Buddhism Quotes - Page 29

• I'd gotten away from my Buddhism. And I quit meditating.

  Tiger Woods

  Quitting, I Quit, Meditating

  The ESPN Interview, uk.reuters.com. March 22, 2010.

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• The reason Buddhism can be so naturalised is because, stripped of its supernatural elements, its core teachings can be giving a sound, secular philosophical interpretation. In other words, it becomes a religion acceptable to the contemporary, naturalistic mind only when it ceases to be a religion.

  Julian Baggini

  Teaching, Philosophical, Supernatural Elements

  "Can a religion survive being stripped of its superstitions?" by Julian Baggini, www.theguardian.com. February 9, 2012.

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• Here's an example: someone says, "Master, please hand me the knife," and he hands them the knife, blade first. "Please give me the other end," he says. And the master replies, "What would you do with the other end?" This is answering an everyday matter in terms of the metaphysical. When the question is, "Master, what is the fundamental principle of Buddhism?" Then he replies, "There is enough breeze in this fan to keep me cool." That is answering the metaphysical in terms of the everyday, and that is, more or less, the principle zen works on. The mundane and the sacred are one and the same.

  Alan Watts

  Hands, Knives, Giving

  Alan Watts (2010). “What Is Zen?”, p.29, New World Library

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• I"m often accused of being irreligious, and I suppose it's for this very reason. Whether it's Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Judaism, or any other ism, when a religioin is created on the subtle premise that God withholds his love and you must submit to the system to earn that love, I consider it the worst of corruptions... For centuries, the church has been telling us that if we want God to love us, we need to follow the rules. It's been far more important to focus on the sin problem than the love problem.

  Erwin McManus

  Focus, Islam, Important

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• A scholar tries to learn something everyday; a student of Buddhism tries to unlearn something daily.

  Alan Watts

  Education, Learning, Everyday

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• …the doctrinal differences between Hinduism and Buddhism and Taoism are not anywhere near as important as doctrinal differences among Christianity and Islam and Judaism. Holy wars are not fought over them because verbalized statements about reality are never presumed to be reality itself.

  Robert M. Pirsig

  War, Reality, Differences

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• It's very difficult to stay angry when a room full of bald guys in orange robes start giggling. Buddhism.

  Christopher Moore

  Orange, Guy, Rooms

  Christopher Moore (2009). “Lamb: A Novel”, p.207, Hachette UK

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• Many people entertain the idea that Christianity,like almost any other religion,is basically a system of beliefs-you know, a set of doctrines or a code of behavior, a philosophy, an ideology. But that's a myth. Christianity is not at all like Buddhism or Islam or Confucianism. The founders of those religions said (in effect), 'Here is what I teach. Believe my teachings. Follow my philosophy.' Jesus said, 'Follow me'(Matthew 9:9). Leaders of the world's religions said, 'What do you think about what I teach?' Jesus said, 'Who do you say I am?'(Luke 9:20)

  Josh McDowell

  Jesus, Philosophy, Believe

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• Your Buddhism has made you mean Ray and makes you even afraid to take your clothes off for a simple healthy orgy

  Jack Kerouac

  Mean, Simple, Clothes

  Jack Kerouac (1986). “The Dharma Bums”, p.34, Penguin

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• The Four Noble Truths are pragmatic rather than dogmatic. They suggest a course of action to be followed rather than a set of dogmas to be believed. The four truths are prescriptions for behavior rather than descriptions of reality. The Buddha compares himself to a doctor who offers a course of therapeutic treatment to heal one’s ills. To embark on such a therapy is not designed to bring one any closer to ‘the Truth’ but to enable one’s life to flourish here and now, hopefully leaving a legacy that will continue to have beneficial repercussions after one’s death. (154)

  Stephen Batchelor

  Reality, Doctors, Leaving

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• note the similarities with buddhism a buddhist who has achieved nirvana is not sad primarily because it does not know the concept of sad [...]

  Tao Lin

  Buddhist, Doe, Notes

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• If ideas and beliefs are to be denied validity outside the geographical and cultural bounds of their origin, Buddhism would be confined to north India, Christianity to a narrow tract in the Middle East and Islam to Arabia.

  Aung San Suu Kyi

  Ideas, Islam, Middle East

  Aung San Suu Kyi (1995). “Freedom from Fear: And Other Writings”, p.183, Penguin UK

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• To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point; we just do what we should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism.

  Shunryu Suzuki

  Feelings, Bed, Eating

  Shunryu Suzuki (2010). “Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind”, p.63, Shambhala Publications

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• [Buddhism and Christianity] are in one sense parallel and equal; as a mound and a hollow, as a valley and a hill. There is a sense in which that sublime despair is the only alternative to that divine audacity. It is even true that the truly spiritual and intellectual man sees it as sort of dilemma; a very hard and terrible choice. There is little else on earth that can compare with these for completeness. And he who does not climb the mountain of Christ does indeed fall into the abyss of Buddha.

  Gilbert K. Chesterton

  Spiritual, Fall, Men

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• As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery.
  We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace.
  The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as
  anger and attachment, fear and suspicion,
  while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility
  are the sources of peace and happiness.

  Dalai Lama

  Happiness, Buddhist, Freedom

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• Suffering begins to dissolve when we can question the belief or the hope that there's anywhere to hide.

  Pema Chodron

  Acceptance, Suffering, Belief

  Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.50, Shambhala Publications

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• I make a distinction between Buddhism with a Capital 'B' and buddhism with a small 'b'. Sri Lanka has the former, in which the state uses Buddhism as an instrument of power, so there are even Buddhists monks who say the Tamils should be eliminated. Thai Buddhists are not perfect either. Some Thai Buddhist monks have compromised with the kind and possess cars and other luxuries. In many Buddhist countries, the emphasis is on being goody-goody, which is not good enough. I am for buddhism with a small 'b' which is non-violent, practical and aims to eliminate the cause of suffering.

  Sulak Sivaraksa

  Country, Buddhist, Humility

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• Buddhism regards all living creatures as being endowed with the Buddha nature and the potential to become Buddhas. That's why Buddhism teaches us to refrain from killing and to liberate creatures instead.

  Hsuan Hua

  Buddhist, Killing, Refrain

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• Mindful and creative, a child who has neither a past, nor examples to follow, nor value judgments, simply lives, speaks and plays in freedom.

  Arnaud Desjardins

  Children, Acceptance, Past

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• The first precept in Buddhism is "Do not kill." This precept is not merely a legalistic prohibition, but a realization of our affinity with all who share the gift of life. A compassionate heart provides a firm ground for this precept.

  Dhammananda Bhikkhuni

  Buddhist, Heart, Realization

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• In Buddhism, mindfulness is the key. Mindfulness is the energy that sheds light on all things and all activities, producing the power of concentration, bringing forth deep insight and awakening. Mindfulness is the base of Buddhist practice

  Nhat Hanh

  Buddhist, Keys, Light

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• We have only now, only this single eternal moment opening and unfolding before us, day and night.

  Jack Kornfield

  Night, Suffering, Mindfulness

  Twitter post from Jan 27, 2015

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• Mindfulness is Buddha's word for meditation. By mindfulness he means: you should always remain alert, watchful. You should always remain present. Not a single thing should be done in a sort of sleepy state of mind. You should not move like a somnambulist, you should move with a sharp consciousness.

  Rajneesh

  Buddhist, Moving, Mean

  Osho, Rajneesh (Bhagwan Shree), Yoga Rabiya (Ma.), Ananda Vandana (Ma.), Prem Pankaja (Ma.) (1978). “The Discipline of Transcendence: Discourses on the Forty-two Sutras of Buddha”

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• Like a robe wears out over time and turns to rags, life wears out from day to day, from second to second.

  Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

  Suffering, Rags, Robes

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• We can bring our spiritual practice into the streets, into our communities, when we see each realm as a temple, as a place to discover that which is sacred.

  Jack Kornfield

  Spiritual, Practice, Community

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