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    Jewels of Enlightenment: Wisdom Teachings from the Great Tibetan Masters
    Jewels of Enlightenment: Wisdom Teachings from the Great Tibetan Masters
    Jewels of Enlightenment: Wisdom Teachings from the Great Tibetan Masters
    Ebook290 pages1 hour

    Jewels of Enlightenment: Wisdom Teachings from the Great Tibetan Masters

    By Erik Pema Kunsang

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    About this ebook

    Delve into Tibet’s rich religious heritage with this compilation of Buddhist prayers, poems, and teachings from all the various schools. A perfect companion for meditation and contemplation, Jewels of Enlightenment represents over a millennium of wisdom from masters such as Milarepa, Gampopa, Machig Labdrön, Jigmey Lingpa, Shabkar, Jamgön Kongtrül, and more on how to live a meaningful life.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherShambhala
    Release dateMar 3, 2015
    ISBN9780834800441
    Jewels of Enlightenment: Wisdom Teachings from the Great Tibetan Masters
    Author

    Erik Pema Kunsang

    Erik Pema Kunsang, who lives in Kathmandu, Nepal, is one of the world's most gifted English interpreters of Tibetan. Since first traveling to Nepal from his native Denmark at the age of twenty, he has studied with and translated for more than sixty Tibetan masters. He is the compiler of a 3,000-page Tibetan dictionary of spiritual terms, "The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture.”

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      Book preview

      Jewels of Enlightenment - Erik Pema Kunsang

      Preface

      THE PRECIOUS TEACHINGS of Buddha Shakyamuni arrived on the Tibetan plateau in the sixth century and have survived there ever since. Under the patronage of Tibet’s kings, Buddhist teachers were invited from countries near and far; of these countries, present-day India is regarded as the mother source. It is often said that the inaccessibility of Tibet, with its snowy mountain ranges, helped to secure a purity of teaching and practice up until recent times. Yet another major factor in retaining such purity is the sincerity that is embodied in the basic Buddhist principles of renunciation, bodhichitta, devotion, and the true view.

      Many countries have been blessed by the instructions of the Awakened One, and Buddhism in its various lines of transmission is branded and categorized accordingly. Thus, people today speak of Tibetan Buddhism.

      From the Tibetan point of view, there are as many approaches, or vehicles, as there are different types of people, while practically speaking there are three main approaches: Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. It does not make sense to claim that one is higher or better than another. Most important is what an individual needs in order to progress from wherever he or she is at this very moment. The three vehicles share the perspective that allows that to happen—how to remove what hinders liberation and enlightenment, how to create the right circumstances to progress, and how to gain further experience and realization.

      The common approach in each case is to identify the main culprit: our ignorance, which allows selfishness expressed in emotions and actions. The three vehicles taught by the Buddha are more precious than anything else we could possibly find or achieve in this world because on every level they provide practical and realistic tools for dealing with any situation. The knowledge of how to remove ignorance and selfishness is the most valuable gift we could receive—don’t you agree? Ignorance and selfishness are the cause of so much suffering, while their opposites, wisdom and compassion, are the source of all happiness and well-being. This is the most profound meaning of healing.

      If I were to choose the primary characteristic that defines Tibetan Buddhism, it would be its vast variety of approaches and levels of profundity. Tibetan Buddhist masters have emphasized that there is neither conflict nor contradiction between any of the three vehicles, and encouraged an understanding that encompasses all three vehicles. In the words of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Practice the three vehicles in the same session, on the same seat.

      The following precious and practical quotes are in harmony with this perspective. They reflect the immense variety of approaches and levels of profundity that have made the tapestry of Tibetan Buddhism a deep interest and daily practice of an ever-increasing number of spiritual seekers the world over. In selecting these quotes, I have focused on unifying all the teachings into a single system. This is how most great masters understand them, as well as how I myself have been taught.

      If you are interested in the plight of the Tibetans, here is a selection of valid reasons for preserving their rich cultural heritage.

      If you are attracted to the beauty of Tibet, here is the landscape of their profound religion, like a range of immaculate snow mountains reflecting the sunlight of wisdom and compassion with the purity of noble intentions.

      If you are looking for insight and the meaning of life, here are drops scooped up from enlightenment’s inexhaustible ocean.

