3 quotes to think on

1) \"when we look deeply into anything we see its true nature. when we look into the heart of the flower, we see clouds, sunshine, minerals, time, the earth, and everything else in the cosmos in it. without any of these elements the flower could not exist. in fact the flower is made entirely of non-flower elements; it has no independent, individual existence. it 'inter-is' with everything else in the universe.\"
-thich nhat hanh, vietnamese buddhist monk-

2) \"the miracle is not to walk on water. the miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.\"
-thich nhat hanh, vietnamese buddhist monk-

3) \" for consider the world-
a bubble, a mirage.
see the world as it is,
and death shall overlook you.
come, consider the world,
a painted chariot for kings,
a trap for fools.
but he who sees goes free.\"
-the buddha-

How humans view the world is very limited

We think we 'see' all around us - that were observant, were smart - were deluded.

We only see approx 0.0000001% of the total spectrum

which automatically means we dont see 99.999999% of what there is to see.

And the little we do 'see' may not be what is the truth - dont believe everything you 'see'

If sight were all important, we wouldnt have hearing, smell. touch, taste etc etc etc

Its all very clear to a blind person - Think about it

But to look too deeply, you may lose the meaning...... sometimes, the point IS the flower.....

Trivial thoughts, insignificant thoughts,
When followed they distract the mind.
Not understanding those thoughts
The roaming mind runs back and forth.
But by understanding those thoughts
One ardent and mindful restrains the mind.
An awakened one has overcome them completely
So they do not arise to distract the mind.

-Udana


thought this would go well with jediism's idea of mindfulness

When someone asks you a question, answer him or her sincerely, and when you are not asked, do not force your teaching upon others.

-Jae Woong Kim, \"Polishing the Diamond

easy one to figure out
teach those seeking to be taught

Never think that I believe I should set out a \"system of teaching\" to help people understand the way. Never cherish such a thought. What I proclaim is the truth as I have discovered it and \"a system of teaching\" has no meaning because the truth can’t be cut up into pieces and arranged in a system.

-Diamond Sutra

Knowing the truth is finally a matter of doing the truth...that is, knowledge is alive...and doing the truth takes courage and demands risks.

Dr. Elizabeth Tidball


As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts

The Buddha


Fox: to you, i am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...One only understands the things that one tames.

from Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince

having made that last post, the dog was at the door barking to come in. as i went to open the door it occurred to me: whom trained who. did we train the dog to bark at the door when he wants in or out, or did the dog train us to open the door when he wants in or out....

My call for a spiritual revolution is thus not a call for a religious revolution. Nor is it a reference to a way of life that is somehow other-worldly, still less to something magical or mysterious. Rather, it is a call for a radical re-orientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self towards concern for the wider community of beings with whom we are connected, and for conduct which recognizes others’ interests alongside our own.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

If you are confused, there are a thousand differentiations, ten thousand distinctions. If you are enlightened, everything is the same one family.

-Wu-chien

As a single slab of rock Won't budge in the wind, So the wise are not moved By praise, By blame. Like a deep lake, Clear, unruffled, & calm; So the wise become clear, Calm, On hearing words of the Dhamma.

-Dhammapada 6 translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu



dhamma: teachings of buddha, also known as buddha-dharma, or path of enlightenment.


these 3 quotes relate to jediism very well, as the first talks about the interconnectedness of all life. the second reaffirms the first, and the third talks of being humble, and not letting praise or blame inflate or deflate the ego.

like the first one

thanks

You've had some very good posts lately, sorry theres not much to say about them, but thanks for the stuff to think about

Let go of body and mind, until you reach a state of great rest, like letting go over a cliff ten miles high, being like open space. And don't produce representations of discriminations of random thoughts arising and passing away; the moment a view sticks in your mind, use the sword of wisdom to cut it right off, not letting it continue.

-Huai-t'ang


Karma is not something complicated or philosophical. Karma means watching your body, watching your mouth, and watching your mind. Trying to keep these three doors as pure as possible is the practice of karma.

-Lama Thubten Yeshe

The brief elation we experience appeasing sensual impulses is very close to what the drug addict feels when indulging his or her habit. Temporary relief is soon followed by a craving for more. And in just the same way that taking drugs in the end only causes trouble, so too does much of what we undertake to fulfill our immediate sensory desires. We must acknowledge that there can be no hope of gratifying the senses permanently. At best, the happiness we derive from eating a good meal can only last until the next time we are hungry.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama


the first quote is a good tip for meditation.

the second quote is a good one about being mindful of your actions.

the third one discusses the benefits of moderation and self control as we can only practice them by understanding that desires are never truly satisfied.

Do not just memorize sayings, recite words, and discuss Zen and the way based on books. The Zen way is not in books. Even if you can recite the teachings of the whole canon and all the masters and philosophers, they are just useless words of no avail when you are facing death.

