Following are inspirational Buddha quotes and saying with images. The wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self;'.
Looking for inspirational Buddha quotes and sayings about life?
Siddhartha Gautama, more commonly known as Buddha (which means “enlightened one” or “the awakened”), is a spiritual leader and teacher during the 6th century B.C.
While the events of his life are still debated by scholars to this day, it cannot be doubted that his teachings have had a tremendous influence on a lot of people.
Personal note: Ever since moving [Update: “moved”, after 2 amazing years in India, I’m back in NYC] to India to live and teach, quotes from Buddha have taken on a whole new meaning.
Having the privilege to travel through India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar have allowed me to witness these powerful words in action.
I hope you enjoy our latest collection of uplifting Buddha quotes!
1.) “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” – Buddha
2.) “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” – Buddha
3.) “Let us rise up and be thankful. For if we didn’t learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha
4.) “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.” – Buddha
5.) “To be angry is to let others’ mistakes punish yourself.” – Buddha
6.) “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
7.) “Those who consider the unessential to be essential, and see the essential as unessential, don’t reach the essential, living in the field of wrong intention.” – Buddha
8.) “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.” – Buddha
9.) “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha
10.) “To keep the body in good health is a duty; otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha
11.) “What we think, we become.” – Buddha
12.) “Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those that a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world.” – Buddha
13.) “Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression. We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous. We experience joy in the actual act of giving something. And we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given.” – Buddha
14.) “Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts.” – Buddha
15.) “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” – Buddha
16.) “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” – Buddha
17.) “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.” – Buddha
18.) “When you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily.” – Buddha
19.) “All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If the mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?” – Buddha
20.) “Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.” – Buddha
21.) “Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” – Buddha
22.) “Inward calm cannot be maintained unless physical strength is constantly and intelligently replenished.”- Buddha
23.) “What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.” – Buddha
24.) “Neither fire, nor wind, birth, nor death, can erase our good deeds.” – Buddha
25.) “The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.” – Buddha
26.) “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.” – Buddha
27.) “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.” – Buddha
28.) “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.” – Buddha
29.) “Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.” – Buddha
30.) “Believe nothing, merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” – Buddha
31.) “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
32.) “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” – Buddha
33.) “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” – Buddha
34.) “Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.” – Buddha
35.) “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” – Buddha
36.) “If you are quiet enough, you will hear the flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this flow. Happiness lies ahead. Meditation is key.” – Buddha
37.) “Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.” – Buddha
38.) “There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.” – Buddha
39.) “Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.” – Buddha
40.) “Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” – Buddha
41.) “Everything is changeable, everything appears and disappears; there is no blissful peace until one passes beyond the agony of life and death.” – Buddha
42.) “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” – Buddha
43.) “Many do not realize that we here must die. For those who realize this, quarrels end.” – Buddha
44.) “The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.” The Buddha
45.) “Good health is simply the slowest way a human being can die,” – Buddha
46.) “Perhaps the deepest reason why we are afraid of death is because we do not know who we are.”- Buddha
47.) “This world is shrouded in darkness. Here, only a few can see their way free. These few birds escape from the net, and fly away to the heavens.” – Buddha
48.) “Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” – Buddha
49.) “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Buddha
50.) “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life and one life can change the world.” – Buddha
51.) “Everything changes, nothing remains without change.” – Buddha
52.) “The universe itself is change and life itself is but what you deem it” – Buddha
53.) “Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.” – Buddha
54.) “Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” – Buddha
55.) “Three things cannot hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.” – Buddha
56.) “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
57.) “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha
58.) “You can only make two mistakes when traveling on the road to truth: not starting, and not going all the way.” – Buddha
59.) “Better to conquer yourself than a thousand battles. Only then can the victory truly be yours. No one can take it away from you – not heaven, hell, demons or angels.” – Buddha
60.) “Never envy others or take what you have for granted. Those who envy others will never find peace of mind.” – Buddha
Buddha’s sayings are a great source of inspiration and motivation, especially to entrepreneurs, dreamers, and innovators.
It doesn’t matter where you are in life, you can surely find a quote or two that you can relate with your current situation today.
What other Buddha quotes would you add to the list? Tell us in the comment section below!
