Buddhist Teachings

“Wise people, after they have listened to the laws, become serene, like a deep, smooth, and still lake.”

“Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.”

“There is no fire like passion; there is no losing throw like hatred; there is no pain like this body; there is no happiness higher than rest.”

“Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy.”

“He who has tasted the sweetness of solitude and tranquillity, is free from fear and free from sin, while he tastes the sweetness of drinking in the law.”

“The Bhikshu who acts with kindness, who is calm in the doctrine of Buddha, will reach the quiet place (Nirvana), cessation of natural desires, and happiness.”

“The Bhikshu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted, who is collected, and has rejected the baits of the world, he is called quiet.”

“The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;--but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.”

“He who drinks in the law lives happily with a serene mind: the sage rejoices always in the law, as preached by the elect (Ariyas).”

“A Bhikshu who has entered his empty house, and whose mind is tranquil, feels a more than human delight when he sees the law clearly.”

“All men tremble at punishment, all men love life; remember that thou art like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.”

“A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures; because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called Ariya.”

“The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in compassion.”

“He who seeking his own happiness does not punish or kill beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death.”

“All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who finds no fault with other beings, whether feeble or strong, and does not kill nor cause slaughter.”

“Let him live in charity, let him be perfect in his duties; then in the fulness of delight he will make an end of suffering.”

“The uncharitable do not go to the world of the gods; fools only do not praise liberality; a wise man rejoices in liberality, and through it becomes blessed in the other world.”

“As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village.”

“For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.”

“"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.”

“"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is tolerant with the intolerant, mild with fault-finders, and free from passion among the passionate.”

“He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.”

“Even a good man sees evil days, as long as his good deed has not ripened; but when his good deed has ripened, then does the good man see happy days.”

“He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.”

“As on a heap of rubbish cast upon the highway the lily will grow full of sweet perfume and delight, thus the disciple of the truly enlightened Buddha shines forth by his knowledge among those who are like rubbish, among the people that walk in darkness.”

“Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.”

“Let him not despise what he has received, nor ever envy others: a mendicant who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”

“A Bhikshu who, though he receives little, does not despise what he has received, even the gods will praise him, if his life is pure, and if he is not slothful.”

“There is no satisfying lusts, even by a shower of gold pieces; he who knows that lusts have a short taste and cause pain, he is wise.”

“And this is the beginning here for a wise Bhikshu: watchfulness over the senses, contentedness, restraint under the law; keep noble friends whose life is pure, and who are not slothful.”

“Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred!”

“Let us live happily then, though we call nothing our own! We shall be like the bright gods, feeding on happiness!”

“The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.”

“The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.”

“If a man does what is good, let him do it again; let him delight in it: happiness is the outcome of good.”

“Pleasant is virtue lasting to old age, pleasant is a faith firmly rooted; pleasant is attainment of intelligence, pleasant is avoiding of sins.”

“Let us live happily then, free from greed among the greedy! among men who are greedy let us dwell free from greed!”

“Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like); fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; wise people fashion themselves.”

“The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far. But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed.”

“If a fool be associated with a wise man even all his life, he will perceive the truth as little as a spoon perceives the taste of soup.”

“If an intelligent man be associated for one minute only with a wise man, he will soon perceive the truth, as the tongue perceives the taste of soup.”

“If you see an intelligent man who tells you where true treasures are to be found, who shows what is to be avoided, and administers reproofs, follow that wise man; it will be better, not worse, for those who follow him.”

“Therefore, one ought to follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the elect; one ought to follow a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.”

“A man is not a Muni because he observes silence (mona, i.e. mauna), if he is foolish and ignorant; but the wise who, taking the balance, chooses the good and avoids evil, he is a Muni, and is a Muni thereby; he who in this world weighs both sides is called a Muni.”

“A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is patient, free from hatred and fear, he is called learned.”

“Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.”

“Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.”

“The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.”

“They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.”

“They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who utters true speech, instructive and free from harshness, so that he offend no one.”

“He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear.”

“But, like a beautiful flower, full of colour and full of scent, are the fine and fruitful words of him who acts accordingly.”

“He who, even as a young Bhikshu, applies himself to the doctrine of Buddha, brightens up this world, like the moon when free from clouds.”

“These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.”

“The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain.”

“How is there laughter, how is there joy, as this world is always burning? Why do you not seek a light, ye who are surrounded by darkness?”

“Good people shine from afar, like the snowy mountains; bad people are not seen, like arrows shot by night.”

“Those whose mind is well grounded in the (seven) elements of knowledge, who without clinging to anything, rejoice in freedom from attachment, whose appetites have been conquered, and who are full of light, are free (even) in this world.”

“Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleepers, the wise man advances like a racer, leaving behind the hack.”

“And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.”

“His thought is quiet, quiet are his word and deed, when he has obtained freedom by true knowledge, when he has thus become a quiet man.”

“Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.”

“Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself, thus self-protected and attentive wilt thou live happily.”

“The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind, are indeed well controlled.”

“Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue! Leave the sins of the tongue, and practise virtue with thy tongue!”

“He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.”

“Without knowledge there is no meditation, without meditation there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvana.”

“The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.”

“If a man's thoughts are not dissipated, if his mind is not perplexed, if he has ceased to think of good or evil, then there is no fear for him while he is watchful.”

“If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he restrains himself, and lives according to law,--then his glory will increase.”

“Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end.”

“A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in reflection, who looks with fear on thoughtlessness, cannot fall away (from his perfect state)--he is close upon Nirvana.”

“As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise.”

“If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.”

“Self is the lord of self, who else could be the lord? With self well subdued, a man finds a lord such as few can find.”

“For self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self; therefore curb thyself as the merchant curbs a good horse.”

“He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.”

“One's own self conquered is better than all other people; not even a god, a Gandharva, not Mara with Brahman could change into defeat the victory of a man who has vanquished himself, and always lives under restraint.”

“Mules are good, if tamed, and noble Sindhu horses, and elephants with large tusks; but he who tames himself is better still.”

“And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is better if a man has attained firm strength.”

“They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts a tamed elephant; the tamed is the best among men, he who silently endures abuse.”

“By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.”

“Rouse thyself! do not be idle! Follow the law of virtue! The virtuous rests in bliss in this world and in the next.”

“You yourself must make an effort.”

“Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow.”

“As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good things may be achieved by a mortal when once he is born.”

“If anything is to be done, let a man do it, let him attack it vigorously! A careless pilgrim only scatters the dust of his passions more widely.”

“He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who, though young and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are weak, that lazy and idle man will never find the way to knowledge.”

“Make thyself an island, work hard, be wise! When thy impurities are blown away, and thou art free from guilt, thou wilt enter into the heavenly world of the elect (Ariya).”

“Like a well-trained horse when touched by the whip, be ye active and lively, and by faith, by virtue, by energy, by meditation, by discernment of the law you will overcome this great pain (of reproof), perfect in knowledge and in behaviour, and never forgetful.”

“The Awakened call patience the highest penance, long-suffering the highest Nirvana.”

“Silently shall I endure abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who, though he has committed no offence, endures reproach, bonds, and stripes, who has endurance for his force, and strength for his army.”

“Good people walk on whatever befall, the good do not prattle, longing for pleasure; whether touched by happiness or sorrow wise people never appear elated or depressed.”

“This is an old saying, O Atula, this is not only of to-day: `They blame him who sits silent, they blame him who speaks much, they also blame him who says little; there is no one on earth who is not blamed.'”

“There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a man who is always blamed, or a man who is always praised.”

“There is no suffering for him who has finished his journey, and abandoned grief, who has freed himself on all sides, and thrown off all fetters.”

“He who overcomes this fierce thirst, difficult to be conquered in this world, sufferings fall off from him, like water-drops from a lotus leaf.”

“If an occasion arises, friends are pleasant; enjoyment is pleasant, whatever be the cause; a good work is pleasant in the hour of death; the giving up of all grief is pleasant.”

“Let us live happily then, free from ailments among the ailing! among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments!”

“He who never identifies himself with name and form, and does not grieve over what is no more, he indeed is called a Bhikshu.”

“Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the wise man becomes full of good, even if he gather it little by little.”

“Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like); fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; good people fashion themselves.”

“Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time.”

“As the Vassika plant sheds its withered flowers, men should shed passion and hatred, O ye Bhikshus!”

“If a man would hasten towards the good, he should keep his thought away from evil; if a man does what is good slothfully, his mind delights in evil.”

“If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.”

“Let no one forget his own duty for the sake of another's, however great; let a man, after he has discerned his own duty, be always attentive to his duty.”

“The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of Yama, and the world of the gods. The disciple will find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower.”

“Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness.”

“He who gives himself to vanity, and does not give himself to meditation, forgetting the real aim (of life) and grasping at pleasure, will in time envy him who has exerted himself in meditation.”

“This is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence. Go on this way! Everything else is the deceit of Mara (the tempter).”

“If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companionship with a fool.”

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.”

“By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity belong to oneself, no one can purify another.”

“He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.”

“The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.”

“The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.”

“That deed is not well done of which a man must repent, and the reward of which he receives crying and with a tearful face.”

