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Compassion arises within our minds and therefore is like a seed that is already present within the mind. Like any seed, it has to be nurtured. In the case of compassion, we nurture it in several ways. One is to reflect on it, to direct our minds to it. Another is to take joy in compassion. A physical seed needs many things – soil, water, and sun – and these not only need to be provided, but provided in the right way. For example, when you water a seed, you cannot simply dump a gallon of water on it all at once; you have to water it gently and, therefore, it takes more time and more effort. In the same way, in caring for the seed of compassion within us, we need to be patient and persistent. If we do not take proper care of the seed of compassion, the seed will either not ripen or will ripen in an unhealthy way.

— 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 2015 Liberty Medal Award.

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Transcendent generosity is found in contentment; its essence is simply letting go. Discipline is not to displease the Three Jewels. The best patience is unfailing mindfulness and awareness. Diligence is needed to sustain all the other perfections. Concentration is to experience as deities all the appearances to which one clings. Wisdom is the self-liberation of grasping and clinging; in it there is neither thinking nor a thinker. It is not ordinary. It is free from fixed convictions. It is beyond suffering. It is supreme peace. Do not tell this to everyone — keep it sacred within your own mind.

— Jigme Lingpa

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All aspects of this outer and inner material world were not created by gods, were not made by a doer, have not occurred naturally, have not occurred without a cause, and are not changed by time. They only occur through the characteristics of the root and contributing circumstances of interdependent relative truth. Cause depends on result. Result depends on cause. Not occurring independently, whenever root and contributing circumstances join together, then there is a result. If root and contributing circumstances do not join, then nothing occurs. It is impossible for root circumstances to be obstructed. They only depend on the arising of contributing circumstances. So, when the passions and karma and their suffering are all transcended, including one’s own skandhas without anything remaining, then one attains the space of enlightenment.

— Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo

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Some are completely tortured with empowerment rites, some always count their rosary saying hum phat! Some consume shit, piss, blood, semen and meat, some meditate the yoga of nadi and vayu, but all are deluded.

— Mahasiddha Virupa

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Although hundreds or thousands of explanations are given, there is only one thing to be understood – Know the one thing that liberates everything – Awareness itself, your true nature.

— HH Dudjom Rinpoche

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Alas! If we observe how this lost mind works, when it is happy, it becomes arrogant and its desires multiply; when it suffers, it loses courage and wants to be happy; whatever happens to it, it never takes the path of lasting happiness. Alas! It wanders endlessly in suffering!

— Mipham Rinpoche

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Fear comes from fixation on “I” and “mine”. Those without such fixation are without fear, just as empty space cannot be shaken, moved, increased, or diminished. Such beings have achieved perfection, beyond error. They have attained a view and meditation without obscuration. They will eventually attain all the qualities of enlightenment.

— Buddha

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Do not think much about demons, spirits and the like. In reality, there are no gods and demons. A god is compassion and a demon is self-grasping. From self-grasping, the negative emotions arise, and they are the cause of all suffering, for others and yourself. This is the actual demon, there is no other demon apart from that. If you want to eliminate that demon, you have to cultivate love and compassion.

Ultimately, gods and demons are the same, as all beings have a single ground of mind. If from this mind temporarily self-grasping arises, you can label it a demon. It is very important to understand the levels of becoming a bodhisattva. For this, you must first understand the suffering nature of samsara. Everything in samsara has the nature of suffering, only when one realises the nature of mind, attains enlightenment, one will be free from suffering. If you want to be free from suffering, you must be free from self-grasping, as all suffering comes from wishing for one’s own happiness. The only way to be free from self-grasping is to cultivate compassion. This is the root of all happiness.

It is most important that you develop love for all beings. If you have cultivated love, you will have the power to overcome suffering. Even if you experience some temporary suffering circumstance, you will understand that this is the result of your own actions of self-grasping and you are now purifying this negative karma. If you now cultivate bodhicitta, you will not suffer again in the future. So if you experience some suffering now, you must understand that this is the result of your own actions, and is not caused by anyone else. If you understand this, you will accept your suffering and avoid negative actions to avoid future suffering.

For example, the cause of the hell realms is anger, the cause of the hungry spirit realm is greed, each of the six negative emotions is the seed for the six realms of samsara. If you find these seeds inside your mind, you must work hard to eliminate them each and every day through sustaining mindfulness. You must recognise the emotions upon arising and see its fault. Then, you must sustain mindfulness and not fall under the power of the emotion, not act out on it. Then gradually, the negative emotions will disappear. Always remember this. This is the root of all practice.

— Garchen Rinpoche

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Our general feeling is that we simply have the mind that we have. If it is distracted or angry – whatever it may be – we just have to put up with it. There is nothing to be done. It is like waiting out a storm. The notion of meditation goes directly to that point and says that fundamentally we CAN work with this mind.

— Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche