse teaching and quotes posted here are great and they are so similar to those teachings Tsem Rinpoche teaches at dharma talks in Malaysia and on the net. The essence and core values are the same, only the words and deliverance differ.
Thank you for sharing this, Tsem Rinpoche.
Thank you very much.
What I have always appreciated in Buddha’s teachings is the clarity and simplicity to achieving the inner peace and happiness. H. E. Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings when fell on my ears 3 years ago proved to me this. Now, reading the teachings of H.H. Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche’s teachings it is also the same. Simple, clear, precise and applicable. There is no play of words which make interpretation complicated.
This one stuck out for me:
“Mind is what creates both samsara and nirvana. Yet there is nothing much to it – it is just thoughts. Once we recognize that thoughts are empty, the mind will no longer have the power to deceive us. But as long as we take our deluded thoughts as real, they will continue to torment us mercilessly, as they have been doing throughout countless past lives. To gain control over the mind, we need to be aware of what to do and what to avoid, and we also need to be alert and vigilant, constantly examining all our thoughts, words and actions.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
I have always thought that the mind is a powerful weapon. It can either destroy me or protect me. This teaching tells me that it is me who can control this weapon by making clear choices which benefit and not harm myself and others. When I harm myself I will inevitably harm others.
Ah ha…and this one is great:
“There is no emotion that you cannot be rid of, because emotions are simply thoughts, and thoughts are just like the wind moving through the empty sky. There is nothing to them.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
This is so apt for those of us who are emotionally charged up! Some of us are so driven by our emotions that some decisions we make are completely bazaar to the logical mind… In this teaching I learn that my emotions are empty because it is like the moving wind thus not permanent. And no matter how bad something feels it will not last. This is comforting especially when we have so much pain in and around us. Knowing that the emotion of pain is like the wind and that I can make mindful thought to change the pain is liberating.
Liberating teachings to tame our minds – the powerful weapon! Another great Buddhist Lama. I rejoice.
A whole treasure grove of teachings here. As I was reading quotes from such an illustrious master, it made me think how fortunate I am to be studying under such an erudite master as HE Tsem Rinpoche. This quote especially stuck out for me.
“It is always beneficial to be near a spiritual teacher. These masters are like gardens or medicinal plants, sanctuaries of wisdom. In the presence of a realized master, you will rapidly attain enlightment. In the presence of an erudite scholar, you will aquire great knowledge. In the presence of a great meditator, spiritual experience will dawn in your mind. In the presence of a bodhisattva, your compassion will expand, just as an ordinary log placed next to a log of sandalwood becomes saturated, little by little, with its fragrance.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
We are so lucky to be in the presence of Rinpoche that by following His examples, a little of his enlightened qualities get rubbed onto us!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these wonderful yet most profound quotes from H.H.Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
I love every of the quotes and there are so many words and phrases that stands out in my mind and stays in my heart :
Ultimate Peace and Freedom
Liberation of Sufferings – Taking on the Sufferings of Others
Alert and Vigilant , constantly examining all our Thoughts, Words and Actions
Correct Attitude
Gratitude
Aware
Positivity
State of Simplicity
Guru Devotion
Diligence
Devotion
Non Attachment
Compassion
Peaceful
Inner Peace
Mastery over Your Mind
Fervent devotion and Complete Confidence
May the Auspiciousness of your Joy and Dharma Practice Prevail
Such beautiful beautiful words.
There’s just so much to digest here.
The two quotes that stuck out for me the most were:
1. The quote relating to being aware and disciplined with our thoughts, words and actions, i.e. being mindful of our body, speech and mind. As no matter how much Dharma I know, if those are not controlled – I can achieve no realisation.
It basically says, practice what I preach, and walk the talk. No point gaining knowledge, and not treat your parents with respect, speak down on others, point out faults in other religions, create schism amongst your friends etc. It’s contradictory, and in Dilgo Kyentse’s words reflects how we’re “taking the wrong direction”.
