The true opponent in a debate on emptiness is your own ego.
Dzogchen Ponlop RinpocheRead
To discover your real questions, simply take a time-out. Stop looking ahead of yourself at where you’re going or backward at where you’ve been. When you do stop, there’s a sense of going nowhere. There’s a sense of gap, which is a tremendous relief. You can simply breathe and be who you are.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Taking a pause allows you to identify your true questions and helps you connect with your authentic self.
The quote emphasizes the importance of taking time for self-reflection. By stepping away from the pressures of future expectations and past regrets, one can find clarity and a sense of peace. This stillness can lead to discovering genuine thoughts and feelings that may have been overlooked in the rush of daily life. It suggests that in moments of solitude and absence of distraction, we can breathe and embrace our true selves.
Themes
Self-ReflectionMindfulnessStillnessAuthenticityBreathing
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on personal growth, one might share this quote to encourage participants to slow down and reflect.
More from Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
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There is no inherent awakening power in cultural forms that have become dissociated from the wisdom and practicality that gave birth to them. They turn into illusions themselves and become part of the drama of religious culture. Although they can make us happy temporarily, they can't free us from suffering, so at some point, they become a source of disappointment and discouragement. Eventually, these forms may inspire nothing more than resistance to their authority.
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It is not about how much you give, it is about how much you can let go with your mind.
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It is all up to us. We are the ones who have to keep looking at our thoughts, looking for the nature of our mind. there is nobody else in control of our lives, our experiences, our freedom or our bondage.
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There is no emptiness without appearance, and there is no appearance without emptiness. That is what we call the interdependent nature.
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