[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Preproduction Freedom

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 30, 2008

PREPRODUCTION FREEDOM

Restrictions and inadequacies usually come from feeling burdened, as though we are carrying a heavy load. But if we develop the notion of space fully and properly, we begin to find that there is no burden, no load. That is a relief -- not just a petty relief, but a larger version of mind altogether. We begin to realize that an extraordinary openness takes place in our lives -- in the way we move, the way we eat, the way we sleep, and the way we create a work of art. Tremendous freedom takes place in that basic space. Such freedom is not a product of the creation of art; it is preproduction freedom. That is very important for you to know. Before we produce anything at all, we have to have a sense of free and open space with no obstacles of any kind.

From "Heaven, Earth and Human," in TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART, page 129. This new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Unconditional Expression

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 26, 2008

UNCONDITIONAL EXPRESSION

We no longer regard a work of art as a gimmick or as confirmation. It is simply expression -- not even self expression, just expression. We could safely say that there is such a thing as unconditional expression that does not come from self or other. It manifests out of nowhere, like mushrooms in a meadow, like hailstones, like thundershowers.

From "Heaven, Earth and Man," in The Art of Calligraphy. THE COLLECTED WORKS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA, Volume Seven, page 191. Also in the forthcoming volume TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART.

OF INTEREST TO READERS: A new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. The book will appear under a new title: TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,237 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com. 

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Dharma Art

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 23, 2008

DHARMA ART

The basic sense of delight and spontaneity in a person who has opened fully and thoroughly to him or herself and  to life can provide wonderful rainbows and thundershowers and gusts of wind. We don't have to be tied down to the greasy-spoon world of well-meaning artists with their heavy-handed looks on their faces and overfed information in their brains. The basic idea of dharma art is the sense of peace and  the refreshing coolness of the absence of neurosis.


OF INTEREST TO READERS: A new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. The book will appear under a new title: TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com. 

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Spiritual Supermarket

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 19, 2008

SPIRITUAL SUPERMARKET

The study of spiritual materialism is very important. Some people tell you to hold your breath, and you'll feel blissful. Some people tell you to breathe out, and you'll feel blissful.  Some people tell you to eat a carrot right now! Some people say, "Stand on your head."  Some people say "Sit, then stand on one foot, then lie down on your back and have a good massage." Or swim in cold water and that will help you.  Swim in hot water -- that will help you.  Reading this might help you. Say these few words over and over to yourself.  Or shout your words; project out.  Dive in. Dive out.  Wear certain clothes. Get a certain hair cut. Do certain eye gazes. People suggest all sorts of things, which is what's known as the "spiritual supermarket." All these trips have been laid on the poor Americans. We could call this spiritual democracy. It doesn't particularly help. However, America remains a great field of spiritual fertility.  Fertile situations occur constantly, all the time. Trying to work with this American mentality and bring it together with the Buddhist tradition of orthodoxy, at the same time, creates a good balance. 

Edited from an unpublished transcript VIEWING AND WORKING WITH THE PHENOMENAL WORLD, a seminar at Naropa Institute, Talk One, June 10, 1976. 

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com. 

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Moment of Enlightenment

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 16, 2008

THE MOMENT OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Before Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha, he realized things were not quite right in his world. Neurosis was continuously spreading in his kingdom. He decided to reject any approach to life that made him purely comfortable and happy and to search for some psychological sanity beyond that. He thought that meditating and studying with the holy men of the time would help him.  Then he would be able to rule his kingdom and be a better king.  He left his palace and studied with various gurus, who taught him all kinds of techniques: holding his breath, not holding his breath, sitting in different postures doing spiritual acrobatics, and many other approaches.  But he found these techniques kept his mind very busy, rather than being simple and alone. 
        Having practiced for six years, he still had doubts about what he was doing. Then, it occurred to him that life is not so much a question of gain and loss. Instead, life is full of reality, and that reality rests in the mind.  He realized that mind is constantly speeding, on and on. So Prince Siddhartha decided to stop that speed. He decided to sit and meditate under a bodhi tree on the banks of the Nairanjana River. His austerity had not proven to be the best way, so he decided to give that up. After sitting for a long time, not much happened. Then, he got up and walked around, and he was offered a drink of milk by a friend. He settled himself on a comfortable seat made of kusha grass.  He began to relax and meditate again.  At that moment, when he relaxed, the whole struggle began to dissolve. He realized that he shouldn't push so hard, but that he could give in and let himself go.  That was the moment of enlightenment, which was not all that dramatic.
 
Edited from an unpublished transcript VIEWING AND WORKING WITH THE PHENOMENAL WORLD, a seminar at Naropa Institute, Talk One, June 10, 1976. 

