Buddhist Quotes - Page 2

So war and peace start in the human heart. Whether that heart is open or whether that heart closes has global implications.

Accustomed long to contemplating love and compassion I have forgotten all difference between myself and others

If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.

I'm expressin' with my full capabilities, And now I'm livin in correctional facilities. Cause some don't agree with how I do this, I get straight and meditate like a Buddhist.

Our modern Western culture only recognises the first of these, freedom of desires. It then worships such a freedom by enshrining it at the forefront of national constituitions and bills of human rights. One can say that the underlying creed of most Western democracies is to protect their people's freedom to realise their desires, as far as this is possible. It is remarkable that in such countries people do not feel very free. The second kind of freedom, freedom from desires, is celebrated only in some religious communities. It celebrates contentment, peace that is free from desires.

If one stays too long with friends They will soon tire of him; Living in such closeness leads to dislike and hate. It is but human to expect and demand too much When one dwells too long in companionship.

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

Be a light unto yourself.

Sentient beings, self and others, enemies and dear ones-all are made by thoughts. It is like seeing a rope and mistaking it for a snake. When we think that the rope is a snake, we are scared, but once we see that we are looking at a rope, our fear dissipates. We have been deluded by our thoughts. Likewise, mentally fabricating self and others, we generate attachment and aversion.

As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world

Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? Preoccupied with the world, who thinks of death, until it arrives like thunder?

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."

In horror of death, I took to the mountains - again and again I meditated on the uncertainty of the hour of death, capturing the fortress of the deathless unending nature of mind. Now all fear of death is over and done.

If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.

The energy of the mind is the essence of life.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion.

Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.

The mind of an enlightened human being is flexible and adaptable. The mind of the ignorant person is conditioned and fixed.

In this world Hate never yet dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate. This is the law, Ancient and inexhaustible.

The Buddhist expresses it in one way, the Christian in another, but both say the same: We are all one.

Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends: have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men.

You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars guides you too.

I describe myself as a simple Buddhist monk. No more, no less.