Sakyong Mipham Quotes

Like gravity, karma is so basic we often don't even notice it.

Many of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders off. We try to keep stress at bay, but anxiety keeps us awake at night. We try to be good to the people we love, but then we forget them and put ourselves first. And when we want to change our life, we dive into spiritual practice and expect quick results, only to lose focus after the honeymoon has worn off. We return to our state of bewilderment. We're left feeling helpless and discouraged. It seems we all agree that training the body through exercise, diet, and relaxation is a good idea, but why don't we think about training our minds?

The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.

True happiness is always available to us, but first we have to create the environment for it to flourish.

What is really happening in meditation is that we are developing the ability to think when we want to, and to not think when we don’t want to.

The wise are balanced, and the foolish are extreme.

When stress is the basic state of mind, even good things stress us out. We have to learn to let go.

If we do not push ourselves enough, we do not grow, but if we push ourselves too much, we regress. What is enough will change, depending on where we are and what we are doing. In that sense, the present moment is always some kind of beginning.

Running and meditation are very personal activities. Therefore they are lonely. This loneliness is one of their best qualities because it strengthens our incentive to motivate ourselves.

One of my favorite Tibetan sayings is “Even if you’re going to die tomorrow, you can learn something tonight.

There is a direct correlation between physical exertion and mental relief.

One of my favorite sayings is “If you want to be miserable, think of yourself. If you want to be happy, think of others.

Meditate with delight and run with joy.

Once I was running and there was someone on the treadmill next to me who stopped running to answer a question I asked and flew of the back of the treadmill. Being fully engaged has many benefits.

The bones and tendons of the mind are mindfulness and awareness. Mindfulness is the mind’s strength, and awareness is its flexibility. Without these abilities, we cannot function. When we drink a glass of water, drive a car, or have a conversation, we are using mindfulness and awareness.

Throughout life it is inevitable that we will experience both pain and pleasure. Learning how to handle them leads to harmony and happiness. In meditation, if we are unable to handle pain or boredom, then that pain or boredom becomes our master. Then we spend our entire life trying to avoid being bored or feeling pain. However if we can handle our mind, then we know that we can handle boredom and pain.

We already have what we need—the opportunity to weave the tapestry of happiness every day with the needle and thread of our own mind.

Articulating and expanding your motivation when you wake up in the morning has the power to change your whole day.

when we are brave enough to be in the present, we have the power to transform the world.

To be gentle is to understand that life is a journey deserving constant attentiveness. Therefore it is gentleness that allows us to finish a marathon, not putting pressure on ourselves to immediately think about the next one. Gentleness is “just doing it” in such a way that we can do it again and again.

Awareness puts us in tune with the elements. This elemental connection is part of being alive. We are too often indoors, unaware of the elements. The elements are not our enemies: we ourselves are made of the elements. When we connect with them, they inspire us and make us stronger, allowing us to communicate with the world in much subtler ways.

Of course, we all go through our own experiences. If we do not push ourselves enough, we do not grow, but if we push ourselves too much, we regress. What is enough will change, depending on where we are and what we are doing. In that sense, the present moment is always some kind of beginning.

The difference between the mind and the body is that no one is surprised to get winded while running to catch the bus. Nobody gets mad at themselves, saying, “I can’t believe I can’t run 26.2 miles!” However, when we become overwhelmed by longer hours at work, more e-mails, or more parenting duties, we become irritable, moody, and unhappy. It doesn’t occur to us that our mind is out of shape. We put more stress on ourselves because we assume we should just be able to handle it all.

Meditation stabilizes us in our inherent power as humans. It introduces the possibility of living our lives in a continually conscious, confident, and balanced state of mind.

Being aggressive, you can accomplish some things, but with gentleness, you can accomplish all things.

The breath is like the waves in the ocean that help circulate the water so that it does not become stagnant.

In my constant travels, from the highland meadows of Tibet to the tropical rain forest of Brazil to the busy streets of Hong Kong, I’ve learned that you have to be content wherever you are. Otherwise, traveling is exhausting, because you’re always thinking that the next place will be better.

