Sri Swami Shivapremananda

"In the West, the word meditation means a concentrated state of mind in serious reflection. The Latin root of the word meditation, mederi, means "to heal." It is an effort to heal afflictions of the mind, the hurt ego, by trying to understand the cause of the problem and finding a way to solve it, that is, by knowing what counter-measures to take. To meditate thus, is to deepen a state of understanding"

Buddha from the Dhammapada

"In all things be a master of what you do and say and think. Be free."

Paul Van Hooydonck

"All temporary experiences do not lead to lasting happiness. True fulfillment can be found in the silence of your heart, inner peace and stillness only. There you find God!"

Buddha from the Dhammapada

In a pellucid ocean, bubbles arise and dissolve again. Just so, thoughts are no. Different from ultimate reality, so don't find fault; remain at ease. Whatever arises, whatever occurs, don't grasp-release it on the spot. Appearances, sounds, and objects are all one's own mind; there's nothing except mind.

Tenzin Gyatso

So, the tendency of our childish nature is to take small things too seriously and get easily offended, whereas when we are confronted with situations which have longterm consequences, we tend to take things less seriously.

Buddha from the Dhammapada

Are you quiet?

Quieten your body.

Quieten your mind.

By your own efforts.

Waken yourself, watch,
And live joyfully.
Follow the truth of the way.
Reflect upon it.

Make it your own.

Live it.

Tenzin Gyatso

To develop genuine devotion, you must know the meaning of teachings. The main emphasis in Buddhism is to transform the mind, and this transformation depends upon meditation. in order to meditate correctly, you must have knowledge.

John F. Kennedy

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

Tenzin Gyatso

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

Mother Teresa

We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Tenzin Gyatso

A great rock is not disturbed by the wind; the mind of a wise man is not disturbed by either honor or abuse.

Mother Teresa

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Tenzin Gyatso

One who is caught in thought loses one´s original nature. All he knows are words and descriptions, when he sees the actual thing, he fails to perceive it.

From the - Tao Te Ching - Written By Lao-tzu

Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness? Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's? Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course? Can you step back from you own mind and thus understand all things? Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.

Tenzin Gyatso

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.

From the - Tao Te Ching - Written By Lao-tzu

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Tenzin Gyatso

It is easy to point out the mistakes of others, while it is hard to admit one´s own mistakes. A man broadcasts the sins of others without thinking, but he hides his own sins as a gambler hides his extra dice.

From the - Tao Te Ching - Written By Lao-tzu

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

Tenzin Gyatso

When you think everything is someone else´s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy. Pride leads to violence and evil. The truly good gaze upon everything with love and understanding.

Hadith Qudsi 23

Where are those who love one another through My glory? Today I shall give them shade in My shade, it being a day when there is no shade but My shade.

Tenzin Gyatso

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend or a meaningful day.

Æsop - Androcles

“GRATITUDE IS THE SIGN OF NOBLE SOULS.”

A SLAVE named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat from which to live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognised his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog. The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him the whole story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion let loose to his native forest.

“GRATITUDE IS THE SIGN OF NOBLE SOULS.”

Hadith Qudsi 11

Spend (on charity), O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.

Tenzin Gyatso

The underlying principle of this teaching is the universal principle of causality. What becomes important in the understanding of this basic teaching is a genuine awareness of one´s own potentials and the need to utilize them to their fullest. Seen in this light, every human action becomes significant.

Buddha

I look upon the judgements of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of belief as traces left by the four seasons.

Tenzin Gyatso

In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

Ruysbroek

To comprehend and to understand God above all similitudes, as He is in Himself, is to be God with God, without intermediary, and without any otherness that can become a hindrance or an intermediary. Whosoever wishes to understand this must have died to himself, and must live in God, and must turn his gaze to the eternal light in the ground of his spirit, where the Hidden Truth reveals Itself without means.

Tenzin Gyatso

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

Robert Browning

A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's heaven for?

Tenzin Gyatso

We must therefore develop a sense of responsibility for each others condition, we must see that hurting someone else, or inflicting pain on other people , cannot bring happiness or peace of mind.

Peace Pilgrim

This is the way of peace: "Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love."