Jude Paler
Buddhism is the practice of awareness. It is the path taken by those who want to gain wisdom.
So, it is only natural for Buddhism practitioners to be aware of the true quotes of the Buddha. Especially in today’s world where fake news is everywhere, followers of Buddha must be extra discerning.
From the very start, the Buddha is a proponent of radical honesty. That’s why he said:
“There is no evil that cannot be done by a person who deliberately lies.” – Buddha
Although those quotes mis-associated with Buddha are also uplifting, it still violates what he envisioned for his followers – to be enlightened.
So, here are verified quotes straight from the Buddhist canon:
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 129)
“Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.” – Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
“Live with no sense of ‘mine,’ not forming an attachment to experiences.” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 183)
“All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Understanding is the heartwood of well-spoken words.” – The Buddha (Kimsila Sutta)
“To support mother and father, to cherish partner and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.” – Buddha (Mangala Sutta)
“All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Should you find a wise critic to point out your faults, follow him as you would a guide to hidden treasure.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 76)
“He who can curb his wrath as soon as it arises, as a timely antidote will check snake’s venom that so quickly spreads, — such a monk gives up the here and the beyond, just as a serpent sheds its worn-out skin.” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“You yourself must strive.
The Buddhas only point the way.
Those meditative ones who tread the path
are released from the bonds of Mara.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“By oneself is evil done; by oneself is one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone; by oneself is one made pure. Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 270)
“‘As I am, so are these. As are these, so am I.’ Drawing the parallel to yourself, neither kill nor get others to kill.” – The Buddha (Nalaka Sutta)
“As an elephant in the battlefield withstands arrows shot from bows all around, even so shall I endure abuse.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 320)
“Over there are the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings. Practice jhana [meditation], monks. Don’t be heedless. Don’t later fall into regret. This is our message to you.” – The Buddha (Kamma Sutta)
“The root of suffering is attachment.” – The Buddha (Pali canon)
“As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily, does not adhere, so the sage does not adhere to the seen, the heard, or the sensed.” – The Buddha (Jara (old age) Sutta of the Sutta Nipata.)
“Delight in heedfulness! Guard well your thoughts!” – The Buddha (The Dhammapada)
“It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse.” – The Buddha (Cetana Sutta)
“In whom there is no sympathy for living beings: know him as an outcast.” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“‘All conditioned things are impermanent’ — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 277)
“Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Whatever living beings there may be — feeble or strong, long, stout, or of medium size, short, small, large, those seen or those unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born as well as those yet to be born — may all beings have happy minds.” – The Buddha, Karaniya Metta Sutta
“If a man going down into a river, swollen and swiftly flowing, is carried away by the current — how can he help others across?” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 50)
“I will not look at another’s bowl intent on finding fault: a training to be observed.” – The Buddha (Vinaya)
“A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated — this is the greatest blessing.” – The Buddha (Mangala Sutta).
“There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 39)
“Whatever is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness & benefit.” – Buddha (Na Tumhaka Sutta of the Samyutta Nikaya)
“The one in whom no longer exist the craving and thirst that perpetuate becoming; how could you track that Awakened one, trackless, and of limitless range?” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 180)
“Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Meditate … do not delay, lest you later regret it.” – (Sallekha Sutta)
“Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will develop and cultivate the liberation of mind by lovingkindness, make it our vehicle, make it our basis, stabilize it, exercise ourselves in it, and fully perfect it.’ Thus should you train yourselves.” – Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya)
“Whatever has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing.” – The Buddha (Kimsuka Sutta)
“Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.” – Buddha (Utthana Sutta of the Sutta Nipata)
“Delight in heedfulness! Guard well your thoughts!” – The Buddha (The Dhammapada)
“In whom there is no sympathy for living beings: know him as an outcast.” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“Just as with her own life
A mother shields from hurt
Her own son, her only child,
Let all-embracing thoughts
For all beings be yours.”
– Buddha (Metta Sutta)
“Whoever doesn’t flare up at someone who’s angry wins a battle hard to win.” – The Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya)
“Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever’s not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet.” – The Buddha (Sutta Nipata)
“Irrigators channel waters; fletchers straighten arrows; carpenters bend wood; the wise master themselves.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada, verse 80)
“Whatever living beings there may be — feeble or strong, long, stout, or of medium size, short, small, large, those seen or those unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born as well as those yet to be born — may all beings have happy minds.” – The Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
“By oneself is evil done; by oneself is one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone; by oneself is one made pure. Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Both formerly and now, it is only suffering that I describe, and the cessation of suffering.” – The Buddha (from the Sutta Nipata)
“Give, even if you only have a little.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada verse 224)
“Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.” – The Buddha (Dhammapada)
“Let him not deceive another nor despise anyone anywhere. In anger or ill will let him not wish another ill.” – The Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
“Not falling into wrong views — being virtuous, endowed with insight, lust in the senses discarded — verily never again will he return to conceive in a womb.” – The Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.” – The Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta)
If you’re looking more wise sayings, check out these 36 Irish sayings that will make you sound much smarter!
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