365 Buddha PA - Jeff Schmidt [23]
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING 1827-1828
257.
If a man string putrid fish
On a blade of kusa grass,
That same grass will putrid smell.
So with him who follows fools.
If a man wrap frankincense
In a leaf, that leaf smells sweet.
So with those who follow sages.
ITIVUTTAKA 76
258.
If, as the disciple fares along, he meets no companion who is better or equal, let him firmly pursue his solitary career. There is no fellowship with the foolish.
DHAMMAPADA 61
259.
When we say, “I take refuge in the Buddha,” we should also understand that “The Buddha takes refuge in me,” because without the second part the first part is not complete. The Buddha needs us for awakening, understanding, and love to be real things and not just concepts. They must be real things that have real effects on life. Whenever I say, “I take refuge in the Buddha,” I hear “Buddha takes refuge in me.”
THICH NHAT HANH; BEING PEACE
260.
If you can only rid yourselves of conceptual thought, you will have accomplished everything.
HUANG PO; ZEN TEACHING OF HUANG PO
261.
The source of all good, evil, weal and harm lies with actions, speech and thoughts. Did you bring your actions, speech and thoughts with you today? Or have you left them at home? This is where you must look, right here. You don’t have to look very far away. Look at your actions, speech and thoughts.
AJAHN CHAH; LIVING DHAMMA
262.
The unwise man, lacking understanding,
Behaves as if he were his own worst enemy,
Committing evil deeds
That produce bitter fruit.
DHAMMAPADA 66
263.
Compassion is characterized as promoting the aspect of allaying suffering. Its function resides in not [enduring] others’ suffering. It is manifested as non-cruelty. Its proximate cause is to see helplessness in those overwhelmed by suffering. It succeeds when it makes cruelty subside, and it fails when it produces sorrow.
BUDDHAGHOSA; VISUDDHIMAGGA 318
264.
They are happy indeed who own nothing at all; Those with highest knowledge own nothing at all. See how people who own things are afflicted, Bound to others by their obligations.
UDĀNA 2.6
265.
Whatever is transitory indeed has a false nature.
(But) nibbāna does not have a false nature. That the noble ones know truly. Because of the full comprehension of the truth they indeed are without craving, quenched.
SUTTA NIPĀTA 757-758
266.
Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.
DHAMMAPADA 50
267.
[W]e also discussed the relative virtues of the arhat and the bodhisattva. [Ahjahn Chah] ended our discussion by saying, “Don’t be an arhat. Don’t be a Buddha. Don’t be anything at all. Being something makes problems. So don’t be anything. You don’t have to be something, he doesn’t have to be something, I don’t have to be something. . . .” He paused, and then said, “Sometimes when I think about it, I don’t want to say anything.”
PAUL BREITER; VENERABLE FATHER
268.
Self-awareness, self-illumination, self-liberation, these three,
When arising, arise from the mind itself.
When disappearing, they disappear into the mind itself.
The unborn, unceasing, and unexpressed, these three,
When emerging, arise from the nature of being itself.
When disappearing, they disappear into the nature of being itself.
HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS: SELECTIONS FROM MILAREPA,
POET-SAINT OF TIBET
269.
The mind is something more radiant than anything else can be, but because counterfeits—passing defilements—come and obscure it, it loses its radiance, like the sun when obscured by clouds. Don’t go thinking that the sun goes after the clouds. Instead, the clouds come drifting along and obscure the sun.
AJAAN MUN; HEART RELEASED
270.
Even as rain breaks through an ill-thatched house,