The Splendor of Transience – Lalitavistara Sutra on Impermanence

For someone who do not notice the dreamlike nature of life, impermanence of life can be a depressing fact. But, contemplating on impermanence in this way breaks open the cocoon of wrong view. Then, we can recognize the play of awareness in its full splendor and beauty, all through this life and beyond. In Lalitavistara Sutra Buddha points to this fact.

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Existence is Absurd without Compassion

Our existence is absurd and utterly meaningless if we remain cocooned in the shell of self-interest. In that case, Samsara is a never-ending struggle of emotions and confusions with uncertain bouts of pain and pleasure. However, when the sprouts of great compassion for all beings without partiality arise in us, a it turns into the mind of awakening, Bodhicitta.

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How to be Cool and Cut the Fuel to Anger

One of the smartest ways to control anger and hatred is to cut its fuel. It is called daurmanasya. It is like a reservoir of highly inflammatory fuel, that only needs a spark to burst into an explosion of anger and hatred. Depleting that fuel also leads to a positive outlook to life.

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Carefree Expanse – Careful Conduct

It is said that one should descend with the view from above and ascend with the conduct from below. It is equally important to maintain a view as vast and open like the sky, and to engage in conduct with precise regard for the cause and effect relations.

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The Raft, to be Left Aside

In Diamond Sutra and the Alagaddupama sutta, the Buddha taught that his teachings are like a raft, to be used for a purpose and to be left aside without clinging on to. The raft simile also summarizes the meaning of the three turnings into one line. Here, we shall see how the four types of clinging are utterly abandoned using the three turnings of the teaching.

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Knowing One Thing Liberates All

Although hundreds or thousands of explanations are given, there is only one thing to be understood – know the one thing that liberates everything – awareness itself, your true nature. If that one thing is ignored, everything else turn into speculative philosophy and mere proliferation of concepts.

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