21 Pithy Advice by HE Trulshik Rinpoche, the Head of Nyingmapa

1. Human beings spend all their lives preparing, preparing, preparing. . . . Only to meet the next life unprepared.

2. Body lying flat on a last bed, Voices whispering a few last words, Mind watching a final memory glide past: When will that drama come for you?

3. The consequences of today are determined by the actions of the past. To change your future, alter your decisions today.

4. All know the Way, but few actually walk it. You know the words of the Dharma, but do you understand the Dharma

5. Rely on the teaching, not on the person; Rely on the meaning, not on the words; Rely on the definitive meaning; not on the provisional; Rely on your wisdom mind, not on your ordinary mind.

6. Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny

7. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

8. Why are we born? We are born so that we will not have to be born again.

9. The common enemy of all religious disciplines is selfishness of mind. For it is just this which causes ignorance, anger and passion, which are at the root of all the troubles of the world.

10. Whatever joy there is in this world All comes from desiring others to be happy, And whatever suffering there is in this world All comes from desiring myself to be happy.

11. "How much suffering and fear, and How many harmful things are in existence? If all arises from clinging to the "I", What should I do with this great demon?" ~Shantideva

12. To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.

13. When reason ends, then anger begins. Therefore, anger is a sign of weakness. Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned. Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone. This is the ancient law.

14. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

15. 'I've got children', 'I've got wealth.' This is the way a fool brings suffering on himself. He does not even own himself, so how can he have children or wealth?

16. The fool who knows that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man; the fool who thinks that he is wise is called a fool indeed.

17. An ignorant man ages like an ox. His flesh may increase, but not his understanding.

18. Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain.

19. "Do not deceive yourself with laziness, which thinks to practice tomorrow or the next day, Or you will die praying for help. Quickly, quickly help yourself and take the essence of truth."

20. The Sakyapas are the masters of learning, The Gendenpas are the masters of discourse, The Kagypas are the masters of realization, And the Nyingmapas are the masters of spiritual power.

21. Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it. Become the teaching.