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The wisdom of Buddha 
To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence. Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Without health， life is not life, it is only a state of langour and suffering - an image of death. Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. What we think, we become. All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain? We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. The mind is everything. What you think you become. Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done. It is better to travel well than to arrive. It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance. Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life. Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely. When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear. He who walks in the eightfold noble path with unswerving determination is sure to reach Nirvana. He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues himself shall be free; he shall cease to be a slave of passions. The righteous man casts off evil, and by rooting out lust, bitterness, and illusion do we reach Nirvana. Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two. In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. With fools, there is no companionship. Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome, and obstinate, let a man walk alone. A woman of the world is anxious to exhibit her form and shape, whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping. Even when represented as a picture, she desires to captivate with the charms of her beauty and, thus, to rob men of their steadfast heart. The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve. Let my skin and sinews and bones dry up, together with all the flesh and blood of my body! I welcome it! But I will not move from this spot until I have attained the supreme and final wisdom. I am not the first Buddha who came upon Earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in the world - a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good. Better than worshiping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness. |
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