Peace Begins with You

Whatever the situation,

we cannot make peace

unless we ourselves are peaceful.

When the crowded refugee boats met with storms or pirates,

if everyone panicked, all would be lost.

But if even one person on the boat remained calm and centered,

it was enought.

It showed the way for people to survive.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

There are those who discover they can leave behind destructive reactions and become patient as the earth,

unmoved by fires of anger or fear,

unshaken as a pillar, unperturbed as a clear and quiet pool.

- The Buddha (Dhammapada)

~ Excertped from The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness & Peace (Jack Kornfield)

Communicating with Compassion (The Dalai Lama)

I think that in many cases people tend to expect the other person to respond to them in a positive way first, rather than taking the initiative themselves to create that possibility.

I feel that's wrong; it leads to problems and can act as a barrier that just serves to promote a feeling of isolation from others.

So if you wish to overcome that feeling of isolation and loneliness, I think that your underlying attitude makes a tremendous difference. And approaching others with the thought of compassion in your mind is the best way to do this.

Within all beings there is the seed of perfection. However, compassion is required in order to activate that seed which is inherent in our hearts and minds.

Whenever I meet people I always approach them from the standpoint of the most basic things we have in common.

We each have a physical structure, a mind, emotions.

We are all born in the same way, and we all die.

All of us want happiness and do not want to suffer.

Looking at others from this standpoint rather than emphasising secondary differences, such as the fact that I am Tibetan, or a different colour, religion or cultural background, allows me to have a feeling that I'm meeting someone just the same as me.

I find that relating to others on that level makes it easier to exchange and communicate with one another.

~ Excerpted from The Essence of Happiness: A Guidebook for Living (His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and Howard C.Cutler, M.D.

The Other Side (Buddhist humour)

One day a young Buddhist on his journey home, came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey, he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, "Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?"

The teacher ponders for a moment, looks up and down the river and yells back, "My son, you are on the other side."

Walking on Water

Three monks decided to practise meditation together. They sat by the side of a lake and closed their eyes in concentration.

Then suddenly, the first one stood up and said, "I forgot my mat."He stepped miraculously onto the water in front of him and walked across the lake to their hut on the other side. When he returned, the second monk stood up and said, "I forgot to put my other underwear to dry." He too walked calmly across the water and returned the same way.

The third monk watched the first two carefully in what he decided must be the test of his own abilities. "Is your learning superior to mine? I too can match any feat you two can perform," he declared loudly and rushed to the water's edge to walk across it. He promptly fell into the deep water. Undeterred, the yogi climbed out of the water and tried again, only to sink into the water. Yet again he climbed out and yet again he tried, each time sinking into the water. This went on for some time as the other two monks watched.

After a while, the second monk turned to the first and said, "Do you think we should tell him where the stones are?"

Photo credit: Godzdogz

Compassion with an Umbrella

A Western Buddhist woman was in India, studying with her teacher. She was riding with another woman friend in a rickshaw-like carriage, when they were attacked by a man on the street. In the end, the attacker only succeeded in frightening the women, but the Buddhist woman was quite upset by the event and told her teacher so.

She asked him what she should have done - what would have been the appropriate, Buddhist response. The teacher said, very simply, "You should have very mindfully and with great compassion whacked the attacker over the head with your umbrella."

Happiness Quotes

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
- Unknown

Five Simple Rules to be Happy

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

A Prayer of Compassion by The Dalai Lama

May I become at all times, both now and forever,

A protector for those without protection,

A guide for those who have lost their way,

A ship for those with oceans to cross, 

A bridge for those with rivers to cross,

A sanctuary for those in danger,

A lamp for those without light,

A place of refuge for those who lack shelter,

And a servant for all those in need.

~ His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Ancient Wisdom, Modern World

Five Ways to Practise Religion

(Undated notes from a talk delivered by the late Venerable Dr. K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera, Chief Reverend of Malaysia)

These are 5 approaches that people use to practise Buddhism:

1) Traditionally - following what their parents have been doing
2) Culturally - through culture or entertainment, e.g. song and dance
3) Devotion - you'll gain confidence and understanding
4) Intellectually
5) Spiritually

* * *

In teaching Buddhism to the youth, know that their understanding and mental capacity is limited, so you must teach according to their needs. We must teach them in a way that increases confidence. Try to imbue more aspects of freedom and fun.

4 stages of life:
Young (below 18) - You are to focus on your education.
Youth - It's time to for you to experience sensual pleasures in a safe, harmless and respectable way.
Adult - You're matured. Reduce sensual pleasures.
Retiree - Time to reduce burden and responsibilities for a free mind. Recall the good deeds done in your lifetime.

If we are occupied with work, we cannot practise religion. Work helps us to stay focused, control our mind and build skills. However, we must avoid unskilful lifelihood.

Humorous Short Quips

To handle yourself use your head, to handle others use your heart.

Because life is short, it is wise to make it broad.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

No matter how thin you slice it there are always two sides.

If someone betrays you once it's his fault. If he betrays you twice, it's your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.

Modern paintings are like women, you will never enjoy them if you try to understand them.