Our minds are capable of reaching enlightenment. We all have the Buddha potential within us. However, unless we don’t reflect the Buddha’s teachings through our actions, we will never reach Buddhahood.
2. The quote relating to how there’s actually no such thing as being angry, as being sad, as being frustrated, as being rejoiceful etc. It’s all an illusion. We can’t get rid of those emotions because they are simply thoughts and thoughts are “just like the wind moving through the empty sky”.
We hold onto our feelings, and treat it as a set emotion that we indulge and experience. We go through our emotions and use it to judge, to analyse, to react to situations and most of the time base our discussions on.
To realize that our emotions are actually not real, clears up a lot of mental obscurations. For me at least. As someone quite reactionary, this is something that I have to strongly practice on.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful blog post on H.H Dilgo Kyentse, his quotes are just amazing, true and touching
Here are my thoughts on this article.
What Rinpoche said about how Some people have great Compassion and live their lives according to this compassion, they harm no one they abide in love, they think of benefitting others, their speech/mind/body is directed to benefitting others and their presence inspires us to be more and better.
I find that H.H Dilgo Kyentse quotes are very touching and very down to earth kind. his quotes just never fails to make me think hard and contemplation and true to this blog title his words are just Golden Word that have been spoke out of his Golden Mouth.
I also find his quotes to be very true and makes a lot of sense to me.
Love
Jutika
[…] Golden words by H.H. Dilgo Kyentse […]
There’s so much to comment on, where do I start?! Okay, three quotes stood out for me…
“They ran for the sky and just fell back down to earth.” – how poetic. Actually I totally 100% agree with Rinpoche about the importance of mastering the fundamentals, before moving on to the esoteric tantric practices. I agree not out of blind faith, but because it makes perfect sense. Unless you’re an idiot savant, most people don’t jump ahead to university studies when they still haven’t completed primary school yet. So if you cannot jump so far when it comes to secular knowledge, what makes you think you will be successful in jumping so far when it comes to spiritual knowledge? Especially since to gain accomplishments with spiritual knowledge is far more “difficult” in the sense that it deals with your mind and your previous lives (whereas secular knowledge only relies deals with your current life right now)? So fundamental practices such as developing compassion, Guru devotion, wisdom, right livelihood, right ethics, etc. are so because no matter what lineage, school or region you come from, you can never argue that those fundamentals are anything but integral to your practice.
“The wind blows through the sky and flies over continents without settling anywhere. It traverses space and leaves no trace. Thus should thoughts pass through our minds, leaving no karmic residues and not altering our realization of fundamental simplicity.” Wow, this TOTALLY blew me away. Such a simple analogy, yet so powerful. In this, I see teachings on:
1) impermanence – everything passes through without settling
2) not clinging on to perceptions and preconceived notions – what’s the point of clinging on when it never remains the same from moment to moment? What are you really clinging on to?
3) not becoming attached and / or succumbing to our attachments – what’s the point of acting on such thoughts when they themselves have no permanent form, and acting on them can lead to karmic residues which stain our path to enlightenment?
And how His Holiness mentions that our thoughts, like the wind, traverses space…no matter what space we physically occupy, our thoughts are always with us and they have the potential to affect how we interact with the world. So it’s up to us whether our thoughts will colour our spirituality, or whether we learn to let them go so they DON’T colour our spirituality. But it is something we HAVE to deal with because our thoughts are always with us.
And this too, “When an enlightened master who has wisdom and compassion meets a disciple who has faith and diligence, it is as if the sun’s rays where suddenly concentrated through a magnifying glass and focus onto dry grass, causing it to burst into flames, at once. In the same way, the blessings we receive will correspond directly to the intensity of our devotion.” – it reminds me of all the times people have told me that as soon as they laid eyes on Rinpoche, something deep inside of them moved. They cannot explain or describe what it is, but there’s a shift and they feel an instant, deep and close connection with Rinpoche although they’ve never met him before. It is as though in that moment, all the opportune conditions were present for the Dharma seed to come to fruition for the practitioner, and that change is irreversible and inevitable in the same way that once all the opportune conditions are present for the dry grass to burn, it will inevitably be ignited.
