10 Crucial Lessons From Buddhist Teachings
Buddhism is a very peaceful religion that centers around releasing oneself from attachments and feelings of dissatisfaction, and embracing liberation through following simple truths and a regular meditation practice.
In studying Buddhist teachings, we can learn many important life lessons that will help all of us along this sometimes difficult but rewarding journey on Earth. Here are ten of the most vital.
1. Give generously to others
- “If you knew what I know about the power of giving you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.“
- ”Give, even if you only have a little.“
- “If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.”
- ”Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.“
- ”In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.“
2. Free yourself from attachments
- “See them, floundering in their sense of mine, like fish in the puddles of a dried-up stream — and, seeing this, live with no mine, not forming attachment for states of becoming.”
- “Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.“
- ”Pain is certain, suffering is optional.”
- “The root of all suffering is desire.”
- ”All conditioned things are impermanent’ — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.“
3. Take the journey within to find answers
- ”No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.“
- “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
- ”It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.“
4. Walk a humble path
- ”Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever’s not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet.“
- “Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame.”
- “Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you.“
5. Conquer the ego and free the soul
- ”To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”
- “Wear your ego like a loose fitting garment.”
- “A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated — this is the greatest blessing.“
- ”There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.“
6. Release feelings of hate, resentment and fear.
- “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.”
- ”It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse.“
- ”You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
- “If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.”
- “Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.“
- ”Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.”
7. Be here now
- “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
- ”The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live.“
- ”As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.“
- “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
8. You are the writer of your own destiny
- ”Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.“
- ”You yourself must strive, The Buddhas only point the way.“
9. Nourish your body with the right food
- “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
10. Don’t resist reality
- “The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.“
- ”Happiness or sorrow, whatever befalls you, walk on untouched, unattached.”
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