Tricycle Daily Dharma March 5, 2013

Wisdom's Questions When it’s time to suffer, you should suffer; when it’s time to cry, you should cry. Cry completely. Cry until there are no more tears and then recognize in your exhaustion that you’re alive. The sun still rises and sets. The seasons come and go. Absolutely nothing remains the same and that includes suffering. When the suffering ends wisdom begins to raise the right questions. - Seido Ray Ronci, "The Examined Life"

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 4, 2013

Transformative Awareness Once we acknowledge the importance of looking within ourselves, we have to elevate our awareness of how our emotions and patterns of behavior affect us. We begin to see the impact on our lives of our emotions, our inner patterns of behavior, and the inner stories that dictate how we see ourselves and the world around us. Becoming aware of these inner forces is key to changing them. - Lawrence Levy, "Balancing Emotions"

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 3, 2013

The Mind's Natural Clarity When we recognize and become grounded in awareness, the 'wind' of emotion may still blow. But instead of being carried away by the wind, we turn our attention inward, watching the shifts and changes with the intention of becoming familiar with that aspect of consciousness that recognizes Oh, this is what I’m feeling, this is what I’m thinking. As we do so, a bit of space opens up within us. With practice, that space—which is the mind’s natural clarity—begins to expand and settle. - Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, "The Aim of Attention"

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 2, 2013

Gaining New Wisdom To decide that a certain teaching is worthwhile simply because it echoes our established opinion is very unwise. Along that easy course there is no new discovery of truth, only more stale habit. - Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano, "Selective Wisdom"

Tricycle Daily Dharma March 1, 2013

Basic Goodness When we use this term 'basic goodness' it indicates some fundamental possibility. Life is possible. Situations are possible. And anybody can start to gain some kind of insight and appreciation of their lives. That’s what we call 'sacred.' It doesn’t mean something dramatic, but something very simple. There’s a sacredness to everyone’s life. - Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, "A New Place, A New Time"

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 28, 2013

Our Shelter Within When we can be secure in our inner source for true happiness, we don’t expose ourselves to the devastation that comes when outside hopes for happiness and security are dashed. We have our shelter, our place of security, inside. And we needn’t be afraid that this is an escapist shelter. When the basis of our well-being is firm within, we can act with true courage and compassion for others, for we’re coming from a solid position of calmness and strength. - Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “What We’ve Been Practicing For”

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 27, 2013

Touching Liberation Insight can’t be found in sutras, commentaries, verbal expression, or —isms. Liberation and awakened understanding can’t be found by devoting ourselves to the study of the Buddhist scriptures. This is like trying to find fresh water in dry bones. Returning to the present moment, using our clear mind which exists right here and now, we can be in touch with liberation and enlightenment, as well as with the Buddha and the patriarchs as living realities right in this moment. - Thich Nhat Hanh, “Simply Stop”