Establishing Kindly Relationships in all Circumstances

by HH 17 Karmapa, Thaye Dorje

Throughout his teaching about the "37 bodhisattva's practices", the Gyalwa Karmapa analysed our emotional ways of reacting and explained how to recognize them so as to establish a kindly relationship in all circumstances.
Here are a few words from Trinley Thaye Dorje :

"Once one has resolved to help all beings, our mothers, one one should accomplish it with determination, without fearing difficulties for oneself. One has to persevere without changing one's goal."

"If one has the intention to attain the ultimate enlightened state of Buddhahood, one has to keep considering others as more important than oneself; one has to exchange the importance of oneself with the importance of the other. If one does not have the capacity to do so, one should at least cultivate the wish to do so".

"Answering back to criticism through love and compassion is the right answer. If we react with anger, we develop the same behaviour as the one who criticizes us. This is due to ignorance. Answering with love and compassion is not easy, that's why I ask you to practice doing so."

"In order to develop devotion towards the spiritual friend, one should become aware of his enlightened qualities. Confidence will arise by being in contact with these qualities, namely, qualities of love and compassion towards all beings. The spiritual teacher, without ever getting discouraged, keeps helping others and teaches us how to develop in turn love and compassion towards others. This is how these enlightened qualities can ripen within ourselves."

"When one generates confidence towards the lama, the enlightened qualities can be transmitted to us. Confidence will get stronger through experiencing these qualities".

"The way of looking at things which is the most useful and the most simple is to become aware that all beings are trapped in the cycle of existences. Hence one should not stick to a personal opinion of others, but one should endeavour to free them from samsara".