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Mahayana Tradition

Many Lamas & Gurus from the Mahayana have visited the West in the last century or so. Here is Nick Ribush MD recollecting some of his experience with the late Lama Yeshe. Lama Yeshe (d. 1984) was a major figure in helping the Dalai Lama spread Tibetan wisdom here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8fZ8FotNaA&t=1437s

Here is Red Pine give a perfection metaphor about sailing to the other shore:

Quote:

Taken together, the paramitas are also likened to a boat that takes us across the sea of suffering.

The paramita of generosity, according to this analogy, is the wood, light enough to float but not so light that it floats away. Thus bodhisattvas practice giving and renunciation but not so much that they have nothing left with which to work.
The paramita of morality is the keel, deep enough to hold the boat upright but not so deep that it drags the shoals or holds it back. Thus bodhisattvas observe precepts but not so many that they have no freedom of choice.
The paramita of forbearance is the hull, wide enough to hold a deck but not so wide that it can't cut through waves. Thus bodhisattvas don't confront what opposes them but find the place of least resistance.
The paramita of vigor is the mast, high enough to hold a sail but not so high that it tips the boat over. Thus bodhisattvas work hard but not so hard that they don't stop for tea.
The paramita of meditation is the sail, flat enough to catch the wind of karma but not so flat that it holds no breeze or rips apart in a gale. Thus bodhisattvas still the mind but not so much that it withers and dies.
And the paramita of wisdom is the helm, ingenious enough to give the boat direction but not so ingenious that it leads in circles. Thus bodhisattvas who practice the paramitas embark on the greatest of all voyages to the far shore of liberation.

From his commentary on the Heart Sutra.

A Special Opportunity!

Quote:

Nicholas Ribush, director of the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, which published Big Love, wants to let FPMT students know of a special opportunity for receiving the biography. He writes:

“If you receive the LYTWA monthly eletter, you will know that through the kindness of a generous benefactor we are offering 200 copies of Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe for $35 (plus shipping), which is $50 off the regular price! So far about fifty copies have been bought.

“Not only is this a great opportunity for individual buyers, but FPMT centers should also consider buying several copies for their bookstores and to give away as gifts to benefactors.”

A new translation from the lost Sanskrit text of Vimalakirti Sutra. Here are some of the reviews:

https://mangalampress.org/vimalikirtinirdesa-reviews/

Janet Gyatso, Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard University:

Quote:

It is pure delight to welcome this long-awaited and definitive translation of one of the greatest Buddhist classics of all time. With the recent discovery of the lost Sanskrit text in Tibet, Gomez and Harrison have been able to produce an eloquently lucid and at the same time critically erudite rendition of the wonderful teaching of Vimalakīrti. This hugely influential sūtra anticipated many extraordinary developments in both theory and practice across Buddhist Asia, including Zen and Tantra, and is a riveting read for students, scholars, and the general reader alike.

A few verses from Drom the close Tibetan lay disciple of Indian bodhisattva Atisha:

Quote:

4 Know what you’re doing when you take on helping someone;
minimize your frustration and exaggerating the credit due you.
Whatever you do and however you do it,
let everything you do conform to the people in question.

5 No matter how many good qualities you have,
minimize your contempt and disdain for others.
No matter how much you desire riches for yourself,
minimize covetousness for others’ wealth.

6 You may be skilled in achieving your goals,
but minimize transgressing the common laws of the land.
You may have some wealth saved up,
but minimize flaunting it when among many others.

7 Even if everyone holds you up as an authority,
minimize your prideful egotistic thoughts.
Even if you are better than everyone else,
eliminate the slightest pride in your superiority.

8 Even if others beg you to be their spiritual teacher,
minimize looking down on anyone, be they learned or lowly.
Even if there is no one higher or more important than you,
be happy to mix with those beneath you.

From Tibetan Book of Everyday Wisdom.

Nagarjuna Bodhisattva in his Treatise on the Ten Bodhisattva Grounds reminds us to cool our censorious tendencies:

Quote:

If one assesses inward qualities on the basis of externals
and hence develops an attitude of slighting condescension,
one brings ruin on oneself as well as on one’s own roots of goodness
so that, at the end of one’s life, one falls into the wretched destinies.

As for the places to which someone else’s mind proceeds,
one may be mistaken about them, for they are hard to know.
Therefore one must not make false assessments
with regard to any being.

It is only someone possessed of all-knowledge
who can fully know their minds’ states
and the subtle, secret places to which they may proceed.
Hence, with regard to judging other beings,

the Buddha said, “It is only those who are my equals
who can pass judgment on other beings.”
If the Buddha himself spoke in this manner,
who then could have the ability to pass judgment on others?

Well said. Many thanks.
_/\_

Quote:

Since everything is impermanent, we should quickly find a refuge All of you can count yourselves lucky,
for you have searched around and finally come to believe in the Buddha. Faith in the Buddha enables us to
attain the ultimate happiness of permanence, joy. true self, and purity Therefore we should believe in the
Buddha. But it’s not enough to say that we believe We also have to cultivate according to the Dharma. If
you believe but dont cultivate, its like talking about food without eating it. or counting the wealth of others
—it doesn’t benefit you in the least So the ancients said

The Way must he practiced. If it is not
practiced, what use is the Way?
Virtue must he cultivated. If it is not cultivated.
from where does virtue come?

We should personally practice, always hanging the words “birth ” and “death” on our brows, and putting
the words “Way” and “virtue” beneath our feet. Maybe that’s hard to understand—why should we put the
words “Way” and “virtue” under our feet? Because the Way and virtue are a person’s foundation. They
are to us what roots are to a tree. Once we have the Way and virtue, we can stand on our own feet. But
with no base under our feet, we have no place to stand. We are in a fix, unable to advance or retreat, and
we cannot accomplish anything. If we can actually practice these two things, then we can establish a good
character and naturally be successful in whatever we do. So it’s said, “The Way and virtue are the
foundation of being a person.” The Analects of Confucius also say, “The superior person attends to the
root. When the root is established, the Way comes forth.” Only when the fundamentals are tended to can
the Way come forth. This is wise advice from the ancients.

Master Hsuan Hua. Talks on Dharma, vol one

Many years of Master Hua's Dharma talks:

http://www.bplmonastery.org/vm-huas-...on-dharma.html

Quote:

The Buddha’s four measureless attitudes of kindness, compassion, joy, and even-mindedness are totally advantageous to all creatures. When we base ourselves in thoughts such as these, then we can go ahead and put technology to work for us.

Don’t get scared when you hear me call television, radios, and computers “man-eating goblins.” No need to be afraid. My hope is that you will clearly recognize these things for what they are. Once you recognize them, those electric gadgets lose their power to confuse you. But if you’re confused by them, then they can gobble you down.

Master Hua in Spring Sun, Lotus Flower.