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The Buddha said that samsara by its nature is painful. He didn't say it was a joyride.

Tenzin Palmo

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Tenzin Palmo
Age: 81
Born: 1943
Born: January 1
Author
Bhikkhuni
Nun
Writer
Herts
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Samsara
Buddha
Painful
Didn
Nature

More quotes by Tenzin Palmo

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I think, for East and West, the first thing we need is a good grounding in basic Buddhadharma.
Tenzin Palmo
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Because we're trying, because we want, it's very hard to get.
Tenzin Palmo
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As a human being, we have everything we need. It's enough suffering to give us incentive to go on, but not so much that we don't know where to turn.
Tenzin Palmo
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In the very deep darkness of this world, little pinpoints of light show up very brightly and can shine a long way.
Tenzin Palmo
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Whether we're in retreat or out in the world, we should try to develop the quality of awareness as much as possible.
Tenzin Palmo
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In fact there are beautiful people in this world doing incredibly selfless acts over and over and over. Dedicating their lives completely for the welfare and happiness of others.
Tenzin Palmo
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Still all the tulkus being born are men.
Tenzin Palmo
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From a Buddhist point of view, the first thing to help is yourself, to get your own mind together. And to really understand how to benefit beings, not just on the physical level, but on all levels. Then there are endless beings you can benefit.
Tenzin Palmo
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One has to find a balance. I don't say that when you leave it you forget all about the dharma or practice, but there have to be times when you throw yourself into it, and then there are times when you just relax and realize that wherever you go, you cannot get out of the dharma.
Tenzin Palmo
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To be a nun is a very great blessing. It's a great inspiration to think that the Sangha goes all the way back to the Buddha and that so many fantastic, really truly-realized beings have been ordained. Thinking of all those members, such a wonderful, exalted and holy order - I love the Sangha.
Tenzin Palmo
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I do think that someone who decides to devote themselves entirely to the spiritual life, that that is more meritorious.
Tenzin Palmo
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I think the problem with Western students is they're very ambitious.
Tenzin Palmo
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This precious life is our opportunity. We are not the millions and millions of other things that are not human.
Tenzin Palmo
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It's interesting that in those countries like Taiwan or Korea, where nuns are given equal opportunities for study and practice, they also develop great social awareness.
Tenzin Palmo
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When I was in retreat I just did my meditation sessions and, in-between, reading and things I had to do.
Tenzin Palmo
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If you want to be a doctor, you may say, There are all these beings, they're sick, they're dying, I've got to go out and help them. And so you grab a bag full of scalpels and medicine and rush off. Even though your motivation is very pure, you end up harming beings because you don't know what you're doing.
Tenzin Palmo
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We're reborn every second, every moment.
Tenzin Palmo
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We need to be sincere in our practice, but at the same time we can't take ourselves too seriously.
Tenzin Palmo
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Most religions have always appreciated the extreme power of concentrated thought directed toward the benefit of others, especially when that person is practicing in solitude. That's why they have contemplative orders.
Tenzin Palmo
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I think the difference is that when we drink tea, we just drink tea. But if you're in the presence of a genuine master, they don't have to do anything but drink their tea, and yet it affects you at an incredibly profound level.
Tenzin Palmo