Last Words
…be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge. (DN 16 Mahaparinibbana Sutta 2:33)
Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness! (DN 16 Mahaparinibbana Sutta 6:8)
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Padhana Sutta
Buddha nearly starved when Mara visited:
Sensual passions are your first army.
Your second is called Discontent.
Your third is Hunger & Thirst.
Your fourth is called Craving.
Fifth is Sloth & Drowsiness.
Sixth is called Terror.
Your seventh is Uncertainty.
Hypocrisy & Stubbornness, your eighth.
Gains, Offerings, Fame, & Status wrongly gained,
and whoever would praise self
& disparage others.
That, Namuci, is your army,
the Dark One’s commando force.
A coward can’t defeat it,
but one having defeated it
gains bliss.
…I spit on my life.
Death in battle woud be better for me
than that I, defeated, survive.
That army of yours,
that the world with its devas can’t overcome,
I will smash with discernment
Buddha’s Purpose
I will go about, from kingdom to kingdom,
training many disciples.
They — heedful, resolute
doing my teachings —
despite your wishes, will go
where, having gone,
there’s no grief."(Sn 3.2 Padhana Sutta)
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After Enlightenment
Open are the doors to the Deathless
to those with ears.
Let them show their conviction.(SN 6.1 Ayacana Sutta)
In a world become blind,
I beat the drum of the Deathless.'(MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta)
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The Dhammapada
Online translations by Acharya Buddharakkhita and Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Yammakavagga “The Pairs” (verses 1-20)
No one saves us but ourselves, no one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path but Buddhas clearly show the way.
Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with wicked mind, suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the draught-ox.
Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, affection follows one, even as one’s shadow that never leaves.
He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me, in those who harbour such thoughts hatred is not appeased.
He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me, in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred is appeased.
Hate is not overcome by hate; by love (metta) alone is hate appeased. This is an eternal law.
Even as rain penetrates an ill-thatched house, so does lust penetrate an undeveloped mind.
Appamadavagga “Mindfulness” (verses 21-32)
Mindfulness (sati) is the way to the Immortal, unmindfulness the way to death. Those who are mindful do not die, (whereas) the unmindful are like the dead.
Mindful among the unmindful, wide awake among the sleeping, the man of good understanding forges ahead like a swift horse outdistancing a feeble hack.
Cittavagga “The Mind” (verses 33-43)
The mind is hard to check. It is swift and wanders at will. To control it is good. A controlled mind is conducive to happiness.
Pupphavagga “Flowers” (verses 44-59)
Just like a lotus, the disciple, by his wisdom, will shine among them that are ignorant, blind and unconverted.
Balavagga “The Spiritually Immature” (verses 60-75)
Long is the night to the wakeful, long the league to one who is exhausted (with travel). Long is the process of faring (through repeated existences) to the spiritually immature ones who do not know the real truth (saddhamma).
Panditavagga “The Spiritually Mature” (verses 76-89)
As a solid rock cannot be shaken by the wind, so the spiritually mature person is unmoved by blame and praise.
Sahassavagga “The Thousands” (verses 100-115)
Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, he who conquers his own self, is the greatest of all conquerers.
Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and control, yet better, indeed, is a single day’s life of one who is wise and meditative.
Dandavagga “Violence” (verses 129-145)
All tremble at the rod. All fear death. Comparing others with oneself, one should neither strike nor cause to strike.
Jaravagga “Old Age” (verses 146-156)
What is laughter, what is joy, when the world is ever burning? Shrouded by darkness, would you not seek the light?
Behold this beautiful body, a mass of sores, a heaped-up (lump), diseased, much thought of, in which nothing lasts, nothing persists.
Thoroughly worn out is this body, a nest of diseases, perishable. This putrid mass breaks up. Truly, life ends in death.
Through many a birth in samsara, wandered I, seeking, but not finding, the builder of this house. Sorrowful is it to be born again and again.
Attavagga “The Self” (verses 157-166)
Oneself, indeed, is one’s saviour, for what other saviour would there be? With oneself well controlled one obtains a saviour difficult to find.
