Quotes[edit]

Renunciation is not getting rid of the things of this world, but accepting that they pass away.
Aitken Roshi, as quoted in The Awakening of Global Consciousness: A Guide to Self-Realization
(2010) by Jawara D. King, p. 20
I prefer Buddhism because it gives three principles in combination, which no other religion does.
Buddhism teaches prajna (understanding as against superstition and supernaturalism), karuna
(love), and samata (equality). This is what man wants for a good and happy life. Neither god nor
soul can save society.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Indian scholar, nationalist, jurist, political leader, Buddhist revivalist and
an architect of the Indian Constitution [citation needed]
The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the world's ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atia, as quoted in Perspectives on Mankind's Search for Meaning (2008) by Walter Taminang, p.
63
In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That's all.
Bankei [citation needed]
The true meaning of the precepts is not just that one should refrain from drinking alcohol, but also
from getting drunk on nirvana.
Bassui [citation needed]
All know the Way, but few actually walk it.

Bodhidharma [citation needed]

If you don't find a teacher soon, you'll live this life in vain. It's true, you have the buddha-nature.
But without the help of a teacher, you'll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes
enlightened without a teacher's help. If, though, by the conjunction of conditions, someone
understands what the Buddha meant, that person doesn't need a teacher. Such a person has a
natural awareness superior to anything taught. But unless you're so blessed, study hard, and by
means of instruction you'll understand. [citation needed]
Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn't more
complicated that that. It is opening to or receiving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant,
just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it.
Sylvia Boorstein [citation needed]
If only I could throw away the urge to trace my patterns in your heart, I could really see you.
David Brandon (Zen in the Art of Helping)
You can explore the universe, looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and
affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere. [citation needed]
Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either
affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride.
The Buddha - Sutta Nipata
One day, Ananda, who had been thinking deeply about things for a while, turned to the Buddha
and exclaimed: "Lord, I've been thinking - spiritual friendship is at least half of the spiritual life!"
The Buddha replied: "Say not so, Ananda, say not so. Spiritual friendship is the whole of the
spiritual life!"
Samyutta Nikaya, Verse 2
In what is seen, there should be just the seen;
In what is heard, there should be just the heard;
In what is sensed;
there should be just the sensed;
In what is thought, there should be just the thought.
...
He should not kill a living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should he incite another to kill. Do
not injure any being, either strong or weak in the world.
Sutta Nipata II,14
One should follow a man of wisdom who rebukes one for one's faults, as one would follow a
guide to some buried treasure. To one who follows such a wise man, it will be an advantage and

not a disadvantage.
...
These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood. Since you
should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings, how much more so
should you abandon bad states of mind!
...
Conquer the angry man by love.
Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.
Conquer the miser with generosity.
Conquer the liar with truth.
The Dhammapada
In Aryans' Discipline, to build a friendship is to build wealth, to maintain a friendship is to maintain
wealth and to end a friendship is to end wealth.
Cakkavatti Sutta, Patika Vagga, Digha Nikaya
If beings knew, as I know, the results of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their gifts without
sharing them with others, nor would the taint of stinginess obsess the heart and stay there. Even
if it were their last and final bit of food, they would not enjoy its use without sharing it, if there were
anyone to receive it.
Itivuttaka 18
A brahmin once asked the Blessed One: "Are you a God?" "No, brahmin," said the Blessed One.
"Are you a saint?" "No, brahmin," said the Blessed One. "Are you a magician?" "No, brahmin,"
said the Blessed One. "What are you then?" "I am awake." [citation needed]
Let your love flow outward through the universe,
To its height, its depth, its broad extent,
A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.
Then, as you stand or walk,
Sit or lie down,
As long as you are awake,
Strive for this with a one-pointed mind;
Your life will bring heaven to earth.
...

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,

And the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared
...
I teach one thing and one only: suffering and the end of suffering.
...
Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son, so one should cultivate an
unbounded mind towards all beings, and loving-kindness towards all the world. One should
cultivate an unbounded mind, above and below and across, without obstruction, without enmity,
without rivalry.
Standing, or going, or seated, or lying down, as long as one is free from drowsiness, one should
practice this mindfulness. This, they say, is the holy state here.
Sutta Nipata [citation needed]
What is this world condition? Body is the world condition. And with body and form goes feeling,
perception, consciousness, and all the activities throughout the world. The arising of form and the
ceasing of form--everything that has been heard, sensed, and known, sought after and reached
by the mind--all this is the embodied world, to be penetrated and realized.
...
The fool thinks he has won a battle when he bullies with harsh speech, but knowing how to be
forbearing alone makes one victorious.
Samyutta Nikaya [citation needed]
Make an island of yourself,
make yourself your refuge;
there is no other refuge.
Make truth your island,
make truth your refuge;
there is no other refuge.
Digha Nikaya, 16
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Nonaffliction is happiness in the world - harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10
Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise.

