365 Buddha PA - Jeff Schmidt [3]
ŚĀNTIDEVA; BODHICARYĀVATĀRA 5.19
4 .
The best scenery is nought-to-see—
That is the Mind-Essence of Illumination.
HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
5 .
You cannot find Buddha nature by vivisection. Reality cannot be caught by thinking or feeling mind. Moment after moment to watch your breathing, to watch your posture, is true nature. There is no secret beyond this point.
SHUNRYU SUZUKI; ZEN MIND, BEGINNER’S MIND
6 .
[I]ndulge in lust a little, and like the child it grows apace.
The wise man hates it therefore; who would take poison for food? Every sorrow is increased and cherished by the offices of lust.
If there is no lustful desire, the risings of sorrow are not produced, the wise man seeing the bitterness of sorrow, stamps out and destroys the risings of desire. . . .
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING 852-854
7 .
All . . . phenomena are intrinsically void and yet this Mind with which they are identical is no mere nothingness.
HUANG PO; ZEN TEACHING OF HUANG PO
8 .
The king said: ‘When deeds are committed, Nāgasena, by one name-and-form, what becomes of those deeds?’
‘The deeds would follow it, O king, like a shadow that never leaves it.’
‘Can any one point out those deeds, saying: “Here are those deeds, or there”?’
‘No.’
‘Give me an illustration.’
‘Now what do you think, O king? Can any one point out the fruits which a tree has not yet produced, saying: “Here they are, or there”?’
‘Certainly not, Sir.’
‘Just so, great king, so long as the continuity of life is not cut off, it is impossible to point out the deeds that are done.’
‘Very good, Nāgasena!’
MILINDAPAÑHA 72
9.
Who would have thought that all things are the manifestation of the Essence of Mind!
THE SUTRA OF HUI NENG
10.
A man who has learned but little, grows old like an ox; His flesh increases, but his wisdom, not.
DHAMMAPADA 152
11.
If this doctrine is not understood thoroughly,
The conception of an I prevails,
Hence come virtuous and non-virtuous actions
Which give rise to good and bad rebirths.
Therefore, as long as the doctrine removing
The conception of I is not known,
Take heed of the practices
Of giving, ethics, and patience.
NĀGĀRJUNA; PRECIOUS GARLAND 124-125
12.
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 NIPĀTA 949
13.
Whoever lives looking for pleasure, exercising no restraint over his senses,
Immoderate in his enjoyments, indolent, inert,
Him Māra overpowers, even as the wind overpowers a tree of little strength.
Whoever lives looking not for pleasure, exercising restraint over his senses,
Moderate in his enjoyments, endowed with faith, exerting the power of his will,
Him Māra does not overpower, even as the wind does not overpower a mountain of rock.
DHAMMAPADA 7-8
14.
When an ordinary enemy is banished from one country he may regain his strength abroad and then return to seek revenge. The inner enemy of delusion, however, is not able to do this. When delusion is completely abandoned it can never return again.
ŚĀNTIDEVA; BODHICARYĀ VATĀRA 4.45
15.
What is “not thus”? It is your self. What is “thus”? It is the Buddhas.
DŌGEN; RATIONAL ZEN
16.
There is no meditative concentration for one who lacks wisdom, and no wisdom for one who lacks meditative concentration. One in whom are found both meditative concentration and wisdom is indeed close to Nibbāna.
DHAMMAPADA 372
17.
I alone will practice all that is wholesome. Those who are powerless and under the control of karma and delusion are unable to benefit themselves or attain their own purposes. Worldly people are completely unable to make their lives meaningful. Therefore, I shall practice what is wholesome for the benefit of all sentient beings. While others are engaged in inferior and menial tasks in which they encounter many difficulties, how can I sit here at peace and do nothing? I must and shall