Daily Buddhist Verses

• cycle

  27 Mar 08, 16:41

  My religion is kindness. ~ Dalai Lama
• cycle

  1 Apr 08, 13:05

  Anger is not neccessary. It has no value.

   

  ~ The Dalai Lama

• cycle

  1 Apr 08, 13:27

  严守戒侓是�护你家人，国家�自己宗教的最好方法。

   

  ~�龙�利比丘

• Isis

  4 Apr 08, 23:22

  Without inner peace, how do we make real peace ?

  - Dalai lama

   

  爱与��是一念之差

  没有爱�怎么会有�

  没有��怎么会有爱

  无论是爱的疯狂

  无论是�的疯痴

  人往往都是困在自己的情网之中。

  -- Quoted

• Isis

  6 Apr 08, 01:18

  Whenever your mind is too high, it is necessary to crush your pride by remembering the instructions of the Buddha. Whenever your mind is too low, it needs to have inspiration. Whenever you face the objects of desire or hatred, see them as illusions and apparitions. Whenever you see unattractive things, see them as echoes.

  Whenever hurt comes to your body, accept it as the result of your karma. Mind leads phenomena. Mind is the main factor and forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a cruel mind, misery follows, as the cart follows the horse. Phenomena are led by the mind. Mind is the main factor and forerunner of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows, as a shadow follows its source. If we do not feel anxious about problems, our strength of mind can help us to bear even great sufferings easily. We will be able to feel them as being light and insubstantial like cotton. But if we harbor anxiety, it will make even small suffering intolerable. For example, while we are thinking of the beauty of a girl, even if we try to get rid of desire, we will only be burned. Similarly, if we concentrate on the painful characteristics of suffering, we will not be able to develop tolerance for it. Whenever problems come to us from beings or inanimate objects, if our minds gets used to perceiving only the suffering or the negative aspects of them, then even from a small negative incident great mental pain will ensue. For it is the nature of indulgence in any concept, whether suffering or happiness, that the experience of this happiness or suffering will thereby be intensified. As this negative experience gradually becomes stronger, a time will come when most of what appears before us will become the cause of bringing us unhappiness and happiness will never have a chance to arise. If we do not realize that the fault lies with our own mind’s way of gaining experience, and if we blame all our problems on the external conditions alone, then the ceaseless flame of habitual negative deeds such as hatred and suffering will increase in us. That is called: “All appearances arising in the form of enemies.”

• An Eternal Now

  6 Apr 08, 03:40

  Life can be found
  only in the present moment.
  The past is gone,
  the future is not yet here,
  and if we do not
  go back to ourselves
  in the present moment,
  we cannot be in touch
  with life.
  
  Thich Nhat Hanh

• An Eternal Now

  6 Apr 08, 03:41

  

• cycle

  6 Apr 08, 16:09

  The Buddha attained the perfect peace of enlightenment long ago, but our minds are still confused and disturbed, and we are helplessly trapped in the cycle of birth ,death and suffering. The main reason for this is that the Buddha gave up his self-cherishing attitude long ago, whereas we are still very much attached to ours.

   

  ~ Ven. Sangye Khadro

• cycle

  8 Apr 08, 14:10

  因人有分别，所以[佛陀]告诉我们，分别�是究竟，因该怎样深入的，进一步的，把粗的现象知��，还�把细的现象�清楚，决�是�定所有的一切。

   

  ~ 白云�禅师， 解惑篇

• cycle

  14 Apr 08, 12:46

  When a man comprehends within himself his divine and noble nature, he no longer cries for a purpose of life for he realises that he himself is that very purpose.

