Rev. Danny Fisher

Today’s quote comes to us from the Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, courtesy of our Facebook friend Sean D. Young.

The 33rd generation lineage holder of the Dzogchen lineage and a recognized incarnation of Gedun Chopel Rinpoche, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche is a scholar and meditation master from Dzogchen Monastery and Dzogchen Shri Singha Monastic University in Tibet.

He received his khenpo degree from Dzogchen Singha Monastic University at age twenty-two (apparently a record at the institution), and has since founded practice and retreat centers in South and Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States.  He is also the current spiritual leader of the Dzogchen Shri Singha International organization.

His books include The Buddha Path, “a concise compendium in the form of a practice manual of the entire vast range of teachings contained within the Dzogchen Lineage of Buddhism.”

Here’s the quote (thanks again, Sean!):

You need to tell yourself four stories at the end of every day:

1. For any good things you did to help others during the day (or anytime in the past for that matter), you should sincerely rejoice.

2. For anyone who has done good things in this world think, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Accumulating the energy of “thank you” is the root of wealth. Even regarding someone who has done many negative things in his life, you need not delete your gratitude for the good things he did manage to accomplish. Both the energy of gratitude energy and the good things people have done in the past do not disappear.

3. For any bad things you’ve done, regret these acts for a little while, but not for an excessive amount of time. Next, promise never to do these things again. Keep in mind that simply forgetting your past negative actions is in no way equivalent to this combination of regret and commitment; just because you forget negative situations does not mean you no longer harbor any resentment.

4. For anyone who has done bad things to you or others, you should pray, thinking, “May this being be free from suffering and causes of suffering.” You should in this way cultivate compassion for those who have done wrong.