BUDDHIST WISDOM

[Pravin Kumar]

Winning gives birth to hostility. Losing, one lies down in pain. The calmed lie down with ease, having set winning & losing aside.

- Dhammapada, 15, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.


All states that can be returned to external causes are obviously not you, but that which cannot be returned to anywhere, if it is not you, what is it? Therefore, you should know that your mind is fundamentally wonderful, bright, and pure and that because of your involvement with the things of the world you have covered it up and lost it. In this way you are caught on the endless wheel of becoming this or that, sinking and floating in that sea of endless becoming. Awaken yourself now to your own bright mind.

- Surangama Sutra


Do not just memorize sayings, recite words, and discuss Zen and the way based on books. The Zen way is not in books. Even if you can recite the teachings of the whole canon and all the masters and philosophers, they are just useless words of no avail when you are facing death.

- Chien-ju


If you want to understand readily, just be un-minding at all times and all places, and you will naturally harmonize with the path. Once you are in harmony with the path, then inside, outside, and in between are ultimately ungraspable; immediately empty yet solid, you are far beyond dependency. This is what ancient worthies called each state of mind not touching on things, each step not positioned anywhere.

- Unminding, Ying-an


Conquer your foe by force, you increase his enmity; conquer by love, and you will reap no after-sorrow.

- Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King