Buddhavagga “The Buddha” (verses 179-196)
Rare is birth as a human being. Hard is the life of mortals. Hard it is to obtain the chance to listen to the Dhamma. Rare is the appearance of the Buddhas.
To cease from all evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind: This is the advice of all Buddhas.
Sukhavagga “Happiness” (verses 197-208)
Ah, happily do we live without hate amongst the hateful; amidst hateful men we dwell unhating.
Victory breeds hatred. The defeated live in pain. Happily the peaceful live, giving up victory and defeat.
There is no fire like lust, no crime like hate. There is no ill like the body, no bliss higher than Peace (nibbana).
Maggavagga “The Path” (verses 273-289)
The best of all paths is the Eightfold Path. The best of all truths are the Four Noble Truths. Non-attachment is the best of all states. The best of all men is the Seeing One (cakkhuma).
“All things (whatsoever) are devoid of unchanging selfhood.” When one sees this with insight (panna) one becomes weary of suffering. This is the Way of Purity.
Tanhavagga “Craving” (verses 334-359)
Let go the past. Let go the future. Let go the present (front, back and middle). Crossing to the farther shore of existence, with mind released from everything, do not again undergo birth and decay.
Brahmanavagga “The Brahmana” (verses 383-423)
One is not a brahmana on account of matted hair, or (one’s) clan, or birth. He in whom there exists both truth and principle (dhamma), he is pure, he is a brahmana.
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Anguttara Nikaya
The Heart
Friends
Nothing is as intractable as an untamed heart.
The untamed heart is intractable.
Nothing is as tractable as a tamed heart.
The tamed heart is tractable.
Nothing tends toward loss as does an untamed heart.
The untamed heart tends towards loss.
Nothing tends toward growth as does a tamed heart.
The tamed heart tends towards growth.
Nothing brings suffering as does
the untamed, uncontrolled unattended and unrestrained heart.
That heart brings suffering.
Nothing brings joy as does a
tamed, controlled, attended and restrained heart.
This heart brings joy.
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Samyutta Nikaya
Soma and Mara An adapation of a translation by C.A.F. Rhys-Davids
Once Soma, having returned from her alms round
and having eaten her meal, entered the woods to meditate.
Deep in the woods, she sat down under a tree.
The tempter Mara, desirous and capable of arousing fear, wavering and dread,
and wishing her to interrupt her focused meditation, came to her and said,
Your intent is difficult, even for the sages;
Completion cannot be reached by a woman regardless the wisdom reaped."
Then Soma thought, “Who is this speaking, human or nonhuman?
Surely it is evil Mara desiring to interrupt my focused meditation.”
Knowing that it was Mara, she said,
“What does gender matter with regard to a well-composed mind,
which experiences insight in the light of the dharma?”
The evil Mara thought, “Soma knows me”
and sorrowful for the evil, instantly vanished into darkness.
In protecting oneself, others are protected; In protecting others, oneself is protected.Bamboo Acrobats An adaptation of a translation by John Ireland.
The Exalted One was dwelling in the Sumbha country,
in a location of the Sumbhas called Sedaka
There He addressed the monks:
“Once upon a time, a bamboo-acrobat set up his pole
and called to his pupil, Medakathalika, saying,
‘Come my lad Medakathalika,
climb the pole and stand on my shoulders!’
‘All right master,’
replied the pupil to the bamboo-acrobat.
The student then climbed the pole
and stood on the master’s shoulders.
Then the bamboo-acrobat said to his pupil:
‘Now Medakathalika, protect me well and I shall protect you.
Thus watched and warded by each other,
we will show our tricks, get a good fee and
come down safe from the bamboo pole.’
At these words Medakathalika the pupil
said to the bamboo-acrobat,
‘No, no! That won’t do master!
Look after yourself and I’ll look after myself.
Thus watched and warded each by himself,
we’ll show our tricks and get a good fee and
come down safe from the bamboo-pole.’”
“In the synthesis is the right way,”
said the Exalted One,
“Just as Medakathalika the pupil said to his master,
‘I shall protect myself,’
by this the Foundation of Mindfulness is practiced.
