Daily Buddhist Verses

• cycle

  28 Dec 07, 11:06

  Easily seen are other's faults;
  hard indeed it is to see one's own fault.
  
  ~ The Buddha
• cycle

  28 Dec 07, 11:10

  Your sorrow is caused by yourself.
  Your sorrow is your own making.
  You are your own liberator.
  
  ~ Ven. Dr k Dhammananda
• An Eternal Now

  30 Dec 07, 16:47

  ‘Kind speech’ means that when you see sentient beings you arouse the mind of compassion and offer words of loving care. It is contrary to cruel or violent speech... You should be willing to practice it for this entire present life... Kind speech is the basis for reconciling rulers and subduing enemies...You should know that kind speech arises from kind mind, and kind mind from the seed of compassionate mind... kind speech is not just praising the merit of others; it has the power to turn the destiny of the nation.
  
  – Eihei Dogen, Bodhisattva’s Four Methods of Guidance, published in Moon in a Dewdrop
• cycle

  2 Jan 08, 13:04

  Because living beings have different natures, different desires, different actions, and different ways of thinking and making distinctions, and because I want to enable them to put down good roots, I employ a variety of causes and conditions, similes, parables, and phrases and preach different doctorines. This , the Buddha's work, I have never for a moment neglected.
  
  ~The Buddha
• cycle

  6 Jan 08, 13:29

  A famous General went to see a renowned Zen master and asked him: "Buddhism mentions the six realms. Have you seen any? Bring me to see Hell then."
  
  The Zen master replied: "Who are you? "
  
  To which the general proudly answered: "I am the general of the emperor of China. "
  
  " What?! Such a stupid person like you can be a general?" The Zen Master shot back.
  
  Hearing this, the general who was now fuming with anger, drew out his sword and shouted: " I kill you!"
  
  The zen Master calmly said: " I have fulfilled your request, General. You are now in the Hell Realm."
  
  The general was embarrased and immediately dropped his sword to the floor and apologised profusely to the Zen master.
  
  " You are now seeing the realm of Heaven as well." The Zen master smiled.
  
  ~ A Zen Story
• Herzog_Zwei

  6 Jan 08, 13:50

  Originally posted by cycle:

  A famous General went to see a renowned Zen master and asked him: "Buddhism mentions the six realms. Have you seen any? Bring me to see Hell then."
  
  The Zen master replied: "Who are you? "
  
  To which the general proudly answered: "I am the general of the emperor of China. "
  
  " What?! Such a stupid person like you can be a general?" The Zen Master shot back.
  
  Hearing this, the general who was now fuming with anger, drew out his sword and shouted: " I kill you!"
  
  The zen Master calmly said: " I have fulfilled your request, General. You are now in the Hell Realm."
  
  The general was embarrased and immediately dropped his sword to the floor and apologised profusely to the Zen master.
  
  " You are now seeing the realm of Heaven as well." The Zen master smiled.
  
  ~ A Zen Story

  Where in hell is the hell realm?
• An Eternal Now

  6 Jan 08, 14:24

  Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:

  Where in hell is the hell realm?

  No questions to be asked in this thread which is purely for posting verses.
  
  Ask elsewhere.
• cycle

  7 Jan 08, 12:20

  Someone came up to me and asked: "You speaks about the six realms. Then, have you seen hell? Are you able to bring me there to show me?"
  I told him that I would love to but I was afraid that I would not be able to come back here myself.
  
  ~ Ven. Ren Shan
• cycle

  7 Jan 08, 12:37

  Theoretical knowledge is not meant to be used for comparing and discriminating against the Buddha's myriad teachings. The key to Buddhist practice lies in one's disposition and inclination. Do not compare the superiority or inferiority of different Buddhist practices. Some like chanting 'Amitabha Sutra' while others prefer "Sutra of Medicine Buddha' or 'The Universal Door of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva'. The merit of reciting any sutra is the same. The crux of the matter is the connection and one feels to the sutra that one practises.
  
  ~ Ven. Fazhao
• cycle

  8 Jan 08, 12:13

  ... you should know that all the living beings are unable to contemplate the Dharma of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation and so they revolve and suffer in the seas of birth and death. If there is a man who is able to contemplate the Dharma of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation , then he is able to see the Reality of Form Dharma. If a man is able to see the Reality of Form Dharma, he indeed sees The Buddha.
  
  ~ The Dharani Sutra
• cycle

  9 Jan 08, 12:48

  The whole universe is a vast battlefield. Existence is nothing but a continuous struggle, molecules against molecules, atoms against atoms, electrons against electrons and so on. Within the physical system itself, is a big battleground. The mind itself is the biggest battleground.
  
  ~ Ven. Dr K Dhammananda
• cycle

  9 Jan 08, 12:57

  It is easy enough to be pleasant
  When life flows along like a song.
  But the man worthwhile
  Is the man who can smile
  When life goes dead wrong.
  
  ~ Ven. Dr k Dhammananda, The purpose Of life
• cycle

  10 Jan 08, 11:10

  He[ The Buddha] was the perfect scientist in the study of life; the perfect psychologist who analysed the nature of the mind to the extent that his teaching was acclaimed as a scientific method. Modern scientific discoveries never come in conflict with his teachings.
  
