Favorite Quotes from Buddha.

[C T]

As soon as you see something,
 

you already start to intellectualize it.
 

As soon as you intellectualize something,
 

it is no longer what you saw.

 

~ Shunryu Suzuki

 

 

[Tibetan_Ice]

 

A Manual of Abhidhamma: under "The Realisation of Nibbana" on Page 84 as follows:

 

Having thus gained a correct view of the real nature of his self, freed from the false notion of an identical substance of mind and matter, he attempts to investigate the cause of this “Ego-personality”. He realises that everything worldly, himself not excluded, is conditioned by causes past or present, and that this existence is due to past ignorance (avijjà), craving (taõhà), attachment (upàdàna), Kamma, and physical food (àhàra) of the present life.

 

On account of these five causes this personality has arisen and as the past activities have conditioned the present, so the present will condition the future. Meditating thus, he transcends all doubts with regard to the past, present, and future (Kankhàvitaraõavisuddhi). Thereupon he contemplates that all conditioned things are transient (Anicca), subject to suffering (Dukkha), and devoid of an immortal soul (Anattà). Wherever he turns his eyes, he sees nought but these three characteristics standing out in bold relief.

 

He realises that life is a mere flowing, a continuous undivided movement. Neither in a celestial plane nor on earth does he find any genuine happiness, for every form of pleasure is only a prelude to pain. What is transient is therefore subject to suffering and where change and sorrow prevail there cannot be a permanent ego.

[doc benway]

When you enter into a sacred relationship with nature you discover and connect with your genuine self.

 

~ Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

[Geof Nanto]

Mountain Dialogue

 

You ask why I've settled in these emerald mountains:

I smile, mind of itself perfectly idle, and I say nothing.

 

Peach blossoms drift streamwater away in deep mystery

here, another heaven and earth, nowhere people know.

 

- Li Po

[RigdzinTrinley]

Neither from itself nor from another,

Not from both,

Nor without a cause,

Does anything whatever, anywhere arise

 

Nagarjunas first verse in his Mulamadhyamikakarika

Edited October 21, 2015 by RigdzinTrinley

[RigdzinTrinley]

 

 

A WALK IN IZUMOSAKI WITH REV. TENGE ON AN AUTUMN DAY

 

Human life is like a blade of grass

floating downstream.

How can one respond to such a situation?

I live this way not without reason.

Waving my belled staff, I parted from my family;

raising my hands, I bade the town farewell.

I keep repairing my patched robe.

Who knows how many springs this begging bowl has seen?

I happen to love the quietude of a grass hut.

Two of a similar spirit have met;

who can distinguish host from guest?

The wind high, the pine a thousand feet tall,

chrysanthemum blossoms chilly with frost—

with our hands holding what is outside the secular world,

we forget everything on this serene shore

 

Ryokan

[C T]

Inside the Dharma gates where form and emptiness are not two

A lame turtle with painted eyebrows stands in the evening breeze

 

~ old master hakuin

Edited October 27, 2015 by C T

[C T]

If, as you meditate on mind training, your personality becomes stiff with pride and arrogance, its as though you have reduced a god to a demon; dharma has become non-dharma. The more you meditate on mind training and dharma, the more supple your personality should become. Act as the lowest servant to everyone.

 

~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

from the book "The Great Path of Awakening"

[Brian]

 

If, as you meditate on mind training, your personality becomes stiff with pride and arrogance, its as though you have reduced a god to a demon; dharma has become non-dharma. The more you meditate on mind training and dharma, the more supple your personality should become. Act as the lowest servant to everyone.

 

 

 

~ Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye

from the book "The Great Path of Awakening"

Thank you.

[MooNiNite]

Does anyone know the buddha quote where he talks about observing the mind like treating a sickness?

like medicine?

 

i cant find it

[RigdzinTrinley]

Something like:

 

Know yourself to be sick, know the dharma to be like medicine, the teacher as a skillful doctor and practice to be like taking the medicine

 

Thats how I remember it - but there should be a more poetic version available

[XAOX]

1. Thus Have I Heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. There he addressed the bhikkhus thus:, -  "Bhikkhus."   "Venerable Sir", they replied.  The Blessed One said this:

 

2. "Bhikkhus, I shall teach you the summary and exposition of 'One Who Has Had a Single Excellent Night'. Listen and attend closely to what I shall say."  --  "Yes, venerable sir." the bhikkhus replied.  The Blessed One said this:

 

3. " Let not a person revive the past

Or on the future build his hopes;

For the past has been left behind

And the future has not been reached.

Instead with insight let him see

Each presently arisen state;

Let him know that and be sure of it,

Invincibly, Unshakeably.

Today the effort must be made;

Tomorrow Death may come, who knows?

No bargain with Mortality

Can keep him and his hordes away,

But one who dwells thus ardently,

Relentlessly, by day, by night -

It is he, the Peaceful Sage has said,

Who has had a single excellent night."

