What's your favorite Buddhist Quote?

Question

I love the to read the words of Buddha, they are so deep yet crystal clear. Could everyone please share their favorite quote?

My Favorite: "If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart"

To any Christian about to criticize my belief: Remember the founder of your religion? He preached compassion and acceptance. Judge not lest ye be judged? WWJD? Please refrain from insulting me. Anyone else feel free to answer, as long as you do it politely.

Wow how immature...

Answer 1

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love, this is the eternal rule

One act of pure love in saving life is greater than spending the whole of one's time in religious offerings to the gods . . .


Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.

Believe nothing.
No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense.

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.

The fool who thinks he is wise is just a fool. The fool who knows he is a fool is wise indeed.

When a man has pity on all living creatures then only is he noble.

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.

Like a beautiful flower that is colorful but has no fragrance, even well spoken words bear no fruit in one who does not put them into practice.

Answer 2

"Everything is impermanent"

"Suffering comes from desire"

These 2 quotes, which are actually both part of the 4 Noble Truths, can help a lot in having a clear & right mind. Everything will eventually change, there are no exceptions. Through the passage of time, all that now is will one day not be. Perhaps the "thing" will still exist (say a building) but it will not be the same as it once was. (paint faded/came off, walls crack, ect.). This Truth helps in times that are difficult to experience, for the experience won't last forever, the situation WILL change. As for the suffering comes from desire quote, if it hasn't already been realized, the Truth in it will be revealed once it is pondered upon. For all suffering comes from some sort of desire, the want for something to happen or to cease happening. If the desire were not present, the suffering would not be so "sufferable".
That's just a couple that are well known to Buddhists, that I think all people should realize. To anyone that is unaware, it is possible to be a Christian Buddhist, if you disagree, then you obviously don't have even a rudimentary understanding of what Buddhism entails. I just wanted to put that in. Thanks for making me think & remember some things that I hadn't contemplated in awhile. I hope you have a GREAT week!

Answer 3

Finally, something other than christian. I cant think of anything right now, But i love buddhism. I was for awhile and my dad is, but now im atheist. I still go by some of the rules though.

EDIT: Found some i really like

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atisha

Answer 4

I additionally am in love with the ideals the buddhists have. i'm rather particular each and every thing that ever got here out of Buddha's mouth became eye-catching, yet my well-liked is: "What you think of, you regulate into." no extra true words have ever been spoken, using fact in case you think of a definite way, that's what you regulate into as a guy or woman.

Answer 5

I don't think of any right off the top of my head, but I'm interested in seeing what people post.

EDIT: Well, actually I did think of one, and found it in a search:

Believe nothing, O monks, merely because you have been told it ... or because it is traditional, or because you yourselves have imagined it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings -- that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.
-- Buddha (attributed: source unknown)

Answer 6

I have two - a short one and a longer one.

The short one :

"Knowing the destruction of all that is made you know the Uncreated." Dhammapada

The longer one captures the essence of my faith though I am not a Buddist:

"And as all things originate from one Essence, so they are developing according to one law, and they are destined to one aim, which is Nirvana. Nirvana comes to thee, Kassapa, when thou understandest thoroughly and when thou livest according to thy understanding, that all things are of one Essence and that there is but one truth, not two or three. And the Tathagatha is the same unto all beings, differing in his attitude only in so far as all beings are different. He is the same to all, and yet knowing the requirements of every single being, he does not reveal himself to all alike. He does not impart to them at once the fulness of onniscience, but pays attention to the dispostion of various beings." Dhammapada.

I am assuming you are referring to the Tathagatha that is known as Siddarta Gautama Budda

Answer 7

So long as space remains,
So long as sentient being's suffering remains,
I will remain,
In order to help, in order to serve...

The Dalai Lama

Answer 8

"He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, and he deprived me". Those who harbor such thoughts will not be free from hatred. "He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, and he deprived me". Those who do not harbor such thoughts will be free from hatred. Hatred never ceases through hatred in this world, but ceases through not hating only. This is an eternal law.

Answer 9

th!nk dude c'mon she really said not do that specifically, and whats wrong with budhists quotes they can be inspirational

Answer 10

http://member.melbpc.org.au/~grjallen/buddha.htm