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Spiritual Path Shakyamuni Buddha said, There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting. Because they are spiritually defiled, deeply troubled and confused, people indulge their passions. Hence, many are ignorant of the Way, and few realize it. Trust is the seed and composure the rain. Clarity is my plow and yoke, conscience is my guide-pole, and my mind is the harness. Wakefulness is my plow-blade and my goal. Well-guarded in action and in speech, and moderate in food, I use truth to weed and cultivate release. True effort is my oxen, drawing the plow steadily toward Nirvana, freedom without regret. This is how I plow, it bears the deathless as its fruit. Whoever plows in this way, will become free of all sorrow and distress. It were better to live one single day in the pursuit of understanding and meditation, than to live a hundred years in ignorance and restaint. Once Sakyamuni Buddha was asked "How can I prevent this drop of water from ever drying up?" He answered, "Throw it into the Sea!" To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. A life of addiction to desires or a life of pomp and vainglory cannot last long. All must part; there is nothing you can truly enjoy. Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds. The Dharma has one taste, the taste of freedom. Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living. Be a lamp unto your own feet; do not seek outside yourself. Do not vainlt lament but realize that nothing is permanent and learn from it the empiness of life. Not by
a shaved head is one a recluse, If one lacks due observance, speaks
untruth. How can one possessed of longing and greed Become a recluse? If another drinks, does it quench your thirst? If another eats, does it appease your hunger? If another sleeps, does it rest you? Who, then, shall develop your understanding? At the end of the way is freedom. Till then, patience. The greatest prayer is patience. Let no man think lightly of good, saying in his heart, "it will not benefit me." As by the falling of raindrops a jar of water is filled, so the wise man becomes full of good, even though he collects it little by little. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. After I have departed from this world, my teaching will gradually decline and people will fall prey to flattery and deceit and commit various evils, resulting in the recurrence of the five sufferings and the five burnings. As time goes on, their sufferings will intensify. As it is impossible to describe this in detail, I have given you only a brief outline.
- end of quotes from Shakyamuni Buddha. - All human beings, though they may seem to be walking on divergent paths, are all marching to one goal, and that is Self-realization. Bhagavad-Gita In this well ordered universe, the perfect vehicle for our spiritual growth and unfoldment is exactly our present situation. Sevakram There is a Divine Plan behind everything, and if we allow ourselves to be used by that unseen Force....many things can happen in a mysterious way. If we interfere with that Plan by introducing our own plan, the egocentric plan, tension will be created. Satchidananda
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. Confucius The moment a person realizes his oneness with the Infinite Spirit he recognizes himself as a spiritual being, and no longer a physical, material being. Ralph W. Trine Seeking refuge [in Buddha, his Doctrine, and the spiritual community] only to relieve your suffering and attain liberation from cyclic existence does not fullfill the qualifications of altruistic refuge. Your perspective would not be vast. Your attitude of refuge should be for the sake of all sentient beings, for their freedom from suffering and attainment of Buddhahood. His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama |