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Character,
Personality
Though he should conquer a thousand men in the
battlefield a thousand times, yet he, indeed, who would conquer himself
is the noblest victor.
Not to do any evil, To cultivate good, To purify one's
mind, - This is the advice of the Buddhas.
Though he should live a hundred years, not seeing the
Truth Sublime; yet better, indeed, is the single day's life of one who
sees the Truth Sublime.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as
the deed; The deed develops into
habit; And habit hardens into
character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it
spring from love born out of concern for all beings.
He is able who thinks he is able.
We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.
When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is
a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
Relationships
Do not speak harshly to any one; those who are spoken to
will answer thee in the same way. Angry speech is painful: blows for
blows will touch thee.
Hatreds never cease by hatreds in this world. By love
alone they cease. This is an ancient Law.
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the
intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard
it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored
by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written
in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the
authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions
because they have been handed down for many generations. But after
observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason
and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it
and live up to it.
Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to
yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a
refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those,
who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no
external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and
holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost
height.
A family is a place where minds come in contact with one
another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful
as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one
another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.
As the flectcher whittles and makes straight his arrows,
so the master directs his straying thoughts.
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. |
