Nobody, not even within the monastery, looks forward to adversity in the conventional sense. But we train our minds to respect it, and even in a sense, welcome it as essential to our true evolution toward becoming Bodhisattvas and Buddhas in the world as it is.

appreciates the necessity of friction in order to produce refinement of the heart, spirit, and mind. In some, no point practicing compassion, understanding and patience, unless one weighs into the hard-core, shitty ignorance of everyday life, and can bring it to bear under those circumstances.

in a similar vein to the manner in which one would regard a sparring partner or practice partner who challenges us in order to make us stronger. Not quite “that which does not kill us makes us stronger“, but with the kind of open-heartedness that

Further, if one is sincere in one’s practice to live and model the kind of life that not only thrives but uplift others, one will face some serious adversity. His Holiness has urged us not to back away from that adversity, but rather to embrace it, lean into it, even to treat it as a “friend”

We believe that any dedicated human being, who is aspiring to embody virtuous principles in the world, whether drawn from Buddhism or any other philosophy that is committed to human flourishing, will face extraordinary challenges from those less committed and general human ignorance at this time.

Having had the privilege over the past almost 25 years of being close to the Dalai Lama, and 15 years inside the Tibetan monastic world, I think I can speak with some confidence about how he would clarify the meaning of this quote…

This manner of thought and feeling is neither misanthropic nor pessimist... It offers a reasonable detachment as rule of conduct, instead of love, hate and envy... it provides magnificence for the religious instinct, and satisfies our need to admire greatness and rejoice in beauty."

In "The Double Axe" Jeffers explicitly described "inhumanism" as "a shifting of emphasis and significance from man to 'notman'; the rejection of human solipsism, and recognition of the trans-human magnificence...

Jeffers coined the word "inhumanism": the belief that humankind is too self-centered and indifferent to the "astonishing beauty of things." In the poem "Carmel Point" Jeffers called on humans to "uncenter" themselves.

Btw, re Catullus: Gaius Valerius Catullus was a renowned Roman poet who lived from approximately 84 BC to 54 BC. Born in Verona, Catullus came from a wealthy and well-connected family. His father was reportedly a friend of Julius Caesar, which provided the young poet with social connections in Rome

Beautiful capture!