I’m not one to appreciate poetry but H.H. Dilgo Khyentse, in the tradition of all grand masters of Tibet, is just so poetic with his words having so much more meaning than what they appear…there’s so much in this post to contemplate on and digest!
I like what Tsem Rinpoche says about going for teachings we can assimilate and apply into our lives now and we can be consistent with. Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism can be very attractive because it sounded very mysterious and esoteric, and quite a large percentage of people are drawn to it because it seems to promise instant enlightenment, supernatural power etc…but those are wrong motivation to go into Tibetan Buddhism. As we can see from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s words, none of it was about supernatural power, but they are all about compassion, practising kindness, realizing impermanence etc. So, the real supernatural power that is promised by the esoteric Tibetan Buddhism, is none other than – compassion.
H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche quotes are so profound but i think Rinpoche words and teaching suits me more. Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing will contemplate the beautiful quotes. 🙂
Dear Rinpoche, I have picked out 3 quotes that touch me the most at this moment.
1. “Mind is what creates both samsara and nirvana. Yet there is nothing much to it – it is just thoughts. Once we recognize that thoughts are empty, the mind will no longer have the power to deceive us. But as long as we take our deluded thoughts as real, they will continue to torment us mercilessly, as they have been doing throughout countless past lives. To gain control over the mind, we need to be aware of what to do and what to avoid, and we also need to be alert and vigilant, constantly examining all our thoughts, words and actions.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Nirvana is something that seems to be very far away from me and I never think abiut the possibility for me to do it. But I also forget how easily I am to be in samsara. So samsara and nirvana is actually like north and south. It is not about good or bad. To be at one of that two places(samsara and nirvana), there are different ways/methods of getting there. We choose after we know how the two places are, what are the pros and cons. And to be alert to our acts, mind and speech is very important too, because after we choose the way to go, these three things determine the results as well.
2. “The practitioner who has the greatest yearning devotion receives the greatest blessing. Even though rain falls evenly over the land, it is only where perfect seeds are properly cultivated and ready to sprout that a plant grows.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
Student who is ready for teachings and with devotion actually create the causes for the Guru to teach and they create causes for them to gain attainments too! Some people may get jealous at the others, why I’m more senior than the person, but I don’t get special teachings from my Guru. They might think that their Guru is bias, but this thought creates bad karma for him/her to stay even far from their Guru. So bear in mind, we are the one who creates karma to whether be near with the Guru, or far away from the Guru. A Guru is someone with compassion, why the Guru will be biased in giving teachings?
3. “Sooner or later, you will have to part from even your dearest friends. But one friend will never leave you, even though you may never be aware of its existence. It is the Buddha-nature, pure awareness. You begin to discover it by listening to the teachings of a spiritual master. The ties will deepen as you cultivate sustained mental calm and profound insight into reality. In the end, you will discover that it has always been near you and will always be with you. This is the truest friendship you can ever cultivate.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
The best friend in our lives ultimately is not our dear Guru or our Dharma brothers and sisters, even though they are very the precious ones. The best friend that we can rely on is the Buddha-nature that brings long-lasting happiness and calm to our mind, so that no matter what happens, we can still carry our lives with love and compassion without hatred or bitterness. the Buddha-nature helps us to see reality so that we don’t feel suffer out of our ignorance. The Guru can’t be with us forever even though the Guru will be the one who guides us to develop the Buddha-nature. We are the one who needs to cultivate it and have it along with our lives.
