There is something uplifting in reading Buddhist quotes. Humbling, down-to-earth and positive, in just a few words they refocus you on what is essential in life or remind us of truths too easily cast aside. To me, Buddhist sayings are a constant source of inspiration. Also, they sometimes make me feel I am a Jedi learning from Yoda…
Here are a few lines I have enjoyed of late:
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
“In a controversy, the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.”
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
“Always pass on what you have learned.”
“Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.”
Mmm… I admit I slipped a little towards the end… The last three quotes are from Yoda, though I am convinced Buddhism might have inspired them!
However, having a Zen approach to life does not mean it has to be deprived of humour. Humour was, and is, considered key in achieving enlightenment, as long as it was/is not at the expense of others. The Dalai Lama is well known for his sense of humour.
S
o yes, one can be spiritual and mix it with sarcasm. Do you need proof? Here it comes:
‘He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.’
And for a modern adaptation of interpretation of the word of Buddha.
‘Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.’
Then there is, of course, some lighthearted humour on Buddhism which would make a Buddhist smile too.
So keep up the spirits, stay Zen and have a good laugh!
Thank you for reading,
Yours, Virginie