Dzigar Kongtrül III

“Self-reflection is a practice, a path, and an attitude. It is the spirit of taking an interest in that which we usually try to push away.”

― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“What we need now is a very strong antidote, and the antidote to jealousy is the practice of rejoicing. Rejoicing is simply feeling happy when something fortunate or beneficial happens to someone other than ourselves. . . . When someone becomes a vegetarian or donates money to a charitable organization, we can rejoice. We can rejoice in the virtue of people who have put their life on the line to help others, the Good Samaritan we hear about on the news. We can rejoice in the spiritual accomplishments of others.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

“The natural principle that all beings long for happiness and freedom from suffering serves as the basis for generating compassion”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

“Only you can find the good things at your worst moments.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“The practice of putting others in the center is not simply a crusade to do “good.” It is a practice based on the understanding that our own happiness is inextricably linked with the happiness of others.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

“We may rely on the Three Jewels,1 God, or the law of karma, or we may simply have a basic trust in the goodness of the world. Whatever the case, a positive focus brings stability to our lives and pulls us through challenging times. Placing our trust in positivity is faith.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

“the strength to harvest peace through looking directly at the mind.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“When we can’t find a self within or outside of these parts, we may then conclude that the self is that which is aware of all of these things—the knower or mind. But when we look for the mind, we can’t find any shape, or color, or form. This mind that we identify as the self, which we could call ego-mind, controls everything we do. Yet it can’t actually be found—which is somewhat spooky, as if a ghost were managing our home. The house seems to be empty, but all the housework has been done. The bed has been made, our shoes have been polished, the tea has been poured, and the breakfast has been cooked.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“In his teachings, Kongtrül Rinpoche demonstrates with uncompromising clarity how the identification with a solid self and the resulting feeling of self-importance offer an open target for the painful arrows of anger, obsession, pride, and jealousy.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“Another essential testament to the authenticity of Rinpoche’s teachings is his unflinching devotion to his teachers and the strong emphasis he puts on nurturing bodhichitta, the vital altruistic attitude that leads one to realize, as the masters of the past stated, that “anything that is not meant to benefit others is simply not worth undertaking.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“It takes courage to accept life fully, to say yes to our life, yes to our karma, yes to our mind, emotions and whatever else unfolds. This is the beginning of courage. Courage is the fundamental openness to face even the hardest truths. It makes room for all the pain, joy, irony, and mystery that life provides.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path

“Contemplating impermanence helps us have a simpler approach to life, in which we no longer create kingdoms in our minds.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, The Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionate Life

“Genuine faith . . . brings warmth to the heart and makes us feel at home. It is a resting place. It allows us the courage to openly question experience and the world around us. Genuine faith does not require us to put on blinders and believe what we are told. It is an open question. And we can stay open because we trust in something bigger.”
― Dzigar Kongtrül III, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence