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Your thoughts shape who you are and your life    

• The mind is everything. What you think you become.  
• We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
• He is able who thinks he is able.
• We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
• All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
• Our life is a creation of our mind.

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Your mind can do much harm if left unguarded

• All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?  
• It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.  
• Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.  
• More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an undisciplined mind does greater harm.  

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Learn to control your mind …

• To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.  
• There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.

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… for this is the greatest victory there is

• To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.
• It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.
• The one who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than he who has defeated a thousand times a thousand men.

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Keep your mind pure and peaceful …

• Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.  

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… through the practice of equanimity

• Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame.
• Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all  
• Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm.  

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Be the witness of your thoughts

• Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe.

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Love yourself    

• You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
• You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.  
• If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.

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Be kind, generous and helpful to others

• Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
• Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
• As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden your heart with judgements but rain your kindness equally on all.
• If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.
• Kindness should become the natural way of life, not the exception.

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Choose your words with great care and make them kind

• Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
• The tongue like a sharp knife … Kills without drawing blood.
• The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.
• Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
• If you propose to speak always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.

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Let go of your judgements

• As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden your heart with judgements but rain your kindness equally on all.
• There are no chains like hate…dwelling on your brother’s faults multiplies your own. You are far from the end of your journey.

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Be compassionate to all beings, including yourself

• Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
• Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and wrong. Sometime in your life, you will have been all of these.
• If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.  
• Rage is a powerful energy that with diligent practice can be transformed into fierce compassion. However much we disagree with our enemies, our task is to identify with them. They too feel justified in their point of view.  
• In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.

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See yourself in all beings for all of life is connected

• He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.

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Realise that everything is connected

• 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.

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Live in the present moment

• Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
• The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
• The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment.
• Be greatly aware of the present.

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Be present in what you do

• As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.

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Live a virtuous life

• The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.
• Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.  
• … virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
• On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter …  

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Make your spiritual life an important focus of your life

• Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.  

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Follow the path to truth

• There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
• You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.  
• Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.  
• Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.  

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Only choose to believe what agrees with your own reason

• 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.
• Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
• Doubt everything. Find your own light.
• To force oneself to believe and to accept a thing without understanding is political, and not spiritual or intellectual.

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Put principles and ideas into action

• An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.  
• However, many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?  
• I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.

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Be true to what you know

• The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.  

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Be a light to others and yourself

• Make of yourself a light.
• If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.
• Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
• There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle.  
• Following the Noble Path is like entering a dark room with a light in the hand; the darkness will all be cleared away, and the room will be filled with light.  
• Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.
• You are the community now. Be a lamp for yourselves. Be your own refuge. Seek for no other. All things must pass. Strive on diligently. Don’t give up.  

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Discover your purpose, then give yourself to it

• Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.

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Follow your heart

• The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

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See the perfection and wonder in life

• If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.
• When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.
• How wonderful! How wonderful! All things are perfect, exactly as they are.  

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Find reasons to be thankful

• Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

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Seize each day

• Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.  Gautama Buddha  

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See everyone as your teacher

• Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion.  
• When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

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Look after your health for it is your greatest gift

• Without health life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering an image of death.
• Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
• To keep the body in good health is a duty … otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
• Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.  

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Be diligent

• To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.  
• Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.  
• I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.  

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See life as a journey and a process

• It is better to travel well than to arrive.
• You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.

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Follow a path that brings happiness and benefit to all

• When you come upon a path that brings benefit and happiness to all, follow this course as the moon journeys through the stars.
• There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

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Take care who you journey with

• An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.  
• If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with a fool.  

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Realise your salvation depends on you alone

• No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.  
• Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
• Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except your self.
• Purity or impurity depends on oneself, no one can purify another.

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Life is suffering but suffering can be overcome

• • May all that have life be delivered from suffering.
  • Pain is certain, suffering is optional.

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Let go of anger

• • • Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
    • In a controversy, the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.
    • You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.  
    • Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
    • Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.

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Overcome hatred through love …

• • • Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.  
    • Those who attempt to conquer hatred by hatred are like warriors who take weapons to overcome others who bear arms. This does not end hatred, but gives it room to grow. But, ancient wisdom has advocated a different timeless strategy to overcome hatred. This eternal wisdom is to meet hatred with non-hatred. The method of trying to conquer hatred through hatred never succeeds in overcoming hatred. But, the method of overcoming hatred through non-hatred is eternally effective. That is why that method is described as eternal wisdom.

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… and through understanding and forgiveness

• • • To understand everything is to forgive everything.
    • Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.

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Banish doubt and negativity

• • • There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.
    • Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.

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Let go of fear, especially the fear of death

• • • Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
    • The whole secret of 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.

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Transcend fear

• • • When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear.

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Do not grasp or cling to anything for that leads to suffering

• • • To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.  
    • You only lose what you cling to.
    • Attachment leads to suffering.

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Realise that all things pass and nothing lasts forever

• • • All things must pass.
    • Nothing remains without change.
    • Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.  

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Here are some paths to peace …

• • • Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.  
    • … to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind.   
    • Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.
    • Meditate. Live purely. Quiet the mind.
    • Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

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Here are some paths to happiness …

• • • “A man asked Gautama Buddha, “I want happiness.”  Buddha said, “First remove “I,” that’s Ego, then remove “want,” that’s Desire.  See now you are left with only “Happiness.”
    • Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to others.  
    • There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.  
    • If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
    • Happiness never decreases by being shared.

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Here are some paths to health …

• • • The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.  
    • To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.  

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Here is a path to wisdom …

• • • A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.

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Here are some ways to measure your life

• • • In the end, these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?   
    • Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and control, yet better, indeed, is a single day’s life of one who is wise and meditative.

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More thoughts from the Buddha

• • • Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.  
    • In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
    • A jug fills drop by drop.
    • On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.  
    • The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.
    • There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.  
    • A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.
    • Words do not express thoughts very well; everything immediately becomes a little different, a little distorted, a little foolish. And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom of one man seems nonsense to another.
    • If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
    • In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
    • Conquer anger by love, evil by good; conquer the miser with liberality, and the liar with truth.  
    • Wear your ego like a loose-fitting garment.
    • The greatest prayer is patience.
    • To insist on a spiritual practice that served you in the past is to carry the raft on your back after you have crossed the river.
    • People with opinions just go around bothering one another.
    • Life is a river always flowing. Do not hold onto things. Work hard.
    • What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.
    • There have been many Buddhas before me and there will be many Buddhas in the future. All living beings have the Buddha nature and can become Buddhas.  Gautama Buddha
    • A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.  Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!
    • All descriptions of reality are temporary hypotheses.
    • Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.
    • Few among men are they who cross to the further shore. The others merely run up and down the bank on this side.
    • The mind has become freed from conditioning: the end of craving has been reached.
    • Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.
    • Whoever sees me sees the teaching, and whoever sees the teaching sees me.  
    • Meditate. Live purely. Quiet the mind. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.

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Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing
nor upon tradition;
nor upon rumor;  
nor upon what is in a scripture:  
nor upon surmise;  
nor upon an axiom;  
nor upon specious reasoning;  
nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over:  
nor upon another’s seeming ability;  
nor upon the consideration, “The monk is our teacher.” 
When you yourselves know:  
These things are good; these things are not blamable;  
these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed,  
these things lead to benefit and happiness, enter on and abide in them. 

–   Gautama Buddha  

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