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Whether an action is good, bad, or neutral depends principally upon the intention that motivates it. Good actions come from good intentions, bad actions come from bad intentions, and neutral actions come from neutral intentions. Good, or virtuous, actions are the main cause of rebirth in the higher realms, and of future happiness, while bad, or non-virtuous, actions are the main cause of rebirth in the lower realms, and of future suffering.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Introduction to Buddhism” (via dancingdakini) -
Morning in the afternoon, Yucca Valley, Ca
(courtesy of Buzzfeed)
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46 people were shot and killed this past weekend on the streets of Chicago. Gang violence continues to be a serious issue that motivates communities to work at the source of the problem. Some of these people in the Chicago area work for a program called CeaseFire,which recruits former gang members to mediate conflicts and try to prevent — or interrupt — the cycle of violence. A 2011 documentary profiled their work and the film is a moving and intense depiction of their efforts. We spoke to its directors Alex Kotlowitz and Steve James.
image via OpenIDEO
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With effort we can fulfill all our wishes. Without it we give in to laziness, we develop dislike for the practices and a reluctance to listen to or read the instructions, we feel discouraged, depressed, and incapable of doing the meditations, or we let ourself give in to inclinations to engage in non-virtuous actions. The method for overcoming our laziness and generating the power of effort is to meditate on the benefits of bodhichitta.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Joyful Path of Good Fortune” (via dancingdakini) -
Wisdom is very important. The more wisdom we have, the less ignorance we have; and the less ignorance we have, the less suffering we experience. If we have wisdom there is no basis for experiencing problems.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso ~ Great Treasury of Merit (via self-assassin)(via dancingdakini)
Posted on June 12, 2013 via Self Assassin with 155 notes
Source: self-assassin
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The great Tibetan meditator Gungtang Jampelyang once asked ‘What is the difference between a wise man and a fool?’ The difference lies in their intention. A wise person is someone who has a good intention, not someone who merely possesses knowledge.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Joyful Path of Good Fortune” (via dancingdakini) -
We can use all the difficulties that we see in the world as spiritual teachings that encourage us to develop renunciation, the wish to liberate ourself from the cycle of impure life; compassion, the wish that others may be liberated permanently from the cycle of impure life; and the wisdom that realizes that all these impurities are the results of our non-virtuous actions. In this way, through Lamrim practice we can transform all adverse conditions into opportunities for developing realizations of the spiritual path that will bring us pure and everlasting happiness.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Modern Buddhism” (via dancingdakini) -
In ‘Sutra of the Four Noble Truths’ Buddha says: “You should know sufferings”. In saying this Buddha is advising us that we should know about the unbearable sufferings that we shall experience in our countless future lives, and therefore develop renunciation, the determination to liberate ourself permanently from these sufferings.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Modern Buddhism” (via dancingdakini) -
The more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want. Every desire seems to invite its own obstacle. Undesired situations befall us without our looking for them. In fact, the only things that come effortlessly are the things we do not want. No one wants to die, but death comes effortlessly. No one wants to be sick, but sickness comes effortlessly. Because we have taken rebirth without freedom or control, we have an impure body and inhabit an impure environment, and so undesirable things pour in upon us. In samsara, this kind of experience is entirely natural.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Modern Buddhism” (via dancingdakini) -
Through gaining experience of Lamrim we shall understand that none of Buddha’s teachings are contradictory, we shall put all Buddha’s teachings into practice, we shall easily realize Buddha’s ultimate view and intention, and we shall become free from all mistaken views and intentions.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - “Modern Buddhism” (via dancingdakini)
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