Accepting Abuse

Posted by cathy in Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni, Negative Emotions, Quotes, Worldly Concerns “When a simpleton abused him, Lord Buddha listened to him in silence, but when the man had finished, the Buddha asked him, ‘Son, if a man declined to accept a present offered to him, to whom would it belong?’ The man answered ‘To him who offered it.’ ‘My son’, Buddha said, ‘I decline to accept your abuse. Keep it for yourself.’” ~The Buddha (as told by Will Durant)

Search for Perfection

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Quotes, Realization, Suffering “It is our very search for perfection outside ourselves that causes our suffering.” ~The Buddha

No Fear

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Clinging, Negative Emotions, Philosophy, Quotes, Renunciation, Skillful Means “The whole secret to existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” ~The Buddha

We Are What We Think

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Dharma, Joy, Karma, Mind, Philosophy, Quotes, Suffering, Thoughts, Worldly Concerns “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Think or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you, like the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you, as your shadow unshaken. In this world, hate never yet dispelled hate. Only love dispells hate. This is the Law, ancient and inexhaustible. We are what we think.” ~The Buddha

The Mind of the Past

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Grasping, Mind, Quotes, The Diamond Sutra “The mind of the past is ungraspable.” ~The Buddha (from The Diamond Sutra)

The Taste of Liberation

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Dharma, Quotes, Realization “Just as the waters of the great oceans all have one taste, the taste of salt, so too, all true teachings have but one taste, the taste of liberation.” ~The Buddha

What Cannot Be Hidden

Posted by cathy in Buddha Shakyamuni, Dharma, Philosophy, Quotes, Wisdom “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” ~The Buddha

The Buddha Observes the World

Posted by cathy in Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni, Philosophy, Quotes, Worldly Concerns “I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake on earth as a drop of oil on my foot.” ~The Buddha

Seeing the Dharma

Posted by cathy in Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni, Dharma, Quotes “He who sees the Dharma sees me. He who sees me sees the Dharma.” ~The Buddha

The Buddha’s Teachings

Posted by cathy in Attachment, Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni, Dharma, Philosophy, Practice, Quotes, Realization “My teaching is not a philosophy. It is the result of direct experience. My teaching is a means of practice, not something to hold on to or worship. My teaching is like a raft used to cross the river. Only a fool would carry the raft around after he had already reached the other shore of liberation.” ~The Buddha