“No, that deed is well done of which a man does not repent, and the reward of which he receives gladly and cheerfully.”

“As long as the evil deed done does not bear fruit, the fool thinks it is like honey; but when it ripens, then the fool suffers grief.”

“Even an evil-doer sees happiness as long as his evil deed has not ripened; but when his evil deed has ripened, then does the evil-doer see evil.”

“If a man offend a harmless, pure, and innocent person, the evil falls back upon that fool, like light dust thrown up against the wind.”

“Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where a man might be freed from an evil deed.”

“An evil deed is better left undone, for a man repents of it afterwards; a good deed is better done, for having done it, one does not repent.”

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”

“As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back.”

“It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness.”

“Not a mother, not a father will do so much, nor any other relative; a well-directed mind will do us greater service.”

“Beware of the anger of the mind, and control thy mind! Leave the sins of the mind, and practise virtue with thy mind!”

“As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.”

“As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.”

“Let the wise man guard his thoughts, for they are difficult to perceive, very artful, and they rush wherever they list: thoughts well guarded bring happiness.”

“Those who bridle their mind which travels far, moves about alone, is without a body, and hides in the chamber (of the heart), will be free from the bonds of Mara (the tempter).”

“If a man's thoughts are unsteady, if he does not know the true law, if his peace of mind is troubled, his knowledge will never be perfect.”

“Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly-directed mind will do us greater mischief.”

“Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud.”

“Let each man direct himself first to what is proper, then let him teach others; thus a wise man will not suffer.”

“If a man make himself as he teaches others to be, then, being himself well subdued, he may subdue (others); one's own self is indeed difficult to subdue.”

“Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of.”

“If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully.”

“If a man looks after the faults of others, and is always inclined to be offended, his own passions will grow, and he is far from the destruction of passions.”

“Fools of little understanding have themselves for their greatest enemies, for they do evil deeds which must bear bitter fruits.”

“For with these animals does no man reach the untrodden country (Nirvana), where a tamed man goes on a tamed animal, viz. on his own well-tamed self.”

“"These sons belong to me, and this wealth belongs to me," with such thoughts a fool is tormented. He himself does not belong to himself; how much less sons and wealth?”

“From pleasure comes grief, from pleasure comes fear; he who is free from pleasure knows neither grief nor fear.”

“From greed comes grief, from greed comes fear; he who is free from greed knows neither grief nor fear.”

“Let, therefore, no man love anything; loss of the beloved is evil. Those who love nothing and hate nothing, have no fetters.”

“From affection comes grief, from affection comes fear; he who is free from affection knows neither grief nor fear.”

“That fetter wise people call strong which drags down, yields, but is difficult to undo; after having cut this at last, people leave the world, free from cares, and leaving desires and pleasures behind.”

“Give up what is before, give up what is behind, give up what is in the middle, when thou goest to the other shore of existence; if thy mind is altogether free, thou wilt not again enter into birth and decay.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not cling to pleasures, like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who calls nothing his own, whether it be before, behind, or between, who is poor, and free from the love of the world.”

“Look upon the world as a bubble, look upon it as a mirage: the king of death does not see him who thus looks down upon the world.”

“He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver; other people are but holding the reins.”

“Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!”

“Let a man leave anger, let him forsake pride, let him overcome all bondage! No sufferings befall the man who is not attached to name and form, and who calls nothing his own.”

“Beware of bodily anger, and control thy body! Leave the sins of the body, and with thy body practise virtue!”

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

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, without appetite, who is subdued, and has received his last body.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.”

“The brilliant chariots of kings are destroyed, the body also approaches destruction, but the virtue of good people never approaches destruction,--thus do the good say to the good.”

“And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the immortal place, a life of one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.”

“Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log.”

“Not in the sky, not in the midst of the sea, not if we enter into the clefts of the mountains, is there known a spot in the whole world where death could not overcome (the mortal).”

“Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.”

“The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor (that of) sandal-wood, or of Tagara and Mallika flowers; but the odour of good people travels even against the wind; a good man pervades every place.”

“Sandal-wood or Tagara, a lotus-flower, or a Vassiki, among these sorts of perfumes, the perfume of virtue is unsurpassed.”

“He in whom there is truth, virtue, love, restraint, moderation, he who is free from impurity and is wise, he is called an elder.”

“If, whether for his own sake, or for the sake of others, a man wishes neither for a son, nor for wealth, nor for lordship, and if he does not wish for his own success by unfair means, then he is good, wise, and virtuous.”

“Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not offend by body, word, or thought, and is controlled on these three points.”

“But life is hard to live for a modest man, who always looks for what is pure, who is disinterested, quiet, spotless, and intelligent.”