Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 9/3/2006

Do not be jealous of others' good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 9/2/2006

Have no hatred for enemies, and no attachment for friends.

What you think upon grows...

Pete Johnson Layin' It Down for 9/1/2006

TAOIST INSPIRATION
The Sage has no interests of his own,
But takes the interests of the people as his own.

He is kind to the kind,
He is also kind to the unkind:
For Virtue is kind.

He is faithful to the faithful
He is also faithful to the unfaithful:
For Virtue is faithful.

In the midst of the world, the Sage is shy & self-effacing.
For the sake of the world he keeps his heart in its nebulous state.
All the people strain their ears & eyes:
The Sage only smiles like an amused infant.
~~Tao Teh Ch'ing CH.49

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 9/1/2006

Generate compassion for lowly beings, and especially avoid despising or humiliating them.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/31/2006

You will have to depart leaving everything behind, so do not be attached to anything.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/30/2006

Since future lives last for a very long time, gather up riches to provide for the future.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/29/2006

Since the happiness, pleasure, and friends you gather in this life last only for a moment, put them all behind you.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/28/2006

Words of praise and fame serve only to beguile us, therefore blow them away as you would blow your nose.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/27/2006

Profit and respect are nooses of the maras, so brush them aside like stones on the path.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/26/2006

Avoid activities that are said to be meritorious, but which in fact are obstacles to Dharma.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/25/2006

Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud, and arrogant minds, and remain peaceful and subdued.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/24/2006

Friends, the things you desire give no more satisfaction than drinking sea water, therefore practice contentment.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/23/2006

If from your heart you practice in accordance with Dharma, both food and resources will come naturally to hand.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/22/2006

If you practice with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/21/2006

Because you have received advice, whenever you are not meditating always practice in accordance with what your Spiritual Guide says.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/20/2006

Dedicate your virtues throughout the day and the night, and always watch your mind.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/19/2006

Since there is never a time when worldly activities come to an end, limit your activities.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/18/2006

Avoid friends who cause you to increase delusions, and rely upon those who increase your virtue. This you should take to heart.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/17/2006

Until you attain stable realizations, worldly amusements are harmful, therefore abide in a place where there are no such distractions.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/16/2006

Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/15/2006

Since you cannot become a Buddha merely by understanding Dharma, practice earnestly with understanding.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/14/2006

Until you realize ultimate truth, listening is indispensable, therefore listen to the instructions of the Spiritual Guide.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/13/2006

Friends, until you attain enlightenment the Spiritual Teacher is indispensable, therefore rely upon the holy Spiritual Guide.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/12/2006

Self-esteem is different than conceit. Conceit is the weirdest disease in the world. It makes everyone sick except the one who has it.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/11/2006

I've learned to trust myself, to listen to truth, to not be afraid of it and to not try and hide it.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/10/2006

Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/9/2006

Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/8/2006

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/7/2006

You really have to look inside yourself and find your own inner strength, and say, "I'm proud of what I am and who I am, and I'm just going to be myself."

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/6/2006

If you aren't good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you'll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren't even giving to yourself.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/5/2006

To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/4/2006

Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/3/2006

Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/2/2006

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 8/1/2006

You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/31/2006

Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/30/2006

If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self-worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/30/2006

If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self-worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/29/2006

When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighbouring communities, and so on.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/28/2006

The realization that we are all basically the same human beings who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/27/2006

When I meet people in different parts of the world, I am always reminded that we are all basically alike: we are all human beings. Maybe we have different clothes, our skin is of a different colour, or we speak different languages. That is on the surface. But basically, we are the same human beings.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/26/2006

When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/25/2006

I am a simple Buddhist monk.. no more, no less.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/24/2006

I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect.

~14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/23/2006

Excellent people are honored wherever they go.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/22/2006

The wise understand by themselves, fools follow the reports of others.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/21/2006

Goodness speaks in a whisper, evil shouts.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/20/2006

Let's use greed as an example. We wish to avoid prolonging any state of greed that arises, because a continuation of that state leads to bondage and sorrow. That does not mean we try to toss the thought out of the mind when it appears. We simply refuse to encourage it to stay. We let it come, and we let it go.

~ Henepola Gunaratna

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/19/2006

Distractions come in all sizes, shapes and flavors. Buddhist philosophy has organized them into categories. One of them is the category of hindrances. They are called hindrances because they block your development of both components of meditation, mindfulness and concentration. A bit of caution on this term: The word "hindrances" carries a negative connotation, and indeed these are states of mind we want to eradicate. That does not mean, however, that they are to be repressed, avoided, or condemned.

