Monk:  ”What is Buddha?”

Zen master Zhaozhou:, “Go drink tea!” 

Buddha’s Charter of Free Inquiry

Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing;
nor upon tradition;
nor upon rumor;
nor upon what is in a scripture:
nor upon surmise;
nor upon an axiom;
nor upon specious reasoning;
 nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over:
nor upon another’s seeming ability;
nor upon the consideration, “The monk is our teacher.”

When you yourselves know:
These things are good; these things are not blamable;
these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed,
these things lead to benefit and happiness,” enter on and abide in them.””
-   Gautama Buddha
     Kalama Sutta, The Buddha’s Charter of Free Inquiry

Jesus Was Not a Christian and Buddha Was Not a Buddhist. Why do you think you need to be something?

Does the spoon taste the soup? A fool may live all his life in the company of a master, and still miss the way. -Buddha

Where there are humans
you’ll find flies,
and Buddhas
- Issa

Mind creates the world…

Mind creates the world;
what you see arises with your thoughts.
If you speak and act with a confused mind,
trouble will follow you as certainly
as a cart follows the ox that pulls it.

Mind creates the world;
what you see arises with your thoughts.
If you speak and act with a clear mind,
happiness will follow you as certainly
as your own shadow in sunlight.

“It’s his fault.” “She shouldn’t have done that.”
Believe such thoughts, and you live in resentment.

“It’s his fault.” “She shouldn’t have done that.” Question such thoughts,
and you live in freedom.

Anger teaches anger.
Fear results in more fear.
Only understanding can lead to peace.
This is the ancient law.

~ Buddha

Gratitude
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.

- Buddha