One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the messiah?"
"No", answered Buddha.
"Then are you a healer?"
"No", Buddha replied.
"Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted.
"No, I am not a teacher."
"Then what are you?" asked the student, exasperated.
"I am awake", Buddha replied.
Showing posts with label buddhism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buddhism. Show all posts
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Teachings of Nagarjuna
The Buddha taught some people the teachings of duality that help them avoid sin and acquire spiritual merit.
To others he taught non-duality, that some find profoundly frightening.
Even offering three hundred bowls of food three times a day does not match the spiritual merit gained in one moment of love.
All philosophies are mental fabrications.
There has never been a single doctrine by which one could enter the true essence of things.
~ Nagarjuna (150 - 250 CE)
To others he taught non-duality, that some find profoundly frightening.
Even offering three hundred bowls of food three times a day does not match the spiritual merit gained in one moment of love.
All philosophies are mental fabrications.
There has never been a single doctrine by which one could enter the true essence of things.
~ Nagarjuna (150 - 250 CE)
Teachings of Ayya Khema
We could become quite satisfied with ourselves because we are sitting in meditation and are endeavoring to practice the spiritual path.
Such satisfaction with ourselves is not the same as contentment. Contentment is necessary, self-satisfaction is detrimental.
To be content has to include knowing we are in the right place at the right time to facilitate our own growth.
But to be self-satisfied means that we no longer realize the need for growth.
All these aspects are important parts of our commitment and makes us into one whole being with a one-pointed direction.
~ Ayya Khema (1923-1997)
Such satisfaction with ourselves is not the same as contentment. Contentment is necessary, self-satisfaction is detrimental.
To be content has to include knowing we are in the right place at the right time to facilitate our own growth.
But to be self-satisfied means that we no longer realize the need for growth.
All these aspects are important parts of our commitment and makes us into one whole being with a one-pointed direction.
~ Ayya Khema (1923-1997)
Teachings of Ajhan Chah
Do not try to become anything.
Do not make yourself into anything.
Do not be a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be.
What you walk, let it be.
Grasp at nothing.
Resist nothing.
If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
~ Ajhan Chah (1918 - 1992)
Do not make yourself into anything.
Do not be a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be.
What you walk, let it be.
Grasp at nothing.
Resist nothing.
If you haven't wept deeply, you haven't begun to meditate.
~ Ajhan Chah (1918 - 1992)
Teachings of Atisha
The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
~ Atisha (980-1054 CE)
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
~ Atisha (980-1054 CE)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Carrying a girl across a river
Source: Zen Buddhism
Translated by: Unknown
One day, a Buddhist Monk named I-hsiu (literary, "One Rest") took his young student to go to town to do some business. As they approached a small river, they saw a very pretty girl walking back and forth looking very concerned.
"Lady", asked I-hsiu, "you look very concerned. What is troubling you?"
"I want to cross the river to visit my dad who is very sick, but the bridge had fallen. Where is the next nearest bridge?"
"The next closest one is many miles away. But, don't worry, I will carry you across the river."
So I-hsiu carried the girl on his back and walked across the river stream. Once they reached the other side, he put her down and, saying farewell to each other, went on their ways separately.
Observing the whole thing, the young student was rather uneasy. He thought, "the Master taught us that women are man-eating tigers yet today he carried a pretty girl on his back across a river! That does not make any sense. Isn't the Lord Buddha teach us to keep a distance from a stranger girl?"
Over the next couple of month, the whole thing was still bothering him in his mind. Finally, the student could not stand it any longer and raised the issue with I-hsiu.
Upon hearing this, I-hsiu bursted into laughter: "I had put down the girl ever since I had crossed the river. You must be very tired carrying her around for the last two months!"
Translated by: Unknown
One day, a Buddhist Monk named I-hsiu (literary, "One Rest") took his young student to go to town to do some business. As they approached a small river, they saw a very pretty girl walking back and forth looking very concerned.
"Lady", asked I-hsiu, "you look very concerned. What is troubling you?"
"I want to cross the river to visit my dad who is very sick, but the bridge had fallen. Where is the next nearest bridge?"
"The next closest one is many miles away. But, don't worry, I will carry you across the river."
So I-hsiu carried the girl on his back and walked across the river stream. Once they reached the other side, he put her down and, saying farewell to each other, went on their ways separately.
Observing the whole thing, the young student was rather uneasy. He thought, "the Master taught us that women are man-eating tigers yet today he carried a pretty girl on his back across a river! That does not make any sense. Isn't the Lord Buddha teach us to keep a distance from a stranger girl?"
Over the next couple of month, the whole thing was still bothering him in his mind. Finally, the student could not stand it any longer and raised the issue with I-hsiu.
Upon hearing this, I-hsiu bursted into laughter: "I had put down the girl ever since I had crossed the river. You must be very tired carrying her around for the last two months!"
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