There are no winners or losers in life. Some people have things easy while for others those same things are hard. There are people who could use some help and others who can give it. Many people believe that if only they had…they would be happy. Others think if only they were…life would be good.…
Yeshe Tsogyal’s early life was damaging and dangerous. Her early suitors regularly tried to rape and kidnap her. Her father, frustrated with her refusal to marry, gave her to a neighbor for use in his harem. Despite this treatment, she kept searching for a divine path. Eventually, her owner gave her to a visiting yogi…
Despite having great wealth and power, Udhilipa wanted more. He wanted to fly. A guru told him to gather many panaceas and essences, to propitiate some angels, and to recite ten thousand mantras to uncover their secrets. Udhilipa did all of this, but still could not fly. His guru then asked him to refine what…
Ramakrishna lived his life without filters. As a small child, he was not self-conscious or embarrassed by the beatific experiences he enjoyed. As a young man, and when his family needed his support, he provided assistance in ways that wouldn’t impede his spiritual progress or require him to act against his beliefs. When his family…
QuanYin would sit and listen to the ocean flow in and out. Absorbed in the sound of the waves and the silence they left behind, she let go of all thoughts. Without thought these sounds were just vibrations so she became perfectly still. In this stillness she moved toward Enlightenment. As she transcended other types…
Kukkuripa worked hard over many years to find spiritual freedom. During this time he found and adopted a dog who devotedly guarded him as he worked, shared the scraps of food he managed to gather, and protected their cave when he was gone. Kukkuripa loved her very much. Realizing a level of attainment, Kukkuripa was…
Albus Dumbledore lived with perfect etiquette. Having learned early in life what his weaknesses were, he maintained humility in every interaction and worked to always see himself as no better and no worse than those around him. Living with such humility allowed him to exercise self-control when others acted poorly. Albus knew he could not…
Avalokitesvara is the bodhisattva of compassion. They appear in many Buddhist teachings of various sects, and are described in the Lotus Sutra as having 33 forms. This being decided to continue to be reincarnated until all sentient beings are free. The stories teach the importance of acting with compassion because Eternity can be found in…
Koan found in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
AlphaBuddha 