  ~ Ven. Dr k. Dhammananda
• cycle

  10 Jan 08, 11:35

  ... Manjushri, after my extintion, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, all living beings are born without spiritual penetration of the past lives. So they do not know the rotation of cause and effect. When they temporary obtain the human forms, they feel that they should fully enjoy themselves presently.
  
  Besides, such a man will create all kinds of sinful karma with his body. May be he enjoys slandering others, or he may make use of his powerful, honourable and wealthy disposition to threaten others' lives. He will give rise to all kinds of evil thoughts. On top of that he will have no faith in the Great Vehicle Sutra for he is arrogant and proud.
  
  People like this will not live long presently. But if such a person is able to repent and reform sincerely, and with a subdued, soft and gentle mind, he is able to write down this Sutra. Besides he will accept, uphold, read and recite it. With the strength of such good roots, he may have the chance to prolong his lifespan. Even if he is seriously sick and has to face all calamities and dangers, he will never die in accidents.
  
  ~ The Dharani Sutra of The Buddha On Longevity
  
• cycle

  16 Jan 08, 12:42

  It is not so important whether you walk on water or walk in space. The true miracle is to walk on earth.
  
  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
• cycle

  16 Jan 08, 12:59

  It is important that we reflect on the advantages and good circumstances that we have to practise right now. Otherwise, we will take them for granted and they will go to waste. We tend to select one or two small problems in our life, emphasise them, and blow them out of proportion. Then we think: "I can't be happy. I can't practise the Dharma," and this thought itself prevents us from enjoying our life and making it meaningful. We, human beings, are very funny. When something bad happens in our lives we ask: "Why me? Why is this happening to me?" But when we wake up every morning and are alive and healthy and our family is well, we never ask; "Why me? Why am I so fortunate?"
  
  ~ Ven Thubten Chodnon, Transforming Our Daily Activities
• cycle

  17 Jan 08, 16:22

  The essence of the Dharma practice
  isn't our external performance,
  but our internal motivation.
  
  ~Ven. Thubten Chodnon
  
  
• An Eternal Now

  17 Jan 08, 18:23

  8-9. Not by a shower of gold coins does contentment arise in sensual pleasures. Of little sweetness, and painful, are sensual pleasures. Knowing thus, the wise man finds no delight even in heavenly pleasures. The disciple of the Fully Enlightened One delights in the destruction of craving. 186-187.
  
  ~ Dhammapada
• An Eternal Now

  17 Jan 08, 18:24

  “As a lotus flower is born in
  water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it
  unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome
  the world, live unsoiled by the world”
  
  ~ Buddha
• An Eternal Now

  18 Jan 08, 18:02

  One day a man of the people said to Zen Master Ikkyu; "Master, will you please write for me some maxims of the highest wisdom?" Ikkyu immediately took his brush and wrote the word "Attention."
  
  "Is that all?" said the man. "Will you not add something more?"
  
  Ikkyu then wrote twice running: "Attention. Attention."
  
  "Well," remarked the man, "I really do not see much depth or subtlety in what you have written."
  
  Then Ikkyu wrote the same word three times running: "Attention. Attention. Attention."
  
  Half-angered, the man demanded: "What does the word 'attention' mean anyway?"
  
  And Ikkyu answered gently, "Attention means attention."
• cycle

  19 Jan 08, 12:22

  You can protect yourselves from disappointments by not having any undue expectations. If you expect nothing, then nothing can disappoint you. Do not expect reward for the sake of doing good with kindness. If you can help others without expecting any kind of reward, then you can have no disappointment. You can be a great man!
  
  ~ Ven. Dr k Sri Dhammananda, The Purpose of Life
• Isis

  20 Jan 08, 00:31

  Bodhidharma
  
  All know the Way, but few actually walk it.
  
  If you don't find a teacher soon, you'll live this life in vain. It's true, you have the buddha-nature. But without the help of a teacher, you'll never know it. Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher's help.
  
  If, though, by the conjunction of conditions, someone understands what the Buddha meant, that person doesn't need a teacher. Such a person has a natural awareness superior to anything taught. But unless you're so blessed, study hard, and by means of instruction you'll understand.
  
  
• Isis

  20 Jan 08, 00:33

  Do not try to become anything.
  Do not make yourself into anything.
  Do not be a meditator.
  Do not become enlightened.
  When you sit, let it be.
  What you walk, let it be.
  Grasp at nothing.
  Resist nothing.
  
  If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
  
  Ajhah Chah
  
• Isis

  20 Jan 08, 00:36

  To deny the reality of things is to miss their reality;
  to assert the emptiness of things is to miss their reality.
  The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking and there is nothing you will not be able to know.
  
  Hsin Hsin Ming
• An Eternal Now

  21 Jan 08, 01:04

  "Wonder of wonders! Intrinsically, all sentient beings are Buddhas, endowed with wisdom and virtue, but because men's minds have become inverted through delusive thinking, they fail to perceive this."
  
  -- the Buddha, Kegon Sutra