Meeting the Dharma makes one fortunate… to stay with the Dharma despite all of samsaric’s distractions is very fortunate… and to have met the kindest person in the world, our Guru who takes nothing from us but only give love, care, and wisdom… that is the most precious.
When we are so fortunate to have encountered a kind Guru that have put aside all of His personal wants, it is only right for us to return this kindness with transformation, if one can’t think that highly, then think of it as something logical to do.
After observing and gaining much confidence in our Guru, we must submerge ourselves in fulfilling the very reason we have a Guru in the first place. That is to practice the Dharma fully… and I believe that comes from being grateful towards this kind person that have imparted so much wisdom into us.
When we practice, we must be extremely honest with ourselves. What we can do or can’t do at the moment must be obviously apparent to us. We should not aim for the sky when we don’t know how to fly, so be honest and not aim overly big or you will crash. Starting from the very fundamental is important, just like building bricks from the bottom up… you cant build a house from the roof… if it is not logical and possible to do so in the physical world, you cannot do so in your mind as well. Patience is the key to a strong spiritual practice, but not the type of patience that will make us inert.
So the very basics that our Guru teaches us today must be applied, learnt and practiced with perfection because it will pave the way to our higher practice in the near future. Therefore, don’t let your ears wonder and be light to what people say of other teachings because although what they say is true, you may not be ready for it. Take great care of what your Guru teaches you, for he has watched you, know you and gauged your abilities and has given you practices to suit your level. Be grateful for that and do it all the way.
I really enjoyed reading the words of wisdom from HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these great quotes along with Rinpoche’s thoughts for I have learnt much from this blog post.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this post with us. After reading through the entire article, There are three things that stood out for me.
1. What H.H. Dilgo Kyentse said are similar to what Rinpoche told us too. The essence of Buddhism are the same, no matter how different the school or lineage are, when someone has gained attainment, they actually share the same thought although their practices may be different.
2. Guru devotion is pivotal to our practice. Without Guru devotion, our achievement will be vastly limited.
3. Focus on our mind but not our thoughts as our thoughts always swing, trying to get hold of them is just like an endless game which brings no result.
I love this quote the most:
“When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick; every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. But if, instead, you look at where your thoughts are coming from, you will see that each thought arises and dissolves within the space of that awareness, without engendering other thoughts. Be like a lion, who rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.”
Wow! What a great master and he does look the part too. He’s a towering figure of wisdom with a benevolent face wizened by time and practice. I love his little quotes because they are practical and like what Rinpoche said, they are teachings that one can immediately put in practice. Although Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche is no longer with us, his words are left behind like golden torches to illuminate a path towards greater practice.
There are many excellent little quotes but this ones particularly moved me for its relevance to me right now:-
“A dharma-practitioner should be able to cope with all possible circumstances, neither created by the good nor cast into despair by the bad. In either case, free from expectations and doubt, one should remember the guru. Happiness and sorrow, joy and suffering, though nothing in themselves, can become either a help or a hindrance on the path. What we ourselves make of these experinces is the test of the genuiness of our practise. This is the true essence of the guru yoga and is itself the main practise.”
I love the above quote because it is a good reminder to realize whatever occur to me is the result of my actions and not to be carried off by emotions but be grounded by the severe reality of their repercussions. Great obstacles can be great opportunities to practice too and when everything is smooth-sailing, it is also a great opportunity to practice in rejoicing and a time to realize that nothing lasts.
Thank you , Rinpoche, for these profound words of HH Khyentze Dilgo Rinpoche. First of all, nothing is more important than Guru Devotion. Guru Yoga is the union with the teacher’s nature. Blending one’s mind with the teacher’s mind is the shortest path of realization.
One must gain mastery of the mind through constant awareness of all your thoughts and actions. Check your mind over and over again….
Once we recognize thoughts are empty, the mind will not have power to deceive us.
The wind blows through the sky and flies over continents without settling anywhere. It traverses space and leaves no traces. Thus should thoughts pass through our minds, having no karmic residue and not altering our realization of fundamental simplicity.
