Know How The Mind Works.

All things buddhism related.

[aware-calm-selfless]

If you wish all happiness, renounce all attachment. If you renounce all attachment, you will achieve the supreme happiness.

[aware-calm-selfless]

The optimum human rebirth is difficult to acquire; this life does not last that long. Familiarize the mind with this, and turn away from this life’s trivia.

[aware-calm-selfless]

If you knew how hard it is to acquire, living the average life would be impossible.

If you saw it’s great benefits, you would be sorry if it passed away meaninglessly.

If you thought about death, you would make preparations for your future lives.

If you thought about cause and effect, you would stop being reckless.

[aware-calm-selfless]

The meaning of Dharma is that which saves us from suffering.

[spiritualguide-lamrim-blog]

The Qualifications of a Mahayana Spiritual Guide and a Mahayana Disciple

Qualifications of a Mahayana Spiritual Guide:

A mind that is controlled by the practice of moral discipline.

A mind that has become peaceful and undistracted through the practice of concentration.

Reduced self-grasping through the practice of wisdom.

Greater knowledge than the disciple.

Delight in teaching Dharma.

A wealth of scriptural knowledge.

A deep and stable realization of emptiness.

Great skill in explaining Dharma.

Compassion and love for his disciples.

Enthusiasm for teaching Dharma, being free from discouragement or laziness.

Qualifications of a Mahayana Disciple:

A mind that is balanced, free from strong attachment to worldly enjoyments and strong aversion.

The wisdom to discriminate pure Dharma teachings that will bring real benefit from teachings that are false.  Without this wisdom a disciple is easily confused and led astray when listening to or reading mistaken teachings.

A strong wish to practice Dharma.

Great faith and respect for his or her Spiritual Guide and for Dharma.

The ability to listen to or read Dharma without laziness or distraction.

[seedsofwisdom]

“At the time of death everything but the teaching is useless. No matter how great the affection that my circle of loved ones has for me, I cannot take a single one of them with me. No matter how large a collection of lovely belongings I have, I cannot bring the tiniest portion of it with me. I must even be separated from the very flesh and bones I was born with. Therefore what purpose does attachment to the good things of this life serve? The Lord of Death is sure to come but it is unsure when that will occur. Since I run the risk of dying this very day , truly I must do something to prepare for death. By way of preparation, may I practice the teaching purely, free of attachment to any of this life’s excellence!”

—

From “The Easy Path - Stages of the Path to Enlightenment” by Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen

As translated in: “The Easy Path to Travel to Omniscience: A Practical Exposition of the Stages of the Path” which is included in “The Pearl Garland: An Anthology of Lamrims”, translated from the Tibetan under Venerable Dagpo Rinpoche’s guidance by Rosemary Patton, Editions Guepele (France), 2012.

[aware-calm-selfless]

Among all attitudes, that of death and impermanence is best.

[vajranam]