Gautama Quotes & Sayings

Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village. — Gautama Buddha

To eat meat is just a habit after we were born. In fact, we are not born to eat meat. — Gautama Buddha

Let your diet be spare, your wants moderate, your needs few. So, living modestly, with no distracting desires, you will find content. — Gautama Buddha

You yourself must strive. The Buddhas only point the way. — Gautama Buddha

Our problems are not solved by physical force, by hatred, by warOur problems are solved by loving kindness by gentleness, by joy — Gautama Buddha

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

A fool thinks it like honey so long as the bad deed does not bear fruit, but when it does bear fruit he experiences suffering. — Gautama Buddha

Suffering is an illusion. — Gautama Buddha

Live every act fully, as if it were your last. — Gautama Buddha

Full of love for all things in the world, practicing virtue, in order to benefit others, this man alone is happy. — Gautama Buddha

If you cannot find a good companion to walk with, walk alone, like an elephant roaming the jungle. It is better to be alone than to be with those who will hinder your progress. — 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

Inner freedom is not guided by our efforts; it comes from seeing what is true. — Gautama Buddha

The masters only point the way. But if you meditate And follow the dharma You will free yourself from desire. 'Everything arises and passes away.' When you see this, you are above sorrow. This is the shining way. — Gautama Buddha

In separateness lies the world's greatest misery; in compassion lies the world's true strength. — Gautama Buddha

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

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again. — Gautama Buddha

When you go into the space of nothingness, everything becomes known. — Gautama Buddha

The holy man is beyond time, he does not depend on any view nor subscribe to any sect; all current theories he understands, but he remains unattached to any of them. — Gautama Buddha

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

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form. — Gautama Buddha

If you are tossed about by doubts, full of strong thoughtless passions, and yearning only for that which is detrimental, your thirst will grow stronger and stronger, unquenched, and your pain will grow with your defilements. — Gautama Buddha

Your worst enemy is your best teacher. — Gautama Buddha

An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. Smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, the evil deed follows the fool. — Gautama Buddha

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. — Gautama Buddha

Attachment leads to suffering. — Gautama Buddha

Whatever the hateful do to the hateful, or an enemy to an enemy, worse is the harm of a misguided mind directed at oneself. — Gautama Buddha

For the wakeful one whose mind is quiet, whose thoughts are undisturbed, who has relinquished judgement and blame, there is no fear. — Gautama Buddha

Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves. And those, Ananda, who either now or after I am dead, Shall be a lamp unto themselves, Shall betake themselves as no external refuge, But holding fast to the truth as their lamp, Holding fast to the truth as their refuge, Shall not look for refuge to anyone else besides themselves, It is they who shall reach to the very topmost height; But they must be anxious to learn. — Gautama Buddha

Insignificant, is the loss of relatives, wealth and fame; The loss of wisdom is the greatest loss. Insignificant, is the increase of relatives, wealth and fame; The increase of wisdom is the highest gain. Therefore, you should train yourselves thus: "We will grow in the increase of wisdom" Thus you should train yourselves. — Gautama Buddha

He who lives with his senses well controlled, moderate in his food and drink, he will not be overthrown, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain. — Gautama Buddha

To master the pride of defiant selfhood, that in truth is the highest bliss. — Gautama Buddha

When things are going well, be mindful of adversityWhen prosperous, be mindful of povertyWhen loved, be mindful of thoughtfulnessWhen respected, be mindful of humility — Gautama Buddha

The root of suffering is attachment — Gautama Buddha

The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable. — Gautama Buddha

I am Plato's Republic. Mr. Simmons is Marcus. I want you to meet Jonathan Swift, the author of that evil political book, Gulliver's Travels! And this other fellow is Charles Darwin, and-this one is Schopenhauer, and this one is Einstein, and this one here at my elbow is Mr. Albert Schweitzer, a very kind philosopher indeed. Here we all are, Montag. Aristophanes and Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha and Confucius and Thomas Love Peacock and Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Lincoln, if you please. We are also Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. — Ray Bradbury

Dwell not on the faults and shortcomings of others; instead, seek clarity about your own. — Gautama Buddha

We will be thankful and grateful. Not even the last thing that is done for us shall be forgotten. — Gautama Buddha

Those who attempt to conquer hatred by hatred are like warriors who take weapons to overcome others who bear arms. This does not end hatred, but gives it room to grow. But, ancient wisdom has advocated a different timeless strategy to overcome hatred. This eternal wisdom is to meet hatred with non-hatred. The method of trying to conquer hatred through hatred never succeeds in overcoming hatred. But, the method of overcoming hatred through non-hatred is eternally effective. That is why that method is described as eternal wisdom. — Gautama Buddha

Those who do not know satisfaction, even when living in a heavenly palace, are still not satisfied. Those who do not know satisfaction, even if rich, are poor. People who know satisfaction, even if poor, are rich. — Gautama Buddha

As irrigators lead water where they want, as archers make their arrows straight, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their minds. — Gautama Buddha

With his mind free from the inflow of thoughts and from restlessness, by abandoning both good and evil, an alert man knows no fear. — Gautama Buddha

The more completely we give of ourselves, the more completely the world gives back to us. — Gautama Buddha

Seeker, empty the boat, lighten the load, be free of craving and judgment and hatred, and feel the joy of the way. — Gautama Buddha

Do not speak - unless it improves on silence. — Gautama Buddha

And so, with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings. — Gautama Buddha

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

Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth. — Gautama Buddha

Know well what holds you back, and what moves you forward — Gautama Buddha

You should respect each other and refrain from disputes; you should not, like water and oil, repel each other, but should, like milk and water, mingle together. — Gautama Buddha

