Gyalwa Karmapa Quotes

We awaken this bodhichitta, this tenderness for life, when we can no longer shield ourselves from the vulnerability of our condition, from the basic fragility of existence. In the words of the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, "You take it all in. You let the pain of the world touch your heart and you turn it into compassion." It is said that in difficult times, it is only bodhichitta that heals. ~ Pema Chodron

It's amazing how often our minds drift in time away from the present into either the future or the past, so developing ways for bringing ourselves back into the moment are very helpful for cultivating the restful mind. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

The tendency of the human mind is to see the world with a 'dualistic' view that describes everything through comparisons: good and bad, pain and happiness, beauty and ugliness, rich and poor. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

We can become fearless as we let go off our grasp on the fear of failure, because failure too is a perception rather than a reality. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Having a roof over your head with enough food to eat is a fundamental need of all humans if they are to achieve happiness. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Someone who is said to have a big ego is thought to be full of themselves, to lack the ability to listen, to always rush to be at the top of the tree and to think their own ideas are the best. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

We become tight and constricted in our minds, which can easily lead to agitation and restlessness. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

He was amazed to find that the Karmapa, an eminent spiritual leader known the world over, treated him as though his visit were one of the most important things that had ever happened to the Karmapa in his life. This treatment did not manifest through grandiose gestures or ceremony, but rather through the simplicity and completeness of the Karmapa's presence, which offered my friend an experience of being completely loved. When I heard this story, I thought about how many conversations I have had during which my attention was halfhearted. I might be thinking about the next thing I had to do or the next person I had to talk to. How unfair that lack of attention now seems! The simple act of being completely present to another person is truly an act of love - no drama is required. ~ Sharon Salzberg

Just focusing on our breath for a couple of minutes is an instant relaxation tool for the restless mind. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Think about the suffering we cause ourselves internally through getting angry or jealous. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

We think less about how others see and judge us and have the courage to ask ourselves what kind of person we are and how we might improve. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Before any change for the better can take place, a level of understanding is always needed; because without understanding we tend to fall back on the automatic responses and reactions that we have built up over our lives. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Our experi¬ences and our memories are within us, and the key is to be aware of the lens or the filter, to realise that we can also change the angle, especially when we are feeling agitated or stuck in life, that we can change the record. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

It is very easy to fall into a state of mind which relies on those things outside of us to determine how we feel inside. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

We are nourished by our relationships and generosity in return to our kindness and compassion for others. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

It is important to be considerate of the future, but when we invest all of our present in our future hopes, we are placing a lot of value on what is inevitably in doubt. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

We all have this restful mind, but sometimes our fears and our ego mind get the better of us and we can't see it. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Through meditation, difficult thoughts and emotions may well rise up. And through practice, you can meet such emotions with kindness, listen to them, explore them and then really let them go. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

The grasping mind holds on to everything – beliefs, people, possessions – so that it seems as though there is hardly any room to breathe. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

To have a restful mind is to relax in your nature. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

Happiness is a beautiful feeling. It is a beautiful mind, and a peaceful mind ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa

If you can let things come and go without being ruffled you will soon begin to ease a restless mind. ~ Gyalwa Dokhampa