   

  ~Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda

• cycle

  14 Apr 08, 13:19

  佛陀在世时，他弘法的地方有正法�闻，�弘法的地方也是末法的环境； �以众生的心性而言，�使佛陀亲自去教化他，而他��进去，既�相契也�相应，就是末法众生。

   

  ~ 白云禅师

   

• cycle

  15 Apr 08, 12:22

  [佛�]讲的是宇宙人生的真相。宇宙是生活环境，人生是我本人，就是说的我本人与我生活环境的真实相。

   

  ~净空法师，净业三�讲记

• sofital

  16 Apr 08, 09:22

   

  A Reminder by Lord Buddha

  Once, while Lord Buddha was residing at Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the monks were assembled to listen to the dhamma discourse. Lord Buddha went to the place and picking up some dust from the earth and putting it on his thumb nail asked the monks.       "O monks if the dust on my thumb nail is compared to the whole earth, which is more," the Lord Buddha asked (though knowing the answer).       (Monks are generally of two categories: Those who just wear the robes and eat, after going round for alms-food, and those who fear the sufferings of samsara. Here it concerns both the categories.)       The monks replied "O, Lord, the dust which is on your thumb nail, if compared to the whole earth is so little that it cannot be accounted for. The dust on the earth is much too abundant."       When the monks thus replied, the Enlightened One continued to say "Monks, according to the example given, when people die and leave this existence those who are reborn as human beings are so few that they may be compared to the dust on my nail.       After leaving this human abode, people who are reborn in hell or become animals, ghosts, demons in the lower planes are as numerous as the dust on earth. Thus, the Lord gave a discourse that to become a human being is very difficult. (Sam 1/454)      Motto:      Born in the human abode      compared to the dust on the nail.      Born as creatures in the apaya are numerous as the whole earth.       After the discourse Lord Buddha continued to remind the monks, since it is so difficult to be a human being, as little as the dust on my finger nail, do not forget to practise dhamma while there is sasana.       When there was no time to give a discourse Lord Buddha would remind "Do not forget, practise dhamma." This was the usual reminder. In some places "Appamadena Sampadetha" "Be vigilant, practise and perfect yourselves" This is the usual utterance by Lord Buddha.       In saying "Do not forget, perfect yourselves in practising dhamma" does not mean to do ordinary merit so as to get the happiness of human beings, celestial beings and brahmas". What the Lord Buddha meant was to practise Satipatthana Vipassana so as to reach nibbana.       Why did the Lord Buddha remind us to practise Satipatthana Vipassana? To become Enlightened, Lord Buddha had practised dhamma for four incalculables (asankheyya) and a hundred thousand world cycles (kappas) without caring for His physical body and life. The purpose is not for all beings to get the happiness of human life, celestial life and brahma. This is not the aim in perfecting Himself without caring for His life and physical body.       It is for Himself and all beings to be free from apaya and all kinds of suffering and reach nibbana, that He accumulated merit. That is why He said do not forget to practise satipatthana vipassana to reach nibbana.

   

• Isis

  16 Apr 08, 23:24

  Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. Your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown. None can live without toil and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will overtake you, and you will deny the joy that comes from labour’s end. Speak quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others. Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered. Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds. Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself. Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are. Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation. You, no less than all beings have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure. Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remorse nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be a good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on. Faith is like a lamp and wisdom make the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the Light. Dhammavadaka.

• An Eternal Now

  17 Apr 08, 16:05

  The more successful you become, the more the demands of your ego will increase. In the beginning, you simply want to succeed, but your ego will not be satisfied. When you become a little more successful your ego wants to kill your competition. And when you become even more successful, it wants to make you the universal king. There's no telling what ego wants because our desire doesn't have any limit; therefore, its demands continually increase.

  ~Gehlek Rinpoche

• An Eternal Now

  17 Apr 08, 16:05

   

  Apr 16, '08 8:49 PM by Ush nisha for group khyentsemandala

  I was sharing with a teenager weeks ago that nothing in this world is certain, except death and many a times we forgot that we are dying and we will all eventually die. If only we remember this truth, we probably would have less hang ups. Then I left it as it is as we got distracted to other topics.

