Buddhism (circa 500 B.C.E.) is the world’s fourth-largest religion with over 520 million followers, or over seven-percent of the global population. Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha and resulting philosophies. Buddhism originated in ancient India as a Sramana tradition sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, spreading throughout much of Asia.
Quotations from the Buddhist tradition…
You who suffer from the tribulations of life, you who have to struggle and endure, you who yearn for a life of truth, rejoice at the glad tidings! There is balm for the wounded, and there is bread for the hungry. There is water for the thirsty, and there is hope for the despairing. There is light for those in darkness, and there is inexhaustible blessing for the upright.
The world is built for the truth, but false combinations of thought misrepresent the true state of things and bring forth errors. Errors can be fashioned as it pleases those who cherish them, therefore they are pleasant to look upon, but they are unstable and contain the seeds of dissolution. Truth cannot be fashioned… Truth is the essence of life… Happy are those who walk in it.
As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.
His thought is quiet, his words and deeds are quiet, when he has won freedom by true knowledge.
A man in not educated because he talks much; the learned man is he who is patient, free from hatred and fear.
The truth is the end and aim of all existence, and the worlds originate so that the truth may come and dwell therein. Those who fail to aspire for the truth have missed the purpose of life. Blessed is he who rests in the truth.
If a foolish man is associated with a wise man, even all his life, the foolish man will understand truth as little as a spoon understands the taste of soup.
In a village or in a forest, on land or sea, wherever venerable persons dwell, that place is delightful.
Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleeping, the wise man progresses like a racer.
If you could see things as they are, not as they appear, you would no longer inflict injuries and pains on your own selves.