Emotions – There is no emotion that you cannot be rid of, because emotions are empty thoughts, and thoughts are just like the wind moving through the empty sky.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for taking the time to compose this wonderful blog post. The thing that really amazed me about both yourself and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche is that the writings are so easy to understand yet have such profound meanings to them.
I especially like this quote by H.H:
“In truth, if you cannot tame your own mind, what else is there to tame? What is the use of doing many other practices? The aim of the whole Buddhist path, both Basic and the Great Vehicles, is to tame and understand your mind.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
It is true huh? Personally I have been going round and round searching for happiness, things that satisfy me only to realise I have it all this while. And it is as simple as focusing on taming my mind. No rocket science whatsoever, just focus and do well!
Dear Rinpoche,
The quotes that Rinpoche has shared about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche is indeed very deep and profound and it just highlights the similarities of the different traditions, and how in many ways, Rinpoche’s words and teachings are similar to Dilgo Khyentse’s. Rinpoche has always been here to guide us patiently and remind us about preparing for higher practices as opposed to doing them without any preparations. It is entirely due to Rinpoche’s kindness that we do not end up being lost and assume that Dharma practice is only about chanting and getting initiations, or about listening to a beautiful Dharma talk, but the actual grit of training our mind.
Thank you for sharing this post, with the beautiful quotes by HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Every single quote is in complete resonance with what Tsem Rinpoche has taught, which proves that no matter what Buddhist tradition or teacher, the teachings are the same – they came from Buddha.
What stood out for me is:
1. The crucial importance of a spiritual teacher, which is dependent on our devotion and attitude to him or her. Without devotion, we cannot progress on our spiritual path.
2. Our vacillating emotions are based on our thoughts which do not really exist. This reminded me of another quote Rinpoche had made which said that we should not make a permanent decision based on an impermanent emotion. All our emotions, whether positive or negative, which seem so real at the time that we experience them eventually fade, so why be so preoccupied with them.
So the answers are quite straightforward and simple – to develop mastery over our own mind via our guru’s teachings will lead to ultimate peace and happiness and that is what we all want, isn’t it.
We are all indeed different, we look different, we have different needs, wants, etc… hence the “different strokes for different folks” approach to Dharma should apply too! Makes perfect sense.
What is important is having a Guru to lead us by our hand in the way that best suits us. There has to be an instinctual trust and devotion to this “person” that knows us better than we know ourselves.
Rinpoche has been that person for me and this realisation is much stronger for me in the past couple of months especially after I learnt to let my guard down, chipped away at the walls of my insecurities and re-learnt to trust!
I have not really known about H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche till now, but from this post, it is glaringly obvious that his profound wisdom and his manifested “quirkiness” is similar with Rinpoche’s in that, Rinpoche would use any skillful means to impart the Dharma especially to one as stubborn and guarded as myself.
Thank you Rinpoche for yet another beautiful post and all the gem like quotes by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche above.
H.H. Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche’s quotes are very powerful and meaningful! I was moved to tears while reading His quotes. The quotes remind us of our sufferings and how we can apply some of the teachings to our daily lives.
Thank you Rinpoche for spending 3 hours just to compile and sharing it with all of us.
Thank you Rinpoche, for being our Dilgo Khyentse, for being the one to hold our hand and keep us grounded as we try to “fly for the sky but end up falling back down on the ground”, for being that single friend in the whole world who shows us that glimpse of who we can be.
