佛言佛語（三）

Bodhisattvas fear causes, whereas sentient beings fear consequences.
Those who treat the law of karma with respect and awe will bring harmony and tolerance to our society.

Liberation from the shackles of death and rebirth begins with compassion and wisdom.

In the search for our innate pure nature, we will discover our lost compassion.

Only when we understand the law of cause and effect, and the workings of causes and conditions, are we able to live a life of contentment.
Only when we practise Buddhism and rid ourselves of karmic obstacles are we able to be free of afflictions and attain liberation.

The Dharma enables us to break free from delusion and attain enlightenment.
It guides us toward a non-antagonistic approach to life, and leads to the cultivation of a noble character.

One who wallows in regret cannot see into their future.
Wallowing in regret brings nothing but harm;
by doing so, they only bring afflictions upon themselves.

Happiness lies in appreciating those who are kind to us.
Acknowledging the strengths of others warms our hearts, whereas finding faults with others serves only to bring more afflictions upon ourselves.
Appreciating the strengths of others and looking beyond their weaknesses brings forth the light in our hearts.

A kind word can sometimes make one feel warm all their lives.
A harsh word, on the other hand, can breed a lifetime of hatred.
It can ruin one’s marriage and one’s family.

Right thinking is more reliable than sentiment.
One who lives for the well-being of others is someone who has passion for life.
One who is compassionate, always ready to help and to awaken others spiritually is truly an enlightened individual.
They will live a life full of blessings.

A true Buddhist practitioner is a person of few words, who is mindful of their demeanour, and who practises what they preach.

Regret awaits those who make decisions in a fit of anger.

Wealth and glory are nothing but vanity;
worldly pleasures and romance are nothing but suffering.
The hard work of our lives will be all in vain, like trying to capture the moon in the water.
When we leave this human world, we take with us nothing but our karma.
Only when we understand this concept can we achieve true liberation, let go of the self, and attain Buddhahood.

The foundation of wisdom comes from our potential to awaken.
One who takes the wrong path is not yet awakened.

The ability to adjust one’s mind leads one to attain the Buddha’s heart.

Turning a deaf ear to advice is the beginning of delusion.
Turning a blind eye to one’s mistakes is the beginning of failure.
Always thinking that you should have a fair share of everything is the beginning of affliction.

The heart is like a mirror, reflecting the evil of the world.
If all we see is nothing but vice and strife, then eventually we will end up turning to evil.
Only when our hearts reflect all the good in the world will our hearts be filled with kindness.
Only when our hearts reflect nothing will we be able to see the emptiness of the five aggregates.

Constantly reminiscing about the past results in distracting thoughts;
constantly thinking of the future results in illusion.
True cultivation means being down-to-earth, facing the reality of life, and resolving conflicts with wisdom.

Precepts are meant for us to discipline ourselves, not to defame others.

A true cultivator is utterly indifferent to the flaws of humankind.

There is no way to liberate our minds if we consider life to be a game of chance.
We Buddhist practitioners should look upon the human world as a place for training our minds and for accumulating merits and virtues.
We should regard the human world as a tourist destination where we can accumulate merits and virtues.
Once the journey ends, all the wealth and fame, and all our gains and losses will be meaningless.

Throughout our lives, there is nothing we can truly call ours forever;
impermanence is the root of affliction.
If we carry our afflictions into the following day, we will never understand our minds and see our true nature.
Only when we eradicate all our afflictions can we live our days with joy and free ourselves from a sorrowful state of mind.

Not being attached to worldly afflictions is an expression of compassion.

To be able to let go, we need to practise equanimity and loosen our emotional attachment to everyone and everything in the world.

We should never regard ourselves as great, or we may end up looking small and being belittled by others.
It will be of great benefit to us to have control over this end.
If we fail, it will, at best, bring us humiliation, and at worst, have an adverse impact on our life.

We should cherish all kinds of affinities in our journey through life, be it positive or negative.
Only when we have insight into the workings of karmic affinities can we act in accordance with karmic conditions.

