Throughout the ages there have been a few notable luminaries of humanity that have experienced a transformational harmonization initiated by the vectors of human becoming: love, beauty, and truth. We can look up to these sages for inspiration that cultivates courage, will, and determination to experience an inner transformation as well. Let these words spark a shift within that will change the very way to see Reality.
Thich Nhat Hanh
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument.
That is my experience.
No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.
If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
Bodhidharma
The fools of this world prefer to look for sages far away. They don’t believe that the wisdom of their own mind is the sage.The sutras say, ‘Mind is the teaching.’ But people of no understanding don’t believe in their own mind or that by understanding this teaching they can become a sage. They prefer to look for distant knowledge and long for things in space, buddha-images, light, incense, and colors. They fall prey to falsehood and lose their minds to insanity.
Heraclitus
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.It is wise to listen, not to me but to reason, and to confess that all things are one.
From out of all the many particulars comes oneness, and out of oneness come all the many particulars.
Lao Tzu
If you understand others you are smart.If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don’t lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.
If you die without loss, you are eternal.
Ramana Maharshi
The attempt to destroy the ego or the mind through practices other than self-inquiry is just like the thief pretending to be a policeman to catch the thief, that is, himself.Self-inquiry alone can reveal the truth that neither the ego nor the mind really exists, and enable one to realize the pure, undifferentiated being of the Self or the absolute.
Having realized the Self, nothing remains to be known, because it is perfect bliss, it is the all
Mohandas Gandhi
Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
Sri Aurobindo
An aimless life is always a troubled life. Every individual should have an aim. But do not forget that the quality of your aim will depend the quality of your life. Your aim should be high and wide, generous and disinterested; this will make your life precious to yourself and to others.Whatever your ideal, it cannot be perfectly realized unless you have realized perfection in yourself.
