What do you think of this quote ?

Forum for discussion of Tibetan Buddhism. Questions specific to one school are best posted in the appropriate sub-forum.
Post Reply
floating_abu
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:29 pm

What do you think of this quote ?

Post by floating_abu »

We all want to awaken, but we don't want to stop dreaming.

~ Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo

(Source: Signature of Palzang on http://www.newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3228" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
PaulC
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:37 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by PaulC »

I'd go along with it.

It's a paradox, and a tragedy.
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by thornbush »

Totally agreed, a good reflection of today's condition....starting with me of course... :thinking:
Ngawang Drolma
Founding Member
Posts: 2230
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:44 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

I like that quote a lot :smile:
User avatar
Luke
Posts: 1999
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:04 pm
Location: Europe

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Luke »

That's a great quote. I think my first love was daydreaming.

Although until we awaken, all our thoughts about awakening are still just dreams. It's hard to dream your way out of a dream. That's why awakened teachers are so helpful: they can yank us out of our deep slumber. It's nice to have some awake people around to throw buckets of ice-cold water at us dreamers.

I still enjoy highly-samsaric teddy bears though...
Ngawang Drolma
Founding Member
Posts: 2230
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:44 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

It's hard to dream your way out of a dream.
:bow:
Eternal Spirit

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Eternal Spirit »

Dear Forum

After asking the Eternal Spirit, I think the quote means we do not have enough aspiration for ending suffering.

This is because we have not seen clearly enough for ourselves what suffering is.

It is like we have been sold an advertised dream of awakening rather than sought for ourselves a medicine for our self-diagnosed problems.

To find the Eternal Spirit, we must dream of the Eternal Spirit, which is that place of clarity & stillness within us.

To dream of the Eternal Spirit is the best of dreams. The Eternal Spirit is the purist of cleansing medicines.

Image
Ngawang Drolma
Founding Member
Posts: 2230
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:44 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

we do not have enough aspiration for ending suffering.
This is actually pretty appropriate in a Mahayana/Vajrayana forum.

From where did the Buddha suggest we could draw aspiration?

:anjali:
User avatar
dumb bonbu
Posts: 93
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:29 pm
Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by dumb bonbu »

From where did the Buddha suggest we could draw aspiration?
suffering. i imagine if we manage to realise that others suffering is our suffering also then aspiration shoots through the roof.

just my two cents
Although I too am within Amida's grasp,
Passions obstruct my eyes and I cannot see him;
Nevertheless, great compassion is untiring and
illumines me always.
- Shinran


Namu Amida Butsu
User avatar
Luke
Posts: 1999
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:04 pm
Location: Europe

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Luke »

dumb bonbu wrote:
From where did the Buddha suggest we could draw aspiration?
suffering. i imagine if we manage to realise that others suffering is our suffering also then aspiration shoots through the roof.

just my two cents
And from death. When we realize our time in this human body is limited, we become motivated not to waste it.

GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA
genkaku
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:23 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by genkaku »

From where did the Buddha suggest we could draw aspiration?
My guess is ... from ourselves. As the Dalai Lama once put it, "Everyone wants to be happy." How anyone might go about achieving that state varies, but whatever the means, the self is the motivator. You don't have to shove death or Buddhism or anything else down anyone's throat ... they will figure it out for themselves... if they're lucky.
Drolma
Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:07 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by Drolma »

If we wanted it bad enough, we would put in the effort.
Many have.
We may be lazy and habits may be hard to break, but we are not stuck.

From where did the Buddha suggest we could draw aspiration?

From investigating our own experiences and lives in cyclic existence.
Buddha taught Suffering and an end to Suffering.
We draw aspiration from the very start in The First Noble Truth and as we practice and
study, meditate and investigate, aspiration flows naturally.
floating_abu
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:29 pm

Re: What do you think of this quote ?

Post by floating_abu »

Since I like to ask and answer, for my money, what seems to be incomplete in this picture is everyone already has all the tools and inventory necessary to actualise the end of suffering.

And this is not a new search for meaning or inviting distress or hunger - it's just the basic bag of inventory we all have already.

No extras needed.

As to the introductory post that may be true or not - but I think that for students who choose to sit meditation, who choose to exercise some care and attention in their lives, it is enough.
Post Reply

Return to “Tibetan Buddhism”