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Words of Inspiration 16

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Apr 162013
 

This is one of the most beautiful descriptions of impermanence I have come across.

 
Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world: waterfall
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream;
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
A fickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.

 

 

 

 

(from the Diamond Sutra, Translated by A F Price)

Source: Teaching of the Buddha, J Kornfield (ed)

1993, Shambhala.

I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Anantacitta

 Posted by at 9:44 pm

Words of Inspiration 15

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May 192012
 
The flower invites the butterfly with no-mind;
The butterfly visits the flower with no-mind.
The flower opens, the butterfly comes;
The butterfly comes, the flower opens.
I don’t know others.
Others don’t know me.
By not-knowing we follow nature’s course

Zen Poet Ryokan (1775 – 1831)

Source: Stevens J., (Trans), Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf, 1993, Shambala

 Posted by at 1:33 pm

Words of Inspiration 14

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May 132012
 
 
Serenity and Insight
 
“Two things, O monks, partake of true knowledge. What two? Serenity and insight.
 
“When serenity is developed, what benefit does one experience? The mind is developed.
When the mind is developed, what benefit does one experience? All lust is abandoned.
 
“When insight is developed, what benefit does one experience? Wisdom is developed.
When wisdom is developed, what benefit does one experience? All ignorance is abandoned.
 
“A mind defiled by lust is not liberated; and wisdom defiled by ignorance is not developed.
Thus, monks, through the fading away of lust there is liberation of mind;
And through the fading away of ignorance there is liberation by wisdom.”
 

(Anguttara Nikaya 2: iii, 10; I 61)

 

Source: Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, 2005, Wisdom.

 Posted by at 12:01 pm

Words of Inspiration 13

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Apr 292012
 
If someone asks
My abode
I reply:
“The east edge of
The Milky Way.”
 
Like a drifting cloud,
Bound by nothing:
I just let go
Give myself up
To the whim of the wind.

 

Zen Poet Ryokan (1775 – 1831)

Source: Stevens J., (Trans), Dewdrops on a Loyus Leaf, 1993, Shambala

 Posted by at 7:31 am

Words of Inspiration 12

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Apr 222012
 
Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world:
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream;
A flash of lightening in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp, a phantom and a dream.

(from the Diamond Sutra, translated by A. F. Price)

Source: Kornfield, J., Teachings of the Buddha, 1993, Shambhala.

 Posted by at 12:23 pm

Words of Inspiration 12

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Mar 312012
 
The rain has stopped, the clouds have drifted away,
and the weather is clear again.
If your heart is pure, then all things in your world are pure.
Abandon this fleeting world, abandon yourself,
Then the moon and flowers will guide you along the Way.

Zen poet Ryokan (1758 – 1831)

 Source: Stevens J., (trans),  One Robe, One Bowl, 2006 (2nd ed), Weatherhill

Click here to buy this book from Wisdom Books

 Posted by at 10:25 am

Words of inspiration 10

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Mar 162012
 
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 until tomorrow is too late.
Death comes unexpectedly.
How can we bargain with it?
The sage calls a person who knows
how to dwell in mindfulness
night and day
‘one who knows
the better way to live alone.’ “

(adapted from the Bhaddekaratta Sutta, translated by Thich Nhat Hanh)

Source: Kornfield J., (ed),  The Teachings of the Buddha, 1993, Shambhala.

Words of Inspiration 9

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Mar 092012
 
When all thoughts
Are exhausted
I slip into the woods
And gather
A pile of shepherd’s purse.
Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent.

Zen poet Ryokan (1758 – 1831)

Source: Stevens, J,. (trans) Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf, 2004, Shambala

Clickto buy this book from Wisdom Books

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