Surangama Sutra [citation needed]

Do not try to become anything.
Do not make yourself into anything.
Do not be a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be.
What you walk, let it be.
Grasp at nothing.
Resist nothing.
Ajahn Chah [citation needed]
If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
...
The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion
in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look
clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into
someone else's eyes.
Pema Chodron [citation needed]
Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. your stay is but
short and the moment of your departure unknown. None can live without toil and a craft that
provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will
overtake you, and you will denied the joy that comes from labor's end. Speak quietly and kindly
and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what
others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others. Be
near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered. Take small account
of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you
and and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds. Treasure
silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with
yourself.
Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are. Despite all appearances,
no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will
offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation. You, no less than all beings have Buddha
Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble
and fall, let not remorse nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this
understanding, summon strength and walk on. Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame
burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in
the Light.
Dhammavadaka [citation needed]

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates
as significant an impression by remaining silent.
H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama
Through violence, you may 'solve' one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.
...
One has to try to develop one's inner feelings, which can be done simply by training one's mind.
This is a priceless human asset and one you don't have to pay income tax on!
...
First one must change. I first watch myself, check myself, then expect changes from others.
...
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
...
I myself feel, and also tell other Buddhists that the question of Nirvana will come later.
There is not much hurry.
If in day to day life you lead a good life, honesty, with love,
with compassion, with less selfishness,
then automatically it will lead to Nirvana.
...
The universe that we inhabit and our shared perception of it are the results of a common karma.
Likewise, the places that we will experience in future rebirths will be the outcome of the karma
that we share with the other beings living there. The actions of each of us, human or nonhuman,
have contributed to the world in which we live. We all have a common responsibility for our world
and are connected with everything in it.
...
If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how
much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will
ensue.
...
It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for
oneself and others.
...
Whenever Buddhism has taken root in a new land, there has been a certain variation in the style

in which it is observed. The Buddha himself taught differently according to the place, the occasion
and the situation of those who were listening to him.
...
Samsara - our conditioned existence in the perpetual cycle of habitual tendencies and nirvana genuine freedom from such an existence- are nothing but different manifestations of a basic
continuum. So this continuity of consciousness us always present. This is the meaning of tantra.
...
According to Buddhist practice, there are three stages or steps. The initial stage is to reduce
attachment towards life.
The second stage is the elimination of desire and attachment to this samsara. Then in the third
stage, self-cherishing is eliminated.
...
The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute,
each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.
...
To develop genuine devotion, you must know the meaning of teachings. The main emphasis in
Buddhism is to transform the mind, and this transformation depends upon meditation. in order to
meditate correctly, you must have knowledge.
...
Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned.
...
The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.
...
From one point of view we can say that we have human bodies and are practicing the Buddha's
teachings and are thus much better than insects. But we can also say that insects are innocent
and free from guile, where as we often lie and misrepresent ourselves in devious ways in order to
achieve our ends or better ourselves. From this perspective, we are much worse than insects.
...
When the days become longer and there is more sunshine, the grass becomes fresh and,
consequently, we feel very happy. On the other hand, in autumn, one leaf falls down and another
leaf falls down. The beautiful plants become as if dead and we do not feel very happy. Why? I
think it is because deep down our human nature likes construction, and does not like destruction.
Naturally, every action which is destructive is against human nature. Constructiveness is the
human way. Therefore, I think that in terms of basic human feeling, violence is not good. Nonviolence is the only way.

...
We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred thousand years. I believe that if
during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall
population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human
population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion
predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are "news"; compassionate activities
are so much a part of daily life that they are taken for granted and , therefore, largely ignored.
...
The fundamental philosophical principle of Buddhism is that all our suffering comes about as a
result of an undisciplined mind, and this untamed mind itself comes about because of ignorance
and negative emotions. For the Buddhist practitioner then, regardless of whether he or she
follows the approach of the Fundamental Vehicle, Mahayana or Vajrayana, negative emotions are
always the true enemy, a factor that has to be overcome and eliminated. And it is only by applying
methods for training the mind that these negative emotions can be dispelled and eliminated. This
is why in Buddhist writings and teachings we find such an extensive explanation of the mind and
its different processes and functions. Since these negative emotions are states of mind, the
method or technique for overcoming them must be developed from within. There is no alternative.
They cannot be removed by some external technique, like a surgical operation."
H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama in 'Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection', Snow Lion
Publications, Ithaca, 2004
The beauty of life is, while we cannot undo what is done, we can see it, understand it, learn from
it and change so that every new moment is spent not in regret, guilt, fear or anger but in wisdom,
understanding and love.
Jennifer Edwards [citation needed]
View all problems as challenges.
Look upon negativities that arise as opportunities to learn and to grow.
Don't run from them, condemn yourself, or bury your burden in saintly silence.
You have a problem? Great.
More grist for the mill. Rejoice, dive in, and investigate.
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"
Humans prepare for the future all their lives, yet meet the next life totally unprepared.
Drakpa Gyaltsen [citation needed]
To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality;
to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality.
The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth.

Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know.
Hsin Hsin Ming [citation needed]
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.
Hsi-Tang [citation needed]
When one does what Buddhas do, one is a Buddha.
When one does what Bodhisattvas do, one is a Bodhisattva.
When one does what Arhats do, one is an Arhat.
When one does what ghosts do, one is a ghost.
These are all natural phenomena.
There are no shortcuts in cultivation.
Venerable Master Hsuan Hua [citation needed]
Our lives are based on what is reasonable and common sense;
Truth is apt to be neither.
Christmas Humphreys [citation needed]
... And the other half is taking complete personal responsibility for getting there!
Joshua Bryer [citation needed]
If you live the sacred and despise the ordinary,
you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.
Lin-Chi [citation needed]
One day I complained to Suzuki Roshi about the people I was working with. He listened intently.
Finally he said, "If you want to see virtue, you have to have a calm mind."
"To Shine One Corner of the World: Moments with Shuryu Suzuki" (Edited by David Chadwick)
Like it or not, if you look at your own mind you will discover it is void and groundless; as
insubstantial as empty space.
Padma Sambhava [citation needed]
Suttas are not meant to be 'sacred scriptures' that tell us what to believe. One should read them,
listen to them, think about them, contemplate them, and investigate the present reality, the
present experience with them. Then, and only then, can one insightfully know the truth beyond
words.
Venerable Sumedho [citation needed]

Of the great religions of history I prefer Buddhism, especially in its earliest forms because it has
had the smallest element of persecution.
Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, advocate for social
reform, and pacifist [citation needed]
As a student of comparative religions, I believe that Buddhism is the most perfect one the world
has even seen. The philosophy of the theory of evolution and the law of karma were far superior
to any other creed. It was neither the history of religion nor the study of philosophy that first drew
me to the world of Buddhist thought but my professional interest as a doctor. My task was to treat
psychic suffering and it was this that impelled me to become acquainted with the views and
methods of that great teacher of humanity, whose principal theme was the chain of suffering, old
age, sickness and death.
Dr Carl Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychologist / psychiatrist, Founder of the Jungian school of
psychology [citation needed]
Buddhism is an earnest struggle to win. This is what the Daishonin teaches. A Buddhist must not
be defeated. I hope you will maintain an alert and winning spirit in your work and daily life, taking
courages action and showing triumphant actual proof time and again.
Daisaku Ikeda ,president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) [citation needed]
The lives and writings of the mystics of all great religions bear witness to religious experiences of
great intensity, in which considerable changes are effected in the quality of consciousness.
Profound absorption in prayer or meditation can bring about a deepening and widening, a
brightening and intensifying, of consciousness, accompanied by a transporting feeling of rapture
and bliss. The contrast between these states and normal conscious awareness is so great that
the mystic believes his experiences to be manifestations of the divine; and given the contrast, this
assumption is quite understandable. Mystical experiences are also characterized by a marked
reduction or temporary exclusion of the multiplicity of sense-perceptions and restless thoughts.
This relative unification of mind is then interpreted as a union or communion with the One God. ...
The psychological facts underlying those religious experiences are accepted by the Buddhist and
are well-known to him; but he carefully distinguishes the experiences themselves from the
theological interpretations imposed upon them. ... The meditator will not be overwhelmed by any
uncontrolled emotions and thoughts evoked by his singular experience, and will thus be able to
avoid interpretations of that experience not warranted by the facts. Hence a Buddhist meditator,
while benefiting from the refinement of consciousness he has achieved, will be able to see these
meditative experiences for what they are; and he will further know that they are without any
abiding substance that could be attributed to a deity manifesting itself to his mind. Therefore, the
Buddhists conclusion must be that the highest mystical states do not provide evidence for the
existence of a personal God or an impersonal godhead.
Nyanaponika Thera, "Buddhism and the God-Idea" (1962)
This method of Bare Attention, so helpful to mind-knowledge and, through it, to world-knowledge,
tallies with the procedure and attitude of the true scientist and scholar: clear definition of subjectmatter and terms; unprejudiced receptivity for the instruction that comes out of the things
themselves; exclusion, or at least reduction, of the subjective factor in judgment; deferring of
judgment until a careful examination of facts has been made.

Nyanaponika Thera, The Heart of Buddhist Meditation (1965), p. 39

Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated worldviews (or philosophies) and I see
nothing wrong with these religions.
Richard Dawkins [1]