-Chien-ju


O let us live in joy, although having nothing! In joy let us live like spirits of light!

-Buddha


The truth indeed has never been preached by the Buddha, seeing that one has to realize it within oneself.

-Lamkara Sutra


the first one is a really interesting one i'll have to think on for a bit...it is pointless to memorize words and phrases, memorization is not living in the moment but preserving the past and blocking the future.

the second one i feel points out that we should be happy with what we don't have as much as with what we do have, by taking joy in everything we cease to suffer.

the third , buddha merely showed the way, it's up to the individual to take the path or not.

I am not of this rite, so I hope I am not stepping on toes....

To me,

the first one says, what good to know the words, to read and listen to others interpetation of the words, if you don't live them.....

the second is saying do not be upset due to the lack of personal possesions, be happy for what you have....

the third, well, Buddha, your favorite teacher, your parents, or your Jedi Master, can tell you or explain till they are blue in the face... only you can make yourself see or understand the truth...

these are open to all to comment on

i post them to get people to think and interpret, we all see things in a different light

Sweet, just being polite.......

and thank you...

A buddha is one who does not seek. In seeking this, you turn away from it. The principle is the principle of nonseeking; when you seek it, you lose it.

-Pai-chang


Meditate on that which is beyond words and symbols. Forsake the demands of the self. By such forsaking you will live serenely.

-Sutta Nipata

Words! The Way is beyond language, for in it there is no yesterday no tomorrow no today.

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

the first one is very similar to one of the first things i was ever told when i began studying buddhism:\" if you think you're enlightened you're not, you will not know when it happens\" by pursuing englightenment with determined focus we blind ourselves to the present experience and thus lose sight of it.

the second one is very jedi like, put others before yourself by doing this you will bring peace to others as well as yourself, whereas if you place self before others you create ill-will towards yourself from others.

the third one is, in a way, explaining the path to enlightenment. words cannot do justice in explaining the way, it is experience. not just any type of experience but experience of the moment and experience of the spirit

The Buddha taught: \"Do not pursue the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. The past no longer is. The future has not yet come. Looking deeply at life as it is. In the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom. We must be diligent today. To wait until tomorrow is too late. Death comes unexpectedly. How can we bargain with it? The sage calls a person who knows how to dwell in mindfulness night and day 'one who knows the better way to live alone.'\"

-\"Bhaddekaratta Sutta,\" translated by Thich Nhat Hanh


Train yourself in this way: from higher to higher, from strength to strength we will strive, and we will come to realize unsurpassed freedom.

-Buddha


Where is thought? It can never be seen or even apprehended. It is like a magical illusion, for with imagination it colors the world. Searching for thought, unable to see it, a person looks for its origin. And it seems to be that where there is an object thought arises. Thought does not arise without an object. Can thought look at thought? No. Just as the blade of a sword cannot cut itself, or a fingertip touch itself, so thought cannot see thought

-Sikshasamuccaya

the first one is a pretty easy one to figure out, and goes perfectly with jediism, live in the moment, be mindful of the future but not at the expense of the present, and don't dwell on the past.

the second one can be seen as this: always strive to improve yourself, with constant improvement your free from disappointment, freedom from disappointment is an escape from suffering, an escape from suffering is enlightenment.

the third one brings to mind a lesson from philosophy about the viewer and the viewed. it could also be compared to the idea of biocentrism in which an object does not exist until we put our thoughts to it. no form, no qualities, nothing...until you think about it.

not even the strongest of winds can break the nimble reed, the same cannot be said of the mighty oak standing firmly rooted in place

-RyuJin, Jedi Knight

fear, when left unchecked prevents good people from achieving great things.

-RyuJin, Jedi Knight

perception is deception.

-RyuJin, Jedi Knight


thought i'd change it up a bit and use a few of my own quotes.

the first one is about being flexible and adaptive. by being so we can handle any situation that comes our way. inflexibility keeps us from continuing to grow and develop. by accepting whatever comes at us we eliminate a cause of suffering, if instead we stand firm we risk creating our own suffering.

the second one is about how fear can keep us from doing what is right, and from trying new things. by eliminating fear we gain the strength to right, and we enable ourselves to experience new things which in turn enrich us further.

the third one is about how our physical senses can be fooled, but our instincts rarely ever are. if you can see it, smell it, touch it, taste it, or hear it, then you can be fooled by it, but if you feel it instinctually, this can rarely ever be used to fool you. trust your instincts.

Greed and fear of loss are the roots that lead to the tree of evil.

-unknown-

It is better to fail honorably, than to succeed deceitfully

-unknown-

You are all the Buddha

-The Buddha's last words-

these 3 are pretty easy to understand i think so i won't give my interpretation of them