Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/29/2007

The 7 factors of enlightenment: mindfullness, investigation of mental objects, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration and equanimity.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/28/2007

If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into the situation-our own situation, the situation of our beloved one, the situation of our family and of our community, and the situation of our nation and of the other nations?

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration 1/27/2007

Feelings, whether of compassion or irritation, should be welcomed, recognized, and treated on an absolutely equal basis; because both are ourselves. The tangerine I am eating is me. The mustard greens I am planting are me. I plant with all my heart and mind. I clean this teapot with the kind of attention I would have were I giving the baby Buddha or Jesus a bath. Nothing should be treated more carefully than anything else. In mindfulness, compassion, irritation, mustard green plant, and teapot are all sacred.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/26/2007

The Seven Factors of Awakening are mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, diligence, joy, ease, concentration, and letting go.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/25/2007

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/24/2007

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/23/2007

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

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/22/2007

Our own life is the instrument with which we experiment with the truth.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/21/2007

After one has been in a lowly position, one knows how dangerous it is to climb to a high place, Once one has been in the dark, one knows how revealing it is to go into the light. Having maintained quietude, one knows how tiring compulsive activity is. Having nurtured silence, one knows how disturbing much talk is.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/20/2007

When the rich and well-established, who should be generous, are instead spiteful and cruel, they make their behavior wretched and base in spite of their wealth and position. When the intellectually brilliant, who should be reserved, instead show off, they are ignorant and foolish in their weakness in spite of their brilliance.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/19/2007

Those who have come to an impasse should examine their original intentions; those who have succeeded should note where they are heading.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/18/2007

Think about food on a full stomach and you find you don't care about taste. Think of lust after making love, and you find you don't care about sex. Therefore, if people always reflect on the regret they will feel afterward to forestall folly at the moment, they will be stable and will not err in action.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/17/2007

Conceit and arrogance are acquired states of mind. Conquer acquired states of mind, and basic sanity can unfold. Passion and willfulness are part of false consciousness; erase false consciousness, and true consciousness will appear.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/16/2007

A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and glow in the summer moonlight. So we know that purity emerges from impurity, and light is born from darkness.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/15/2007

Don't be too severe in criticizing people's faults; consider how much they can bear. Don't be too lofty in enjoining virtue, so people may be able to follow.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/14/2007

There is a true Buddha in family life; there is a real Tao in everyday activities. If people can be sincere and harmonious, promoting communication with a cheerful demeanor and friendly words, that is much better than formal meditation practice.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/13/2007

Those who live simply are often pure, while those who live luxuriously may be slavish and servile. It seems that the will is clarified by plainness, while conduct is ruined by indulgence.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/12/2007

Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just give up when you've been disappointed.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/11/2007

Late at night, when everyone is quiet, sit alone and gaze into the mind; then you notice illusion ending and reality appearing. You gain a great sense of potential in this every time. Once you have noticed reality appearing yet find that illusion is hard to escape, you also find yourself greatly humbled.

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/10/2007

When you are constantly hearing offensive words and always have some irritating matter in mind, only then do you have a whetstone for character development. If you hear only what pleases you, and deal only with what thrills you, then you are burying your life in deadly poison.