Buddhist Wisdom for Today
Quotes and Teachings from the world of Buddhism and beyond, updated each weekday
Whoever has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha, and who sees with right wisdom the four noble truths: Suffering, arising of suffering, and the overcoming of suffering, the eightfold noble path leading to the stilling of suffering. That is a secure refuge, that is the refuge supreme, that is the refuge to come to that liberates from all suffering. — The Buddha, Dhammapada XIV 190-91. 26 July 2024
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- Never forget how swiftly this life will be over—like a flash of summer lightning or the wave of a hand. Now that you have the opportunity to practice the Dharma, do not waste a single moment on anything else. — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. 25 July 2024
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- May the Virtues of the Buddha / The highest refuge without doubt / Protect all of you dedicated / To practicing the true path devoutly. May the Virtues of the Dhamma / Which overcomes dukkha / Protect all of you determined / To practice in line with the Dhamma. May the Virtues of the Sangha / That walks the path beautifully / Protect all of you aiming / To follow the path securely and true. — Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. 24 July 2024
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- Why are you alive? What does it mean for you to live on this Earth? These questions nudge us to look at our own lives more closely. They prick us to wake up from our soporific dullness to the reality of our existence. Without such questions, it is easy to fall into sleepwalking through life. Awakening to “Why do you eat every day?” and embracing it as a part of our lived experience leads us on a path to a meaningful life. — Myong An Sunim. 23 July 2024
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- Your government is giant. How many people are in it, top to bottom? Are you going to change them? Can you change even one person, let alone all those hundreds or thousands? Actually, which one can you change? Yourself. Therefore, just practice. — Gyatrul Rinpoche. 22 July 2024
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- There is no precise moment in which a bud becomes a bloom, or a bloom becomes a fruit, or a fruit becomes a seed, or a seed, a budding tree. All these changes are subtle and continuous. We cannot step into the same river twice for the water is constantly flowing. We, also, are not the same person from one minute to the next. — Master Xu Yun. 19 July 2024
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- The three poisons that prevent us from realizing our true selves are desire, anger, and ignorance. Among those, desire is the basis for the latter two, and desire comes from “I.” The attachment to the “I,” the ego, and the indifference to others, these are the basis of all suffering. — Seongcheol Sunim. 17 July 2024
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- An illiterate person is Dharma rich if he recites Amitabha’s name and his heart is filled with compassion. In contrast, if an extremely learned person does not recite Amitabha’s name and is not compassionate, he is illiterate in the Dharma and very poor indeed! — Master Jingzong. 16 July 2024
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- Every person whose heart is moved by love and compassion, who deeply and sincerely acts for the benefit of others without concern for fame, profit, social position, or recognition expresses the activity of Chenrezig. — Bokar Tulku Rinpoche. 15 July 2024
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- In spring, hundred of flowers; In autumn, a harvest moon; In summer, a refreshing breeze; In winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, Any season is good season for you. — Wumen Huikai. 12 July 2024
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- The sun of real happiness shines in your life when you start to cherish others. — Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 11 July 2024
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- Amitabha reciters should always reflect on themselves first when faced with unfavorable situations. If there were no past causes, there would be no present effects. Every iota of karmic retribution is self-inflicted; there is no one to blame or contest. True contemplation in this manner brings inner serenity, while failing to do so fosters feelings of injustice, discontent, and confrontation, potentially leading to more disputes. — Master Huijing. 10 July 2024
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- Building concentration is primarily a matter of removing certain mental factors that hinder its application. We then learn to point the beam at the right things, the really fruitful things within the mind. When we study these things carefully, they cease to bind us and we become free. — Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. 9 July 2024
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- All buddhas past, present, and future have one essence. Understand this essence and you will discover your mind’s true nature. — Āryadeva. 8 July 2024
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- The beauty and function of plugging into a wisdom system is to disrupt the awkwardness and misconceptions we have around who we think we are, expose our sense of specialness, and pacify the confused relationship we have about who we are in relationship to the world we encounter. — Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel. 5 July 2024
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- I vow to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all. Therefore, I practice the sublime, sacred Dharma. I resolve that having swiftly gained awakening, I shall liberate all beings, infinite in number. — Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol. 4 July 2024
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- If one walks looking far ahead and pays no attention to the ground beneath his eyes, he will stumble. If one gazes critically upon others and forgets to look into himself, he will bring tragedy upon himself. — Rennyo Shōnin . 3 July 2024
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- Do not pursue the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. The past no longer is. The future has not yet come. Looking deeply at life as it is in the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom. We must be diligent today. To wait till tomorrow is too late. — Bhaddekaratta Sutta. 2 July 2024
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- How shameless and unrepentant a person am I, and without a heart of truth and sincerity; but because the Name is given completely by Amida, its virtue pervades the ten directions. — Shinran Shonin. 28 June 2024
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- To tame ourselves is the only way we can change and improve the world. — Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche. 27 June 2024
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- When we bow down before a Buddha image it means we are able to let go of the importance of the self. We bring our head below our heart. We bow with body, heart, and mind and by so doing we gain merit. When a student bows before a teacher, it is the student who gains merit because she/he is able to let go of the self; the teacher gains nothing at all. — Ven. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. 26 June 2024
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- Right now you have the opportunity, look for the essence of mind—that is meaningful. When you look at mind, there’s nothing to be seen. In this very not seeing, you see the definitive meaning. — Machig Labdrön . 25 June 2024
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- For people who study Buddhism, it’s essential to “Genuinely recognize your own mistakes. Don’t discuss the wrongs of others. Their wrongs are just my own wrongs. [To realize that] one is of the same substance is the great compassion.” — Master Hsuan Hua. 24 June 2024
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- This world / A fading / Mountain echo / Void and / Unreal — Ryōkan Taigu. 21 June 2024
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- Even if we transport all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the roots of bombs are still there, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we will make new bombs. To work for peace is to uproot war from ourselves and from the hearts of men and women. — Thich Nhat Hanh. 20 June 2024
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- The teaching of the Buddha has two aspects: The elements of scripture and realization. These are maintained only through teaching and through practice. — Vasubandhu. 19 June 2024
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- What makes an action positive or negative? Not how it looks, not whether it is big or small, but it is the positive or negative motivation that is behind it. No matter how many teachings that you have heard, to be motivated by ordinary concerns, such as a desire for greatness, fame, or whatever, is not the way of the true Dharma. — Patrul Rinpoche. 18 June 2024
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- The lifespan of insects like cicadas is too short for them to be aware of the four seasons. Similarly, we don’t need to know the exact number of times we recite Amitabha’s name to attain karma assurance of rebirth; we just need to continuously chant “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” — Master Tanluan. 17 June 2024
