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of peace is its unfolding as harmony among all people, animals, plants, and things. The precepts formulate this harmony, showing how the absence of killing and stealing is the very condition of mercy and charity.

ROBERT AITKEN; MIND OF CLOVER

332.

Anything which is created must, sooner or later, die. If enlightenment were created in such a way, there would always be the possibility of ego reasserting itself, causing a return to the confused state. Enlightenment is permanent because we have not produced it; we have merely discovered it. In the Buddhist tradition the analogy of the sun appearing from behind the clouds is often used to explain the discovery of enlightenment. In meditation practice we clear away the confusion of ego in order to glimpse the awakened state. The absence of ignorance, of being crowded in, of paranoia, opens up a tremendous view of life. One discovers a different way of being.

CHÖGYAM TRUNGPA; CUTTING THROUGH

SPIRITUAL MATERIALISM

333.

‘There is no spot, O king, where Nirvāṇa is situate, and yet Nirvāṇa is, and he who orders his life right will, by careful attention, realize Nirvāṇa. Just as fire exists, and yet there is no place where fire (by itself) is stored up. But if a man rubs two sticks together the fire comes; just so, O king, Nirvāṇa exists, though there is no spot where it is stored up. And he who orders his life aright will, by careful attention, realize Nirvāṇa.’

MILINDAPAÑHA 327

334.

Without hope of reward

Provide help to others.

Bear suffering alone,

And share your pleasures with beggars.

NĀGĀRJUNA; PRECIOUS GARLAND 272

335.

There is, bhikkhus, a not-born, a not-brought-to-being, a not-made, a not-formed. If, bhikkhus, there were not that not-born, not-brought-to-being, not-made, not-formed, no escape would be discerned from what is born, brought-to-being, made, formed. But since there is a not-born, a not-brought-to-being, a not-made, a not-formed, therefore there is discerned an escape from what is born, brought-to-being, made, formed.

ITIVUTTAKA 43

336.

All beings tremble before violence.

All fear death.

All love life.

See yourself in others.

Then whom can you hurt?

What harm can you do?

DHAMMAPADA 129-130

337.

Things in themselves are void,

So never cling to Voidness

Lest you stray [into] formalism.

HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA

338.

The impulse “I want” and the impulse “I’ll have”—lose them! That is where most people get stuck—without those, you can use your eyes to guide you through this suffering state.

SUTTA NIPĀTA 706

339.

There was once a woman who was arrogant and proud. She decided she wanted to attain enlightenment, so she asked all the authorities how to do that. One said, “Well, if you climb to the top of this very high mountain, you’ll find a cave there. Sitting inside that cave is a very wise old woman, and she will tell you.” So the woman thought, “Good, I’ll do that. Nothing but the best.” Having endured great hardships, she finally found this cave, and sure enough, sitting there was this very gentle, spiritual-looking old woman in white clothes who smiled at her beatifically. Overcome with awe and respect, she prostrated at the feet of this woman and said, “I want to attain enlightenment. Show me how.” The wise woman looked at her with her beatific smile and asked, “Are you sure you want to attain enlightenment?” And the woman said, “Of course I’m sure.” Whereupon the smiling woman turned into a demon, stood up brandishing a great big stick, and started chasing her, saying, “Now! Now! Now!” For the rest of her life, that lady could never get away from the demon who was always saying, “Now!”

PEMA CHÖDRÖN; WISDOM OF NO ESCAPE

340.

The Dharma Path is to keep walking forward. But the true Dharma has no going forward, no going backward, and no standing still.

AJAHN CHAH; STILL FOREST POOL

341.

Conquer your foe by force, you increase his enmity; conquer by love, and you will reap no after-sorrow.

FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING 2241

342.

The