Gautama Buddha Quotes & Sayings

My whole life, I never spoke a single-word. — Gautama Buddha

Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals. — Gautama Buddha

Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge vessel.
Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain. — Gautama Buddha

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. — Gautama Buddha

Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear. — Gautama Buddha

He who is kind to animals heaven will protect. — Gautama Buddha

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. — Gautama Buddha

A great gift - a gift of Dharma conquers all gifts. — Gautama Buddha

If people become accustomed to lying, they will unconsciously commit every possible wrong deed. Before they can act wickedly, they must lie and once they begin to lie they will act wickedly without concern. — Gautama Buddha

One may desire a spurious respect and precedence among one's fellow monks, and the veneration of outsiders. "Both monks and laity should think it was my doing. They should accept my authority in all matters great or small." This is a fool's way of thinking. His self-seeking and conceit just increase. — Gautama Buddha

If you propose to speak always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind. — Gautama Buddha

Offend in neither word nor deed. Eat with moderation. Live in your heart. Seek the highest consciousness. Master yourself according to the law. This is the simple teaching of the awakened. — Gautama Buddha

There are no chains like hate ... dwelling on your brother's faults multiplies your own. You are far from the end of your journey. — Gautama Buddha

A man who will be the public leader, must know how to be the public follower. — Gautama Buddha

All that has been hidden is rising, there is no stopping it! These things you cannot hide: the sun, the moon, and TRUTH. — Gautama Buddha

One who, while seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other living beings who also desire happinesss, will not find happiness hereafter. — Gautama Buddha

The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways. — Gautama Buddha

Sandalwood, tagara, lotus, jasmine - the fragrance of virtue is unrivalled by such kinds of perfume. — Gautama Buddha

If a man's thoughts are muddy, If he is reckless and full of deceit, How can he wear the yellow robe? Whoever is master of his own nature, Bright, clear and true, He may indeed wear the yellow robe. — Gautama Buddha

You are the source of all purity and impurity. No one purifies another. — Gautama Buddha

Treat others with respect. How you treat others will be how they treat you. — Gautama Buddha

Our life is a creation of our mind. — Gautama Buddha

There is a way to be purified, to overcome sorrows and grief, to release suffering, to secure the right path to realize nirvana. This is to be mindful. — Gautama Buddha

One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or harming other living beings. — Gautama Buddha

Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world: As star at dawn, a bubble in a stream A flash of lightning in a summer cloud A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream — Gautama Buddha

Your suffering is my suffering and your happiness is my happiness. — Gautama Buddha

Radiate boundless love towards the entire world - above, below, and across - unhindered, without ill will, without enmity. — Gautama Buddha

The four catagories of existance, non-existance, both existance and non-existance, and neither existance nor non-existance, are spiderwebs among spiderwebs which can never take hold of the enormous bird of reality — Gautama Buddha

All life is temporary
Why worry about anything that's only temporary — Gautama Buddha

For, owners of their deeds (karma) are the beings, heirs of their deeds; their deeds are the womb from which they sprang; with their deeds they are bound up; their deeds are their refuge. Whatever deeds they do-good or evil-of such they will be the heirs. And wherever the beings spring into existence, there their deeds will ripen; and wherever their deeds ripen, there they will earn the fruits of those deeds, be it in this life, or be it in the next life, or be it in any other future life. — Gautama Buddha

Nothing is forever except change. — Gautama Buddha

Nothing is to be clung to as I, me or mine — Gautama Buddha

For those who are always courteous and respectful of elders, four things increase: life, beauty, happiness and strength. — Gautama Buddha

The darkest night is ignorance. — Gautama Buddha

He who is grateful doesn't suffer. — Gautama Buddha

Kindnessis giving others happiness.Compassionis removing others' bitterness.Joyis freeing others from suffering. — Gautama Buddha

Read as few words as you like, and speak fewer, but act upon the law. — Gautama Buddha

Only within our body, with its heart and mind, can bondage and suffering be found, and only here can we find true liberation. — Gautama Buddha

A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. — Gautama Buddha

A person writing at night may put out the lamp, but the words he has written will remain. It is the same with the destiny we create for ourselves in this world. — Gautama Buddha

You must make the effort yourself. The Masters only point the way. — Gautama Buddha

One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield. — Gautama Buddha

If a person does not harm any living being ... and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual practitioner — Gautama Buddha

Be it known that Men of dull faculties and slight wisdom, They who cling proudly to signs, Cannot believe in this Dharma. Now I, joyfully and fearlessly, In the midst of the bodhisattvas Frankly casting aside my expedient devices, Merely preach the Unexcelled Path. — Gautama Buddha

This is my child, this is my wealth: such thoughts are the preoccupations of fools. If we are unable to own even ourselves, why make such claims? — Gautama Buddha

The teaching is simple. Do what is right. Be Pure. — Gautama Buddha

Just as a tree, though cut down, can grow again and again if its roots are undamaged and strong, in the same way if the roots of craving are not wholly uprooted sorrows will come again and again — Gautama Buddha

They are not following dharma who resort to violence to achieve their purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and wrong, may be called guardians of the dharma. Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination. — Gautama Buddha

Dependent Origination is the teaching (that life) is not the mere play of blind chance, but has an existence that is dependent upon conditions. That, precisely with the removal of these conditions, those things that have arisen in dependence upon them-thus also all suffering-must perforce disappear and cease to be. — Gautama Buddha

When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky — Gautama Buddha

Never in the world does hatred cease by hatred; hatred ceases by love. — Gautama Buddha

He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape. — Gautama Buddha

No light is brighter than wisdom. Wisdom is the light in the world. — Gautama Buddha

