Mature Your Own Mind

"This empty nature, the lack of intrinsic existence in phenomena, does not imply a blank naught in which there is nothing at all, as we find in the view of the nihilists. According to relative truth, all phenomena arise as a result of the interdependent conjunction of causes and conditions. This enables us to explain not only how samsara is formed but also it is possible to progress toward nirvana. There is no contradiction between the absolute nature and its infinite display and, because of this, one is free from the extreme of existence and that of nonexistence...

"So if you really wish to benefit others, the first step is to attain realization yourself. You must first mature your own mind; otherwise you will be incapable of helping others. Giving other people water is impossible unless you have a jug with water in it. If it is empty, you might make the gesture of pouring, but no water will come out...

In the three worlds of samsara, whatever one does with one's body, speech, and mind, it is only the cause of suffering. This means that any samsaric action" is the cause of suffering. At present we can eat good food, wear nice clothes, and have a comfortable place to stay, and we feel this is quite a happy situation. But to obtain that, we have in fact done nothing but accumulate negative actions, which are the cause of future suffering. From the moment we are born from our mother's womb, we cannot but set off in the direction of death. Then, when we finally meet with death, even if we are very powerful, we cannot influence death; however rich we are, we cannot bribe death; however beautiful we are, we cannot seduce it..."

-- Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Zurchungpa's Testament
"Even strangers were profoundly touched by his presence and instinctively sensed his exceptional humanity and spiritual qualities."