All conditioned phenomena
Are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow
Like the dew, or like lightning
You should discern them like this
- Buddha, from the Diamond Sutra translated by Charles Miller
To this place of retreat,
The world does not follow;
But many old ailments heal here.
I polish words of old poems;
View mountains, and sleep
Outside my hut.
Colored clouds
Cross the setting sun;
Cicadas ring in the leaves
Of trees.
With this my heart again
Knows happiness;
And who would have thought it,
Without wine or money?
- Yao Ho (831)
I have arrived
I am home
in the here
in the now
I am solid
I am free
in the ultimate I dwell.
- Thich Nhat Hanh
THE TEN CARDINAL PRECEPTS (you could look at these as "The Buddhist 10 Commandments", I suppose)
I recognize that I am not separate from all that is. From this is the precept of not killing.
I Vow that I will reverence life, and never kill needlessly.
I will be satisfied with what I have. From this is the precept of not stealing.
I vow that I will never take anything that I have not bought or which has not been offered freely.
I will encounter all beings with respect and dignity. From this is the precept of not abusing others with sexual conduct.
I vow that I will never cause harm to another person or those close to them with sexual behavior.
I will be mindful of all that I hear and say. From this is the precept of not lying.
I vow that I will never speak lies to another, nor deceive myself.
I will cultivate a mind that sees clearly. From this is the precept of not abusing intoxicants.
I vow that I will not drink fermented liquids nor take drugs that dull the clarity of my mind.
I
recognize that I am not separate from all that is, and that hate can
never remedy hate. From this is the precept of not talking about
others' errors and faults.
I vow that I will not spread gossip or stories intended to harm or defame others.
I
recognize that all things are endowed with Awakened Nature, and all
beings desire to escape suffering. From this is the precept of not
elevating oneself over others.
I vow that I will not act with a motivation to gain praise or position over others, nor speak to elevate myself above another.
I
know that the compassionate one desires to turn all of his abilities
and possessions into gateways of freedom for other beings. From this is
the precept of not being stingy.
I vow that I will help others whenever I can, in what way I can.
I
know that all beings suffer, and that the way of awakening is to
transform suffering into wisdom. From this is the precept of not giving
oneself over to anger.
I vow that I will be mindful of my anger
or other strong emotions that might motivate me to harm another, and
transform them into beneficial action.
I will honor my
life, and all life, as an instrument of awakening. From this is the
precept of not speaking ill of the Three Jewels.
I vow that I will never speak ill of the Awakened One, the Path of Awakening, nor the Community of the Awakened.
However deep your
Knowledge of the scriptures,
It is no more than a strand of hair
In the vastness of space;
However important appears
Your worldly experience,
It is but a drop of water in a deep ravine.
- Tokusan
Hell is not punishment,
it's training.
Shunryu Suzuki
