Archive for Spirituality Center

Dec
07

The Wisdom of the Buddha

Posted by: Jonathan | Comments (3)

Photo Inspiration Ihdar Nur Abduzeedo“Through countless weary lives I have sought the builder of this house and could not find him.”  The Buddha verse 153 (Spoken by the Buddha when he became enlightened)

The wisdom of the Buddha is timeless. As I read more Buddhist text, I realize that wisdom hasn’t changed over the past few thousand years; and in a way that’s refreshing. When it comes to living a happy and balanced life, the knowledge remains the same.  Unfortunately, like most people living in a city of bright lights and big dreams; I forget – and my mind fills with cravings and secret delusions.

That opening quote from the Buddha stuck with me.  I instantly realized his message: in order to be free, we have to build our own house. The wisdom and help you need is everywhere, but at the end of the day, only you can lay the first and last stone.

This is part 2 in a 4 part series featuring quotes from the Buddha.  Click here for Part 1.  Each photo links directly to the original source.

Hindu SageThe Sage
 

“Like a Swan that rises from the lake, with his thoughts at peace he moves onward, never looking back.”  The Buddha, verse 91, The Dhammapada

“Still and calm is he who has awakened. His mind is peaceful and his words and deeds reflect this.”  v 96

“In village or forest, on the hills or in the plain, wherever the awakened ones live is delightful.”  v 98

“Delightful are those forests where the worldly fail to find delight. There the awakened ones are joyful, wanting nothing.”   The Buddha, verse 99 Read More→

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Zen Morning

The Dhammapada contains the most essential oral teachings of the Buddha.  Perhaps, the best know Buddhist text, it consists of 423 verses compiled in the 3rd century BCE.  The teachings of the Buddha aim to set out the Law of the Universe, and if we live within these laws, happiness and peace will be the result.

I am no Yogi, Buddhist, or true Zen practitioner. I’m just a guy trying to find a little peace in this crazy of a world of ours.  And one of my goals with E.Y.D is to share a little of that peace with you.  So I hope you will enjoy a few enlightening verses of wisdom.  Each photo links directly to its original source of Flickr, and you can find a full audio version of The Dhammapada on my Youtube Channel.

Part 1: the essential teachings of the Buddha – Verses from The Dhammapada

 

Great Buddha

The Choice


“All that we are is the result of our thoughts; it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. If a man speaks or acts with a harmonious thought happiness follows him as his own shadow, never leaving him.”  The BuddhaThe Dhammapada v2

“Hating can never overcome hatred. Only love can bring the end of hating. This is the eternal law.”   v4

“All the holy words you read and all the holy words you speak are as nothing if you do not act upon them.  Even if you read little and say little but live the right way, forsaking craving, hatred and delusion, you will know the truth and find calmness and will show others the path.”  The Buddha,  v20 The Dhammapada Read More→

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“Religion is for people who are scared to go to hell.  Spirituality is for people who have already been there.”  Bonnie Raittthe path to spirituality 61 Spirituality Quotes for the Soul to Ponder

Flickr photo by Alicepopkorn

1.)  “That which you resist stays.”  David R. Hawkins

2.)  “Would you rather be right or free?”  Byron Katie

3.)  “Misery is complexity. Happiness is simplicity.”  Lester Levenson

4.)  “The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give.”  Mother Teresa

5.)  “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.”   Khalil Gibran

6.)  “And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of life?”  Jesus

monk in the garden of zen 300x199 61 Spirituality Quotes for the Soul to Ponder

Photo found on Pixdaus

7.)  “To be in time is to be asleep: to be awake is to be in eternity.”  Osho

8.)  “Wherever we may come alive, that is the area in which we are spiritual.”  David Steindl-Rast

9.)  “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”  Rumi Quote

Read More→

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dew drop of life.thumbnail Quotes from the book: Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibranlovely dew drop.thumbnail Quotes from the book: Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran

 

 

 

Photo by Lord V 

 
 
I discovered the secret of the sea in meditation upon the dewdrop.” Spiritual Sayings by Kahlil Gibran

 It was a chilly damp Saturday in Vancouver as I strolled the streets with my broken umbrella. I have a few days off and a seemingly impossible list of things to do. I feel blue melancholy with a hints of hopelessness. I feel the dull beat of my heart in the succumbing presence of my being. Sad tears tapping down letters and words from its beat. Nonsensical music fluttering out of my pores. Disdainful thoughts of nothing more. Blackening tremors of firth. A loveless day. In hopes of lifting my spirits, I perused the used book stores looking for inspiration, something to bring new hope; maybe even an omen. Looking to enlighten my own sad day. Only one author comes to mind, Kahlil Gibran, who writes pure stark beauty for the soul.

 Quotes from the book: Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran.

 “Passionate love is a quenchless thirst.” p. 30 

“To be closer to god, be closer to people.” p. 3

father and son love.thumbnail Quotes from the book: Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran

“The pain that accompanies love, invention, and responsibility also gives delight.” P. 36

 

“Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.” p. 28

dancretul’s photo

“Sayings remain meaningless until they are embodied in habits.” p. 27 Read More→

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