[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Within Ourselves

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

August 28, 2006

WITHIN OURSELVES

It is necessary to light the torch of wisdom to illuminate the thick black 
fog of materialism.... One of the greatest teachings of Buddhism is that 
which transcends this and that, or the dualistic barrier.  This is often 
described as the sword of Manjushri [a deity who personifies transcendental 
wisdom] which cuts the aorta of ego....
         Talking about great wisdom, the most stupid remark that has been 
heard is that enlightenment could be manufactured by external means.  That 
is the question: whether an experience such as transcendental knowledge can 
be achieved by external means or logical means or concepts or whether it is 
something that we have to cultivate within ourselves.  It seems that there 
is no other way than to work through the natural situation of daily 
existence.  Hope, fear, pain, pleasure, misery, bliss: these dichotomies 
constantly go on.  In order to transcend them, we have to use them as 
stepping stones, without relying on heretical ideas that enlightenment 
could be achieved by external means.  Something has to develop within 
ourselves.

Excerpts from "The Ultimate Truth Is Fearless," the Opening Ceremony of the 
Karma Dzong Meditation Center, 1111 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado, 25 
February 1972.

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unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
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