Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/9/2007

People are considered pure of heart when they do not approach power and pomp; but those who can be near without being affected are the purest of all. People are considered high- minded when they do not know how to plot and contrive; but those who know how yet do not do so are the highest of all.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration 1/8/2007

When you are but slightly involved in the world, the effect the world has on you is also slight. When you are deeply enmeshed in affairs, you machinations also deepen. So for enlightened people simplicity is better than refinement, and freedom is better than punctiliousness.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/7/2007

"It isn't the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it's how we relate to the things that happen to us that causes us to suffer."

~Pema Chödrön

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/6/2007

Consciousness and perception range from shallow to deep. As for profound perceptions, they are pure through the ages. They are the basis to influence and cultivate mind from the first generation of the aspiration for enlightenment until the achievement of buddhahood without falling back.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/5/2007

The essence of mind is formless; This itself is the subtle body of reality. The essence of mind is inherently empty; This itself is the infinite body of space.

~Ta-chu (8th cent)

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/4/2006

Know the essence of mind. Its intrinsic essence is pure clarity. It is essentially the same as a Buddha. Know the functions of the mind. Its functions produce the treasure of teachings. When its activity is always silent, myriad illusions become suchness. Constantly be aware, without stopping. When the aware mind is present, it senses the formlessness of things. Constantly see your body as empty and quiet, inside and outside communing sameness. Plunge the body into the realm of reality, where there has never been any obstruction. Keep to unity without shifting. With constant presence, whether active or still, the student can see the Buddha nature clearly.

~Tao-hsin (580-651)

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/3/2007

To know that the one good is balance and yet not to reach balance, to know all phenomena are mind and yet not to understand mind; this is confusion. To know the matter of birth and death is serious and yet not to realize birthlessness, to know impermanence is swift and yet not to realize there is fundamentally no speed; this is confusion.

~Records of the Lanka

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/2/2007

The eternal is not born nor does it die. We confound appearance with Reality. Appearance carries its end in itself. What is it that appears anew? If you cannot find it, Surrender unreservedly to the Substratum of appearances; Then Reality will be what remains.

~Ramana Maharshi

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/1/2007

When one comes to the Essence of Being The shining Wisdom of Reality Illumines all like the cloudless sky.

~Milarepa

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/31/2006

All those who suffer in the world do so Because of their desire for their own happiness. All those happy in the world are so Because of their desire for the happiness of others.

~Santideva

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/30/2006

Empty yet aware, the original light shines spontaneously; tranquil yet responsive, the great function manifests. A wooden horse neighing in the wind does not walk the steps of the present moment; a clay ox emerging from the sea plows the springtime of the eon of emptiness. Understand? Where a jade man beckons, even greater marvel is on the way back.

~Hung-chih

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/29/2006

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/28/2006

You who are journalists, writers, citizens, you have the right and duty to say to those you have elected that they must practice mindfulness, calm and deep listening, and loving speech. This is a universal thing, taught by all religions.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/27/2006

Relief, Peace, well-being, joy and better relations with others will be possible if we practice mndfulness in our everyday life. I am convinced that everybody can practice mindfulness, even politicians, political parties, even the Congress. This is a body that holds the responsibility for knowing the nation's situation well, and knowledge of this kind requires the practice of looking deeply. If our elected officials are not calm enough, do not have enough concentration, how can they see things deeply?

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/26/2006

We must not be attached to a view or a doctrine, even a Buddhist one. . . . The Buddha said that if in a certain moment or place you adopt something as the absolute truth, and you attach to that, thenyou will no longer have any chance to reach the truth. Even when the truth comes and knocks on your door, and asks you to open the door, you won't recognize it. So you must not be too attached to dogma--to what you believe, and to what you perceive.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/25/2006

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future; Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/24/2006

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/23/2006

If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/22/2006

Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/21/2006

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

~Thich Nhat Hanh