I have seen so much in the last week how our teachers are the perfect mirror to us – they show us back to ourselves, the good, the bad, the ugly. And then, just as we think we’ve gotten it all, he shows us just that little bit more: he shows us who we can be, beyond that mirror. I have seen how the teacher will put himself through exhaustion, sadness, and his own personal pain to “simulate” situations for us to see ourselves. He will love you, shout at you, hug you, praise you, be sarcastic, shock you, scold you and as your mind reacts – however it is that each of our minds react – you are shown your true self: how you react when things are good, when they’re bad and ugly, and how you hold on to that little glimpse of wonder that the teacher shows you or how you hold on to that stuck image in the mirror. Then at the end of everything, as your mind has gone up, down and all around the world, you realise, with a jolt, that the teacher himself has never moved. He has loved you all through the madness. How much kindness there is in the teacher that he will expect any and everything from us and still love us.
I have seen the huge spontaneity too in the teacher. The first picture of Dilgo Kyentse in this post – his arms flung up in the air – is a photo just like Rinpoche, who I too have seen fling his hands up in the air, his eyes twinkling, his mouth stretched open in a big gleeful laugh as he shouts a joke at us across the room. Then actually, you realise that while you think it is ‘spontaneity’ or ‘unexpectedness’, the teacher does all this as a reaction to US. He reflects us again – he is high, he is low, he jokes, he shouts, because that’s precisely the language we know. Actually, the outward spontaneity is only a manifestation of just how solid, firm and unwavering he is in loving us because that’s what we need to keep us on our toes – to keep us laughing, joyful, alert to the good things and alert to our weaknesses.
So while the madness swarms around us and we get carried away by the typhoon of our own emotions and reactions, we sometimes forget that our teacher always has his hand locked tightly around our arm, holding us down and keeping our feet on the ground so that we don’t just fly off to the sky and fall back down in a painful thud. And for that, I realise the teacher is the kindest person we’ll know because really, if you think about it, there is absolutely no reason he even has to do that and he gets nothing for it.
Dear Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful post with a lot of short and direct teaching from HH. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
I like what Tsem Rinpoche mentioned in the introuduction of this post:
“Has your lama benifitted you, loved you and gave you precious dharma? Being loyal to your lama is necesary.
Has your practice helped you? Have you seen some changes in your mind? Even a little is a good sign.
Has your lama encouraged you to be kind, hold your vows and develop higher states of consciousness? If so, your teacher is sincere.
Has your lineage/Yidam/Deity blessed you with help, hope and blessings? Then continue and be firm.
Has the teachings been given to you from pure motivation? Then appreciate it from the core by practising.”
I think above is very clear step that we can check our teacher and ourselves, have we even thought of giving up or lazy ? Having negative emotion when our teacher ask us to do something that we don’t like?
The other part i like the most in this post is we should not have comparison between one school and another. If one side we said we are promoting harmony, love, compassion or wisdom, why are you still looking for more differences but not similar points between religion or sect. Harmony only come when we accept differences and cherish our similarity. All religion teach us the same teaching but by different method for different people, we should all focus on the teaching but not method.
I like this below From HH Dilgo Rinpoche very much:
“The guru is the equal of all the Buddhas. To make any connection with him, whether through seeing him, hearing his voice, remembering him or being touched by his hand, will lead us toward liberation. To have full confidence in him is the sure way to progress toward enlightenment. The warmth of his wisdom and compassion will melt therefore of our being and release the gold of the Buddha-nature within.” ~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
To focus on the Guru or our spiritual leader, we should first examine his body speech and mind actions, is this teacher always think and show compassion towards others without personal agenda. If he/she is someone with pure motivation to benefit others, we should learn and “imitate” their care, love, compassion, positive energy from them. Well, we have been focus into ourselves for decades, we better fake it till we make it…
It is important that we should be mindful of our body, speech and mind, to practice Guru Yoga and relying on a Spiritual Guide with strong guru devotion so that he will guide us to achieve attainments.
We should remember that everything is impermanent and that life is short so we should not waste time in practicing the dharma. We are the creator, we experience what we create. If we want a better future we should practice the dharma now.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this golden words.
