Cynism

Cynism lies at the root of all evil.

Pulling off labels

Quitting bad habits is just like pulling off a sticky old label. You got to pull at the edges first, then go around, and only then can you pull off the center of the sticker. Similarly,  we have to find methods to gradually pull off our bad habits.

Differences in spirituality

Wherever you go, you will find that people build the same kind of shopping centers, similar kind of aiports, same kind of pump stations and similar kind of libraries. That makes it quite strange that we build our religious buildings so quite different - and often intentionally so.

Salvaged

"The anguish of loneliness bring blasts from the storm center of death: only that can be really yours which is another's, for only what you have given, be it only in the gratitude of acceptance, is salvaged from the nothing which some day will have been your life."
- Dag Hammarskjoeld

Sincerity

Sincerity is more powerful than anything else. A man with power or money still needs to show a lot to prove his influence, but a man of sincerity only needs to look a person in the eyes.

Intestines

People can be quite like intestines. When they don't work, they make most noise.

Conversion

In the time of the Buddha, conversion always took place before becoming Buddhist. Declaring oneself a Buddhist was the natural outcome, not the desired result per se.

Ordinary commitment

The "great" commitment is so much easier than the ordinary everyday one -- and can all too easily shut our hearts to the latter.

-- Dag Hammarskjoeld

Dhamma is progress

The way of the world is to maintain and keep things. The way of the Dhamma is to let go and make progress.

faith in humanity

The essence of the faith in Buddhism, and right view as well, is an an unwavering faith in humanity -- in its loyalty and freedom.

Walk in peace

What is past, -- let that seem best. Before thee let there be nothing.
And if thou wilt not grasp what lies between, thou shalt walk in peace.

-- Dhammapada Commentary, 80

The benefit of teachers with faults

We shouldn't be intolerant to advise from imperfect people, because often imperfect people are more interested in others' faults than perfect people. So they might be more likely to mention our faults than perfect people.

Growth

There is only one thing that gets only worse throughout our life, and that is our own physical health. Everything else can either get better or worse. The value of our human being then lies in developing those things that can be developed, when our ever declining physical health still provides us with time remaining. The most important of those things to be developed is of course our own strength of character, of which stillness of mind is its essence.

Language

If a language is not appropriate to use for the Dhamma, then the usage of that language must be changed, not the choice of it.

Chance

"We have the chance to attain the Buddha (within), to see the Buddha everyday. In one single day we have the chance to attain many times. Every time we remember the Buddha, we have the chance to see the Buddha. Every single time."
Lp Dhammajayo, 12 July B.E. 2546

Technology

When using technology, make sure you tell it what to do. Don't let technology tell you what to do.

เฉย คือ อะไร

* เป็นมิตรกับทุกประสบการณ์
* ทำตัวเหมือนท่อ ให้ความคิดผ่านไปเหมือนน้ำ
* ไม่มีมันสมอง
* ไม่รู้ ไม่ชี้
* เราเป็นเพียงผู้ชม ไม่ใช่ผู้บังคับ
* ไม่ยินดี ยินร้าย
* เหมือนเมฆลอยบนท้องฟ้า หรือนกบินไป
* เหมือนผู้เจนโลก ผ่านประสบการณ์มามาก

Only the present

In meditation there must only be the present. No past and no future.

The golden rule of cultural adaptation

The more you know and understand about a culture you're living in, the more you can be yourself in that culture. The more you understand the other, the more you can be yourself.