We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts,we make the world.

Do not dwell in the past.

Do not dream of the future.

Concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Even if everyone else is not doing good,

I alone will.

Even if everyone else is doing wrong,

I alone will not.

Just as water cools both good and bad

and washes away all

impurity and dust,

in the same way you should

develop thoughts of love for

friend and foe alike,

and having reached

perfection in love,

you will attain enlightenment.

Everything changes,

nothing remains without change.

There is nothing more dreadful

than the habit of doubt.

Doubt separates people.

It is a poison that disintegrates

friendships and breaks up

pleasant relations.

It is a thorn that irritates and hurts;

It is a sword that kills.

There is nothing more worthy

than the virtue of selflessness.

Selfessness unites people.

It is a healing herb that unifies

strangers and brings

families together.

It is the love for others that is

higher than self-love;

It is our only hope.

The rule of friendship means

there should be mutual

sympathy between them,

each supplying what the other

lacks and trying

to benefit the other,

always using friendly and sincere words.

If we fail to look after others,

when we nees help,

who will look after us?

Indifference brings

indifference;

Lovingkindness brings

lovingkindness.

If a man`s mind becomes pure,

his surroundings will also become pure.

Thousands of candles can be

lighted from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not

be shortened.

Happiness never decreases

by being shared.

Rain fall,

wind blows,

plants bloom,

leaves mature and are blown away;

these phenomena are all

interrelated with causes and conditions,

are broughtb about by them,

and disappear as the

causes and conditions change.

Hatred never ceases

by hatred,

but by love.

All that we are is the result of

what we have thought;

it is founded on our thoughts.

If a man speaks or acts

with pure thought,

joy will follow him,

like a shadow

that never leaves him.

In the light of his vision he has

found his freedom:

his thoughts are peace,

his words peace,

his work peace.

The gift of Truth

overcomes all gifts.

The joy of Truth

overcomes all pleasures.

The taste of Truth

overcomes all sweetness.

The loss of desire

overcomes all sorrows.

Perfect wisdom,

Perfect tranquility,

Perfect compassion

arise from our love,

our sincerity,

our understanding.

In separateness,lies the world`s

great suffering.

In unity,lies the world`s

true strength.

Impermanence~

Not self~Nirvana.

Phenomena are preceded by

the heart,

ruled by the heart,

made of the heart.

If you speak or act

with a corrupted heart,

then suffering follows you—

as the wheel of the cart,

the track of the ox that pulls it.

Phenomena are preceded by the heart,

ruled by the heart,

made of the heart.

If you speak or act

with a calm,

bright heart,

then happiness follows you,

like a shadow that never leaves.

We already have

perfect compassion,

perfect wisdom,

perfect joy.

We only need

to settle our minds,

so they can arise from deep within us.

Develop the quiet,

even state of mind.

When praised by some

and condemned by others,

free the mind from

hate and pride,and

gently go your way in peace.

He is able

who thinks he is able.

You yourself,

as much as anybody in the

entire universe,

deserve your love and affection.

Focus,

not on the rudeness of others,

not on what they`ve done

or left undone,

but on what you

have and have not done yourself.

Those consummate in virtue,

Dwelling in heedfulness,

Released by right knowing:

Evil cannot follow their tracks.

As a single slab of rock

won`t budge in the wind,

so the wise are not moved

by praise.

by blame.

Irrigators guide the water.

Fletchers shape the arrow shaft.

Carpenters shape the wood.

The wise control themselves.

Don`t be heedless of merit

(It won`t come to me).

A water jar fills,

even with water falling in drops.

With merit-even if bit by bit,

habitually-the enlightened one fills himself full.

Avoid all evil,

Embrace all goodness,

Purify one`s own mind.

When sitting quietly,

reflect upon our own faults.

When speaking with friends,

do not discuss

the rights and wrongs of others.

Life is an illusion,

a dream,a bubble, a shadow.

Nothing is permanent.

Nothing is worthy of anger.

Nothing is worthy of dispute.

Nothing.

Life is short.

Time is fleeting.

Uncover the True Nature.

Purify the mind and heat

to attain happiness.

Be kind;be compassionate.

Be generous;do good.

Concentrate.

Understand.

Awaken.

Overcome

Greet with generosity,

Anger with lovingkindness,

Ignorance with understanding.

When we free ourselves of desire,

we will know

serenity and freedom.

Through true honesty,

deeply believe

that all sentient-beings are one.

That all beings have the same

true nature,

wisdom,

virtue.

Fine your faults,

feel deep regret,and

correct your mistakes,

reform sincerely,

practice kindness,

concentrate the mind

sever selfishness,

awaken.

Forgive and be free.

Forget that you have forgiven

and be freer.

Why do we persist in

our anger,

our hatred,

our fighting?

Why do we have

intolerance,

selfishness?

We do not truly understand that

everything arises from our minds,

that every thought we have is

instantly felt

throughout the entire universe.

If we can look upon our work

not for self-benefit,

but as a means

to benefit society,

we will be practience

appreciation and patience

in our daily lives.

Lovingkiness

is giving others happiness.

Compassion

is removing others` bitterness.

Joy

is freeing others from suffering.

When giving to others

do not linger on thoughts of

I am giving,

what was given,or

the one who has received.

Since everything

is a reflection of our minds,

everything

con changed by our minds.

When things are going well,

be mindful of adversity.

When prosperous,

be mindful of poverty.

When loved,

be mindful of thoughtfulness.

When repected,

be mindful of humility.

There are three ways

to correct our faults:

We can change

through behavior.

We can change

through understanding.

We can change

from the heart.

Until he has

unconditional and unbiased

love

for all beings,

man will not find peace.

He who receives kindness

should never forget it;

but he who performs it

should never remember it.

