The Essence of Buddhism Part 5

Covetousness and anger are as the serpent's poison.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

They who do evil go to h.e.l.l; they who are righteous go to heaven.--Dhammapada.

He who, doing what he ought, ... gives pleasure to others, shall find joy in the other world.--Udanavarga.

The virtuous (when injured) grieve not so much for their own pain as for the loss of happiness incurred by their injurers.--Jatakamala.

He truly must have a loving heart, For all things living place in him entire confidence.

--Ta-chw.a.n.g-yan-king-lun.

Ofttimes while he mused--as motionless As the fixed rock his seat--the squirrel leaped Upon his knee, the timid quail led forth Her brood between his feet, and blue doves pecked The rice-grains from the bowl beside his hand.

--Sir Edwin Arnold.

Those who search after truth should have a heart full of sympathy.--Story of Virudhaka.

This (prince) feels for the welfare of the mult.i.tude.--Nalaka-sutta.

The Royal Prince, perceiving the tired oxen, ... the men toiling beneath the midday sun, and the birds devouring the hapless insects, his heart was filled with grief, as a man would feel upon seeing his own household bound in fetters: thus was he touched with sorrow for the whole family of sentient creatures--Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.

This king felt the weal and the woe of his subjects as his own.--Jatakamala.

What is a true gift?

One for which nothing is expected in return.--Prasnottaramalika.

There is a way of giving, seeking pleasure by it (or) coveting to get more; some also give to gain a name for charity, some to gain the happiness of heaven.... But yours, O friend, is a charity free from such thoughts, the highest and best degree of charity, free from self-interest or thought of getting more.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

'Tis thus men generally think and speak, they have a reference in all they do to their own advantage. But with this one it is not so: 'tis the good of others and not his own that he seeks.--Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.

Above all things be not careless; for carelessness is the great foe to virtue.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

You say that while young a man should be gay, and when old then religious.... Death, however, as a robber, sword in hand, follows us all, desiring to capture his prey: how then should we wait for old age, ere we turn our minds to religion?--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

If you urge that I am young and tender, and that the time for seeking wisdom is not yet, then you should know that to seek true religion, there never is a time not fit.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

Work out your own salvation with diligence.--Mahaparinibbana-sutta.

No man can purify another.--Dhammapada.

The good man's love ends in love; the bad man's love in hate.--Kshemendra's Kalpalata.

He who holds up a torch to (lighten) mankind is always honored by me.--Rahula-sutta.

Where there is uprightness, wisdom is there, and where there is wisdom, uprightness is there.--Sonadanda-sutta.

Liberty, courtesy, benevolence, unselfishness, under all circ.u.mstances towards all people--these qualities are to the world what the linchpin is to the rolling chariot.--Sigalovada-sutta.

Let us be knit together ... as friends.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

Since even animals can live together in mutual reverence, confidence, and courtesy, much more should you, O Brethren, so let your light shine forth that you ... may be seen to dwell in like manner together.--Cullavagga.

Trust is the best of relationships.--Dhammapada.

Faithful and trustworthy, he injures not his fellow-man by deceit.--Tevijja-sutta.

Worship consists in fulfilling the design (of the person honored), not in offerings of perfumes, garlands, and the like.--Jatakamala.

Compa.s.sion for all creatures is the true religion.--Buddha-charita.

The wise firmly believe that in Mercy the whole of Righteousness is contained. What virtue ... does there exist which is not the consequence of Mercy?--Jatakamala.

Even if a man have done evil a hundred times, let him not do it again.--Udanavarga.

He who, having been angered, gives way to anger no more, has achieved a mighty victory.--Udanavarga.

Better than sovereignty over this earth, ... better than lordship over all worlds, is the recompense of the first step in holiness.--Dhammapada.

Now many distinguished warriors thought: we who go (to war) and find our delight in fighting, do evil.... What shall we do that we may cease from evil and do good?--Mahavagga.

Victory breeds hatred.--Dhammapada.

Therefore has this pious inscription been carved here (on the rock), to the end that posterity may not suppose that any further conquest ought to be made by them. Let them not hold that conquest by the sword is worthy the name of conquest; let them see in it only confusion and violence. Let them reckon as true conquests none save the triumphs of religion.--Rock Inscriptions of Asoka.

He walks not in religion in a quarrelsome spirit.--Questions of King Milinda.

Nay, ... let not quarrel arise, nor strife, nor discord, nor dispute.--Mahavagga.

Thus he lives as a binder together of those who are divided, an encourager of those who are friends, a peace-maker, a lover of peace, impa.s.sioned for peace, a speaker of words that make for peace.--Tevijja-sutta.

It is not as a means of procuring my own happiness that I give in charity, but I love charity that I may do good to the world.--Jatakamala.

Benevolence is the doing of righteous acts of help to living creatures whether of high or low degree; as when we help a tortoise in trouble, or a sick sparrow, without looking for any reward.--Tenets of the Soto Sect.

'Tis out of mercy, not with the desire of gain, that the virtuous take care of a person in distress, nor do they mind whether the other understands this or not.--Jatakamala.

Let him that has a merciful character be my friend.--Bhakti Sataka.

If a man thus walks in the ways of compa.s.sion, is it possible that he should hurt anything intentionally?--Sha-mi-lu-i-yao-lio.

Living in the world, and doing no harm to aught that lives.--Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.

As he said so he acted.--Vangisa-sutta.

Those who have sin at heart, but are sweet of speech, are like a pitcher smeared with nectar, but full of poison.--Lalita Vistara.

Like a ... flower that is rich in color, but has no scent, so are the fine ... words of him who does not act accordingly.--Dhammapada.

The mind must be brought under perfect subjection.--Inscription on Votive Images.