The teachings of the Buddha, the historical Siddhārtha Gautama and the founder of Buddhism, were transmitted orally by his disciples. Over the ages, the teachings have been reinterpreted, rethought, reformulated, and propounded, leading to the creation of a remarkable corpus of literature.
This literature includes the Pali Tipiṭaka (“Three Baskets,”) consisting of the Sutta Piṭaka (“Basket of Discourse” or the sermons of the Buddha’s sermons,) the Vinaya Piṭaka (“Basket of Discipline;” the rules for the monastic order,) and the Abhidhamma Piṭaka (“Basket of Special [Further] Doctrine” doctrinal expositions.)
The most well-known of the expository texts are the Vajracchedikā-Sūtra (“Diamond Cutter Sūtra” or the “Diamond Sūtra,”) Mahāvairocana-sūtra (“Great Illuminator Sūtra,”) Avataṃsaka-Sūtra (“Garland Sūtra,”) and the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra (“Lotus Sūtra.”)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Buddhist Teaching
Being afraid of suffering and loathing it, you should do no evil, both in the open and in the secret place.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
From the very first, … having no wish to benefit others, or to do good in the least degree, we have been adding sin unto sin; and even though our actual crimes have not been so great, yet a wicked heart has ruled us within. Day and night, without interval or hesitation, have we continually contrived how to do wrong.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Buddhism
The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable.
—Buddhist Teaching
Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Health
Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
—Buddhist Teaching
He should not break the branches of a tree under whose shade he used to sleep or sit, for a wicked man is he who betrays his friend.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
This world is afflicted with death and decay; therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Buddhism
Sin easily develops.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Buddhism
An eclipsed moon enjoys no brightness or splendour, nor does a man who is under a woman’s influence, even though he may be influential, wise, respected and worshipped by the public.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
Little by little a person becomes evil, as a water pot is filled by drops of water…Little by little a person becomes good, as a water pot is filled by drops of water.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Attitude, Thoughts
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
—Buddhist Teaching
He who neither kills nor gives the order to kill and neither conquers nor gives the order to conquer cultivates his loving-kindness to all beings, thereby being at enmity with nobody.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
Walk in the path of duty, do good to your brethren, and work no evil towards them.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Buddhism
Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let a man avoid evil as does a merchant, having (only) few companions (but) possessing great wealth, avoid a dangerous road, or as does a person, still clinging to life, avoid a poison.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
He is respected wherever he goes, be it a town or a city, because he does not betray his friends.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
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.
—Buddhist Teaching
To live a single day and hear a good teaching is better than to live a hundred years without knowing such teaching.
—Buddhist Teaching
He who has done meritorious deeds rejoices both in his present life and in the hereafter. Seeing the flawlessness of his actions, he rejoices more and more.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Merit
So short is human life that it should be treated by a virtuous person as a worthless thing. Since death is absolutely certain to come, let a man make haste (in putting the doctrine to practice) like a person whose head is already on fire.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Death
The Buddha’s birth was for the benefit of the many: women as well as men, who follow his Doctrine.
—Buddhist Teaching
The point of the teachings is to control your own mind. Restrain your mind from greed, and you will keep your body right, your mind pure and your words faithful. Always thinking of the transiency of your life, you will be able to desist from greed and anger and will be able to avoid all evils.
—Buddhist Teaching
This life of separateness may be compared to a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, a shadow, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Life
The man who foolishly does me wrong, I will return him the protection of my ungrudging love.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Buddhism
Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Forgiveness, Compassion, Anger
There is a steady increase in the reputation of him who is energetic, mindful, blameless in deeds, who is careful in his actions, and who is self-controlled, righteous in living and also earnest.
—Buddhist Teaching
All sentient beings are seekers after happiness. He who, for the sake of his own happiness, violates other persons, will never attain happiness afterwards.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Action
Let not a wise man associate with the vicious. Let him associate with the virtuous. Because the vicious person will lead him to hell, while the virtuous person to the higher plane of existence.
—Buddhist Teaching
Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion.
—Buddhist Teaching
When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Life and Living