In the tradition of warriorship, to celebrate moment to moment is called discipline. Discipline is not a sense of oppression or being punished; it is freedom from our own self-perpetuating laziness.

Beginning a conversation is an act of bravery. When you initiate a conversation, you fearlessly step into the unknown. Will the other person respond to favorably or unfavorably? Will it be a friendly or hostile exchange? There is a feeling of being on the edge. That nanosecond of space and unknowing can be intimidating. It shows your vulnerability. You don't know what is going to happen. You feel quite exposed. There's a chance you'll experience embarrassment. Yet this very feeling is what allows you to connect to the other person.

We can say “blue,” but until we see the color blue, we don’t really know what the meaning is. We can say that something is hot, but until we touch it, we don’t know what “hot” means. We can talk about bringing our mind to compassion by saying “May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the root of suffering,” but until we feel the pain of others, “pain” is only a word. We have to crack its shell to let its meaning infuse us, seep into our lives.

I have always found a natural relationship between running and meditation. Running can be a support for meditation, and meditation can be a support for running. Running is a natural form of exercise, for it is simply an extension of walking. When we run, we strengthen our heart, remove stagnant air, revitalize our nervous system, and increase our aerobic capacity. It helps us develop a positive attitude. It creates exertion and stamina and gives us a way to deal with pain. It helps us relax. For many of us, it offers a feeling of freedom. Likewise, meditation is a natural exercise of the mind—an opportunity to strengthen, reinvigorate, and cleanse. Through meditation we can connect with that long-forgotten goodness we all have. It is very powerful to feel that sense of goodness: having confidence and bravery in our innermost being.

In the modern culture of speed, we seem to not do anything fully. We are half watching television and half using the computer; we are driving while talking on the phone; we have a hard time having even one conversation; when we sit down to eat, we are reading a newspaper and watching television, and even when we watch television, we are flipping through channels. This quality of speed gives life a superficial feeling: we never experience anything fully. We engage ourselves in these activities in order to live a full life, but being speedy

Meditation and running are essentially addressing these two kinds of pain. Of course, we cannot run all day and all night, and it is difficult to meditate all day and all night. However, when we include these two disciplines in our daily routine, we are making our body and mind more livable.

Gentleness can be developed with simple thoughts. First, appreciate who you are and make friends with yourself. Look at what you can do, and don’t allow what you cannot do to oppress you. Rather, regard it as a future adventure. The practice of meditation allows for this development to take place.

Past events are already gone, and the future is yet to happen. It is only in the present that we can be in our life. The present is the joystick, controlling the moment, and thus the direction our life takes. Being with the breath is the most effective way of being in the present. It completely connects us with reality.

According to the Chinese system of medicine, stagnation is the cause of many illnesses.

Heaven is the natural spaciousness of our mind before we make it small with self-protection.

We embody our worries. When stress is the basic state of mind, even good things stress us out.

when we exert ourselves toward positive endeavors, we should not grimace, but rather have the joy of an elephant jumping into a pool of cool water on a hot, dusty day.

First you must come to the conclusion that the activity is important. Then you should make it a daily occurrence, in which every day you motivate yourself in a different way.

When I came to the West and heard about knights slaying dragons, I was shocked. In Tibet, the dragon symbolizes incomprehensible profundity.

Shambhala is not only a place; it is a spiritual path,

The exertion it takes to get back in shape when we are out of shape is arguably more than it takes to stay in shape...

The tiger incorporates meditation and running as a natural part of the daily routine, for these endeavors can bring health of body and mind only if we are consistent in practicing them.

Then we wonder, “Why is nothing turning out the way I want?” Tiger mind creates a little gap in which we can look at our choices. We could get mad or not get mad. We could manipulate or not manipulate. We could become desirous and fixate. We could get jealous or not. It’s up to us. Wisdom and compassion begin with cultivating discernment—not just reacting to what happens.

