Quotes from H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche

1. Do not lose your own path; do not disturb other’s mind.

2. Always comply with others in speech and action.

3. In order to gain long-term self-benefit, helping others first is the pith instruction.

4. We should regard everyone being equal and treat them wholeheartedly with compassion, no matter if they are high, middle, or low in their social status.

5. There are fewer and fewer trustworthy people in this degenerate time, so we should be discreet in our actions and restrain from idle talk, to keep ourselves away from unnecessary troubles.

6. We should first cultivate our own good qualities and then work in unity among members without hating or despising each other.

7. We can really benefit ourselves by relying on only a small number of gurus in our life.

8. Throughout my whole life, I view three things to be the most important in Buddhism–wisdom, compassion and faith.

9. Indulgence in the games of greed can only send us further and further away from true happiness each day.

10. As deluded beings with heavy karma, we can hardly understand the ultimate meaning of the teachings from the awakened ones; nevertheless, we can get closer to their wisdom through diligent learning.

11. Without practicing persistently, we cannot eradicate the habitual tendencies accumulated since beginningless time, nor maintain or stabilize the wisdom that we attained earlier. Therefore, we should spare no efforts in doing all virtuous deeds and listening, contemplating and meditating on the Dharma.

12. We should watch and instruct our mind with dharma from time to time, since all kinds of emotions are surging in our mind such as the desire for fame, benefits and ease, or the dislike for being nameless or insulted.

13. Upholding pure precepts is the foundation of Dharma; listening, reflecting, and meditating are the quintessence of Dharma; propagating the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings are the fruition of Dharma.

14. Relying on a good teacher is the foundation of making progress on the path; listening and reflecting the genuine Dharma is the helper for enhancing good qualities; upholding the immaculate precepts is the rich source of numerous benefit and bliss; practicing samadhi meditation is the mother Buddha that gives birth to the four noble ones.

15. How I wish that Buddha’s bright sun of wisdom can once again shine above the Tibetan land and the entire world that have been shielded by dark clouds! I would never want to see the lamp of wisdom, having been passed onto us through thousands of years by the Buddha, go extinguished in our generation!

16. Despite the uproar of the rolling five Turbidities in this decadent age, despite the greed and ignorance of the sentient beings, I will never part with Dharma practitioners as long as they are still doing virtuous deeds, continue to listen and contemplate, and vigorously practice in loneliness and solitude.

17. I believe I can fulfill my promise in the near future — that all my followers and I will meet in the Western Pure Land!