Meat-eating is condemned by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas; if one devours meat out of shamelessness he will always be devoid of sense. — Gautama Buddha

Believe nothing because it is written in books. Believe nothing because wise men say it is so. Believe nothing because it is religious doctrine. Believe it only because you yourself know it to be true. — Gautama Buddha

Virtuous people always let go.
They don't prattle about pleasures and desires.
Touched by happiness and then by suffering,
The sage shows no sign of being elated or depressed. — Gautama Buddha

Do not say anything harsh: what you have said will be said back to you. — Gautama Buddha

Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever's not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet. — Gautama Buddha

Seeing the Way is like going into a dark room with a torch; the darkness instantly departs, while the light alone remains. When the Way is attained and the truth is seen, ignorance vanishes and enlightenment abides forever. — Gautama Buddha

The wise say that it is not an iron, wooden or fiber fetter which is a strong one, but the besotted hankering after trinkets, children and wives, that, say the wise, is the strong fetter. It drags one down, and loose as it feels, it is hard to break. Breaking this fetter, people renounce the world, free from longing and abandoning sensuality. — Gautama Buddha

The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion. — Gautama Buddha

I know what I gave them; I don't know what they received. — Gautama Buddha

I gained nothing at all from Supreme Enlightenment, and for that very reason it is called Supreme Enlightenment. — Gautama Buddha

By giving away food we get more strength. By bestowing clothing on others we gain more beauty. By donating abodes of purity and truth we acquire great treasures. — Gautama Buddha

Look upon him who shows you your faults as a revealer of treasure: seek his company who checks and chides you, the sage who is wise in reproof: it fares well and not ill with him who seeks such company. — Gautama Buddha

Sometime, somewhere you take something to be the truth. But if you cling to it too strongly, then even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it. — Gautama Buddha

If you're respectful by habit, constantly honoring the worthy, four things increase: long life, beauty, happiness, strength. — Gautama Buddha

If one man kills a hundred men, and another man masters himself, the second man is the much greater warrior. — Gautama Buddha

If we can look upon our work not for self-benefit,but as a means to benefit society,we will be practicing appreciation and patience in our daily lives. — Gautama Buddha

Among all shravakas and pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas are the foremost. So is the Lotus Sutra; among all sutras, it is the foremost! Just as the Buddha is the King of the Law; so is the Lotus Sutra, it is the King of all Sutras!
(LS 23:2.16)
Lotus Sutra, Chapter 23, Section 2, Paragraph 16 — 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

Just as a picture is drawn by an artist, surroundings are created by the activities of the mind — Gautama Buddha

Free from passion and desire, you have stripped the thorns from the stem. — Gautama Buddha

Solitude is happiness for one who is content, who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Non-affliction is happiness in the world - harmlessness towards all living beings. — Gautama Buddha

The more fully we give our energy, the more it returns to us. — Gautama Buddha

What's done to the children is done to society. — Gautama Buddha

Happy are those who have overcome their egos; happy are those who have attained peace; happy are those who have found the Truth. — Gautama Buddha

When you like a flower, you just pluck it.
But when you love a flower, you water it daily. — 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

The Buddhas do but tell the way; it is for you to swelter at the task. — Gautama Buddha

A good horse runs with seeing just the shadow of the whip. — 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

All beings tremble before violence. All love life. All fear death. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do? — Gautama Buddha

If you hold yourself dear, protect yourself well. — Gautama Buddha

He wished he understood where they come from: all the terrorists, religious revolutionists
and hate-criminals. Did terrorizing entire communities of people help them sleep sound at
night? Did it make them happy? Or are they just in for the attention? Have they nothing to
lose? Or are they simply bored and spit balling issues that have always been there? Can all
global acts of violence and terror be summed up, as just a whole other level of a mixture of
bad parenting, psychological disorders and unattended anger management issues? Can they
be treated, medically or spiritually? Are we waiting for the birth of another great visionary
like Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Muhammad, who will 'make the world a better
place'? Or are we just too soaked in the idea that religion is a dying concept and spirituality
is overrated? Is it too late? Are we too far behind? He wanted to know. — Thisuri Wanniarachchi

Observe the life by cause and consequence. Explore the life by wisdom. Treat the life by equality. Complete the life by love. — Gautama Buddha

The fragrance of sandalwood and rosebay does not travel far. But the fragrance of virtue rises to the heavens. — Gautama Buddha

What is most needed is a loving heart. — Gautama Buddha

If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all. — Gautama Buddha

"All is passing". When one realises this, he sits loose to this world of sorrow : This is the way of purity. — Gautama Buddha

From craving arises sorrow, from craving arises fear, but he who is freed from craving has no sorrow and certainly no fear. — Gautama Buddha

Whatever an enemy might do to an enemy, or a foe to a foe, the ill-directed mind can do to you even worse — Gautama Buddha

If the selflessness of phenomena is analyzed and if this analysis is cultivated, it causes the effect of attaining nirvana. through no other cause does one come to peace. — Gautama Buddha

A kind man who makes good use of wealth is rightly said to possess a great treasure; but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit. — Gautama Buddha

Be a lamp unto yourself, be a refuge to yourself. Take yourself to no external refuge. — Gautama Buddha

Don't just do something, be there. — Gautama Buddha

When you have great joy, you will become Buddhas! — Gautama Buddha

Doing the good deeds is like the grass in the garden. You don't see its growth. But, it does by days. Doing the wicked deeds is like the hone. You don't see its damage. But, it does by days. — Gautama Buddha

What you have become is the result of what you have thought — Gautama Buddha

This Ariyan Eightfold Path, that is to say: Right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindfulness, right contemplation. — Gautama Buddha

Sustaining a loving heart, even for a moment, makes one a spiritual being. — Gautama Buddha

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