 

From Bhaddekaratta Sutta (A Single Excellent Night) Majjhima Nikaya #131 Translation of Majjhima Nikaya by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. 

[Bodhicitta]

When the bodhisattva generates the will to seek bodhi,

this is not such as is without causes and without conditions.

Developing pure faith in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—

It is on account of this that one initiates such vast resolve.

 

One does not seek the five desires, the position of a king,

wealth, personal pleasure, or great fame.

It is solely in order to forever extinguish beings’ sufferings

and benefit those in the world that one generates the resolve.

 

Constantly wishing to benefit beings and make them happy,

one adorns the lands, makes offerings to the Buddhas,

takes on and upholds right Dharma, and cultivates all wisdom.

It is to achieve realization of bodhi that one generates the resolve.

 

Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 12

Edited February 27, 2016 by Bodhicitta

[Bodhicitta]

Mañjuśrī, it is due to the complete purity of the

mind, as well as due to proper cultivation, that sentient beings see the [reflection of the]

body of a tathāgata. Mañjuśrī, it is due to the power of the Tathāgata

that sentient beings see him. And still he remains non-existent, nonarisen,

and non-ceased. He is neither existence nor non-existence,

neither visible nor invisible, neither worldly nor unworldly, neither an

object of thinking nor not an object of thinking, neither existent nor

non-existent.

“It is so, Mañjuśrī, that sentient beings focus on the reflection of the

Tathāgata and offer it flowers, perfumes, garments, and jewels while

making this aspiration: ‘May we also become like the Tathāgata, the

Arhat, the Perfect and Complete Buddha.’

 

From The Ornament of the Light of Awareness That Enters the Domain of All Buddhas Sutra

 

http://read.84000.co/browser/released/UT22084/047/UT22084-047-002.pdf

Edited February 27, 2016 by Bodhicitta

[Junko]

Live every act fully,as if it were your last.

From a book called 'Buddha's little Instruction Book'by Jack Kornfield.

[Bodhicitta]

For Vesak 2016:

 

 

Faith causes the faculties to become pure, bright, and sharp.

The power of faith is indestructibly solid.

Faith enables eternal destruction of the root of the afflictions.

Faith enables exclusive progression toward Buddha’s qualities.

 

Through faith, one remains free of attachment to objective realms,

leaves difficulties far behind and becomes free of them.

Faith enables one to step over the demons' road.

and reveals the path of the unsurpassable liberation.

 

Faith is the indestructible seed of meritorious qualities.

Faith enables the growth of the bodhi tree.

Faith enables the growth of the most supreme wisdom.

Faith is able to reveal all buddhas.

 

Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 12

Edited May 22, 2016 by Bodhicitta

[kbe]

"Be a light unto yourself."

[taoteching99]

At the moment of the attainment of Buddhahood,

the Buddha uttered the following two verses:

 

Verse 153: I, who have been seeking the builder of this house (body), failing to attain Enlightenment (Bodhi nana or Sabbannuta nana) which would enable me to find him, have wandered through innumerable births in samsara. To be born again and again is, indeed, dukkha!

 

 

 

Verse 154: Oh house-builder! You are seen, you shall build no house (for me) again. All your rafters are broken, your roof-tree is destroyed. My mind has reached the unconditioned (i.e., Nibbana); the end of craving (Arahatta Phala) has been attained.

 

* Kamasukhallikanuyoga and Attakiamathanuyoga.

 

............

 

What an experience ( of 'joy') by ('someone') he who ,finally , has reached the very end of the path !

 

............

[Sudhamma]

Selected 3 verses from the Mangala Sutta (Discourse on Blessings):

 

"Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise,

and to honour those worthy of honour - this is the highest blessing"

 

"Asevana ca balanam - panditanan ca sevana,

Puja ca pujaniyanam - Etam mangalamuttamam"

 

"Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude,

and the timely hearing of the Dhamma,

the Teaching of the Buddha - this is the highest blessing.

 

"Garavo ca nivato ca - Santutthi ca katannuta

Kalena dhammasavanam - Etam mangalamuttamam"

 

"The mind that is not touched by the vicissitudes of life,

the mind that is free from sorrow, stainless and secure

- this is the highest blessing"

 

"Phutthassa lokadhammehi - cittam yassa na kampati

Asokam virajam khemam - Etam mangalamuttamam"

[Sudhamma]

...

Edited March 18, 2017 by Sudhamma

[Sudhamma]

...

Edited March 18, 2017 by Sudhamma

[atrus]

-------------------------

Edited June 19, 2023 by atrus

[silent thunder]

2 minutes ago, atrus said:

Forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness, But because you deserve peace - Buddha

oh yes!  this!  this!

 

 

[Marblehead]

Yep.  Even I respect the wisdom in some Buddhist sayings.

 

[C T]

not sure if the Buddha can take credit for that quote 

 

although im sure its a state of mind that he would have encouraged.