I cannot have pleasure while another grieves and I have power to help him.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Therefore has this pious inscription been carved here (on the rock), to the end that posterity may not suppose that any further conquest ought to be made by them. Let them not hold that conquest by the sword is worthy the name of conquest; let them see in it only confusion and violence. Let them reckon as true conquests none save the triumphs of religion.
—Buddhist Teaching
Not from weeping or grieving will any obtain peace of mind.
—Buddhist Teaching
There is nothing in Christianity or Buddhism that quite matches the sympathetic unselfishness of an oyster
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
The mind must be brought under perfect subjection.
—Buddhist Teaching
I consider the welfare of all people as something for which I must work.
—Buddhist Teaching
Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
He that is rich but is not contented endures the pain of poverty.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
Causing destruction to living beings, killing and mutilating, … stealing and speaking falsely, fraud and deception, … these are (what defile a man).
—Buddhist Teaching
He that praises him who should be blamed, or blames him who should be praised, gathers up sin thereby in his mouth.
—Buddhist Teaching
Unto the dumb lips of his flock he lent Sad pleading words, showing how man, who prays For mercy to the gods, is merciless.
—Edwin Arnold (1832–1904) English Poet, Journalist, Editor
Like as the lotus is untarnished by the water, so is Nirvana by any evil dispositions.
—Nagasena (2nd c.BCE) Buddhist Intellectual
Who that hears of him, but yearns with love?
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
He walks not in religion in a quarrelsome spirit.
—Nagasena (2nd c.BCE) Buddhist Intellectual
A friend to all creatures in the world.
—Buddhist Teaching
Filled with compassion for all creatures.
—Buddhist Teaching
With no selfish or partial joy … they rejoiced.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
He lived for the good of mankind.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Sprinkle water on the seeds of virtue.
—Buddhist Teaching
Justly I seek for riches, and having sought for riches justly, I give of my … justly acquired wealth to one, to two, to three, … to a hundred.
—Buddhist Teaching
Therefore should we encourage small desire, that we may have to give to him who needs.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
Feeling deep compassion for the poor, grudging nothing which he possessed.
—Buddhist Teaching
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
Not the whole world, … the ocean-girt earth, With all the seas and the hills that girdle it, Would I wish to possess with shame added thereto.
—Nagasena (2nd c.BCE) Buddhist Intellectual
He who holds up a torch to (lighten) mankind is always honored by me.
—Buddhist Teaching
Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human “heart” with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
He who stints the profit he has made, his wealth will soon be spent and lost.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
There is a way of giving, seeking pleasure by it (or) coveting to get more; some also give to gain a name for charity, some to gain the happiness of heaven…. But yours, O friend, is a charity free from such thoughts, the highest and best degree of charity, free from self-interest or thought of getting more.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
The man who foolishly does me wrong, I will return him the protection of my ungrudging love.
—Buddhist Teaching
Upright, conscientious and of soft speech, gentle and not proud.
—Buddhist Teaching
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