Posts Tagged ‘Suffering’

1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

3. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,” in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

4. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,” in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.

6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here; but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.

14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.

16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.

18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.

19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion (of the law), but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.

(Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 10, The Dhammapada and Sutta Nipata, by Max Müller and Max Fausböll, 1881)

We are the Whole

Everyone suffers.
We suffer because of our attachment to things, ideas and material goods that have nothing to do with our true essence.

Only the awareness of the whole can give us true happiness.
Only the universal love that flows from it can give real peace of mind.

Everything you own is a burden, it is useful if you still live it with detachment.
All the money you have is an illusion of value, because nothing has more value than awareness and enlightenment.

In front of human wickedness, violence, hatred, anger, ignorance, desire, envy and every negative feeling and emotion that dwells within you and around you, look at yourself and at the world with detachment and compassion.

Watch with compassionate detachment that everything is impermanent: your home, your things, your enemy, hatred and your own suffering.

Spread love, understanding, joy, warmth and positive feelings to sow the power of a Buddha in every human soul.

So lose the attachment to harmful and unnecessary things for your journey to enlightenment of a Buddha.

Dino Olivieri

”You can rejoice of the beauty of the people and things only without the desire and possession. Every real beauty is transitional and attachment to it is a source of secure suffering.”
Dino Olivieri