~ Henepola Gunaratna

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/18/2006

The purpose of meditation is not to concentrate on the breath, without interruption, forever. That by itself would be a useless goal. The purpose of meditation is not to achieve a perfectly still and serene mind. Although a lovely state, it doesn't lead to liberation by itself. The purpose of meditation is to achieve uninterrupted mindfulness. Mindfulness, and only mindfulness, produces Enlightenment.

~ Henepola Gunaratna

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/17/2006

"If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people. To be born means that something which did not exist comes into existence. But the day we are "born" is not our beginning. It is a day of continuation. But that hould not make us less happy when we celebrate our "Happy Continuation Day."
Since we are never born, how can we cease to be? This is what the Heart Sutra reveals to us. When we have a tangible experience of non-birth and non-death, we know ourselves beyond duality. The meditation on "no separate self" is one way to pass through the gate of birth and death.
Your hand proves that you have never been born and you will never die. The thread of life has never been interrupted from time without beginning until now. Previous generations, all the way back to single-celled beings, are present in your hand at this moment. You can observe and experience this. Your hand is always available as a subject for meditation. "

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/16/2006

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/15/2006

Aloha: open up to life and put some real love in it. Do not be so damn gloomy. We live, we die, we eat, we breathe, and so on. When your heart is open, you have Aloha. You welcome life and you put your energy in it. Other people and ideas are not your enemy; your constantly discriminating mind is your enemy. Dharma centers are full of people who are more concerned with how others treat them or perceive them than they are in enlightenment.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/14/2006

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

~Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/13/2006

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

~Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/12/2006

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.

~Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/11/2006

The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.

~Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/10/2006

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

~Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/9/2006

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/8/2006

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/7/2006

The various features and aspects of human life, such as longevity, good health, success, happiness, and so forth, which we consider desirable, are all dependent on kindness and a good heart.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/6/2006

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/5/2006

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/4/2006

In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.


~His Holiness The Dalai Lama

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

~His Holiness The Dalai Lama


On July 1st, 2006 I, Ryan Jamie Burda asked Alex Mary Nystrum to be my wife and she said YES!

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/2/2006

Zazen is different from other meditation in that it uses no meditation object or concept to focus on.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 7/1/2006

Meditation, sitting in which one cuts all connections with the external world and lets go of all concerns within.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/30/2006

The Lotus position expresses the oneness of duality.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/29/2006

To really practice Zen one must sit like a great pine with a sense of dignity and grandeur.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/28/2006

Collected concentration in which subject is no different from object.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/27/2006

Becoming one with what one is doing; that which comes forth when one becomes the life of the moment.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/26/2006

"I have done my best." That is about all the philosophy of living that one needs....

Lin-yutang

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/25/2006

While each person is still individually different, each also has a unifying, undifferentiated mind.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/24/2006

Enlightenment is to die completly and then come back to life.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/23/2006

Enlightenment is about freeing yourself from the cycle of birth and death.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/22/2006

It is about realizing your own Buddhahood.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/21/2006

Enlightenment is about seeing into your nature.

What you think upon grows...

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/20/2006

Many people are afraid to empty their minds lest they plunge into the Void. They do not know that their own Mind is the Void. The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena.
~ Zen Master Huang-po

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/19/2006

Our lives are based on what is reasonable and common sense; Truth is apt to be neither.

~ Christmas Humphreys

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/18/2006

Just as the highest and the lowest notes are equally inaudible, so perhaps, is the greatest sense and the greatest nonsense equally unintelligible.

~ Alan Watts

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/17/2006

If your eyes are even slightly blurred, all you see will be hallucinations.

~ Zen Saying

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/16/2006

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. If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him; If he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/15/2006

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/14/2006

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/13/2006

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/12/2006

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/11/2006

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/10/2006

He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/9/2006

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/8/2006

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/7/2006

What we think, we become.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/6/2006

Pay no attention to the faults of others, things done or left undone by others. Consider only what by oneself is done or left undone.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/5/2006

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.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/4/2006

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.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/3/2006

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/2/2006

The Four Reliances
First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings, not on the words;
Second, rely on the teachings, not on the personality of the teacher;
Third, rely on real wisdom, not superficial interpretation;
And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure Wisdom Mind, not on judgmental perceptions.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 6/1/2006

Fill your mind with compassion.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 5/31/2006

Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our good deeds.

~ Buddha

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 5/30/2006

The dharma is such that it cannot be attained by groping or searching about. In the realm of seeing, knowledge perishes. At the moment of attaining, mind is surpassed.

- Dogen, "Moon in a Dewdrop"

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 5/29/2006

"Do not pursue the outer entanglements,
*Nor dwell in the inner void.
*Rest in peace in the oneness of things,
*And all barriers will vanish without a trace."


Seng Ts'an