Quotabulary picks out the most famous Zen quotes to guide you through your journey Zen is a form of Buddhism, which puts an emphasis on meditation to attain . Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.
A collection of sayings, quotes and wisdom reflecting Buddhism or Zen philosophy and teachings, including sayings of the Buddha and Dalai Lama.
On life's journey
Faith is nourishment,
Virtuous deeds are a shelter,
Wisdom is the light by day and
Right mindfulness is the protection by night.
If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him;
If he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.
Buddha 
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions,
even though they have been held in honor
for many generations and in diverse places.
Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.
Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.
Do not believe what you yourself have imagined,
persuading yourself that a God inspires you.
Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.
After examination, believe what you yourself have tested
and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
Buddha
One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the messiah?"
"No", answered Buddha.
"Then are you a healer?"
"No", Buddha replied.
"Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted.
"No, I am not a teacher."
"Then what are you?" asked the student, exasperated.
"I am awake", Buddha replied.
Live in Joy
Live in Joy, In love,
Even among those who hate.
Live in joy, In health,
Even among the afflicted.
Live in joy, In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Look within. Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.
~
There is no fire like greed,
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within. Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.
from the Dhammapada, Words of the Buddha
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion
The Dalai Lama
Be a lamp unto Yourself
As the Buddha was dying,
Ananda asked
who would be their teacher after death.
He replied to his disciple -
"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."
Quoted in Joseph Goldstein, The Experience of Insight
As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery.
We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace.
The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as
anger and attachment, fear and suspicion,
while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility
are the sources of peace and happiness.
Dalai Lama
Fill your mind with compassion.
Buddha
Be awake
Love yourself and be awake -
today, tomorrow, always.
First establish yourself in the way,
then teach others,
and so defeat sorrow.
To straighten the crooked
you must first do a harder thing -
straighten yourself.
You are the only master. Who else?
Subdue yourself,
and discover your master.
The whole purpose of religion
is to facilitate love and compassion, patience,
tolerance, humility, forgiveness.
Dalai Lama
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make our world.
Buddha
The Four Reliances
First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings,
not on the words;
Second, rely on the teachings,
not on the personality of the teacher;
Third, rely on real wisdom,
not superficial interpretation;
And fourth, rely on the essence of your pure Wisdom Mind,
not on judgmental perceptions.
Traditional Buddhist teaching
The Fragrance of the Rose
The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu's dictum:
"Those who know, do not say;
Those who say, do not know."
When the master entered,
they asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.
from One Minute Wisdom by Anthony DeMello
Daily Necessities
Tips & pointers for building a spiritual life from scratch
Pray
Meditate
Be aware/Stay awake
Bow
Practise yoga
Feel
Chant and sing
Breathe and smile
Relax/Enjoy/Laugh/Play
Create/Envision
Let Go/Forgive/Accept
Walk/Exercise/Move
Work/Serve/Contribute
Listen/Learn/Enquire
Consider/Reflect
Cultivate oneself/Enhance competencies
Cultivate contentment
Cultivate flexibility
Cultivate friendship and collaboration
Lighten up
Celebrate and appreciate
Dream
Give thanks
Evolve
Love
Share/Give/Receive
Walk softly/Live gently
Expand/Radiate/Dissolve
Simplify
Surrender/Trust
Be born anew
from Awakening The Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das
Whether one believes in a religion or not,
and whether one believes in rebirth or not,
there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.
Dalai Lama
Pay no attention to the faults of others,
things done or left undone by others.
Consider only what by oneself is done or left undone.
The secret of happiness lies
in the mind's release from worldly ties.
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.
Buddha
Fools wait for a lucky day
but every day is a lucky day
for an industrious man
Believe nothing merely because you have been told it.
Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher.
But whatever, after due examination and analysis,
you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings -
that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.
Buddha
Practice for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama
The Practice:
1. Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering
we all want the same things (to be happy and be loved)
and we are all connected to one another.
2. Spend 5 minutes breathing in, cherishing yourself; and, breathing out
cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing,
extend your cherishing to them anyway.
3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet.
Practice cherishing the "simplest" person (clerks, attendants, etc)
or people you dislike.
4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you.
These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful.
