[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Armor of Loving Kindness

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

September 30, 2007

[Chogyam Trungpa escaped from Tibet in 1959, having witnessed 
extensive destruction and death when the communist Chinese took over 
the country. He reflected on this in the diary that he kept in 
England from 1966 to 1978. With the recent events in Myanmar, I was 
reminded of this entry:]

ARMOR OF LOVING KINDNESS

The terrible cruelty of Mao Tse Tung I cannot pacify by simply 
holding on to anger and negative thoughts. Although the whole world 
can harm others by holding on to anger and negative thoughts, they 
cannot tame them. However, it is not that I do not have any means for 
pacifying his cruelty; I have a special means. What is this? It is to 
regard the activity of his negative karma with an unconditioned 
attitude of special compassion and loving kindness. Therefore, if one 
practices with the light of peace that the compassionate teacher has 
given to us, this is the special medicine that has not spread before. 
Therefore, there is not the slightest doubt that these cruel great 
men are conquered by the power of compassion.
         Previously, when the Teacher, the Buddha, lived, many 
cannibal demons...who possessed innumerable miraculous powers, were 
tamed by the kindness of the great Teacher. If that is so, then I 
think that there is not the slightest doubt that I, a disciple of the 
Buddha, will follow this teaching and will conquer the warring of 
vicious barbarians with the strong and unyielding armor of loving kindness.

I am protected from the sword of anger by the armor of loving kindness.
I am protected from the sword of ego-clinging by the armor of loving kindness.
Though my vow of loving kindness is peaceful, it conquers anger.
The smile of loving kindness destroys the grimace of the demon anger.
Through silence and loving kindness,
The chariot of liberation is very dignified.
The steed of virtue is truly beautiful.
The regal vestments are rich and splendid.

         Draft translation of an entry from January 1, 1976 in 
CHOGYAM'S DIARY, the Tibetan diary that Chogyam Trungpa kept in 
England from 1966 to 1968.The Nalanda Translation Committee is 
working on the translation for future publication.

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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