Gautama Buddha Quotes
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Seeing the similarity to oneself, one should not use violence or have it used.
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To insist on a spiritual practice that served you in the past is to carry the raft on your back after you have crossed the river.
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The Buddhas do but tell the way; it is for you to swelter at the task.
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The mind is pure and luminous by nature. It is defiled only by adventitious thoughts and emotions.
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There are two obstacles to enlightenment: 1. Thinking you know. 2 Thinking you don't know.
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To avoid causing terror to living beings, let the disciple refrain from eating meat... the food of the wise is that which is consumed by the sadhus holymen; it does not consist of meat... There may be some foolish people in the future who will say that I permitted meat-eating and that I partook of meat myself, but... meat-eating I have not permitted to anyone, I do not permit, I will not permit meat-eating in any form, in any manner and in any place; it is unconditionally prohibited for all.
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I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.
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To force oneself to believe and to accept a thing without understanding is political, and not spiritual or intellectual.
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A fool acquires knowledge only to his own disadvantage. It destroys what good he has, and turns his brains.
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All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If people speak or act with evil thoughts, pain follows them. If people speak or act with pure thoughts, happiness follows them, like a shadow that never leaves them.
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Times of luxury do not last long, but pass away very quickly; nothing in this world can be long enjoyed.
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There is nothing like lust. Lust may be said to be the most powerful passion. Fortunately, we have but one thing which is more powerful. If the thirst for truth were weaker than passion, how many of us in the world would be able to follow the way of righteous?
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You are the source of all purity and impurity. No one purifies another.
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If a man's thoughts are muddy, If he is reckless and full of deceit, How can he wear the yellow robe? Whoever is master of his own nature, Bright, clear and true, He may indeed wear the yellow robe.
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Foolish, ignorant people indulge in careless lives, whereas a clever man guards his attention as his most precious possession.
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Suffering is an illusion.
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He who wrongs the innocent must bear the fruit of his act, like dust flung against the wind.
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Within this moment, the only moment that exists, the past, present and future are contained.
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Do not be the judge of people; do not make assumptions about others. A person is destroyed by holding judgments about others.
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To master the pride of defiant selfhood, that in truth is the highest bliss.
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Be a lamp unto yourselves! Work out your liberation with diligence! Fill your mind with compassion!
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Those who are pure in heart and single in purpose are able to understand the most supreme Way. It is like polishing a mirror, which becomes bright when the dust is removed. Remove your passions, and have no hankering.
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Dispassion is the best of mental states. . . .
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Let go the past, let go the future, and let go the present (front, back, middle). Crossing to the farther shore of existence, with mind released everywhere, do not further undergo birth and decay.