Week of

Following the Path with No Promises, No Carrots

Developing basic sanity is a process of working on ourselves in which the path itself, rather than the attainment of a goal, becomes the working basis. The path itself is what constantly inspires us, rather than promises about certain achievements that lie ahead of us. In spiritual materialism, promises are used like a carrot held up in front of a donkey, luring him into in all kinds of journeys. In transcending spiritual materialism, there is no goal. The goal exists in every moment of our life situation, in every moment of our spiritual journey.

In this way, the spiritual journey becomes as exciting and as beautiful as if we were buddha already. There are constant new discoveries, constant messages, and constant warnings. These is also constant cutting down, constant painful lessons–as well as pleasurable one. The spiritual journey of transcending spiritual materialism is a complete journey rather than one that is dependent on an external goal.

From Crazy Wisdom, pages 15 to 16.

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The CTR Quote of the Week is coming to you from the Chogyam Trungpa Institute at Naropa University. The compiler of the quotes and the moderator of the list is Carolyn Gimian.

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