Buddhist Wisdom: February 2008 Archives

Buddha’s teachings are so simple and straightforward. If you find them complicated, it is only because you have made them so. You may think, “I have a Ph.D. and have amassed all this knowledge, yet I still can’t figure out how to begin practicing Dharma.” The remedy is to take a good look at your own mind.

-Lama Thubten Yeshe, in "Wisdom Energy"

Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by Josh Bartok, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org.

As all things are buddha-dharma, there is delusion and realization, practice, and birth and death, and there are buddhas and sentient beings.

As the myriad things are without an abiding self, there is no delusion, no realization, no buddha, no sentient being, no birth and death.

The buddha way is, basically, leaping clear of the many and the one; thus there are birth and death, delusion and realization, sentient beings and buddhas.

Yet in attachment blossoms fall, and in aversion weeds spread.

-Dogen, "Actualizing the Fundamental Point"

From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

As a blind man feels when he finds a pearl in a dustbin, so am I amazed by the miracles of awakening rising in my consciousness. It is the nectar of immortality that delivers us from death, the treasure that lifts us from death, the treasure that lifts us above poverty into the wealth of giving to life, the tree that gives shade to us when we roam about scorched by life, the bridge that takes us across the stormy river of life, the cool moon of compassion that calms our mind when it is agitated, the fun that dispels darkness, the butter made from the milk of kindness by churning it with the dharma. It is a feast of joy to which all are invited.

-adapted from the Bodhicharyavatara by Shantideva

From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Even though the training in ethics takes many forms, the ethics of abandoning the ten non-virtues is their basis. Of the ten non-virtues, three pertain to bodily actions, four to verbal actions, and three to mental actions.

The three mental non-virtues are:

1. Covetousness: thinking, "May this become mine," desiring something that belongs to another.

2. Harmful intent: wishing to injure others, be it great or small injury.

3. Wrong view: viewing some existent thing, such as rebirth, cause and effect, or the Three Jewels*, as non-existent.

The opposite of these ten non-virtues are the ten virtues, and engaging in them is called the practice of ethics.

*The core of Buddhism: Buddha, his doctrine (Dharma), and the Spiritual Community.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

If you can forget both clamor and silence, you will surely understand the simultaneous realization of the absolute and the relative.

-Lin-ch'uan

From "The Pocket Zen Reader," edited by Thomas Cleary, 1999. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Blinded this world— how few see clearly! Just as birds who've escaped from a net are few, few are the people who make it to heaven. -Dhammapada 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu...

From the time there appears in this world one who has seen the truth, a fully awakened one, blessed by the truth, abounding in happiness, a teacher of wisdom and goodness, a buddha. He, by himself, thoroughly knows and sees...

Let there be nothing behind you; leave the future to one side. Do not clutch at what is left in the middle; then you will become a wanderer and calm. --Sutta Nipata From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations." edited by Jeff...

If the element of the truth seeker did not exist in everyone, There would be no turning away from craving, Nor could there be a longing for nirvana, Nor a seeking for it, nor a resolve to find it. --Visuddhi...

Hence, the purpose of the Holy Life does not consist in acquiring alms, honor, or fame, nor in gaining morality, concentration, or the eye of knowledge. That unshakable deliverance of the heart: that, indeed, is the object of Holy Life,...

Anger is the real destroyer of our good human qualities; an enemy with a weapon cannot destroy these qualities, but anger can. Anger is our real enemy. -His Holiness the Dalai Lama From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary...

If a man should conquer in battle a thousand and a thousand more, and another should conquer himself, his would be the greater victory, because the greatest of victories is the victory over oneself. -Buddha From Sayings of the Buddha:...

Every single thing arises from the evil mind, sang the Sage. So there is nothing dangerous in the three worlds other than the mind. -Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara" From "365 Buddha: Daily Meditations," edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam,...

A gift of Dhamma conquers all gifts; the taste of Dhamma, all tastes; a delight in Dhamma, all delights; the ending of craving, all suffering and stress. -Dhammapada, 24, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu....

Don't cling to your own understanding. Even if you do understand something, you should ask yourself if there might be something you have not fully resolved, or if there may be some higher meaning yet. --Dogen From "The Pocket Zen...

Standing or walking, sitting or lying down, during all these waking hours, let him establish mindfulness of good will, which men call the highest state! --Buddha From "Sayings of the Buddha: Reflections for Every Day", by William Wray, 2004. Reprinted...

Delight in heedfulness. Watch over your own mind. Lift yourself up from the hard-going way, like a tusker sunk in the mud. -Dhammapada, 327, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu...

It is extremely important to investigate the causes or origins of suffering. One must begin that process by appreciating the impermanent, transient nature of our existence. All things, events and phenomena are dynamic, changing every moment, nothing remains static. Meditating...

Crookedness and truth (straightness) are in their nature opposite and cannot dwell together more than frost and fire; for one who has become religious, and practices the way of straight behavior, a false and crooked way of speech is not...

Nothing is born, nothing is destroyed. Away with your dualism, your likes and dislikes. Every single thing is just the One Mind. When you have perceived this, you will have mounted the Chariot of the Buddhas. -Huang Po, "Zen Teaching...

Before, this mind went wandering however it pleased, wherever it wanted, by whatever way that it liked. Today I will hold it aptly in check-- as one wielding a goad, an elephant in rut. -Dhammapada, 23, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu....

In the beginning mindfulness takes away worries and fears about past and future and keeps us anchored in the present. In the end it points to the right view of the self. --Ayya Khema, "Be an Island" Copyright Wisdom Publications...

It is precisely because our present life is so inseparably linked with desire that we must make use of desire’s tremendous energy if we wish to transform our life into something transcendental. -Lama Thubten Yeshe, Introduction to Tantra Copyright Wisdom...

If you don't understand the Way as it meets your eyes, how can you know the Path as you walk? -Shih-t'ou From "The Pocket Zen Reader," edited by Thomas Cleary, 1999. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com....

If we unbalance Nature, human kind will suffer. Furthermore, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility towards others to ensure that the world we pass...

Sakka asked: "What is the cause of self-interest?" The Buddha answered: "It is perception of the world as one's object." "How does one overcome this perception of the world as apart from oneself?" "By acting for the increase of goodness...

It is said that there are only two tragedies in life: not getting what one wants, and getting it. -Bhanta Henepola Gunaratana, "Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness" Copyright Wisdom Publications 2001. Reprinted from "Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations," edited by...

How could it be permissible to form a cult, gather followers and cronies, dash off writings, and toil in pursuit of objects for love of honor and advantage? -Tung-shan From "The Pocket Zen Reader," edited by Thomas Cleary, 1999. Reprinted...

Everywhere is the treasury of endless capacities of followers of the way. Everywhere is not everywhere; it is called everywhere. -Hui-k'ung From "The Pocket Zen Reader," edited by Thomas Cleary, 1999. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com....