When struck by the desire arrow, all of our common sense, sobriety, and sanity go out the window while false dignity, decadence, and immorality trickle in. Poisoned, we stop at nothing to get what we want. Someone struck with passion might even find a streetwalking hippopotamus sexy, even as a beautiful girl loyally waits for him at home. Like moths to the flame and fish to baited hooks, many on this earth have been ensnared by their desire for food, fame, praise, money, beauty, and respect.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

from the book What Makes You Not a Buddhist

Read a random quote or see all quotes by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Further quotes from the book What Makes You Not a Buddhist:

• Pride and pity
• Living fully
• Your own ignorance betrays you
• Shielding ourselves and others from the truth
• Not paranoid but prepared
• Not a buddha yet
• Like monkeys
• Appreciating the whole cycle of impermanence
• The spiritual path is a temporary solution
• Bound by practicality
• Enlightened beings may seem insane
• I don’t give a damn
• What is life?
• Relationships
• The real source of fear is not knowing
• Pride and pity
• Buddhist renunciation
• Change is inevitable
• The cup that holds the teachings
• Fearlessness