[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Basis of Devotion

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

August 5, 2007

THE BASIS OF DEVOTION

The Kagyu tradition, the school of Tibetan Buddhism in which I was 
raised, is referred to as belonging to the devotional tradition. 
Devotion, in this case, develops from a basic understanding of the 
nature of ego. Having realized the nature of ego, one develops the 
inspiration of renunciation. This inspiration is based on how 
previous teachers in the lineage handled their egos and how they 
developed renunciation. You develop inspiration from their examples, 
and from that, you begin to develop a sense of devotion, because you 
yourself are going through a similar process of tremendous neurosis, 
pain, and dissatisfaction. Therefore, the example of how the lineage 
people handled neurosis and ego becomes an extraordinarily fantastic 
lesson for us. We do not throw away our own neuroses and we do not 
dwell on them, but we try to work with them. Neurosis in this case is 
synonymous with pain.

 From "Milarepa and the Origins of the Kagyu Lineage," in SELECTED 
TALKS ON LINEAGE AND DEVOTION, page 14. Out of print sourcebook.

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 
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