We must work with our fears, frustrations, disappointments, and irritations, the painful aspects of life. People complain that Buddhism is an extremely gloomy religion because it emphasizes suffering and misery. Usually religions speak of beauty, song, ecstasy, bliss. But according to Buddha, we must begin by seeing the experience of life as it is. We must see the truth of suffering, the reality of dissatisfaction. We cannot ignore it and attempt to examine only the glorious, pleasurable aspects of life....So all sects and schools of Buddhism agree that we must begin by facing the reality of our living situations. We cannot begin by dreaming.
From THE MYTH OF FREEDOM and the Way of Meditation, Shambhala Library Edition, pages 3-4.
All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo.
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