Sunday, July 31, 2011

no fire like passion

There is no fire like passion,
there is no grip like hatred,
there is no net like ignorance,
there is no river like craving.


Dhammapada

Friday, July 29, 2011

Bridging the Faith Divide



HH Dalai Lama's talk on 17 July, 2011 at the University of Illinois.

Dalai Lama on what surprises him the most

When The Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most, he said, “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cherokee legend

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Sunday, July 24, 2011

realization of Self

This Self is not realizable by study nor even by intelligence and learning. The Self reveals its essence only to him who applies himself to the Self. He who has not given up ways of vice, who cannot control himself, who is not at peace within, whose mind is distracted, can never realize the Self, though full of all learning in the world.

Katha Upanishad

Saturday, July 23, 2011

this truth is to be lived

This truth is to be lived,
it is not to be merely pronounced with the mouth...


Hui Neng

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

arising and cessation

Whatsoever is of a nature to arise,
all that is of a nature to cease


Buddha

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Bodhidharma

The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma
translated by Red Pine aka Bill Porter

Read here