Chogyam Trungpa Quotes
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Anything that is created must sooner or later die. Enlightenment is permanent because we have not produced it; we have merely discovered it.
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The essence of warriorship, or the essence of human bravery, is refusing to give up on anyone or anything. We can never say that we are simply falling to pieces or that anyone else is, and we can never say that about the world either. Within our lifetime there will be great problems in the world, but let us make sure than within our lifetime do disasters happen. We can prevent them. It is up to us.
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A great deal of the chaos in the world occurs because people don't appreciate themselves.
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When you relate to thoughts obsessively, you are actually feeding them because thoughts need your attention to survive. Once you begin to pay attention to them and categorize them, then they become very powerful. You are feeding them energy because you are not seeing them as simple phenomena. If one tries to quiet them down, that is another way of feeding them.
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When you are frightened by something, you have to relate with fear, explore why you are frightened, and develop some sense of conviction. You can actually look at fear. Then fear ceases to be the dominant situation that is going to defeat you. Fear can be conquered. You can be free from fear if you realize that fear is not the ogre. You can step on fear, and therefore, you can attain what is known as fearlessness. But that requires that, when you see fear, you smile.
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The artist has tremendous power to change the world.
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We must see with our own eyes and not accept any laid-down tradition as if it had some magical power in it.
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Magic is the total delight (appreciation) of chance.
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No one can stop or control your thought process or your thinking. You can think anything you want. But that doesn't seem to be the point. The thinking process has to be directed into a certain approach... not in accord with certain dogma, philosophy, or concepts. Instead, one has to know the thinker itself.
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The visual impact of the stupa on the observer brings a direct experience of inherent wakefulness and dignity. Stupas continue to be built because of their ability to liberate one simply upon seeing their structure.
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Hope and fear cannot alter the seasons.
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Things get very clear when you're cornered.
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But again and again, we should reflect back to the darkness of the cocoon. In order to inspire ourselves forward, we must look back to see the contrast with the place we came from. You see, we cannot reject the world of the cocoon - which out which we may create a new cocoon. When we see the suffering that occured in the old cocoon, that inspires us to go forward in our journey of warriorship. It is a journey that is unfolding within us.
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Language should fulfill your individual existence as a wholesome human being... Language should be more than just getting by.
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The challenge of warriorship is to step out of the cocoon, to step out into space, by being brave and at the same time gentle.
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What is needed is the constant unmasking of ego's strategy.
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This whole world is mind's world, the product of the mind.
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If you are telling the truth, then you can speak gently, and your words will have power.
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Meditation is another dimension of natural beauty. People talk about appreciating natural beauty-climbing mountains, seeing giraffes and tigers in Africa, and all sorts of things. But nobody seems to appreciate this kind of natural beauty of ourselves. This is actually far more beautiful than flora and fauna, far more fantastic, far more painful and colorful and delightful.
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In the cocoon, there is no idea of light at all, until we experience some longing for openness, some longing for something other than the smell of our own sweat. When we examine that comfortable darkness - look at it, smell it, feel it - we find it is claustrophobic.
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The point is not to convert anyone to our view, but rather to help people wake to their own view, their own sanity.
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Compassion is not having any hesitation to reflect your light on things.
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Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news!
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Nowness is the essence of meditation. Whatever one does, whatever one tries to practice, is trying to see what is here and now. One becomes aware of the present moment through such means as concentrating on the breathing. This is based on developing the knowledge of nowness, for each respiration is unique. It is an expression of now.