‘I shall protect others,’
by this the Foundation of Mindfulness is practiced.
In protecting oneself, others are protected;
In protecting others, oneself is protected.”
And how does one in protecting oneself, protect others?
By frequent practice, development and
making much of the Foundation of Mindfulness.
Thus in protecting oneself, others are protected.
And how does one, in protecting others, protect oneself?
By forbearance and nonviolence,
By loving kindness and compassion.
Thus in protecting others, one protects oneself.
With the intention, ‘I shall protect myself,’
the Foundation of Mindfulness is practiced.
With the intention, ‘I shall protect others,’
the Foundation of Mindfulness is practiced.
In protecting oneself, others are protected;
In protecting others, oneself is protected."
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The Gospel of Buddha (1894)
The Gospel of Buddha is a compilation from ancient records by Paul Carus
Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind can destroy the blessing of good deeds, and blessings enlighten the whole world.Ch. 58 The Buddha Replies to the Deva
On a certain day when the Blessed One
dwelt at Jetavana, the garden of Anathapindika,
a celestial deva came to him in the shape of a Brahman
enlightened and wearing clothing as white as snow.
The deva asked,
What is the sharpest sword?
What is the deadliest poison?
What is the fiercest fire?
What is the darkest night?"
The Blessed One replied,
The sharpest sword is a word spoken in wrath;
the deadliest poison is covetousness;
the fiercest fire is hatred;
the darkest night is ignorance.
The deva said,
What is the greatest gain?
What is the greatest loss?
Which armour is invulnerable?
What is the best weapon?
The Blessed One replied,
The greatest gain is to give to others;
the greatest loss is to greedily receive without gratitude;
an invulnerable armor is patience;
the best weapon is wisdom.
The deva said,
Who is the most dangerous thief?
What is the most precious treasure?
Who can capture the heavens and the earth?
Where is the securest treasure-trove?
The Blessed One replied,
The most dangerous thief is unwholesome thought;
the most precious treasure is virtue;
the heavens and the earth may be captured by the mind’s eye;
surpassing rebirth locates the securest treasure-trove.
The deva asked,
What is attraction?
What is repulsion?
What is the most horrible pain?
What is the greatest enjoyment?
The Buddha replied,
Attraction is wholeness;
repulsion is unwholesomeness;
the most tormenting pain is bad conscience;
the height of bliss is redeemed awakening.
The deva asked,
What causes ruin in the world?
What breaks off friendships?
What is the most violent fever?
Who is the best physician?"
The Blessed One replied,
Ruin in the world is caused by ignorance;
friendships are broken off by envy and selfishness;
the most violent fever is hatred;
the best physician is the Buddha;
The deva continued,
Now I have only one doubt to resolve and absolve:
What is it fire cannot burn,
nor moisture corrode,
nor wind crush down,
but is able to enlighten the whole world.
The Buddha replied,
Blessing!
Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind
can destroy the blessing of good deeds,
and blessings enlighten the whole world.
Hearing these answers,
the deva was overflowing with joy.
Then clasping hands, bowed down in respect and
disappeared suddenly from the presence of the Buddha.
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Attributed
“Words Have The Power To Both Destroy And Heal. When Words Are Both True And Kind, They Can Change Our World.”
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
There is no wealth like knowledge, and no poverty like ignorance.
Know all things to be like this— as a magician makes illusions, of horses, oxen, carts and other things, nothing is as it appearsThis existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds,
To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance,
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,
Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain
Know all things to be like this,
A mirage, a cloud castle
A dream, an apparition,
Without essence but with qualities that can be seen,
Know all things to be like this,
As the moon in a bright sky,
In some clear lake reflected,
Though to that lake the moon has never moved,
Know all things to be like this,
As an echo that derives,
From music, sounds and weeping,
Yet in that echo is no melody
Know all things to be like this,
As a magician makes illusions,
Of horses, oxen, carts and other things,
Nothing is as it appears
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
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Disputed
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Life is no more than a dewdrop balancing on the end of a blade of grass.