God gives every bird its food but he does not throw it into its nest.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

The tongue weighs practically nothing but so few people can hold it.

There are four stages to man:
1) When he believes in Santa Claus.
2) When he does not believe in Santa Claus.
3) When he is Santa Claus.
4) When he looks like Santa Claus.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.

Friends by choice

(A forwarded prose via email, sent to me by a friend, of course =) )

Friendship is a strange thing....we find ourselves telling each other the deepest details of our lives...things we don't even share with our families who raised us.

But what is a friend? A confidant? A lover? A fellow e-mail junkie? A shoulder to cry on? An ear to listen? A heart to feel?  A friend is all these things...and more.

Whether we met in school, on the internet or wherever, I call you friend. A word so small...yet so large in feeling...a word filled with emotion.

It is true great things come in small packages. Once the package of friendship has been opened, it can never be closed...it is a constant book always written...waiting to be read...and enjoyed. We may have our disagreements...we may argue...we may concern one another...friendship is a unique bond that lasts through it all.

A part of me is put into my friends...some it is my humor...some it is my listening ear...some it is real life experiences...some it is my romanticism...but with all, it is friendship.

Friendships forged are a construct stronger than steel... built as a foundation... necessary for life... and necessary for love.  Friends... you and me... ..you brought another friend...and then there were 3 ....we started our group....Our circle of friends .....and like that circle...there is no beginning or end

It is by chance we met, by choice we became friends.

A Wish for You, My Friend

It all started so innocently. We met as strangers, thrown together by fate. Some of you grew up with me, others I have only known a short while. Some of you I have hugged constantly over the years, and others I met at a time when hugging was 'un-cool', and it has stayed that way, though times have changed around us.

Some of you I have not yet met in person. Every one of you has enriched my life. You have helped to teach me, to guide me on this often turning and forking road of life. You have been with me through the good times and the bad. You have comforted me when I cried, held me when I was afraid, and laughed with me when I was happy.

And now we are in college. And though the distance between us is not great, it is great enough. I am no longer afraid to reach out and hug you, in fact I long to do it.

You had walked with me for so long that I was afraid to venture on alone. Yet even as I feared the dark of night, along came others to help me on my journey, in hopes that I would walk with them so they need not journey on alone. They picked up where you left off, and now they are no longer strangers.

Who are you? You might be my brother, my sister, my cousin, an old acquaintance or a new one. But first and foremost, I call you a friend. And I miss you if you are away, and if you are here, then I thank you for standing by my side.

And so I send you this, so that you might know that someone, somewhere, is thinking of you, praying for you, and loving you. And that person is me. May God grant you peace and happiness in your times of trial, and watch over you, so that one day we will meet again.

A Creed to Live By

By Nancye Sims

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us are special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.

Only do what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let life slip through your fingers
by living in the past or in the future.
By living one day at a time,
you live all days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold to it tightly,
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope,
to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget
not only where you have been, but also where you are going.
Life is not a race, but a journey
to be savoured each step of the way.

Living Life (Quotes)

Life can only be understood backwards, but it can only be lived forwards.
~ Soren Kierkegaard

He who loses money loses much, he who loses friends loses more, he who loses faith loses all.
~ Unknown

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
And Today
Today is a gift
That's why we call it The Present.
~ Unknown

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
~ Unknown

Go Beyond Limits! (Quotes)

The mind is the limit... envision that you can do something, and you do it as long as you believe 100%
~ Arnie Schwarzenegger

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember a kite rises against the wind, rather than with it.
~ Unknown

Quotes about Love

Remember that a little love goes a long way
Remember that a lot... goes forever.
- Unknown

True love means I will stand by you, support you and love you no matter what distance lies between us.
- Unknown

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
- Unknown


You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.
~ Unknown

24 Things to Always Remember and One Thing to Never Forget

A Poem by Collin McCarty

Your presence is a present to the world
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot... goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people... together.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don’t ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.

Quotes about Friendship

MY COLLECTION OVER THE YEARS

What is a friend? One soul dwelling in two bodies
- Aristotle

There are not many things in life so beautiful as true friendship, and not many things more uncommon.
- Unknown

Sometimes you have to grow farther apart to keep growing together.
- Unknown

A friend is a gift you give yourself.
- Robert Louis Stevenson

To have a friend, be a friend.
- Old saying

We have been freidns together in sunshine and in shade.
- Caroline Norton

Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend.
- Bill Watterson

I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me,
I'd like to be the help that you've always been glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day,
as you have meant old friend of mine, to me along the way.
- Edgar A. Guest

When we are grown we'll smile and say we had no cares in childhood's day- But we'll be wrong... 'Twill not be true. I've this much care... I care for you.
- Unknown

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is before you can meet again. And meeting again after a moment or lifetime is certain for those who are friends.
- Richard Bach

Cherish friendship in your breast,
New is good but old is best,
Make new friends but keep the old,
New is silver, the other is gold.
- Anonymous

Yesterday brought the beginning, tomorrow brings the end but somewhere in the middle we've become the best of friends.
- Unknown

Ah! How good it feels the hand of an old friend.
- Longfellow

A friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
- Anonymous