It is with great pleasure that I bring you another excellent video by Gerald Penilla from California on Timeless Quotes from the Buddha. This video was brought to my attention by Bhikkhu Samahita, to whom I offer gratitude as well.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtXAiQzDSk
Timeless Quotes from the Buddha
Here are the timeless quotes from the Buddha excerpted from the video with comments.
As a mother at the risk of her life watches over her child, so let everyone cultivate a boundlessly compassionate mind towards all living beings.
I have heard Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh take this one step further. Her recommends that we take or anger, fear, jealousy, anxiety, sorrow, and other afflictions and embrace them like a mother would embrace her child. This action induces a moment of mindfulness that can dissipate the unskillful feeling and allow it to subside.
It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
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To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.
In this quote, we see the foundation for mindful consumption, which has been discussed here.
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but by love alone; this is an ancient and eternal law.
This quote is the basis for the first of the five mindfulness trainings. For more details, see this post.
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angles or by demons, heaven or hell.
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The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipage troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Thich Nhat Hanh frequently refers the this quote as, “living happily in the present moment.” many of his dharma talks mention this theme. For the role of dharma in Buddha’s teaching, look here.
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
Though this is not difficult to understand, you can experience it for yourself by looking deeply into just what causes and conditions led to your ability to read this post. Consider the computer, laptop, or mobile device you are using and imagine the trial of th0ughts that contributed to its making.
All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.
This quote underscores my previous comment and it, too, deserves investigation.
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
This is probably the quote that inspired me to take the three refuges and become a Buddhist.
Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
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There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
This one inspires you to start on the path of meditation practices. How can we help?
If you are inspired by these quotes, let me know and share below. You will be glad you did.
