Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height.
—Buddhist Teaching
In his present life a wise man who is perfectly equipped with morality is always honoured. After his death he will enter into the realm of bliss. He is thus blessed with rejoice everywhere.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Morality
Seeing that perfect happiness can be attained by sacrificing the inferior one, a wise man should abandon it for the sake of the perfect one.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Wisdom
Just as the moon emerging from the clouds does brilliantly shine, so does a person by doing good leave his past evils behind.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Present Moment, The Past, Dreams, Wealth
The living-place of an Arahat (“Worthy One”), be it a village or a forest, in the low land or on the plateau, is always delightful.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
A misdirected mind causes a worse destruction than a robber or an enemy can do to each other.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: The Mind
Let a wise man establish himself on the proper Path first, then he may instruct others. Such a wise man should not blemish himself.
—Buddhist Teaching
One who has the intuitive experience of the Dhamma though he listens to it but little and who does not neglect it is the maintainer of the Dhamma.
—Buddhist Teaching
Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way.
—Buddhist Teaching
Those who, out of piety and purity of mind, distribute rice, will obtain rice both in this world and in the hereafter.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Faith
Just as clay-pots made by potters are to be broken at last, so are the lives of sentient beings.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Death
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
Just as a man blows a small fire into a flame, so a man of wisdom and discernment can make money even from a small investment.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Effort
Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride.
—Buddhist Teaching
All sentient beings are seekers after happiness. He who does not violate other persons for the sake of his happiness will attain happiness afterwards.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Action
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
A wise man is happy because of his wise management knowing how to hurry when it is time to hurry and slow down when it is time to slow down.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
Let no man neglect his own profit (spiritual development) for the sake of others, however important they may be. Realizing what is for one’s own profit, let him attend to it earnestly.
—Buddhist Teaching
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Virtue, Life and Living
There is no perfection of the wisdom of one who has a fluctuating mind, does not know the good doctrine and has a shaking faith.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: The Mind
You only lose what you cling to.
—Buddhist Teaching
He who is equipped with mindfulness and who extends unlimited loving-kindness to all beings has destroyed hit passions. His fetters are loosened.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
He who is provided with forbearance and loving-kindness is always lucky, honoured and happy. He is also beloved and appreciated by divine and human beings.
—Buddhist Teaching
Those who do not cheat nor is given to frivolous talk, who is wise, not brusque, and who is well-poised, will make rapid progress in the doctrine promulgated by the All-Enlightened One.
—Buddhist Teaching
An intelligent person, with the gift of discernment, knowing how to manage affairs, and clever at (selecting) the proper time and season, can be in the government service.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Wisdom
On a long journey of human life, faith is the best of companions; it is the best refreshment on the journey; and it is the greatest property.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let a man with perseverance abstain from doing evil deeds, like person who, not being blind, avoids the uneven roads.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Effort
He glorifies his group who is wise, courageous, learned, virtuous and lives up to the law of Righteousness.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
Not only can a man be called “wise,” but also can a woman who is endowed with wisdom be so called.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
An immoral person may not have a miserable existence, if, being instructed, he follows the law of Righteousness.
—Buddhist Teaching
Never does a wise man commit a sin for the sake of his happiness. Never will he discard Morality because of his personal love or hatred, even though he may suffer and meet with a failure.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Man
The five objects of sense-organs, with the mind as the sixth, were already made known. Whoever releases himself from sensual enjoyments will accordingly be liberated from suffering.
—Buddhist Teaching
Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
—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
Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: Confidence
The song of birds, the voices of insects, are all means of conveying truth to the mind; in flowers and grasses we see messages of the Way. The scholar, pure and clear of mind, serene and open of heart, should find in everything what nourishes him.
—Buddhist Teaching
A well-directed mind makes a man better than his parents or relatives can do to him.
—Buddhist Teaching
Topics: The Mind
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
Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to others.
—Buddhist Teaching