Thank you rinpoche the quotes shared here are most most precious. I feel so happy and joyful reading all the quotes form His Holiness. I read a book by HH Dilgo Khyentse on Guru Yoga a very short brief book yet powerful. He was truly and amazing being. I can only think of the word ‘sublime’ to descrobe His Holiness 🙂
Dearest Rinpoche,
Reading this post is a reminder that true spiritual wisdom is universal and it has no categories, no tradition and no difference. The only difference is in the method with which is most suitable for our individual characters to develop further. Hence whatever school or tradition we are in and have accepted we should strive to practice it all the way.
One thing true is that universally all religion teaches us to be a better kinder humans, hence we should never condemn or put down anyone’s spiritual belief and disturb their spiritual path. We should engage in ours and they theirs, cos if we do, then there will not be any conflict but mutual love and respect and harmony. Conflict only arises when we don’t practice and we act from an egocentric mind that we are better and try to change another. Why would we wanna do that when spiritual development and enlightenment is not dependent on another person practice but you yourself and your own mind.
Rinpoche’s words of wisdom reminds me of what my mother used to say to us that all religion are good and we should never criticise anyone’s cos if we do, we are really lower and no better then the one’s we point finger at as there is 4 fingers pointing back at us. Hence that is why and how I know Rinpoche is a TRUE TEACHER.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s thoughts. What is most apparently to me the strongest message from reading all of these is to have guru devotion in our heart and mind every instance whether we are happy, sad, angry or disappointed. Thru the practice of Guru Yoga we build a strong connection to our guru for guidance and help in our thoughts and to change and develop our thoughts from negative to positive.
Wonderful teachings for contemplations. Love these 2 about our minds.
“Mind is what creates both samsara and nirvana. Yet there is nothing much to it – it is just thoughts. Once we recognize that thoughts are empty, the mind will no longer have the power to deceive us. But as long as we take our deluded thoughts as real, they will continue to torment us mercilessly, as they have been doing throughout countless past lives. To gain control over the mind, we need to be aware of what to do and what to avoid, and we also need to be alert and vigilant, constantly examining all our thoughts, words and actions.”
“When we engage in the practice of discovering space, we should develop the feeling of opening ourselves out completely to the entire universe. We should open ourselves with absolute simplicity and nakedness of mind. This is the powerful and ordinary practice of dropping the mask of self-protection.”
Many thanks for sharing these, Rinpoche. *With much love and folded hands*.
Dear Rinpoche , thank you for the wonderful sharing .
This is a page I have book-marked for reference and reflections. The TRUTH told in so many ways, this serves as a great compendium for daily contemplation. And sharing with friends and “friends”. Thank you Rinpoche for this timely blog post.
What wonderful photos!
Truly sublime and infinitely profound , yet its simplicity touches my heart in ways i have yet to understand myself . This is one of those that you really have got to keep reading and reading over again ! Thank you, dear Rinpoche for making this possible for us to learn .
I really enjoyed reading H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s sayings. They are very profound and I learned a lot from these insights. A few points stand out in this article: (1) It is important to tame the mind by being completely mindful of our thoughts, speech and actions. (2) It is important to rely on a spiritual teacher for he is the source of all our happiness and attainments. (3) The stronger our guru devotion, the greater our attainments. (4) Guru yoga is the shortest path. (5) Life is short. Practice Dharma. (6) The Buddha cannot confer on us enlightenment. He can only show us the path. It is up to us to follow it or not.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful quotes of H.H. Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche.
What a beautiful way to begin the day….his sublime presence continues to rain blessings on us all!!
YE.TT. Did you get to study under, HH Dilgo Khyntse Rinpoche?
His writings are wonderful, thank you for sharing.
Dear Steven, Rinpoche mentioned in this blog post that he has not received any teachings from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. I have pasted the the passage here:
“I have not received any teachings from him, but neither did I receive any from Tsongkapa or Buddha Shakyamuni directly, so what? I can still read the teachings of these great beings and apply within myself and share with you.”
Thank you and have a great day!