John Lennon

"Possession isn't nine-tenths of the law. It's nine-tenths of the problem."

Buddha

Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else.

Dogen-zenji

To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas. To be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas is to free one's body and mind and those of others. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly.

Buddha

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.

Ta Hui

The concerns that have come down from numberless ages are only in the present; if you can understand them right now, then the concerns of numberless ages will instantly disperse, like tiles being scattered or ice melting. If you don't understand right now, you'll pass through countless eons more, and it'll still be just as it is.

Buddha

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve.

You don't have to have a college degree to serve.

You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace.

A soul generated by love.

Buddha

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others.

He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

Pema Chödrön

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

Karmapa Dream Flag

The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, well known for his visions and prophesies, designed this flag from a vision that came to him in a dream. He called it “Namkhyen Gyaldar (Victorious Flag of Buddha’s Wisdom).” He proclaimed, “Wherever this banner is flown the Dharma will flourish.” According to the outer meaning the blue represents the sky or heaven. The yellow symbolizes the earth. The wave symbolizes the Buddhadharma penetrating heaven and earth. According to the inner meaning the blue represents vision and spiritual insight and the yellow symbolizes our experience of the everyday world. The symmetry of the wave pattern shows the interdependence of the absolute and relative levels of reality. According to the secret meaning the blue symbolizes emptiness-wisdom and the yellow represents compassionate action. The wave is Mahamudra: the union of compassion and wisdom- the ultimate realization of one’s true nature.

Buddha

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

Tashi Targye

The Eight Auspicious Symbols are shown here in the form of a long banner. From top to bottom:

1. White Umbrella - protects from all evil

2. Golden Fish - happiness, beings saved from the sea of suffering

3. Vase - containing the nectar of immortality

4. Lotus - purity and spiritual unfoldment

5. Conch Shell - proclaims the teachings of the enlightened ones

6. Knot of Eternity - the meditative Mind

7. Victory Standard - proclaims the victory of Buddhism

8. Dharma Wheel - symbol of spiritual law

Buddha

A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion,

does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.

Mark Twain

When in doubt, tell the truth.