Quotations

"Try to imagine what it’s like when this moment of empty cognizance suffused with awareness starts to last for a full hour, unbroken. The very first moment of empty cognizance already has the potential for full omniscience, as well as the potential for compassion and loving kindness – the potential ability to protect and help."

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"If you believe there is a thing called mind, it is just a thought. If you believe there is no mind, it's just another thought. Your natural state, free of any kind of thought about it—that is Buddha nature. Mind is similar to space, in that it is insubstantial, not material; isn't quite amazing that something that is insubstantial is also able to experience?"

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"Samsara is mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is mind turned inwardly, recognizing its nature."

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"It is said that the difference between buddhas and sentient beings is like the difference between the narrowness and the openness of space. Sentient beings are like the space held within a tightly closed fist, while buddhas are fully open, all-encompassing."

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"There are signs of accomplishment, such as having good health and long life or becoming famous and influential, but these belong to the superficial type of accomplishment. The true, unmistaken signs of accomplishment as established by the masters of the lineage, are to possess compassion, devotion and an acute sense of impermanence."

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"If our nature wasn’t already enlightened, we couldn’t awaken to it no matter how hard we tried. Buddha nature cannot be fabricated. Our nature is primordially enlightened, but at present our ordinary body, speech and discursive thinking obscures it."

— Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Buddhist master, born 1920

"All you have the right to ask of life is to choose a battle in this war, make the best you can, and leave the field with honor."

— Leon Uris, American author, died June 21, 2003

"Who here wants to be a writer? I asked. Everyone in the room raised his hand. Why the hell aren't you home writing? I said, and left the stage."

— Leon Uris, American author, born August 3, 1924

"Anything to declare? the customs inspector said."Two pound of uncut heroin and a manual of pornographic art," Mark answered, looking about for Kity. All Americans are comedians, the inspector thought, as he passed Parker through."

— Leon Uris, American author, born August 3, 1924

"Why must we fight for the right to live, over and over, each time the sun rises?"

— Leon Uris, American author, born August 3, 1924

"Just for today, I will let go of anger. Just for today, I will let go of worry. Today, I will count my many blessings. Today, I will do my work honestly. Today, I will be kind to every living creature."

— Mikao Usui, Japanese spiritual leader, founded Reiki, born August 15, 1865

"God break me out of this stiff life I've made."

— Jean Valentine, American poet, born April 27, 1934

"Women are not in love with me but with the picture of me on the screen. I am merely the canvas on which women paint their dreams."

— Rudolph Valentino, Italian-American actor, born 1895

"The loneliest ebb of my life came on that Christmas eve, only one day after my arrival in New York. The abyss of loneliness. I ate a solitary dinner in a small cafe, and the very food tasted bitter with my unshed tears. One doesn't dare cry in America. It is unmanly here."

— Rudolph Valentino, Italian-American actor, born 1895