Quote

Most of the spiritual traditions were very theistic and the idea of an external god pulling the strings didn't resonate with me. I then discovered Buddhism and found the perfect path. I felt so grateful to the Buddha for having given the path, and not just explaining the end result, but showing so clearly how to get there.

Tenzin Palmo

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Tenzin Palmo
Age: 81
Born: 1943
Born: January 1
Author
Bhikkhuni
Nun
Writer
Herts
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Ends
Path
Showing
Theistic
Ideas
Perfect
Discovered
Resonate
Spiritual
Clearly
Traditions
Idea
Buddhism
Buddha
Felt
Grateful
Explaining
Given
Result
Pulling
Found
Tradition
External
Didn
Results
Strings

More quotes by Tenzin Palmo

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In the beginning especially, we won't realize we're changing.
Tenzin Palmo
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A dog, however nice he is, and sweet-tempered, doesn't have much of a range of options. A human being does.
Tenzin Palmo
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We have to cultivate contentment with what we have. We really don't need much. When you know this, the mind settles down. Cultivate generosity. Delight in giving. Learn to live lightly. In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into what is positive. This is how we start to grow up.
Tenzin Palmo
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I never really wondered about getting from London to Lahaul. It all seemed such a natural progression. In London I felt I was in the wrong place and wanted to leave. I'd thought about going to Australia or New Zealand. It's nothing against England, but I knew I wasn't meant to be there.
Tenzin Palmo
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Many people are benefiting beings, but from a dharma point of view, if you are a dharma practitioner, then the first priority is to get yourself together.
Tenzin Palmo
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The world is full of incredible people who are embodiments of compassion. Some of them have a spiritual path some of them don't.
Tenzin Palmo
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There is a tremendous rise now in feminine awareness and wishing for equality, equal opportunities.
Tenzin Palmo
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Perhaps one of the main antidotes to depression, lack of self-esteem, loneliness and so forth is the recognition that we really do have Buddha nature. All the other problems like anger, jealousy, ambitions, are merely habitual patterns that we've learned, but aren't inherent to who we are.
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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Until you are open, you cannot receive.
Tenzin Palmo
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The Tibetans have many teachings on how to die, consciously, and how to remain in the clear light, and it works. You can see it working, and they can stay in that state for hours, days, or weeks.
Tenzin Palmo
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We do look for inspiration amongst our own sex. Why not? You go into temples and they're full of all the lineage lamas who are male. What message does that give to a young girl, except that somehow she got trapped in the wrong body because of bad things she did in a past life?
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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To really be of benefit to others as the Buddha always taught, we ourselves must first get out of the swamp. One of the quickest and most effective ways to do this is in isolation, with very few distractions, working very hard at it and spending all your time and efforts at changing your mind.
Tenzin Palmo
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The new nuns don't know that they're 'supposed' to be meek and submissive, and so in many ways they believe they can do anything, because they've seen the earlier ones do it. In this way, there's nothing for them to doubt.
Tenzin Palmo
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If you don't find that people find you're easier to live with than you were before, if you don't find that your heart is feeling warmer toward others and if your negative emotions are not getting any better, then there's something wrong. That is always the touchstone of the Dharma practice.
Tenzin Palmo
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We do have the precious opportunity of this human life.
Tenzin Palmo
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Everyone should not be ordained, but for those who really feel that the only thing that matters in this world is the Dharma, then it is a logical step to adopt a form of life that automatically precludes worldly distractions.
Tenzin Palmo
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People get very deep experiences and they think they're enlightened. That's not enlightenment, that's just some realization.
Tenzin Palmo
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I've always loved the Sangha. I have the deepest, deepest respect for them. I'm very sorry that in the West people don't appreciate what the monastic order is about.
Tenzin Palmo