Cultivate peace first

in the garden of your heart by

removing the weeds of

selfishness and jealousy,

greed and anger,

pride and ego.

Then all will benefit from your

peace and harmony.

Our problems are not solved

by physical force,

by hatred,

by war.

Our problems are solved

by lovingkiness,

by gentleness,

by joy.

Awakening is natural

delusion is not.

Do not become attached to the

things you like,

do not cherish aversion to the

things you dislike.

Sorrow,fear and bondage come

from one`s like and dislikes.

Always be mindful of

the kindness and not the faults of others.

Those who are truly wise will

remain unmoved by feelings of

happiness and suffering,

fame and disgrace,

praise and blame,

gain and loss.

They will remain calm like the

eye of a hurricane.

Maintain a state of balance

between physical acts and

inner serenity,

like a lute whose strings are

finely tuned.

Dignity and quiet joy in all that

we do are the expression of

perfect concentration

and

perfect wisedom.

Natural laws are impartial.

Only those who are virtuous

are in harmony with nature.

To be

honorable in thoughts,

sincere in words,

good in deeds,

is to have

the heart of a Buddha.

Peace comes from within.

Do not seek it without.

If the causes we create areise

from wisdom,

so then will the results.

If the causes we create arise

from ignorance,

so then will then results.

Good fortune comes from

selfessness.

Misfortune comes from

selfishness.

Everything that happens to us

is the result of ehat we

ourselves have

thought, said,or done.

We alone are responsible

for our lives.

In our interactions with others,

gentleness,

kindness,

respect are the source of harmony.

This body is not”I.”

This body is just like our clothing.

When finished with it,

we will

discre it and choose another,

like putting on a new set of clothing.

When we think only of sincerely

helping all others,

not ourselves,

we will find that we receive all

that we wish for.

Lovingkindness as Thought

is Tranquility.

Lovingkindness as Speech

is Softness.

Lovingkindness as Activity

is Altruism.

Lovingkindness as Practice

is Peace.

Everything arises

from the mind.

As human beings we chase

after fleeting pleasures like

a child licking honey off a

sharp knife or

a person carring a torch

against the wind.

Whatever suffering thering there is in

this world,

all arises from

desiring only myself

to be happy.

And whatever joy there is

in this world,

all arises from

desiring to share my happiness

with everyone.

Those accomplished in integrity,

Dwelling in mindfulness,

Liberated through wisdom,

Fere cannot harm.

Think of the last time

you were happy….

Which will you choose

next time?

Speaking pleasant words

without practicing them,

is like

a fine flower without fragrance.

Ignorance leads to ego,

ego to selfishness,

selfishness to resentment,

resentment to anger,

anger to hatred,

hatred to annihilation.

Happiness and tranquility

arise from concentration.

Frustration and worries arise from concentration.

Frustrion and worries

aries from desire.

It is our own thoughts

that lead us into trouble,

not other people.

Our words should

be carefully chosen

for people will hear them and

be influenced by them

for good or for ill.

Wherever there is light,

there is shadow.

Wherever there is length,

there is shortness.

Wherever there is white,

there is black.

Just like there,nothing can exist alone.

To be proud

of what we have received

or to envy others

for what they have

will rob us

of our peace of mind.

Serenity and generosity

sre qualities of the heart.

Indight and concentration

are qualities of the mind.

Compassion and wisdom

are qualities of the true nature.

When eating,

be mindful of eating.

When walking,

of walking.

When smiling,

of smiling.

I am the owner of my karma.

I inherit my karma.

I am born of my karma.

I live supported by my karma.

Whatever karma I create,

whether good or evil,

that I shall inherit,

and I alone.

Loveingkindness can never exist

unless it flows

from the mind and heart,

from understanding and love.

The contentes person,

who moves amongst sense objects,

free from

attachment or loathing,

gain or loss,wins

eternal peace.

Greed and anger,

ignorance and arrogance,

doubt and wrong conceptions.

Even these can be restrained

by the heart that is calm

and compassionate.

Pity arises when we are

sorry for someone.

Compassion is when we

understand and help wisely.

If you know anything that is

hurful and untrue,

do not say it.

If you know anything that is

helpful but untrue,

do not say it.

If you know anything that is

hurtful but true,

do not say it.

If you know anything that is

helpful ang true,

find the right time.

He who experiences the unity of life

sees himself in all beings,and

all beings in himself.

He looks on everything

with an impertial eye.

Serenity,

respect,

simplicity,

self-control,

purity of thought

are virtues of the mind.

Generosity,

stillness,

gratitude,

happiness,

purity of feeling are virtues

of the heart.

Rely on the teacher’s message,

not the personality.

Rely on the meaning,

not the words.

Rely on the meaning,

not just the words.

Rely on the real meaning,

not the provisional one.

Rely on your wisdom mind,

not your ordinary,

judgmental mind.

Purity engenders wisdom,

Passion avarice,

lgnorance attachment,

worry,

darkness.

Hear what is said,

retain what is important,

speak what is worthy.

Attach to nothing.

Peace is not the absence of

war,it is

a virtue,

a state of mind,

a disposition for love,

honesty and trustworthiness.

Understand that the body is merely

the foam of the wave,

the shadow of a shadow..

Snap the flower arrows of

desire and then,

unseen,

escape the king of death,

and travel on.

May all sentient beings

be filled with

lovingkiness and happiness;

May they wish

to become healing herbs

in the days of epidemics to cure the ill.

May they wish

to become rice plants

in the days of famine to save the hungry.

We wish to express our deepest appreciation

to Master Chin Kung

for providing the inspirations and

conditions for writing and preparing this book

Also to Venerable Thanissaro Bhikkhu

for his beautiful translation of the Dhammapada,

which we have quoted on pages 20,21,28,29and30.