Buddhist Teachings
When a mendicant,
though still young, yokes himself to the Buddha's teachings, the world is illuminated like the moon freed of clouds (Dhammapada).
Stealing, deceiving,
adultery; this is defilement. Not the eating of meat. (Sutta Nipata).
With the relinquishing
of all thought and self-centeredness, the enlightened one is liberated through non-attachment (Majjhima Nikaya).
Do not live in
the world, in distraction and false dreams, outside the dharma (Dhammapada).
Just as a file
of blind men go on., clinging to each other and the first one sees nothing, the middle one sees nothing, and the last one
sees nothing – so it is with the talk of these Brahmins (Digha Nikaya).
I can make bits
of rubble turn into gold (Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow from Tz’u-min’s poem).
Whosoever has heard the dharma of
virtue and vice is as a person who has eyes and carries a lamp, seeing everything. He will become completely wise (Udanavarga).
Some piously affirm: “the truth
is such and such. I know! I see! And hold that everything depends upon having the “right” religion. But when one
really knows, one has no need of religion (Mahavyuha Sutra).
Don’t go by gossip and rumor,
nor by what’s told you by others, nor by what you hear said, nor even by the authority of your traditional teachings...
nor from awe of the teacher…”(Kalama Sutta) .
Kutadanta accused the Buddha, “…you
tear down religion. Your followers despise rituals and abandon sacrifices. But reverence to Gods can only be shown through
sacrifices…” The Buddha replied: “Greater than massacring of bullocks is the sacrifices of the self. He
who offers up his evil desires will see the uselessness of slaughtering animals at the altar. Blood has no power to cleanse
but the giving up of harmful action will make the heart whole. Better than worshiping God(s) is following the ways of goodness.
(Digha Nikaya).
All sentient beings, just as they
are. There is no expectation of any transformation. Indiscriminately, beings are reached by the Buddha’s wisdom (Rennyo
Shonin).
It is entirely due to Other Power
and is free from self-power. Thus the Nembutsu is non-practice and non-good for those who practice it (Shinran Shonin).
Coming, going, the waterfowl leaves
not a trace, nor does it need a guide (Dogen-zenji).
