Saying of the Buddha

Sayings of Jesus

Evil is done through the self; man defiles himself through the self.  Evil is made good through the self; man purifies himself through the self (Dh 12:9).

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man (Matthew 15:17-20).

Happily shall I live without struggling anxiously among the strivers live without striving (GDh 167).

O let us live in joy, free of hatred, among the spiteful; among the spiteful let us live without hatred.

O let us live in joy, free of suffering, among those who suffer; among those who are sore troubled let us live without suffering.

O let us live in joy, free of avarice, among those filled with greed; among those who are avaricious let us live without greed.

O let us live in joy, we who are free of hindrances.  Let us be like the 'Radiant Ones' who are nurtured with love (Dh 15:1-4).

Whoever counters the malicious with malice can never be pure, but he who feels no maliciousness pacifies those who hate.  Hate brings misery to humanity so the wise man knows no hatred (Ud 14:12).

If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer your other cheek as well.  If anyone grabs your coat, let him have your shirt as well

Give to anyone who asks, and if someone takes away your belongings, do not ask to have them back.

As you want people to treat you, do the same to them.

Surmount hatred by not hating, surmount evil with good; surmount greed through generosity, surmount lies with truth; speak what is true, do not succumb to anger, give when you are asked.  

Through those three steps you will come close to the gods (GDh 280-281).

Whosoever does no harm to living creatures, whosoever does not kill or participate in killing, is to be called a holy man.

Whosoever is tolerant with the intolerant, whosoever patiently tolerates punishment, and whosoever shows compassion to all creatures, is to be called a holy man (Ud 33:45-46).

Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return.  Your reward will be great, and you will be children of God.

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good; he sends rain on the just and on the unjust (QS 9).

The faults of the others are more easily seen than one's own.  They are more easily seen because they are winnowed like chaff in the wind, but one's own failings are difficult to see.  It is like a cheat concealing his own dice while showing his opponent's, drawing attention to the other's inadequacies and constantly thinking of bringing accusations against him.  Such a man is far from seeing what is right, and very much worsens his unfortunate lot (Ud 27:1).

The bad person speaks falsely, chained by his words.  He who speaks ill and rejects what is truly just is not wise (Ud 8:9).

The good man produces good things from his store of goods and treasures; and the evil man evil things.  For the mouth speaks from a full heart (QS 13).

Everyone who hears my words and does them is like a man who built a house on rock.  The rain fell, a torrent broke against the house, and it did not fall, for it had a rock foundation.

But everyone who hears my words and does not do them is like a man who built a house on sand.  The rain came, the torrent broke against it, and it collapsed. The ruin of that house was great (QS 14).

The only source of refuge for those who do not accumulate possessions and are careful about what they eat is unconditional freedom, knowing as they do the void of transience.  Their way is difficult to follow like that of birds in the sky (Dh 7:2-3).

Whosoever has laid aside human ties, leaving behind the powers of attraction of the gods, free of all bonds, that man I call holy (Ud 33:52).

When another said, 'Let me first go and bury my father,' Jesus said, 'Leave the dead to bury their dead.'

Yet another said, 'I will follow you, sir, but first let me say goodbye to my family.'  Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God' (QS 19).

'These children and these riches belong to me,' thought the fool, anxiously.  But since no one possesses even himself, what is the point of 'my children and my riches'?

The law of humanity is that, even if people accumulate hundreds and thousands of earthly goods, they nevertheless succumb to the power of death.  All stores are scattered; what was built is torn down; everything that comes together must end in separation; and life must terminate in death (Ud 1:20-22).

The wise man does not make friends with the unbelieving, greedy, slanderous or quarrelsome.  The wise man avoids the evil (Ud 25:1).

Do not carry money, or bag, or sandals, or staff; and do not greet anyone on the road.

Whatever house you enter, say, 'Peace be to this house!'  And if a child of peace is there, your greeting will be received.  But if not, let your peace return to you.  And stay in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the worker deserves his wages.  Do not go from house to house.

And if you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.  Pay attention to the sick and say to them, 'God's kingdom has come near to you.'

But if you enter a town and they do not receive you, as you leave, shake the dust from your feet and say, 'Nevertheless, be sure of this, the realm of God has come to you' (QS 20).

It is difficult to follow the path of those who have accumulated nothing and live from right nourishment, those whose only refuge is unconditional freedom in recognition of the void of the transient.  Their path is like that of birds in the sky.  It is difficult to follow the path of those whose appetite is satisfied and are not attached to consumption, those whose only refuge is unconditional freedom in recognition of the void of the transient.  Their path is like that of birds in the sky (Dh 7:3-4).

Think of the ravens.  They do not plant, harvest, or store grain in barns, and God feeds them.  Aren't you worth more than the birds?  Which of you can add a single day to your life by worrying?

And why do you worry about clothing?  Think of the way lilies grow.  They do not work or spin.  But even Solomon in all his splendor was not as magnificent.  If God puts beautiful clothes on the grass that is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into a furnace, won't he put clothes on you, faint hearts?

So don't worry, thinking, 'What will we eat?', or 'What will we drink?', or 'What will we wear?'  For everybody in the whole world does that, and your father knows that you need these things.

Instead, make sure of his rule over you, and all these things will be yours as well (QS 39).

Just as a lotus blossom, scented and beautiful, can blossom on a dunghill at the side of a road, so too radiates the wisdom of the Buddha's pupils who have realized the Dharma, while normal mortals are blind (GDh 303-304).

The lamp of the body is the eye.  If your eye is good your whole body will be full of light.  But if it is bad your whole body will be full of darkness.  If the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness (QS 33).

This world is veiled in darkness; few there can see.  Only a few enter into the realm of bliss, just as only a few birds escape the net (Dh 13:8).

Life is difficult for someone modest who always strives for purity, detached and reticent, immaculate in life and clear in understanding (Dh 18:10-11).

For What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36).

Of what use is your matted hair, O fool!  Of what use your clothes made of animal hides?  Within yourself is a jungle, but outwardly you adorn yourself (Dh 26:12).