In the beginning of running and of meditation, one of the biggest obstacles is laziness. One kind of laziness is basic slothfulness, in which we are unable to extract ourselves from the television or couch. In this case, just a little bit of exercise can send a message to the body that it is time to move forward. Even putting on workout clothes and beginning to stretch helps bring us out of our sloth. By the same token, sitting down to follow the breath for even five minutes has the power to move us out of laziness. Another form of laziness is that we don’t make time in our busy, speedy life to go for a run or to sit down and practice.

When the mind is totally present, it is relaxed, nimble, and sensitive. It feels lighter and clearer. It notices everything, but it is not distracted by anything. It is the feeling of knowing exactly where you are and what you are doing.

In Tibet, we have a traditional image, the windhorse, which represents a balanced relationship between the wind and the mind. The horse represents wind and movement. On its saddle rides a precious jewel. That jewel is our mind. A jewel is a stone that is clear and reflects light. There is a solid, earthly element to it. You can pick it up in your hand, and at the same time you can see through it. These qualities represent the mind: it is both tangible and translucent. The mind is capable of the highest wisdom. It can experience love and compassion, as well as anger. It can understand history, philosophy, and mathematics—and also remember what’s on the grocery list. The mind is truly like a wish-fulfilling jewel. With an untrained mind, the thought process is said to be like a wild and blind horse: erratic and out of control. We experience the mind as moving all the time—suddenly darting off, thinking about one thing and another, being happy, being sad. If we haven’t trained our mind, the wild horse takes us wherever it wants to go. It’s not carrying a jewel on its back—it’s carrying an impaired rider. The horse itself is crazy, so it is quite a bizarre scene. By observing our own mind in meditation, we can see this dynamic at work. Especially in the beginning stages of meditation, we find it extremely challenging to control our mind. Even if we wish to control it, we have very little power to do so, like the infirm rider. We want to focus on the breathing, but the mind keeps darting off unexpectedly. That is the wild horse. The process of meditation is taming the horse so that it is in our control, while making the mind an expert rider.

Our minds become more supple as we develop ourselves on the meditation seat. Each time we acknowledge a fantasy or thought, we’re softening up our mind by becoming less bound to concepts and emotions. Following the technique fosters curiosity instead of dullness, appreciation instead of disheartenment, and imagination instead of limitation.

If we subject the mind to prolonged periods of watching television or sitting at the computer, or even more potentially harmful environments such as feeling unloved or uncared for or we are subjected to long dissatisfaction or intensely aggressive environments, the mind takes a beating. That piece of tofu is turning many colours. It is being bruised and battered, but we cannot see it.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIND AND THE BODY IS THAT NO ONE IS SURPRISED TO GET WINDED WHILE RUNNING TO CATCH THE BUS. NOBODY GETS MAD AT THEMSELVES, SAYING "I CAN'T BELIEVE I CAN'T RUN 26.2 MILES!" HOWEVER, WHEN WE BECOME OVERWHELMED BY LONGER HOURS AT WORK, MORE E-MAILS, OR MORE PARENTING DUTIES, WE BECOME IRRITABLE, MOOD, AND UNHAPPY. IT DOESN'T OCCUR TO US THAT OUR MIND IS OUT OF SHAPE. WE PUT MORE STRESS ON OURSELVES BECAUSE WE ASSUME WE SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT ALL. WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN WE CAN'T, FOR WE HAVE NOT BUILT THE BASE OF THE MIND.

On a crisp, fresh morning in the Scottish Highlands, I had planned a ten-mile run. Both Jon Pratt and I were training a lot that winter, and we were both in good shape. Our run had a delightful and magical quality. My mind was very clear, and I remained completely present, noticing every rock on the trail and even the dew glistening on the pine needles. Every gust of wind invigorated and refreshed me. Even the clear echoes of our feet hitting the trail brought me back to the moment. As we inhaled and exhaled, the vapors created a mist. I felt connected to the sky and the earth.

