Time is always moving on; nothing can stop it. We can’t change the past, but we can shape the future. The more compassionate you are, the more you will find inner peace. However, education systems today tend not to adequately enhance basic human nature. Nevertheless, since human beings have a natural ability to think things through, education is a key factor in creating a better future. ~ His Holiness The 14th Dali Lama
Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, is the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Photographed during his visit in Cologno Monzese MI, Italy, on december 8th, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Whether we are suffering at present or have suffered in the past, there is no reason to be unhappy. If we can remedy it, then why be unhappy? And if we cannot, there’s no use in being unhappy about it—it’s just one more thing to be unhappy about, which serves no purpose at all. ~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “Enduring the Fires”
Image by kermitlab via Flickr ~ HH The 14th Dalai Lama
When we are angry we are blind to reality.
Anger may bring us a temporary burst of energy, but that energy is blind and it blocks the part of our brain that distinguishes right from wrong.
To deal with our problems, we need to be practical and realistic.
If we are to be realistic, we need to use our human intelligence properly, which means we need a calm mind. ~ HH The 14th Dalai Lama
I love to read Geshe Rinchen’s commentaries. I find them very straight forward and accessible for students of all levels. This teaching in particular is a wonderfully simple explanation of Langritangpa’s 8 Verses. He expounds on each verse leading us though a practice to develop our love and compassion. As Geshe-la explains:
Greater kindheartedness can transform our daily life and make all our activites meaningful. This is something we can all practice whether or not we have extensive knowledge of philosophy.
The value of these 8 verses in incalculable. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama includes them in his daily medititations. Geshe Rinchen tells us in the book to take one verses that appears to be revelant to our current circumstances and ponder it over and over until until we feel its effect. By studying all the verses in this manner and putting them into practice we begin to use every circumstance in our lives a chance to strengthen the Bodhisattva qualities, of insight, kindheartedness, and concern for others and result in greater happiness, peace and contentment on our life.
H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama
Generally speaking, the Buddhist understanding is that Birth as a human being is one the most ideal forms of existence because it is conductive to practicing Dharma. ~ “The Four Noble Truths: Fundamentals of the Buddhist Teachings” by H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama
A Buddhist's Journey 