Thursday, December 31, 2009

Thought for Thu, 31 Dec 2009

The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood. - Buddha

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Thought for Wed, 30 Dec 2009

To comprehend and to understand God above all similitudes, as He is in Himself,
is to be God with God, without intermediary, and without any otherness that can
become a hindrance or an intermediary.

Whosoever wishes to understand this must have died to himself, and must live in
God, and must turn his gaze to the eternal light in the ground of his spirit,
where the Hidden Truth reveals Itself without means. - Ruysbroek.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Thought for Tue, 29 Dec 2009

He whose in-flowing thoughts are dried up, who is unattached to food,
whose dwelling place is an empty and image-less release - the way of such a
person is hard to follow, like the path of birds through the sky. - Buddha

Monday, December 28, 2009

Thought for Mon, 28 Dec 2009

However many holy words you read, however many you speak,
what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? - Buddha

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Thought for Sun, 27 Dec 2009

We are formed and molded by our thoughts.
Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak
or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them. - Buddha

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Thought for Sat, 26 Dec 2009

War can only be understood and put an end to if you and all those who are
concerned very deeply with the survival of man, feel that you are utterly
responsible for killing others. What will make you change? - J. Krishnamurti

Friday, December 25, 2009

Thought for Fri, 25 Dec 2009

I have only one object in writing books:
to demonstrate that there could not be anyone to do it.
"The Tenth Man" by Wei Wu Wei

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Thought for Thu, 24 Dec 2009

From there to here, from here to there,
funny things are everywhere...
If you never did, you should.
These things are fun and fun is good.
- Dr. Seuss, One Fish two fish red fish blue fish, 1960

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Thought for Wed, 23 Dec 2009

His form has passed away, he has become a mirror: naught is there but the image
of another's face. . - Jalaluddin Rumi

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Thought for Tue, 22 Dec 2009

Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines,
but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes. - Buddha

Monday, December 21, 2009

Thought for Mon, 21 Dec 2009

Past and Future are a duality of which Present is the reality. The now-moment
alone is eternal and real. - Why Lazurus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thought for Sun, 20 Dec 2009

The doors of the Immortal are open. Let them who can hear respond with faith.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Thought for Sat, 19 Dec 2009

While the Tathagata, in his teaching, constantly makes use of
conceptions and ideas about them, disciples should keep in mind the unreality
of all such conceptions and ideas. They should recall that the Tathagata, in
making use of them in explaining the Dharma always uses them in the semblance
of a raft that is of use only to cross a river. As the raft is of no further
use after the river is crossed, it should be discarded. So these arbitrary
conceptions of things and about things should be wholly given up as one attains
enlightenment. -Buddha

Friday, December 18, 2009

Thought for Fri, 18 Dec 2009

This is the way of peace: "Overcome evil with good,
falsehood with truth, and hatred with love." - Peace Pilgrim

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thought for Thu, 17 Dec 2009

What do you have to do?

Pack your bags,
Go to the station without them,
Catch the train,
And leave your self behind. - Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Thought for Wed, 16 Dec 2009

The first step of the Eightfold Path is Right Views, which means Knowledge of
the Four Noble Truths.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Thought for Tue, 15 Dec 2009

The worst taint is ignorance. Destroy this one taint and become taintless.
- Buddha

Monday, December 14, 2009

Thought for Mon, 14 Dec 2009

Is repetitive action virtuous action?
If behavior and conduct are merely repetitive
processes then all human relationships actually cease.
If I behave mechanically every day,
- repeating a certain code of conduct which I have learnt,
which I find profitable, or which is pleasant,
repeating that over and over again,
- my relationship with you ceases, completely -
I have become a machine. - J. Krishnamurti

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Thought for Sun, 13 Dec 2009

We say, "In calmness there should be activity; '
in activity there should be calmness."
Actually, they are the same thing;
to say "calmness" or to say "activity"
is just to express different interpretations
of one fact. There is harmony in our activity,
and where there is harmony there is calmness. - D.T. Suzuki

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Thought for Sat, 12 Dec 2009

One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a human. - Goethe

Friday, December 11, 2009

Thought for Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Are you still thinking, looking, living,
as from an imaginary phenomenal center?

As long as you do that you can never
recognize your freedom.

- Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Thought for Thu, 10 Dec 2009

The practice of meditation is represented by the three monkeys,
who cover their eyes, ears and mouths so as to avoid the phenomenal world.

The practice of non-meditation is ceasing to be the see-er, hearer or speaker
while eyes, ears and mouths are fulfilling their function in daily life.
Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Thought for Wed, 09 Dec 2009

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.
- Buddha

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Thought for Tue, 08 Dec 2009

Having found no self that is not other,
The seeker must find that there is no other that is not self,
So that in the absence of both other and self,
There may be known the perfect peace,
Of the presence of absolute absence. "The Tenth Man" by Wei Wu Wei

Monday, December 7, 2009

Thought for Mon, 07 Dec 2009

The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups.
A good principle was never found solitary in any breast. - Buddha

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Thought for Sun, 06 Dec 2009

As long as there is a 'you' doing or not-doing,
thinking or not-thinking,
'meditating' or 'not-meditating'
you are no closer to home
than the day you were born. "The Tenth Man" by Wei Wu Wei

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Thought for Sat, 05 Dec 2009

It is less what one is that should matter, than what one is not.
- Fingers Pointing Toward the Moon by Wei Wu Wei

Friday, December 4, 2009

Thought for Fri, 04 Dec 2009

The Five Precepts are:
1. Abstain from taking life,
2. Abstain from taking that which is not given,
3. Abstain from misconduct done in lust,
4. Abstain from lying,
5. Abstain from all forms of intoxication.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thought for Thu, 03 Dec 2009

Honen Shonin taught people that it was enough to simply recite Nembutsu. He
firmly believed that true Buddhism should be able to be practiced easily
anywhere and at any time.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thought for Wed, 02 Dec 2009

Through awareness and perseverance you can break this cycle of birth and death
and find yourself elevated to the highest. Therefore, awareness leads you
forward, while lack of awareness leads you nowhere. (Awareness, v21)

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Thought for Tue, 01 Dec 2009

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.
When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. - Buddha