[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Joke Is on Us

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

April Fools Day 2007

THE JOKE IS ON US

In order to become a follower of the dharma [the teachings of Buddhism], 
one has to become nonaggressive, beyond aggression. In order to do that, 
there has to be some kind of warmth in oneself, gentleness in oneself, 
which is known as maitri, and there has to be greater gentleness to others, 
which is known as karuna, or compassion. When we begin to make a connection 
to dharma, we are willing to open our gates, to tear down our walls. Then 
for the first time we begin to realize that the joke has been on us all the 
time. Accumulating ammunition and building fence after fence was our trip 
rather than something actually having taken place. We have wasted so much 
of our energy and economy on that trip. When we begin to realize the joke 
was on us and created by us, then we are actually following the dharma, 
following our minds according to the dharma.

 From "Aggression," Talk Two of THE FOUR DHARMAS OF GAMPOPA, a seminar 
given at Karme-Choling in July 1975, published in a sourcebook by 
Vajradhatu Publications. Available from shambhalashop.com

Of interest to our readers:

TWENTIETH PARINIRVANA

April 4, 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the Parinirvana, or the death, of 
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Information about Parinirvana events and a 
tribute to Chogyam Trungpa from other teachers, his family, students, and 
others will be featured on the Chronicles of CTR website at:

http://www.chronicleproject.com/

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unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.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