Gautama Buddha (circa 560 – 483 B.C.E.), Siddhrtha Gautama in Sanskrit, Siddhattha Gotama in Pali, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, was a monk, mendicant, sage, philosopher, teacher and religious leader on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is believed to have lived and taught mostly in the northeastern part of ancient India sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C.E. Buddha taught a Middle Way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the ramaa movement common in his region. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition and first committed to writing about 400 years after his death.
Quotations attributed to Buddha…
Better than worshipping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness.
Better than worshipping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness.
Through zeal, knowledge is gained. Through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost. Let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss, thus place himself that knowledge may grow.
Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.
Practice right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindfulness, right meditation.
Be a lamp unto yourself.
How much confusion of thought comes from our interest in self, and from our vanity when thinking “I am so great” or “I have done this wonderful deed.” The thought of your ego stands between your rational nature and truth, banish it, and then you will see things as they are. He who thinks correctly will rid himself of ignorance and acquire wisdom. The ideas of “I am” and “I shall be” or “I shall not be” do not occur to a clear thinker.
Watchfulness is the path of immortality; unwatchfulness is the path of death. Those who are watchful never die; those who do not watch are already as dead.
The mind should be kept independent of any thoughts that arise within it. If the mind depends on anything, it has no sure haven.
Do not sit at home, do not go to the forest,
But recognize mind wherever you are.
When one abides in complete and perfect enlightenment,
Where is Samsara and where is Nirvana?
