Buddhist Wisdom

[Pravin Kumar]

Friends, I know nothing which brings suffering as does an untamed, uncontrolled, unattended and unrestrained heart. Such a heart brings suffering.

- Anguttara Nikaya


For a person of unsoddened mind, unassaulted awareness, abandoning merit and evil, wakeful, there is no danger no fear.

- Dhammapada, 39, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu


The most valuable learning is not about memorizing facts and figures. It is not about higher grade point averages and accumulating degrees. It is about life itself, and its impact is on the heart.

- Rodney Smith, "Lessons From the Dying"


The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves.

- Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"


Cut down The forest of desire, Not the forest of trees. From the forest of desire Come danger & fear. Having cut down this forest & its underbrush, monks, be deforested.

- Dhammapada, 20, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.


If you wish to move in the One Way do not dislike even the world of senses and ideas. Indeed, to accept them fully is identical with true Enlightenment. The wise man strives to no goals but the foolish man fetters himself. There is one Dharma, not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant. To seek Mind with the [discriminating] mind is the greatest of all mistakes.

- Seng-tsan, "Verses on the Faith Mind"