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Religious Thought 277
Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence. When the mind has settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded Consciousness. Our essential nature is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind.
- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, 1: 2-4
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Gains: don't treat your own with scorn, don't go coveting those of others. A monk who covets those of others attains no concentration. Even if he gets next to nothing, he doesn't treat his gains with scorn. Living purely, untiring: he's the one that the devas praise.
- Dhammapada, 15, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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Religious Thought 276
Liberation, Bondage, What are they to me? What do I care for freedom? For I have known God, The infinite Self, The witness of all things. Without, a fool. Within, free of thought. I do as I please, And only those like me Understand my ways.
- Ashtavakra Gita 14:3-4
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Ordinary life and Buddhahood have no distinction. Great knowledge is not different from ignorance. Why should one seek outwardly for a treasure, when the field of the body has its own bright jewel?
- Pao-chih, "The Nonduality of Buddhahood and Ordinary Life"
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Religious Thought 275
I adore myself. How wonderful I am! I can never die. The whole world may perish, From Brahma to a blade of grass, But I am still here.
- Ashtavakra Gita 2:11
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Like a merchant with a small But well-laden caravan --a dangerous road, like a person who loves life --a poison, one should avoid --evil deeds.
- Dhammapada, 9, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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Religious Thought 274
Filled with wonder, we sing, "I see the Lord." So his name is Idamdra, "He who sees." The name Indra stands for Idamdra. The gods do like to sit behind a veil; Indeed they like to sit behind a veil.
- Aitareya Upanishad
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When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are inconstant'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. When you see with discernment, 'All fabrications are stressful'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity. When you see with discernment, 'All phenomena are not-self'-- you grow disenchanted with stress. This is the path to purity.
- Dhammapada, 20, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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Religious Thought 273
Meditation is superior to severe asceticism and the path of knowledge. It is also superior to selfless service.
- Bhagavad Gita 6:46
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Fools are happy when acquiring wealth; noble people find happiness in giving it all away. Lepers feel better when they scratch their sores, but note how the wise dread leprosy.
- Sakya Pandita, In Ordinary Wisdom
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Religious Thought 272
“Cling to the feet of a master who can introduce you to yourself.”
- Swami Veda Bharati
- Swami Veda Bharati
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“For some years now, students have not been getting to the root of the aim of Zen, instead taking the verbal teachings of Buddhas and Zen masters to be the ultimate rule. That is like ignoring a hundred thousand pure clear oceans and only focusing attention on a single bubble.”
- Ying-an
- Ying-an
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Religious Thought 271
“How much pleasure you take In acquiring worldly goods! But to find happiness You must give them all up.”
- Ashtavakra Gita 18:2
- Ashtavakra Gita 18:2
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“In one who has gone the full distance, is free from sorrow, is fully released in all respects, has abandoned all bonds: no fever is found.”
- Dhammapada 90, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Dhammapada 90, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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