Category Archives: Quotes

Awareness is your refuge

“Awareness is your refuge: awareness of the changingness of feelings, of attitudes, of moods, of material change and emotional change. Stay with that. because it’s a refuge that is indestructible. It’s not something that changes. It’s a refuge you can … Continue reading

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Allow your thoughts to come and go

“Leave your front door and your back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don’t serve them tea.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki

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Purifying the Mind

pixshark.com “Nibbana is not a location or condition somewhere outside of us. Rather, it is within. Nibbana is the total destruction of all defilements. The very moment our greed, hatred and ignorance are destroyed, nibbana arises. The key to overcoming … Continue reading

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Turning on the light

“It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn’t depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn’t depend on how … Continue reading

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Awareness is aware

“Awareness is aware of doubts about our ability to meditate, about being aware. Awareness is aware of wondering what stage we are at or… what we have attained, or whether we are just hopeless cases. It’s simply that thoughts are … Continue reading

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Not just the breath

“Meditation is not just sitting on a cushion and following your breath. Meditation is SEEING the nature of your discriminating judgment mind.” ~Phakchok Rinpoche

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WHERE TO START

photo credit: pixshark.com “Start where you are. This is very important. Meditation practice is not about later, when you get it all together and you’re this person you really respect. You may be the most violent person in the world–that’s … Continue reading

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Just plant the tree

“Your duty is to plant a tree, water it, and fertilize it, that’s all. Whether it’s going to grow fast or grow slowly, that’s not your duty. It’s the duty of the tree. You can stand there complaining about it … Continue reading

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Fake Buddha Quotes: How to tell

As part of the Bhavana Society Therevadan Forest Monastery social media team, I’ve been helping with the Twitter feed for the West Virginia  monastery. Which, if you are on Twitter, I highly recommend you follow, as it’s a great source … Continue reading

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An essential task

“Finding a way to extend forgiveness to ourselves is one of the most essential tasks. Just as other have been caught in suffering, so have we. If we look honestly at our life, we can see the sorrows and pains … Continue reading

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Home base

“Breath is home base. Always come back to the breath when distracted away, like a person goes home every night.” ~Bhante Seelananda (quote courtesy of Bhavana Society Therevadan Forest Monastery Twitter feed)

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Persistence is important

“Persistence is important in meditation practice. Stick with it, keep it going. When the mind slips off bring it back, when it slips off again bring it back again. Don’t give up, don’t get discouraged, this is a task that … Continue reading

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An indestructible refuge

“Awareness is your refuge. Awareness of the changingness of feelings, of attitudes, of moods, of material change and emotional change. Stay with that, because it’s a refuge that is indestructible. It’s not something that changes. It’s a refuge you can … Continue reading

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Overcoming Unworthiness

“Remind yourself, in whatever way is personally meaningful, that it is not in your best interest to reinforce thoughts and feelings of unworthiness. Even if you’ve already taken the bait and feel the familiar pull of self-denigration, marshal your intelligence, … Continue reading

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Changing My Mind

“Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all the ingredients to breathe and find freedom just where you are.” ~ Jack Kornfield (from “Changing … Continue reading

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