Should those who are not with us, O Brethren, speak in dispraise of me, or of my doctrine, or of the church, that is no reason why you should give way to anger.
—Buddhist Teaching
For that they hated this poor slender boy,
That ever frowned upon their barbarous sports,
And loved the beasts they tortured in their play,
And wept to see the wounded hare, or doe,
Or trout that floundered on the angler’s hook.
—Buddhist Teaching
Covetousness and anger are as the serpent’s poison.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
Self-examination is painful.
—Buddhist Teaching
To feed a single good man is infinitely greater in point of merit, than attending to questions about heaven and earth, spirits and demons, such as occupy ordinary men.
—Buddhist Teaching
Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
Whatever I understand (to be right) … I desire to practice.
—Buddhist Teaching
I cannot have pleasure while another grieves and I have power to help him.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Creatures of every variety were moved one toward another lovingly; fear and terror altogether put away, none entertained a hateful thought; the Angels, foregoing their heavenly joys, sought rather to alleviate the sinner’s sufferings.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
May my thoughts, now small and narrow, expand in the next existence, that I may understand the precepts … thoroughly, and never break them or be guilty of trespasses.
—Buddhist Teaching
With every desire to do good, the ignorant and foolish only succeed in doing harm…. ‘Tis knowledge crowns endeavor with success.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
What is goodness? First and foremost the agreement of the will with the conscience.
—Buddhist Teaching
He injures none by his conversation.
—Buddhist Teaching
The wise firmly believe that in Mercy the whole of Righteousness is contained. What virtue … does there exist which is not the consequence of Mercy?
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
He identified himself with all beings.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Though a man with a sharp sword should cut one’s body bit by bit, let not an angry thought … arise, let the mouth speak no ill word.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
May I speak kindly and softly to every one I chance to meet.
—Buddhist Teaching
In order to terminate all suffering, be earnest in performing good deeds.
—Buddhist Teaching
People grieve from selfishness.
—Buddhist Teaching
Overcome anger by love.
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
Feeling deep compassion for the poor, grudging nothing which he possessed.
—Buddhist Teaching
Your guileless heart loves to exercise its charity.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
To the self-reliant there is strength and joy.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
May I be thoroughly imbued with benevolence, and show always a charitable disposition, till such time as this heart shall cease to beat.
—Buddhist Teaching
Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred!
—The Dhammapada Buddhist Anthology of Verses
The virtuous (when injured) grieve not so much for their own pain as for the loss of happiness incurred by their injurers.
—The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
He who … cannot feel joy to see merit in others is stained with the darkness of sin.
—Buddhist Teaching
Even could she have kept it secret from men, … could she have kept it secret from spirit, … could she have kept it secret from the gods, yet she could not have escaped herself from the knowledge of her sin.
—Nagasena (2nd c.BCE) Buddhist Intellectual
Religion he looks upon as his best ornament.
—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king
The Buddha, O king, magnifies not the offering of gifts to himself, but rather to whosoever … is deserving.
—Nagasena (2nd c.BCE) Buddhist Intellectual
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