      These quotes are true jewels, and their beauty transcends that of silver, gold, and precious gemstones. String them together on the cord of your daily life.

      Let them sparkle!

      Introduction

      I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE this selection of precious quotes as practical guidance on how to live a meaningful life. They are offered simply and clearly, in the style employed by my own Buddhist teachers.

      Indulge me here.

      We usually wake up in the morning from a mentally absent state, having been oblivious to our surroundings, lost in sleep and dreams. The first conscious moment is a questioning: Where am I? Oh, yes, this is where I slept. Many hours have passed, but I feel rested now. Now habits activate us. We begin to do what we are used to doing, seeing things as before, continuing in the same tracks of old aims and pursuits. We become pleased, we become sad, we get angry, attached, upset, happy, irritated. We care, we get careless, caught up, satisfied, spaced out, fed up, interested, and uninterested. The hours fly by. We get tired, then we go to sleep again.

      On and on it goes, day after day, year after year. But one day perhaps it occurs to us to ask, What is the point of it all? Is there any? What is life all about, anyway? Maybe Buddhism can give me something. Let me try this book.

      Yes, I am talking to you. You who are sitting with this book in your hands right now. You, the pilot of your body, the surfer on this wave we call life, the rider of the horse of thoughts and emotions, plans and memories. It is time to take charge of your own life. It is time to get on the beam with life, to face reality.

      We do not have to carry on chasing the illusive water of a mirage. We can put some meaning into our lives. We can drink from the clear mountain stream of pithy advice from enlightened masters. The Buddha and many great masters accomplished everything there was to accomplish. They gave advice so that others might be happy, free, enlightened. These teachings come from the Buddha, and they have been passed down to us through an unbroken lineage of practitioners—they are truly tried and proven. Let me offer you a few examples.

      The very moment you wake up, begin the day with a noble thought. You can find quite a few here. The noblest thought of all is called bodhichitta: May all living beings be happy. May they not suffer. How wonderful it would be if they could find permanent happiness. May everyone attain liberation. May I help other beings reach enlightenment.

      How does that feel? Isn’t it true that when we care for others, selfishness and worry melt away—like frost when touched by the sun’s warming rays?

      What a beautiful way to start the day! You deserve a tea or coffee now.

      There is always time for a little training session before work or school. Even five or ten minutes can be used in a way that will engender tremendous benefit. Three points need to be included: beginning, middle, and end.

      Begin with bodhichitta, the good heart. Gradually, as you appreciate this attitude more and more, you can include taking refuge. Refuge and bodhichitta are the excellent beginning; they give the right orientation. Imagine that there is a long line of people. They all have noble hearts, they all care for others, and they are wise and capable. In forming the noble attitude of bodhichitta, we have now taken a step forward and joined that line. We belong to the Buddha’s party. How does that feel?

      Now it is time for the session. There is a long day ahead. There will be ups and downs and challenges. Some levelheadedness will be required. Now is a good time to stay put. For the next little while there is absolutely nothing we need to do—just sit. It is possible to remain calm. It is also possible to see clearly, and it is possible to remain unswayed, yet alert and caring. We can hold our ground, yet be responsive and kind.

      If it is possible right now, while simply sitting, it is also possible at any other moment of the day. This book includes quite a few quotes on how to simply be. That was the excellent middle.

      Finally we have arrived at the excellent end. Again make a noble wish: May the goodness of this session help all others. Just as practitioners in the past reached enlightenment and assisted all beings, may I too try my best to follow in their footsteps.

      You will find that there is an ocean of deep meaning in even a short training session with these three excellent points. This is how to make our lives meaningful. You will also find that the effect of this training stays with you throughout the day; it keeps coming back at unexpected moments. In the beginning, you do not have to do everything perfectly—just give it your best.

      We can try our best. We can try not to hurt others. We can take the opportunity to be helpful. We can hold the reins that control our selfish tendencies and not let them run wild. We can also take the time to see more clearly; and yes, there is time.

      At day’s end, we lie down to sleep. The best way is with a noble thought, and the noblest of all is again bodhichitta.

      All the quotes in this book belong within the framework of these three excellent points. May this also be the framework of our lives!

      There is much to be learned from

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