Look at the world from a different perspective, and we will find the world appears vast while man appears small.
When we put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we will come to realise that all living beings possess an innate Buddha nature.

It is no use speaking with hindsight or feeling regret.
We Buddhist practitioners must come to terms with reality and discover our own flaws and shortcomings by reflecting on those of others;
Understand the workings of karma, and emulate Bodhisattvas who fear causes, but not sentient beings who fear consequences.

Our life begins with a cry at birth, and when we leave this human world, we bring along nothing but our lifelong afflictions.

When we face everyone and everything in life with compassion and wisdom, we find ourselves more open and free.
When we find everyone so pleasant, we will have a pleasant frame of mind.
Then our Bodhi mind will grow and we will be blessed with the Bodhisattva’s love.
Having a compassionate heart is far more important than having superior skills or intellect;
with gratitude comes mental and physical well-being.

Good karma stems from doing good;
loneliness stems from selfishness;
suspicion stems from fear and fear stems from hatred.
Thus, only when we cultivate a calm and peaceful state of mind can we turn our mortal heart into a Buddha’s heart.

Being able to love others is a form of blessing.
Being able to understand others is a form of wisdom.

Do not be perturbed by trivial gain and loss in this world;
the wise man is someone who lets go of themselves.

A person who is troubled by too many afflictions is devoid of wisdom.
A person who is devoid of afflictions is full of wisdom.

A truly awakened person readily performs the act of giving.
True spiritual awakening is understanding the truth of life.
Only after we have nothing will we start having something.
When someone has no afflictions, they start gaining wisdom.

Physical health is the biggest asset in life.
If we suffer from ill health, we will live a wretched life even if we enjoy abundant wealth.
Wealthy is one who is contented.
The biggest victory we can achieve in life is to not be angry, or resentful.
In doing so, no one can upset you.
The biggest achievement in life is to be able to let go of attachment, have peace of mind, be full of wisdom and view the vicissitudes of life with equanimity.

Only when we change ourselves can we let go;
only when we cultivate our minds and practise Buddhism can we make this world a pure land.

We as Buddhist practitioners should cultivate the right faith and be cautious in making friends.
Having too many acquaintances of varied quality may do us more harm than good.
We should associate with worthy friends;
the virtuous and the high-minded.
We should nurture the Buddha nature in our hearts, be connected to positive affinities and keep negative affinities at arm’s length.

Fortunes and misfortunes are vicissitudes of life.
Being safe and well is a blessing which we should cherish at all times.
Instil into ourselves a forgiving state of mind.
This is the Buddha’s state of mind.

An ever-burning lamp in our heart will illuminate the path to enlightenment.

We are merely visitors in the world;
such is the reality of life.

Cultivating our minds is to change our state of mind;
cultivating our behaviour is to change our behaviour.

We will not achieve anything if we are not ready to give.
Only when we give, do we gain.

The spiritual path to enlightenment is riddled with afflictions and obstacles.
It is important that the enlightened guard their inherent Buddha nature.
It takes the mind to overcome whatever hardship or calamity that comes our way.
Only when one’s mind is devoid of thought can one be blessed with good fortune and longevity.

It’s only a matter of time before we have to let go, so why not choose to let go sooner in order to live a happier and more peaceful life?

What is compassion?
Compassionate are those who can put themselves in other people’s shoes.

A true Dharma propagator is one who guards themselves both internally and externally.
Internally, they are sincere in propagating the Buddha’s teachings.
Externally, they are virtuous in conduct, truthful in speech, and performs meritorious deeds in their effort to lead by example.
Such is how they spread the Dharma and help sentient beings awaken spiritually.

A Buddhist practitioner makes no distinction between right and wrong, for there is only the law of cause and effect.

Awaken our inner self with our innate nature.
Correcting our shortcomings is a way of respecting ourselves.

When you are constantly connected to the Buddha Light of the Bodhisattva, your heart is united as one with that of the Bodhisattva;
you will spiritually awaken at once.

Blessings are the result of cultivation in past lives, whereas virtue is the result of good conduct in this life.

Vengeance is sweet when one undermines the character of others, but it will quickly backfire and harm one’s whole life instead.

Buddhist practitioners must be honest.
If one fails to meet the most basic requirement of being honest, then they will gradually deviate from Buddhist teachings.

We will have no regrets if we always consult our inherent nature and true self before acting, uttering a word or conceiving a thought.

A conqueror, in the true sense of the word, is not one who is courageous in conquering a storm, but one who is skilful in steering clear of a storm.

Cherish what you have now and tame your sensual desires.
Tomorrow belongs to those who cherish today.

Wisest are those who are good at discovering the strengths of others.
Strongest are those who are good at controlling themselves.
Richest are those who are aware of their fortune, are content with it, give their wealth to help others, and live a fulfilling and happy life.

One who respects themselves, as well as others, is most worthy of respect.

Only when we develop our inherent bright nature can we live a happy and carefree life.

If we hold hatred in our heart, it will germinate over time.
If we nurture love in our heart, we will become compassionate over time.

Life is sustained by interdependence.
We grow strong with assistance from others.
In this world, everyone has to rely on one another in order to achieve success.

Bowing one’s head does not mean one is inferior to others.
It is merely a manifestation of one’s great composure.
There are many who stand head and shoulders above others.
Do not forget that there are always other more superior people to rise above them.
Those who are humble and steadfast in work are always held in high esteem.
A successful man will not lose his shine even if he lowers his head;
he will be respected and admired all the same.

The true meaning of life is to change ourselves and to return to our true nature.
We must show our best side when interacting with others.
Concurrently, through correcting our bad habits and temper, we will find our true self.
This is what we call ‘self-perfection’ in Buddhism.

Do not get angry and contend with others.
Whatever is obtained by way of contention is a delusion;
only what is gained by way of spiritual cultivation is real.

Buddhism enables us to gain the true value of life in the world.
The wise are able to let go, take things easy, have a positive frame of mind and live their lives with ease.
If we can reach a thorough understanding of reality, we can succeed in what we do.
As a result, our minds will be calm and relaxed.

Though you may have desires, you should not cling to them.
Seek them, but do not be greedy.
When you have a balanced state of mind in seeking blessing from the Buddha, you will be able to let go of more attachments.
One who has a balanced state of mind will be composed, calm, pure with respect to the six sensory faculties and remain unperturbed whatever situation may arise.

According to Buddhism, “Wisdom is to understand another‘s heart as our own.” Only when we understand other people’s hearts can we understand our own.
Only when we understand other people’s thoughts can we understand the true meaning of life in the world.
Our great Bodhisattva is fully aware of Her children’s suffering in the human world, hence Guan Yin Bodhisattva says, “All prayers will be answered.”

To show due respect toward others is to respect yourself.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
If you hurt others, you will eventually hurt yourself.

It is essential to do good deeds while practising Buddhism.
If you can lead others to practise Buddhism at no cost to yourself, then you are applying a wonderful method.
To be able to help others awaken spiritually and to also allow yourself to introduce Buddhism to more people is wisdom.

Learn to be grateful by rendering help to others when we receive help from others.
Be grateful to nature for nurturing us.
Be grateful to our parents for raising us.
Be grateful to our fellow Buddhists for their friendship.
Be grateful to the Buddha’s teachings for awakening us.

Our hands are meant for labour, not to seek material gains.
Our brain is meant for contemplating and repenting, not for clinging to attachments.
Only when we remain sober-minded and ready to forgive others are we able to make constant progress.
The best solution to any problem is to forgive.

It is important that Buddhist practitioners erect a wall in their hearts, just as a computer requires a firewall for protection.
No matter where the viruses come from, we are able to ward them off with the wisdom derived from Dharma.

As long as we have faith in the Bodhisattva and walk the path of Buddhism with determination, though we are far from being perfect or tactful, we are sure to reap benefits from our practice, even if we live in a world fraught with suffering.

