Buddha (ca.560-480 B.C.) born Siddhartha Gautama, left his wife, his young child, his prominent social caste in his late twenties and embarked upon a new life of spiritual enlightenment. He went into the woods to begin years of profound contemplation and teachings that became the basis for the Buddhist philosophy. Cultivating the heart through compassion in order to overcome selfish cravings; cultivating the mind through wisdom in order to eliminate ignorance. Compassion and wisdom are twin virtues in Buddhism, and are cultured by ethical behaviour and meditation, respectively. It is a process of self-discipline and self-development which emphasises the heart and mind equally, and insists that both working together are necessary for enlightenment. The world is illusory and the pleasures to be had in it are but momentary and fleeting. Buddha sought the means to attain the inner bliss of Nirvana, which is permanent. The real source of all pleasure, truth, goodness and permanence is not dependent on the objective world at all, but is instead, contained within us.
buddha under the bodhi tree²
Let us rise up and
be thankful for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.
Hindsight is good, foresight is better, but
insightÂź is the best of all.
Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and
choose thepath
that leads to wisdom.
Life is dear to
They have the right to live the same as we do.
In life, you will realise there is a role for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, some will love you, and some will teach you.
important ²
But the ones who are truly
are the ones who bring out the best in you. They are the rare and amazing people who remind you why it’s worth it.
The fragrance of sandalwood and rosebay does not travel far.
heavens But the fragrance of virtue rises to the
With gentleness overcome anger. With generosity overcome meanness.
with truth overcome deceit.
If you propose to speak always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary,
is it kind
On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night.
a pure life If a person lives
nothing can destroy them.