One of the great sayings in meditation is that we are perfect, but we need a slight adjustment. That slight adjustment comes down to having confidence in our basic goodness. In the windhorse contemplation, we contemplate our basic goodness. When all the plans, worrying, and speed dissolve, when we are just sitting there feeling a deep sense of space and well-being, we are resting in the indescribable feeling of basic goodness. It is “basic” in that this is fundamentally who we are. It is “good” in that we are complete, intact, and whole. An amazing thing about being human is that we can connect with that long-forgotten goodness that we have. It is very powerful to feel that sense of goodness: having confidence and bravery in our innermost being. Even a few moments of sitting and feeling it is healing. After feeling it in ourselves, we begin to see it in everyone and everything. We can see it in a small child. We can see it in an old person. We can see it in a beautiful mountain. We can feel it when we hug someone.

Speech can be reactionary or it can create initiative. This dynamic exists in life, too. Our experience of words is largely based on our communal culture and what realities seem important at the time. At present our society is in danger of creating a reactionary story of fear, hate, and aggression.

We never know what will happen next. The point of being alive is to be there for it. Spontaneous means “unplanned and immediate.

We all need someone to talk to. It’s easy to become isolated. The conversation is based on physical presence, which is rooted in feeling. All our senses are involved. By talking to someone in person we can access to specific senses: appreciation compassion, and love. These are the feelings that connect human beings to reality, which stimulates our intuition and awareness. If we become conditioned to the computer, then we become one dimensional. We are less deep as individuals and more shallow, predictable, anxiety ridden, and irritable. By not having conversations, we are forgetting how to feel. These days some of us avoid conversation altogether because it requires too much attention. We’re accustomed to being distracted and we forget how to focus, so we have trouble listening. We may not have time; we are so busy with school and responsibilities at work or at home. We made the conversation as a superfluous social gesture. And some of us don’t know how to talk to people because we’ve never been taught. At the same time, we’ve become more individualistic an opinionated. Because we want something stable that makes sense in the world, we hold onto themes and ideas that are grounding and meaningful. This fixation crates factionalism and polarity. Identifying strongly with our thoughts and emotions, we mistake them for a solid “me”, and then defend that apparition against the world. Yet by having fewer face-to-face conversations, we are simultaneously disempowering the very source that can delegate our identity: our relationship with other people.

From a meditative point of you, the art of conversation is an engagement in mindfulness and, therefore, being present. Mindfulness is the act of noticing. It is not engaging in like or dislike; it is paying attention to being alive. Mindfulness begins with awareness of feeling. In Hinayana Buddhism, good conversation is right speech: not lying, not slandering, not causing disharmony, not gossiping. In Mahayana Buddhism it is the open heart and open mind that comes from the way we consider how others feel. From a Tantric perspective, good conversation is expressing the Mandela principle, where everything is interrelated in a total vision of reality. Just as we are connected to the elements — Wind, water, earth, fire— we are inextricably linked to other people. From the Confucian point of view, good conversation is engaging in social harmony: balancing Yin and Yang. From the Taoist perspective, it is engaging in the Way, which increases longevity. In terms of civility, it is demonstrating good decorum and manners. In the warrior tradition of Shambala, conversation is related to wind horse. Wind is the notion of movement, energy, and expanse. Horse is the notion of riding that energy. The image of wind horse represents being brave and connecting to the inherent power of life. Good conversation is knowing what to except and with reject, and engaging with kindness and compassion, which are the seeds of happiness because they take us beyond our self.

Art brings beauty and meaning into our lives. Beauty is a sense of totality, or wholeness. It has been said that a dark age is characterized by mass anmesia, in which our consciousness thickens and we forget our art. Then, after a while, we even forget what has been lost.

I am often asked why I run. Mostly it is non-runners who ask, but I understand the question. There are those who find it perplexing that someone in my position would engage in such a sport as running.

Like many people who run, I run for health as well as joy. Running is like flying—there is freedom and levity. We are moving through space above the ground. It is a great way to connect with nature and to breathe fresh air. There is a deeper meaning, which has to do with my intention. I believe that with pure intention, you can bring almost any activity onto your spiritual path. My intention in running is to benefit others. Thus running is a continuation of my spiritual journey.

