Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo - Feeling Cozy in Samsara

INTO THE HEART OF LIFE
by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
foreword by H.H. the Gyalwang Drukpa
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Dharma Quote of the Week

Most people feel cozy enough in samsara. They do not really have the genuine aspiration to go beyond samsara; they just want samsara to be a little bit better. It is quite interesting that "samsara" became the name of a perfume. And it is like that. It seduces us into thinking that it is okay: samsara is not so bad; it smells nice! The underlying motivation to go beyond samsara is very rare, even for people who go to Dharma centers. There are many people who learn to meditate and so forth, but with the underlying motive that they hope to make themselves feel better. And if it ends up making them feel worse, instead of realizing that this may be a good sign, they think there is something wrong with Dharma. We are always looking to make ourselves comfortable in the prison house. We might think that if we get the cell wall painted a pretty shade of pale green, and put in a few pictures, it won't be a prison any more.

...There are two basic reasons we follow a spiritual path and look for liberation. One reason is that we want to be free. Let's take the traditional example of a burning house: your whole house is on fire, and you run out from it. But all your family--your partner, your children, your parents, even your pet dog--are all still inside. What are you going to do? You don't just say, "Well, I'm out. So too bad. Do your best to get out, too." Naturally this leads to the second basic reason for following a spiritual path: we will try to pull them out as well. (p.71)

--from Into the Heart of Life by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, foreword by H.H. the Gyalwang Drukpa, published by Snow Lion Publications

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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Spring Teaching Tour:

May 18 Bedford, NY Westchester Buddhist Center Bedford Post Inn "Premature Claims to Enlightenment: If You Think You Are, You're Probably Not!"	May 30 Irvington, NY Westchester Buddhist Center Eileen Fisher Headquarters 4 PM "The Legacy of Women in Buddhism"
May 21-22 New York, NY Shambhala Meditation Center 10 AM-4 PM "The Eight Worldly Concerns" A weekend of teachings, meditation, and personal inquiry	June 1 New York, NY Rubin Museum of Art 6 PM Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in discussion with Gloria Steinem: Topic TBD
May 25 New York, NY Shambhala Meditation Center 7 PM "Practicing the Good Heart" Talk and book signing for Into the Heart of Life	June 2 New York, NY E-Vam Institute 7-9 PM "The Contemplative Life for Women in the West" For aspirants to the path of sustained spiritual development
May 27-30 Rhinebeck, NY Omega Institute "Into the Heart of Life Retreat: The Eight Verses of Mind Training" A weekend of talks, meditation practice, Q&A, and periods of silence	June 4-5 New York, NY Shambhala Meditation Center 10 AM-4 PM "Faith, Devotion, and Refuge" A weekend of teachings, meditation, and personal inquiry

Tags: Into the Heart of Life, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, H.H. the Gyalwang Drukpa, Snow Lion Publications, Buddhism, books, dharma, attachment, samsara, comfortable in prison