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Individual Salvation

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 13, 2008

INDIVIDUAL SALVATION

Individual salvation is the first step in the Buddhist tradition. We have to be willing to save ourselves independently and personally. Nobody else is going to save you.  That�s the first footing you begin with.  The Buddhist teachings will provide a lot of help and suggestions of all kinds, of course, but at the same time, those suggestions can only be helpful to us if we actually get to the point where we are able to cooperate. You have to do it for yourself.  There are no external authorities who will make you feel good or save you from anything.  So the Buddhist approach, from that point of view,  is a non-theistic tradition. This does not mean to say that it�s anti-God, or anti-theism particularly.  But the Buddhist tradition begins with the importance of working on oneself and for oneself.  By doing so, slowly we begin to expand our vision, and our sense of sanity progresses. Then we are able to help others like we helped ourselves.

Edited from an unpublished transcript of Talk One of VIEWING AND WORKING WITH THE PHENOMENAL WORLD, a seminar at Naropa Institute, June 10, 1976. 

OF INTEREST TO READERS: A new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. The book will appear under a new title: TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com. 

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Inquisitiveness

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 9, 2008

INQUISITIVENESS

The notion of looking at things as they are is a very important concept.Look! Why do we look at all? Or we could say, Listen! Why do we listen at all? Why do we feel at all? Why do we taste? The one and only answer is that there is such a thing as inquisitiveness in our makeup. Inquisitiveness is the seed syllable of the artist. The artist is interested in sight, sound, feelings, and touchable objects. We are interested and we are inquisitive, very inquisitive, and we are willing to explore in any way we can.Such tremendous inquisitiveness is the key point in the way we look at things, because with inquisitiveness we have a connection.
        
Condensed from "Heaven, Earth and Man" in THE ART OF CALLIGRAPHY, page 188 in Volume Seven of THE COLLECTED WORKS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA. For the first time, this material will be included in TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART.

OF INTEREST TO READERS: A new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. The book will appear under a new title: TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Strength for the Darkest Hour

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 6, 2008, the 40th Anniversary of the Sadhana of Mahamudra

STRENGTH FOR THE DARKEST HOUR

This is the darkest hour of the dark ages. Disease, famine and warfare are raging like the fierce north wind. The Buddha's teaching has waned in strength. The various schools of the sangha are fighting amongst themselves with sectarian bitterness; and although the Buddha's teaching was perfectly expounded and there have been many reliable teachings since then from other great gurus, yet they pursue intellectual speculations. The sacred mantra has strayed into Bon and the yogis of tantra are losing the insight of meditation. They spend their whole time going through villages and performing little ceremonies for material gain.
        On the whole, no one acts according to the highest code of discipline, meditation and wisdom. The jewel-like teaching of insight is fading day by day. The Buddha's teaching is used merely for political purposes and to draw people together socially. As a result, the blessings of spiritual energy are being lost. Even those with great devotion are beginning to lose heart. If the buddhas of the three times and the great teachers were to comment, they would surely express their disappointment. So to enable individuals to ask for their help and to renew spiritual strength, I have written this practice, the Sadhana of Mahamudra.

From THE SADHANA OF MAHAMUDRA.

OF INTEREST TO READERS: Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Sadhana of Mahamudra, a very important text that Chogyam Trungpa discovered, so to speak, at Tagstang in Tibet. For information about this text and to hear a talk by Chogyam Trungpa, go to the Chronicles of CTR:  http://www.chronicleproject.com/stories_110.html

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.

[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Sacredness in Art

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 3, 2008

SACREDNESS IN ART

A good work of art always reflects a notion of sacredness within it....A work of art is created because there is basic sacredness, independent of the artist's particular religious faith or trust. That sacredness is the aspect of heaven, which creates an umbrella, so to speak, that becomes very powerful and very real. At that point, human dignity is more important than the particular religion or discipline a person came from. That sounds great, don't you think? Sacredness from that point of view is the discovery of goodness, which is independent of personal, social, or physical restrictions.

From "Heaven, Earth and Man" in DHARMA ART, page 142 in Volume Seven of THE COLLECTED WORKS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA.

OF INTEREST TO READERS: A new edition of DHARMA ART, containing additional material and a new introduction and preface, will be published by Shambhala Publications in November 2008. The book will appear under a new title: TRUE PERCEPTION: THE PATH OF DHARMA ART. To preorder your copy at a 20% discount, go to:
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-588-1.cfm

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 6,157 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com. 

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the following link: http://OceanofDharma.com

A book containing 365 short teachings based on the quotes of the week is now available. To order Ocean of Dharma: The Everyday Wisdom of Chogyam Trungpa at a 20% discount, go to shambhala.com.