Offensive acts come back upon the evil doer, like dust that is thrown against the wind. — Gautama Buddha

Let your mind become clear like a still forest pool. — Gautama Buddha

Wherever there is possession of marks, there is fraud ; wherever there is no-possession of no-marks, there is no fraud. Hence the Tathagata is to be seen from no-marks as marks. — Gautama Buddha

In Aryans' Discipline, to build a friendship is to build wealth, To maintain a friendship is to maintain wealth and To end a friendship is to end wealth. — Gautama Buddha

If the mind be fixed on the acquirement of any object, that object will be attained. — Gautama Buddha

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts. Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride. — Gautama Buddha

Well-makers lead the water (wherever they like) ; fletchers bend the arrow ; carpenters bend a log of wood ; wise people fashion themselves. — Gautama Buddha

Do not have as friends harmful people, the wise person does not associate with the worst of people. Have as friends virtuous people, the wise person associates with the best of people. — Gautama Buddha

Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stifled by non-hatred - this is the law Eternal. — Gautama Buddha

I will not look at another's bowl intent on finding fault: a training to be observed. — Gautama Buddha

Since everything is a reflection of our minds,everything can be changed by our minds. — Gautama Buddha

It is better to travel well then arrive. — Gautama Buddha

If you endeavor to embrace the Way through much learning, the Way will not be understood. If you observe the Way with simplicity of heart, great indeed is this Way. — Gautama Buddha

Consider Others as Yourself. — Gautama Buddha

Just as the dawn is the forerunner of the arising of the sun, so true friendship is the forerunner of the arising of the noble eightfold path. — Gautama Buddha

I am not the I that you see. Most of these quotes do not belong to me. — Gautama Buddha

Just as a line drawn on water with a stick will quickly vanish and will not last long; even so is human life like a line drawn on water. It is short, limited, and brief; it is full of suffering, full of tribulation. This one should wisely understand, one should do good and live a pure life; for none who is born can escape death. — Gautama Buddha

When a man makes utensils out of a metal which has been thoroughly cleansed of dross, the utensils will be excellent. You monks, who wish to follow the Way, make your own hearts clean from the dirt of evil passion, and your conduct will be unimpeachable. — Gautama Buddha

What is this world condition? Body is the world condition. And with body and form goes feeling, perception, consciousness, and all the activities throughout the world. The arising of form and the ceasing of form-everything that has been heard, sensed, and known, sought after and reached by the mind-all this is the embodied world, to be penetrated and realized. — Gautama Buddha

Love is a fleeting emotion, to reach true nirvana one must know themselves and forsake love, for it breeds contempt. — Gautama Buddha

This life of separateness may be compared to a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, a shadow, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning. — Gautama Buddha

He is able who think he is able. — Gautama Buddha

We do not learn by experience, but by our capacity for experience. — Gautama Buddha

Those who awaken never rest in one place. Like swans, they rise and leave the lake. On the air they rise and fly an invisible course. Their food is knowledge. They live on emptiness. They have seen how to break free. Who can follow them? — Gautama Buddha

If a man's mind becomes pure, his surroundings will also become pure. — Gautama Buddha

A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering. — Gautama Buddha

Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real. Discover that there are virtuous things and there are non-virtuous things. Once you have discovered for yourself give up the bad and embrace the good. — Gautama Buddha

An unreflective mind is a poor roof. Passion, like the rain, floods the house. But if the roof is strong, there is shelter. Whoever follows impure thoughts Suffers in this world and the next. In both worlds he suffers And how greatly. — Gautama Buddha

A person creates what they defend against. — Gautama Buddha

Resolutely train yourself to attain peace. — Gautama Buddha

If a man going down into a river, swollen and swiftly flowing, is carried away by the current - how can he help others across? — Gautama Buddha

You can search the world over and you will find no one who is more deserving of your kindness and well wishing than you yourself. — Gautama Buddha

Being able to make friends and keep them, welcoming others and sharing with them, a guide, philosopher and friend. One like this will be praised. — Gautama Buddha

Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching and discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation. — Gautama Buddha

How long the night to the watchman, How long the road to the weary traveller, How long the wandering of many lives To the fool who misses the way. — Gautama Buddha

Those which arise dependently are free of inherent existence. — Gautama Buddha

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden. — Gautama Buddha

The no-mind not-thinks no-thoughts about no-things. — Gautama Buddha

An pretend and evil friend is haughty to be feared than a unmanageable beast; a unmanageable beast may mouthful your build up, but an evil friend fortitude mouthful your intellect. — Gautama Buddha

If there is a God, it is inconceivable that he would be concerned about my day to day affairs. — Gautama Buddha

In this world,
hate never dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate. This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible. - The Buddha — Gautama Buddha

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. — Gautama Buddha

Joyously participate in the sorrows of others. — Gautama Buddha

Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things. — Gautama Buddha

If you don't disturb yourself, like a broken gong does not vibrate, then you have achieved nirvana. Irritability no longer exists for you. — Gautama Buddha

To do a little good is more than to accomplish great conquests. — Gautama Buddha

Monks, even if bandits were to savagely sever you, limb by limb, with a double-handled saw, even then, whoever of you harbors ill will at heart would not be upholding my Teaching. Monks, even in such a situation you should train yourselves thus: 'Neither shall our minds be affected by this, nor for this matter shall we give vent to evil words, but we shall remain full of concern and pity, with a mind of love, and we shall not give in to hatred. On the contrary, we shall live projecting thoughts of universal love to those very persons, making them as well as the whole world the object of our thoughts of universal love - thoughts that have grown great, exalted and measureless. We shall dwell radiating these thoughts which are void of hostility and ill will.' It is in this way, monks, that you should train yourselves. — Gautama Buddha