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Quote by Tenzin Palmo

“Monastic life cuts off the distractions and emotional entanglements one becomes involved in, in the lay life.”

Quote by Tenzin Palmo

Author

Tenzin Palmo, born in 1943, is a renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun and author. She is known for her cave retreat in the Himalayas of India, becoming the first female to receive formal recognition as a cave dweller. Palmo's works primarily focus on the role of women in Buddhism and her personal retreat experiences. more

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“Everyone should not be ordained, but for those who really feel that the only thing that matters in this world is the Dharma, then it is a logical step to adopt a form of life that automatically precludes worldly distractions.”

World Feels Should Matter Form Steps This World Logical Distraction Worldly Dharma Things That Matter Only Thing That Matters

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“I think it would help if, when people are first ordained, they underwent a period of strict training, maybe for several years. During this time they would learn basic Buddhist philosophy in a monastic community where all the teaching and training was directed toward living a perfect monastic life and wasn't channeled out to fit into the lay life - which is what usually happens in Dharma centers where the teachings are directed toward how to live the Dharma in your everyday life.”

“In a monastic setting, if someone doesn't want to obey the rules and just wants to live the way they've always lived as a lay person, then why did they become ordained? They have no sense that they have to give something up to gain so much.”

Ifs Way Want Giving Persons Gains Lays Setting Settings

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“Perhaps Westerners are in a better position to practice true renunciation than uneducated Orientals because most Western people, by the time they come to the Dharma, have led a pretty full worldly life with lots of sensual pleasures, money and lots of toys to play with. They have seen that the path of accumulation of worldly treasure does not lead to happiness or contentment. That's why they come to the Dharma.”

People Doe Play Pleasure Practice Path Position Western Treasure Sensual Contentment Toys Worldly Accumulation Dharma Renunciation Uneducated Worldly Life Westerners Sensual Pleasure

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“Most religions have always appreciated the extreme power of concentrated thought directed toward the benefit of others, especially when that person is practicing in solitude. That's why they have contemplative orders.”

Persons Order Solitude Benefits Extremes Appreciated Contemplative

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“The power of thought is extremely powerful.”

Powerful Power Of Thought

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“In the very deep darkness of this world, little pinpoints of light show up very brightly and can shine a long way.”

World Way Littles Long Shows Light Darkness This World Shining Long Way Very Deep Deep Dark

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“To really be of benefit to others as the Buddha always taught, we ourselves must first get out of the swamp. One of the quickest and most effective ways to do this is in isolation, with very few distractions, working very hard at it and spending all your time and efforts at changing your mind.”

Way Mind Firsts Hard Effort Taught Benefits Spending Isolation Distraction Swamps Changing Your Mind Working Very Hard

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“Even if the hermits do not appear to benefit other beings with their presence or teachings, still they are enormously inspiring to many. Perhaps, in this lifetime, they were meant to work on their own practice, to try to purify their own mindstream so that in future lifetimes (that will last a lot longer than this one), they will be fit vessels to give the teachings to others.”

Ifs Giving Trying Stills Lasts Practice Teaching Fit Benefits Lifetime Vessel Hermits

Author:Tenzin Palmo

“The more you realize, the more you realize how much there is to realize and, at the same time, how much you realize that there is nothing to realize. So, it's an enormous job, not something that is going to be finished in this lifetime.”

Jobs Realizing Lifetime Finished Enormous

Author:Tenzin Palmo