Happy  The Great Crossing The Buddha said:     “A man beginning a long journey sees ahead a vast body of water. There is neither boat nor bridge. To escape the dangers of his present location, he constructs a raft of grass and branches. When he reaches the other side he realizes how useful the raft was and wonders if he should hoist it on his back and carry it with him forever. Now if he did this, would he be wise? Or, having crossed to safety, should he place the raft in a high dry location for someone else to use? This is the way I have taught the Dharma, the doctrine – for crossing, not for keeping. Cast aside every proper state of mind, oh monks – much less wrong ones – and remember well to leave the raft behind.”   This parable told by Gautam Buddha was and is a caution for the truth aspiring seekers. Buddha indicates that the teachings of Dharma (religion), the doctrine should be used for transcending the mind and self. They are much useful for that purpose, once that is done, the work of doctrine the guidelines is over and should be left for other seekers. It would be unwise to carry it once the objective is achieved.   This reminds of Shirdi Sai Baba who used to suggest the reading of spiritual books to many and to some He used to say, “They people try to find Bhrahma (reality or God) in these books, but it is only Brahm (illusion) that they find.

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Buddha   To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance. Buddha   Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two. Buddha   Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good. Buddha   We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. Buddha   We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Buddha   What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What’s the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood? Buddha   What we think, we become. Buddha   Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. Buddha   When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear. Buddha   Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death. Buddha   Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. Buddha   You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you ...

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. Buddha   The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed. Buddha   The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve. Buddha   There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha   There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it. Buddha   There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills. Buddha   You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger. Buddha   You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha   Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. Buddha   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. Buddha   Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Buddha   To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. Buddha   To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control ...

I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act. Buddha   I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done. Buddha   In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. Buddha   In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. Buddha   It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. Buddha   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. Buddha   It is better to travel well than to arrive. Buddha   Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life. Buddha   No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Buddha   Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Buddha   The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground. Buddha   The mind is everything. What you think you become. Buddha   The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows. Buddha   The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood. Buddha   The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast. Buddha

All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain? Buddha   An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. Buddha   Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. Buddha   Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence. Buddha   Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha   Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. Buddha   Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely. Buddha   Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. Buddha   He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes. Buddha   Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha   Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Buddha   However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? Buddha

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.   Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.   Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe.   There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way   Life can only take place in the present moment. If we lose the present moment, we lose life.   The cause of all pain and suffering is ignorance.   A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.   All that we are is the 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.   All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.   All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.   An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.   Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.   Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.   Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more ...

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.   However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?   Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.     Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.   There have been many Buddhas before me and will be many Buddhas in the future.     All living beings have the Buddha nature and can become Buddhas.     We are the same as plants, as trees, as other people, as the rain that falls. We consist of that which is around us, we are the same as everything.   Neither my life of luxury in the palace nor my life as an ascetic in the forest is the way to freedom.     If we destroy something around us, we destroy ourselves. If we cheat another, we cheat ourselves.     As soon as we think we are safe, something unexpected happens.   No one can escape death and unhappiness. If people expect only happiness in life, they will be disappointed.   Life is dear to all beings. They have the right to live the same as we do.   Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.   In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”

“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 anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” “To understand everything is to forgive everything” “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” “A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.” “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.” “However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?” “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself” “An idea that is developed ...

If a man who enjoys a lesser happiness beholds a greater one, let him leave aside the lesser to gain the greater.   I reached in experience the nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.   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.   There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.   What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.   Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.   To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first 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.   Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.   The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the 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.   Meditation ...

    All that we are is the 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.   All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.   All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?   Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.   An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea. An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.   Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.   Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.   Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.   Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.   Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.   Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.   Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.   Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by ...

  One day the rich Brahmin Bharadvaja invited the Buddha to his home for lunch. When the Buddha arrived, Brahmin Bharadvaja instead of welcoming Buddha hurled abuses at him. The Buddha listened quietly. When Brahmin Bharadvaja stopped his abuses, Buddha asked, “Brahmin Bharadvaja, what do you do when guests come to your home?” “I offer them alms and food,” replied the Brahmin. “And what do you do when the guest refuses to receive the alms?” asked Buddha. “We gladly partake that ourselves,” replied Brahmin Bharadvaja. “Then I’m refusing to take the alms you just gave me. Please take them back, they belong to you,” said the Buddha. Notes: Always give others what you’d gladly receive. The power of wealth often makes one heady and leads to a downfall. Beware of that. And treat others with humility and respect