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