“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.

The 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→

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

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 Buddha,  The 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→