  To my surprise, this unintentional talk actually stayed in this teenager's mind. Last night she told me that recently she has been thinking about in years to come she'll be old and in no time she'll die and admits that its still a very scary thought and finds it difficult to accept that death is part of life. Then she asked me isn't this way of thinking a very pessimistic approach and it actually makes her feels life has no joy if she has to keep worrying about death.

  We then discussed about if we know that we are dying tomorrow, would today's disagreement with friends still matters? Would we still bother to think of past grudges, future's unknown hopes and fear? Wouldn't we be cherishing more of this present moment, thus our mind is more free and light. Wouldn't we be kinder since its pointless to still be nasty since we know that we are dying and our ideals would no longer matters as much?

  We concluded that contemplating death is not a pessimistic approach but actually reminds us to cherish this present moment. And she told me that should her friends have any future disagreement, she'll tell them any of them may just die tomorrow, therefore its pointless to quarrel and should rather cherish their friendship.

  I find it very encouraging, esp teenagers who appreciate the Dharma, Truths and actually take a step more to contemplate about it. At this fun loving age, death is not a topic they are even interested to hear, what's more discuss and contemplate on. This also breaks my concept that teenagers are only limited to hearing certain topics, can only discuss with them till certain depth.

  If you all have more points to add on to what I've discuss with the teenager, pls feel free to add your input!

  Bye and Good Morning!

• An Eternal Now

  17 Apr 08, 20:11

  "For happiness, how little suffices for happiness!... the least thing precisely, the gentlest thing, the lighest thing, a lizard's rustling, a breath, a wisk, an eye glance -- little maketh up the best happiness. Be still."

  ~ Nietzsche

• sofital

  30 Apr 08, 23:57

  When the Buddha was alive, he said to the Kalamas:

  Now look,you Kalamas.Be not misled by report or tradition or heresay.Be not misled by proficiency in the collections, nor by reason or logic nor after reflection on and approval of some theory; nor because it conforms with one's inclination nor out of respect for the presitge of a teacher.

  But Kalamas,when you know for yourselves, these things are unwholeshome, these things are blameworthy,these things are censured by the intelligent; these things when practiced and observed are conducive to welfare and happiness; then Kalamas should you, having practiced them, abide therein.

• cycle

  7 May 08, 11:39

  我们的肉身并�知�痛苦。心识 知�。如果心能自在的从自身释放出�你就��有痛苦了。

   

  ~ ç¦�é¾™èˆ�利比丘  

• cycle

  7 May 08, 11:50

  �使你对于佛�都能背得滚瓜烂熟，了如指掌，如果���戒侓，你还是�然无知。但是如果你能严守戒侓，�使对于佛�一��通，当你�对问题时，你也能迎刃而解。

   

  ~ �龙�比丘

• cycle

  7 May 08, 12:05

  It is important to diminish undisciplined states of mind, but it is even more important to meet adversity with a positive attitude.

  ~ The Dalai Lama, How to Practise

• An Eternal Now

  7 May 08, 17:46

  Sentient beings in the hells experience hell fires.
  Ghosts experience thirst and hunger.
  Animals experience being eaten by one another.
  Humans experience a short lifespan.
  Gods experience carelessness.
  there isn’t so much as the tip of a needle of happiness
  existing anywhere in samsara.
  
  --Maitreya
  
  

• cycle

  8 May 08, 13:29

  一切法得�于�

  ~ 金刚�

• cycle

  8 May 08, 13:44

  Why do we feel hurt and angry when someone says bad things about us? Why are we so concerned about what other people think and say about us? Does the opinion of others make us what we are? If other people dislike and criticize us, does that necessarily mean we are bad? Alternatively, if others like and respect us, does that necessarily mean we are good?

  ~ Ven. Sanrye Khadro, Awakening a Kind Heart

• cycle

  8 May 08, 13:47

  When others, out of jealousy,

  Mistreat me with abuse, slander and so on,

  I will practise accepting defeat

  And offer the victory to them.

   

  ~ The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation