Yours in the Dharma: SANDY CLAUSE

Here, just in time for the New Year, to honor what seems an American tradition, I’m making a list. I have picked out of all the idle chatter, the infinite conversation, the whole world of communication and information, hyperbole and hypocrisy, these precious few things that seem to be worth repeating:

From my teacher, the very venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche:
“There is absolutely nothing about harm that is helpful to anyone, even the one who causes it.”

From my friend Tommy:
“I’m down here with my dysfunctional family and boy do they know how to put the fun in dysfunctional.”

From Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche:
“The Sutras say everything depends on circumstances and circumstances depend on your intention.”

From the New Yorker cartoonist Mort Gerberg:
“…if at first you don’t succeed, redefine success.”

From the reservations manager at a New York City club:
“Travel nowadays has gotten to be so exhausting, you might as well wear your pajamas and have all else waiting for you upon arrival.”

From my friend Greg:
“Wow! This puts the treat in retreat!”

From Jon Stewart riffing on identity theft on The Daily Show:
“Enjoy being you today because tomorrow somebody else will be.”

From my teacher, the very venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche:
“If you cannot for certain prove that there are not past lives and that what you are doing right now will not affect your future life, it’s probably safest to live as though it will.”

From my friend Sukanya:
“Hurry up. We’re having an emergency party.”

From my goddaugher Corena:
"Everybody needs to have someone to call them on their shit."

From Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche:
“These days the demand for peace seems to greatly exceed supply. So we should all start thinking about supply side economics.”

From Mingyur Rinpoche:
“Peace begins in your own mind.”

From all the children at my teacher’s boarding school in Kathmandu:
“Here’s to 2007! May peace and ice cream prevail!”