When you show up at a marathon, the universality of running is clearly evident in the diversity of the runners—people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Dedication, joy, and pain binds us all. For being such an individual sport, running generates a powerful synergy.

Runners are generally optimistic, and this optimism is what the world needs, for we are constantly told that something is wrong, or about to go wrong, in the world. Runners intuitively know that through dedication and hard work, success can come about: if we, as humanity, dedicate ourselves to creating a better world, then it is completely doable. That is the energy of windhorse.

The windhorse phase is realizing that we are all gifted; we all have something to offer. Whether it is working with the environment, with children, or at business—all these gifts create windhorse: energy that is moving us in the right direction. In these times, what we do matters, regardless of how insignificant it is. But that is not the point. The point is that we are all optimistic and engaged. In that way, not only is our activity of benefit to others, it is also personally satisfying and leads to contentment and happiness. This is a win-win situation.

Part of this message of running with the mind of meditation is that we can no longer split spirituality and everyday life. No matter what we are doing, we have the ability to be awake and to live up to our potential. We can run with that energy of basic goodness. When we feel it, we will run stronger—and maybe even faster—but we will certainly feel better. Basic goodness is the wish-fulfilling jewel.

Rather than worry about specific outcomes, we need to focus on developing our intention. In reality, most ideas that have helped the world have come through intention. The Buddha sat under a tree. Jesus walked in the desert. The Taoist sage Lao-tzu sat in the forest. All these beings had powerful ways to develop their intention. Through that intention they were able to help the world.

it also feels easy to be present in the course of running because in so many ways, running encourages us to be mindful. Therefore I believe that this mindfulsness technique is natural and enjoyable for the running meditator.

Through running and meditating, we become better citizens of the world. Our appreciation, discipline, and energy benefit a much wider circle. These qualities are fuel for windhorse, the heart of the final phase of training. The Tibetan word is lungta. Lung means “wind,” and ta means “horse.” Windhorse is the life force energy that naturally arises when we train on the path of tiger, lion, garuda, and dragon. The wind represents the complete awakenment of the human mind. The horse represents expedience, success, and swiftness.

FREEDOM by Sakyong Mipham Tantalizing, trepidatious, I move one foot in front of the other. I am a runner— There is no greater joy in the three worlds. When lightning strikes the earth, That is the cosmic step taking place, When my heart and lungs are placed in my hands. Life is dependent on breathing and feeling. What electricity comes forth In the sweat I feel in my mouth, Inspiration that allows me to traverse Disbelief, laziness, daydreaming. When I breathe, all of those windfalls Pass by as billowing clouds Seen by a boat set sail across the waters Of confusion, summer, and time. Within this temporal journey details are important. I taste the sweet smell of water with its eight qualities, Respecting this gift for my human body. I revel in having time and space to run among the gods. When I run I become one of those gods with no bounds— Pure joy is my water bottle. I am sustained with the ultimate elixir, my goo-ru.* That vital inspiration sends me across this entire planet With the pitter-patter of drala feet. What bhumi can I not reach? Placing my feet on the path, ripples affect the universe. Therefore when I breathe, I inhale all that is confused, degenerated, and unhappy. When I exhale, my knee strikes high, My Achilles is powerful, free from vulnerability. Thus with the energy of surprise I leap into this new dimension, which can only be seen By the rapid movement of heart, feet, and mind. May this incredible experience of movement Be the source of all happiness.

Conversation transforms running from a solitary sport to a communal sport. By extension, conversation is integral to human society. Conversation is different from having a discussion or bringing up talking points. Rather, it is the expression of our innate humanity. The words we speak are the sound of that joy, kindness, and love. In that light, it doesn’t really matter what we talk about. In fact, there does not even have to be a point.

Thus the mind is more present and at peace. So the clarity and peace of mind we feel after running is mostly because the wild horse is tired, not necessarily because it has been tamed.

Taking your attention away from thoughts and placing it on the breath is the focus of meditation, which in this simple form is simply the process of being mindful of the breathing, being aware that you are thinking, and returning your attention to the breath.

As Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche puts it, you can tell what the most important building is within a society by which is the tallest. Within ancient Europe, cathedrals often reached the most soaring heights, as did mosques in the ancient Middle East. Now, in our Western metropolises, we all bow before cathedrals of financial commerce. Our sacred values are implied by our ritualistic choices, whether we agree to them or not. We

If your motivation when you get up in the morning is to have very little contact with anyone, come home, and go to bed as soon as you can, almost everything that occurs during the day will make you feel brittle and irritable, because it’s in your way.

Our intention is that of a shepherd, but our actions are those of a loving, wise, compassionate leader. If we all act according to this code, we will create an enlightened society.

The journey of the bodhisattva warrior starts with the basic attitude of enlarging our motivation to include the welfare of others. This is a simple response to this dark age. Let’s begin right now by engaging love and compassion however we can—not tomorrow, but today.

Love is the saving grace. It’s the buddha in you standing up and saying, “Even though it’s dark, I have this jewel.

Remember why you are meditating: to balance the activity of your life by working with your mind.

Life is breath. Breath is life.

The point of handling our motivation is not necessarily to channel it into a drive to be successful; that would be ambition. Rather, the point is to

In meditation, placing our attention on the breathing takes the mind from daydreaming, worrying, thinking, and fantasizing. It gives our mind something healthy to do.

The bones and tendons of the mind are mindfulness and awareness. Mindfulness is the mind’s strength, and awareness is its flexibility.

The practice of overcoming hope is recognizing our positive qualities. With excessive hope, we begin to belittle what we have achieved. We might then feel inadequate and have fear of not achieving more.

1. Running with the Mind of Meditation

Bringing heaven down to earth, into our daily life, is how we rule our world.

is the ability to share what we have with others.

Confidence is the outgrowth of positive qualities, whereas pride is the outgrowth of negative qualities among positive qualities.

My meditation teachers taught me that with aggression, you may accomplish some things, but with gentleness, you can accomplish all things.

Although the process of meditating is different from running, the tools are the same: we need to be determined and exert ourselves. If we can get through the beginning, we will probably be successful.

However, especially in an age of coarsening values, it is hard to feel our natural kindness because it is often blocked by reactionary emotions. This occurs when we divide the world into us versus them. Then the more we forget our kindness, the more unkindness there is, and the more we forget.

These lion runs are more advanced in that we are sensing ourselves in relationship to where we are. Awareness puts us in tune with the elements. This elemental connection is part of being alive.

I have always found a natural relationship between running and meditation. Running can be a support for meditation, and meditation can be a support for running.

Because the mind and the body are intimately connected, relieving the stress of the body through exercise has an immediate effect on the mind: the mind is no longer dealing with the discomfort of the body.

In teaching my first meditation and running workshop, I was struck by the number of participants who were ultramarathon runners. When I considered their experience, it made sense. After you run for a while, what do you find in there but your own mind? You work with that mind by meditating regularly.

our muscles and bones are strong enough for us to walk—but not to run, unless we have conditioned them.

Similarly, our mind has developed enough mindfulness and awareness to drive to work, but if we had to drive across the country, we might not have the stamina to stay on the road. Someone who makes long drives all the time, like a trucker, can do it much more easily.

The difference between the mind and the body is that no one is surprised to get winded while running to catch the bus. Nobody gets mad at themselves, saying, “I can’t believe I can’t run 26.2 miles!” However, when we become overwhelmed by longer hours at work, more e-mails, or more parenting duties, we become irritable, moody, and unhappy. It doesn’t occur to us that our mind is out of shape. We put more stress on ourselves because we assume we should just be able to handle it all. We should not be surprised when we can’t, for we have not built the base of the mind.

Obviously it is not good to keep checking your watch, as you might discover that you have supernatural powers that can slow down the time.

When we contemplate our motivation, we expand our attitude from being concerned with just ourselves to caring for the whole world.

in meditation, the mind will get stronger if we keep exercising our mindfulness.

Like meditation, running is a unique combination of relaxation, good posture, and symmetry. When we pay attention to our posture and apply some discipline to how we hold our body, joy and freshness arise.