佛言佛語（九）

In the process of growing, the main concern is how to overcome egoism and dig up the roots of evil.

Only by knowing what impermanence is can you be free from it.

Even belated repentance is a sure sign of change.

If the mind remains unmoved by circumstances, it will be detached from the notion of form.

Practising Buddhism is to give yourself a chance to change.

Being grateful and appreciative can nourish the mind that you cultivate for your whole life.

Right Understanding and Right Thoughts arise from a deep appreciation of righteousness.

The power of sincere repentance can resolve any affliction.

Strict self-discipline is the prerequisite to changing one’s notion of self.

One who is bereft of love in their heart will certainly give insufficient affection and love to others, for their kind of love is selfish.

Enlightenment can only be realised through putting theory into practice.

Intransigence is a kind of negative karma, which must be removed speedily.

In the process of learning Buddhism, any excuse given is simply an illusory and upside-down dream.

One who aims to elevate their Buddhist practice to a higher level of spirituality must seek those elements that contribute to their betterment.

To make progress is a must;
to change is inevitable;
to cultivate the mind is essential.

All appearances are illusory, so make the best of today.

Understanding oneself by observing others is wisdom.

When a person is turning over a new leaf to eliminate his negative karma, this is his period of retribution — and also his period of repentance.
The time spent on reforming oneself counts as a period of cultivation, so it is never a waste of time.
Like climbing stairs, the success of reaching the top depends on the strength and time you have spent along the way.
When you stand at the top, can you say that the time spent climbing the stairs was ever wasted?

One who is grateful can make progress;
one who is contented can be happy.

With perseverance, change is possible.

Words, once spoken, may produce terrifying karma.
Be cautious.

Recite the Great Compassion Mantra three times in the morning, as you can eliminate the karma of your heart and be free of worries.

What humans think is the opposite of what Buddhas think.
The earth itself has a centripetal force;
the people on the planet do not exist in the same dimension as Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

People will only truly appreciate the meaning of cherishing after they lose something.
If you do not want to lose, you must learn to cherish what you have.

Emptiness is an unchanging eternity.

Observing the precepts is to enhance and initiate self-management mode.

Life is indeed impermanent.
Regret cannot bring back the past.
It is only by repentance that we may regain lost years.

Cultivating the mind is a process of fighting against one’s negative karma.

High spirituality is the fruit of enlightenment.

Cause and effect is something quite terrifying.
The cause is like a fuse, and the effect is like a landmine.
As soon as you touch the cause, you trigger the effect.

Willpower is of paramount importance.
It arises from the power of your vow.

Buddha-nature is a manifestation of one’s own nature.

Growth is inevitable, whereas the attainment of enlightenment is essential.

Understanding the human world is a process of spiritual practice.

One must learn to be steadfast.
As Buddhist practitioners, our determination is as strong and steady as a rock, and our compassion as gentle and meek as water.
Learn to walk the middle way, as it is how our destiny can be changed.

Form or formlessness cannot be separated from the notion of a form.
Only by completely eliminating our attachment to self can the form disappear amidst formlessness.

Buddhist practitioners take things seriously, manifesting from sincerity and trust.

Persistence and perseverance are a rational choice.

One can only possess eternity deep in the heart.

People should live not to make a living, but to liberate themselves.

Right thinking must impact your behaviour.
This is what cultivating the mind and reforming our behaviour is about.

Strife leads to all evil and must be avoided.

Your own nature can only be found in emptiness.

Happiness is inherent in our nature, but we often compromise it with desires.
Only by maintaining innate nature can the desires be driven away.

Stand on high ground, so you can look far over the world.
Let go of hindrances in your heart, so you can overcome afflictions, jealousy and greed, which are characteristics of a lesser self.
Treat all beings as brothers and sisters, so you can transcend the affection and love of the human world.

Let go of worldly desires and uphold pure practices.
The heart is free of worldly desires when one lets go of ego.

Those who cannot do away with their ego will never transcend the Human Realm.

Wisdom comes from understanding and our potential for enlightenment.

Life is a process of cultivating the mind.
It is also a process of refining one’s spirituality.
Take control of your mental state so that you may become a Saint or a Buddha.
Develop your wisdom to adapt to the spiritual level of the Buddha.

To forget the mistakes of others is to forgive yourself.

A suffering child is a growing Bodhisattva.

One who has a good sense of self-management possesses the potential for realisation.
Hence, the precepts must be strictly observed.

Life is impermanent, and strife creates karma.
Severe environmental pollution and the sinister fight among people are all manifestations of the Evil World of the Five Turbidities.

The harmony and tolerance of Buddhism is the foundation of compassion.

The highest state of a Buddhist practitioner is the attainment of eternality.

True cultivation is as valuable as a gem.
A change in mentality is the key to self-improvement.

There are two things a person can learn from memories: one is suffering, the other is awakening.

Recognising one’s mistakes is the beginning of awakening.

By understanding others, you improve yourself.

One who learns to be grateful will harbour no hostility.

Potential for enlightenment is the cornerstone of diligence.

Fame and fortune are like types of venom, which will slowly erode your own nature.

Surpassing your own self to a higher spiritual state allows you to see through the characteristics of life:
suffering, emptiness and impermanence.

Changes in mentality cause people’s mood swings.
Only by controlling your mindset can you live life to the fullest.

Slowly break away from human affection and transform it into Buddha-nature.
Cultivating the mind is the key to firmly guarding one’s own nature.

A pure heart is untainted.
One who abstains from false speech is as innocent as a child.
This is the foundation upon which one must embark on the path of Bodhisattvas.

Maintaining equanimity is the wisdom of a Buddhist practitioner.
The better you can maintain equanimity, the higher the spiritual state you will attain.

Your state of mind is essential in regulating the endocrine system.
Control your emotions so that you will lead your life with a positive mindset and enthusiasm.

From quietness to purity, from awakening to enlightenment, it is all a process of spiritual cultivation.
Most important is to attain enlightenment through an awakening thought;
but unfortunately, many people make errors in their understanding due to holding wrongful views.

Your state of mind determines your destiny.
Learn to use the power of concentration to eliminate negative energy.

By changing your temperament, you are changing your state of mind.
Treat diligence as your normal mentality, observe precepts as your daily practice, and regard jealousy and hatred as abnormal frames of mind.

Observing the precepts is about protecting yourself and taking care of your wisdom-life.
When one attains insight in the process of practising Buddhism, this is the beginning of awakening.

Understanding others is compassion.
Reflecting on yourself is a form of awakening.

The potential for enlightenment is a feeling deep within us, whereas enlightenment is the confirmation of internal energy.

Propagating the Dharma is the way;
cultivating the mind is a virtue.
Buddhist practitioners who uphold moral values are cultivating virtues in the process of propagating the Dharma.

The wise people always learn from their experience, while the fools tend to cover up their wrongdoings.
Be doubly cautious.

One who clings to the notion of self will have a strong attachment.
One who eliminates the notion of self will be free from attachment.

Some stubborn habitual states of consciousness will affect one’s mode of correct thinking.
Beware!

‘The unitary form method’ is a kind of wisdom.
A single-minded person lives an eternal life.

Delusion, which is akin to a weed that hinders the cultivation of the mind, must always be removed forthwith.

Those who choose Buddhism choose a new life.
We all have to let go of many things in life.
Those who cannot will suffer, while those who can will be liberated.

Keeping a low profile is a virtue.
We hurt others when we show off our wealth and wisdom and make people blush with jealousy.
A Buddhist practitioner must learn to consider other people’s feelings and thoughts.
Refrain from bragging about yourself, making others feel embarrassed or hurting others.
This is compassion.

Some people do before they talk.
Others talk before they do.
There are still others who talk but never do, whereas the Saints do without talking.

As the saying goes:
we should carry out the Way on behalf of Heaven.
The Way is in our heart;
learning to be sincere and honest is itself a place of practice.

Judge the conditions before speaking, and be considerate about the other party when discussing a problem.
To cultivate yourself in a corrupt society, you must be like the lotus, which remains untainted by the mud from which it grows.

To become a Bodhisattva, one must exert a great deal more strength than ordinary people.
Learn to be strict with oneself so your observation of the precepts is solid and firm.

Real change starts from deep inside the heart, like a lotus flower lodged in one’s Ninth Consciousness.

It is compulsory for mankind to make spiritual progress and attain liberation from suffering.

Being safe and sound is a blessing;
having peace of mind is happiness.

Human beings live in impermanence, and all things are created by the mind.
As such, by controlling your mind, you control your world.

Squandering defines a kind of disappearance.
It numbs your thoughts and makes you disappear unconsciously.

Only by maintaining concentration can you stay away from worldly thoughts.
Power of concentration and Nirvana are companions.

The ability to understand the purpose of life can walk us out of bewilderment.

In the Human Realm, rationality is regarded as wisdom.

Light can only be seen in repentance;
Prajna wisdom can only be found in diligence.

Appreciating happiness every day is akin to living amongst lotus flowers.

The reality of life is that it is a process.
Being obsessed with the process brings suffering.
Letting go of the process means understanding the suffering, emptiness, and the impermanent nature of life.
Only by departing from the process can real life begin.

Life is like a dream which can disappear in a twinkling.
The ‘reasons’ that seem worth defending in our heart are in fact fallacies of obsession and paranoia.

Life is impermanent, so learn to harmonise with conditions.
Let go of all affinities and you will be free from suffering while attaining happiness.