The Four Reliances

First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings,
not on the words.

Second, rely on the teachings,
not on the personality of the teacher.

Third, rely on real wisdom,
not superficial interpretation.

And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure wisdom,
not on judgmental perceptions.

~ Traditional Buddhist Teaching ~

Ten Virtuous Deeds

Of the body:
To protect life
To be honest
To maintain proper sexual conduct

Of the speech:
To tell the truth
To avoid gossip
To avoid slander
To speak gentle words that bring happiness to others

Of the mind:
To rejoice in the good fortune of others
To have thoughts that are only beneficial to others
To have correct views

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,
accept it and live up to it

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
If a man speaks or acts with an evil though, pain follows him.
If a man speaks or acts with a pure though, happiness follows him
like a shadow that never leaves him.

Holding on the anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it
at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love.
This is the eternal rule.

There is no fire like passion,
there is no shark like hatred,
there is no snare like folly,
there is no torrent like greed.

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

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,
our whole life would change.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal.
When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

Pay no attention to the faults of others, things done or left undone by others.
Consider only what by oneself is done or undone.

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart
give yourself to it.

Three things cannot be long hidden, the sun, the moon and the truth.

Learn from, but so not dwell in the past
be prepared for, but do not dream of the future
live in the present by concentrating your mind on the present moment.

To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own
in the midst of abundance.

All that we are is a 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.

To keep the body in good health is a duty;
otherwise the mind is not strong and clear.

Our deeds, good or evil, follow us like shadows.

Neither fire nor wind,
birth no death can erase our good deeds.

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.

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.

The secret of health for both mind and body
is not to mourn the past,
not to worry about the future,
or not to anticipate troubles,
but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Ego, this gigantic devil
has caused troubles for many lifetimes.
Remember this enemy;
exterminate it quickly.

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts
of resentment are cherished in the mind.
Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts
of resentment are forgotten.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

Let us rise up and be thankful,
for if we didn't learn a lot today,
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.

Do not speak harshly to anyone;
those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way.
Angry speech is painful;
blows for blow will touch thee.

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 anyone in the entire universe,
deserve your love and affection.

The thought manifests as the word;
the word manifests as the deed;
the deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
and let it spring from love,
born out of concern for all beings.

To enjoy good health,
to bring true happiness to one's family,
to bring peace to all,
one must 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.

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another.
If these minds love one another
the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden.
But if these minds get out of harmony with one another
it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.

All of the Buddha wisdom is profound;
however the following are some of my favourite quotes
which I have experienced along my path.

When you realize how perfect everything is
you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.

Friendship is the only cure for hatred,
the only guarantee of peace.

There are only two mistakes
one can make along the road to truth;
not going all the way,
and not starting.

It is a man's own mind,
not his enemy or foe
that lures him to evil.

The tongue is like a sharp knife -
kills without drawing blood.

An insincere and evil friend
is more feared than a wild beast;
a wild beast may wound your body,
but an evil friend will wound your mind.

Translated from the Dhammapada
An anthology of 423 verses

Better than a thousand hollow words,
is one word that brings peace.
Better than a thousand hollow verses,
is one verse that brings peace.
It is better to conquer yourself
than to win a thousand battles.
Then the victory is yours.
It cannot be taken from you,
not by angels or by demons,
heaven or hell.

Live in joy, in love,
even among those who hate.
Live in joy, in health,
Even among the afflicted.
Live in joy, in peace,
Even among the troubled.
Live in joy, without possessions,
Like the shining ones.

There is no fire like greed,
No crime like hatred.
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within, be still
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.