Live in accordance with karmic conditions and you will enjoy peace of mind;
be happy and you will have no worries.
Let go of your worries and you can attain spiritual awakening.
Our potential for awakening will bring about liberation.
Those who can be happy are awakened and liberated.

One who observes the precepts and the law will have peace of mind.
Only when one attains peace of mind can one attain concentration of mind.
This, in turn, gives rise to wisdom.
This is the so-called ‘precepts, concentration and wisdom’ in Buddhism.

As Buddhist practitioners, we must understand that doing things for ourselves or for our own ends is mean-spirited.
Doing something for the benefit of others, however minor, is considered kind.

Only when we let go of attachment can we let go of the self.
Free ourselves from worries.
If we are constantly troubled by worries, it must be that we think too highly of ourselves.

The infinite number of beings in the six realms of existence are all equal.
We come and go empty-handed, however great we may have become.

A contented person enjoys happiness and wealth.
A blessed person should learn to keep a low profile, then they will be able to prolong their good fortune and their lifespan.

We as Buddhist practitioners should find ways to repay the kindness extended to us.
The more feelings of gratitude we nurture, the less resentment we will harbour in our heart.
As time goes by, we will develop long-lasting kindness towards sentient beings with no annoyance or regret.

Anger is humankind’s biggest weakness.
Do not find excuses to get angry.
Anger only begets more anger.
Taming our anger is the golden key to our physical and mental well-being.

We need to cleanse the body when it is dirty.
Similarly, we need to drink plenty of water to cleanse the internal organs when they are dirty.
According to the foundational work of Chinese medicine, Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, water is the best medicine.
Consuming plenty of water cleanses our internal body.
What is the best remedy for spiritual cleansing?
It is the Three Golden Buddhist Practices of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door:
making vows, performing recitations of Buddhist scriptures and performing life liberation.

To let go of the self is to clear a mind that is filled with discrimination, sense of right and wrong, gain and loss, and attachment.
Letting go is a manifestation of magnanimity, a kind of thorough enlightenment;
it reveals our true nature.
Only when we let go can we attain true liberation.

The whole world will smile at you when your heart is peaceful and your mind is clean.
When you can smile at yourself, not a single trouble in the world will affect you.
When you are sincere to yourself, no one in the world can deceive you.

We can take any road in the world, but never the road to ruin.
We can choose any path, but never the one that leads us astray.
Despite the many obstacles along the path in life, we must walk uphill with our heads held high.
In this way, we are able to steer clear of numerous winding and dangerous small paths.
As long as we are diligent in practising Buddhism, we can make headway however long the path may be.
Practising Buddhism is not just about persistence.
What is more important is that we must be heading in the right direction.

One who knows how to be happy will not live a day without happiness.
It is no use stamping one’s feet and beating one’s chest lamenting and moaning.
Only when we understand the ever-changing mind can we identify people’s feelings and perceptions in relation to their surroundings.
Remember that everything is made from the mind alone.

When we realise the true meaning of life, we are able to derive happiness from the minutest of things.
When we understand the impermanence of life, we will be appreciative and happy.

A glass of water changes its colour and becomes undrinkable when it is stained by a drop of ink, whereas the ocean remains blue even when a drop of ink dissolves in it.
Why is it so?
It is because their capacity differs.
Wheat spikes grow straight upwards when unripe, but they lower their tips when they ripen.
Why is it so?
It is because their substance differs.
We will have more capacity if we practise tolerance towards others.
We will have substance if we practise humility.
A combination of both is a sought-after quality.

When one’s mind is scattered, one’s soul is distracted.
When one’s mind is concentrated, one possesses wisdom.
When someone’s mind becomes as calm and still as water, and free of the sense of right and wrong, they are no longer ordinary people.
Their minds are undisturbed.
This is the approach we should adopt to solve our everyday problems.
If we refrain from provoking disputes, there will be no conflicts.
When we have peace of mind, we will be safe and well.