{While meditating} I sit quietly and rest in the nature of mind; I don't question or doubt whether I am in the "correct" state or not. There is no effort, only rich understanding, wakefulness, and unshakable certainty. When I am in the nature of mind, the ordinary mind is no longer there. There is no need to sustain or confirm a sense of being: I simply am.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of being present and fully aware in meditation without self-doubt or effort.
Sogyal Rinpoche's quote reflects the essence of meditation as a state of natural awareness and clarity of mind. It suggests that true meditation transcends the ordinary mind's doubts and conditions, leading to a profound understanding and an effortless sense of being that exists in the present moment. This state is characterized by certainty and deep insight, highlighting that the practice involves simply 'being' rather than striving or forcing one's experience.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a meditation workshop to illustrate the essence of mindful practice.
Sit, then, as if you were a mountain, with all the unshakeable, steadfast majesty of a mountain. A mountain is completely natural and at ease with itself, however strong the winds that try to bother it, however thick the dark clouds that swirl around its peak. Sitting like a mountain, let your mind rise and fly and soar
Real devotion is an unbroken receptivity to the truth. Real devotion is rooted in an awed and reverent gratitude, but one that is lucid, grounded, and intelligent.
There would be no chance at all of getting to know death if it happened only once. But fortunately, life is nothing but a continuing dance of birth and death, a dance of change. Every time I hear the rush of a mountain stream, or the waves crashing on the shore, or my own heartbeat, I hear the sound of impermanence. These changes, these small deaths, are our living links with death. They are death's pulses, death's heartbeat, prompting us to let go of all the things we cling to.
We may idealize freedom, but when it comes to our habits, we are completely enslaved.
Death is a vast mystery, but there are two things we can say about it: It is absolutely certain that we will die, and it is uncertain when or how we will die. The only surety we have, then, is this uncertainty about the hour of our death, which we seize on as the excuse to postpone facing death directly. We are like children who cover their eyes in a game of hide and seek and think that no one can see them.
Normally we do not like to think about death. We would rather think about life. Why reflect on death? When you start preparing for death you soon realize that you must look into your life now... and come to face the truth of your self. Death is like a mirror in which the true meaning of life is reflected.
Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.
Temperate, sincere, and intelligent inquiry and discussion are only to be dreaded by the advocates of error. The truth need not fear them.
A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes...you're Doing Something.
When your mind is liberated, your heart floods with compassion.
In short, Clevinger was one of those people with lots of intelligence and no brains, and everyone knew it except those who soon found it out.
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