Monday, January 16, 2012

Start Small!

Tibet's patron saint, Padmasambhava, said:

"Though my View is as spacious as the sky,
my actions and respect for cause and effect are as fine as grains of flour."

Start with the smallest details, and the big stuff will take care of itself.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Eight Mundane Concerns

Four pairs of polar opposites are identified as "mundane" concerns.

One is defiled by the mundane concerns if one's motivation derives from:

Attachment to gain, or fear of loss.
Attachment to pleasure, or fear of pain.
Attachment to renown, or fear of infamy.
Attachment to praise, or fear of blame.

Source: "Essence of the Heart Sutra," His Holiness the Dalai Lama.