Thanissaro Bhikkhu Quotes & Sayings

The desire for true happiness
is nothing to feel ashamed about. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Don't be a slave to style. Don't take more from the world than you're willing to give back. And learn to undo the perceptions-so heavily promoted by the media-that shopping is a form of therapy and that a purchase is nothing but a victory or a gain. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Suppose that a man were to drop a salt crystal into a small amount of water in a cup. What do you think? Would the water in the cup become salty because of the salt crystal, and unfit to drink?

Yes, lord. Why is that? There being only a small amount of water in the cup, it would become salty because of the salt crystal, and unfit to drink.

Now suppose that a man were to drop a salt crystal into the River Ganges. What do you think? Would the water in the River Ganges become salty because of the salt crystal, and unfit to drink?

No, lord. Why is that? There being a great mass of water in the River Ganges, it would not become salty because of the salt crystal or unfit to drink. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Searching all directions with one's awareness, one finds no one dearer than oneself. In the same way, others are fiercely dear to themselves. So one should not hurt others if one loves oneself. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Remember that you don't have to like or admire someone to feel compassion for that person. All you have to do is wish for that person to be happy. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Buddha's last words instructed us to be heedful - to see our actions as important and to keep that importance in mind at all times. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The teaching on karma starts with the principle that people experience happiness and sorrow based on a combination of their past and present intentions. If we act with unskillful intentions either for ourselves or for others, we're going to suffer. If we act with skillful intentions, we'll experience happiness. So if we want to be happy, we have to train our intentions to always be skillful. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The key to maintaining your inspiration in the day-to-day work of meditation practice is to approach it as play - a happy opportunity to master practical skills, to raise questions, experiment, and explore. — Thanissaro Bhikkhu