The practice of cherishing can be taken very deeply if done wordlessly,
allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that
already exists in your heart.
Gaudama Buddha, or simply Buddha, was a man of wisdom that lived somewhere between the 6th and the 4th century B.C. Buddhism is based on his teachings, but you don’t have to be a Buddhist to gather inspiration and help from them. He sought to find what makes a life wholesome and fulfilling and his quotes may help you understand the broad lines of his philosophy.
I’m not an expert on Buddha. I just gathered his most beautiful quotes and present them to you, along with some of my thoughts. These quotes have helped me in different situations. I use them as tools to make my life more happiness oriented. I truly hope that they will be equally or more useful for you and will help you keep your faith in life and humanity. If you like this post, share it! it really help us a lot 🙂
Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe.
Original photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?
If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
Original Photo by Wladislaw Sokolowskij
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.
Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.
Photo by Aaron Burden
The greatest prayer is patience.
Photo by Aaron Burden
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Oringinal Photo by Antonio Ron
True love is born from understanding.
Original Photo by Filipe Almeida
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on other.
Original Photo by Matt Sclarandis
You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
Buddha was asked: What have you gained from meditation? He replied: Nothing. However, I have lost anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.
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If you liked what you read, please share it. It really helps us a lot.
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Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old buddhist quotes, buddhist sayings, and buddhist proverbs, collected over the years.
The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Even for those of us who are less religious, Buddhism is an immense source of wisdom and knowledge that can turn our lives over, helping us achieve peace and happiness. We can find in the Buddhist teachings truths that have traveled thousands of years and changed the lives of millions of people.
Check out these buddhism quotes to get a glimpse into the wisdom of the Buddhism and to find teachings that speak directly to your soul.
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. – Gautama Buddha
One of the most important teachings of Buddhism is the need for a conscious focus on the present moment, because the present is actually all we have. The past is gone and the future is always uncertain, while the present is the only reality we can work with.
You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself. – Alan W. Watts
In Buddhist teachings, every living being is as important as the whole universe. Everything is connected and as human beings with consciousness, we are the mirror through which the universe tries to understand its own laws and wonders.
We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps. – Hermann Hesse
If we look closely, we realize that Buddhism is in complete correspondence with the laws of nature. As in nature, in Buddhism, the main laws are change and evolution. Although the spiritual progress does not happen linearly, we can be sure that once we take the path of awakening, each step counts.
What we think, we become. – Gautama Buddha
Unlike other religions, Buddhism has recognized the power of the mind to create our identities and shape our realities. We can only be what our minds are able to conceive. That is why purifying the mind through meditation is essential.
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism is the religion of the individual because it tells us that each living being has its own journey in life and each must walk on its own path of awakening. The salvation of the soul depends on the soul itself and can never come from outside.
The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself. – Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhism is adamant in fighting against all the illusions that we take for truth. We hide in ideas, theories, and abstract concepts and we forget that the truth is greater and more powerful than our minds can grasp. Once we empty our minds of definitions and theories, we make room for the truth.
The Way is not in the sky; the Way is in the heart. – Gautama Buddha
In Buddhism, there are no boundaries or separations. The true awakening is realizing that there isn’t a spiritual world separated from the material one, but that the two of them coexist as one. Only our hearts can unite them and find the way to the real awakening.
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. – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism emphasizes a fundamental truth that we often ignore. Love and happiness are immaterial goods that increase in value only when they are shared. They cannot exist in isolation because if everything is connected, love and happiness belong to all of us.
True change is within. Leave the outside as it is. – Dalai Lama XIV
We all love progress, but unfortunately, sometimes we focus on the wrong type of progress. We seek outside what can only exist within ourselves. We think that change must be visible and measurable on the outside, but the truth is that when change starts from within, the outside is transformed as well.
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. – Gautama Buddha
There wasn’t any religion or philosophy in the history of humanity who didn’t preach love as the ultimate solution for our salvation. Buddhism is the same, teaching us that only love can cure and protect us. Hatred can only be neutralized with love, not with more hatred.
A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise. – Gautama Buddha
A wise person is not someone whose voice is heard more often or who tries to convince others of his truth, but the person who knows how to be both tolerant and firm in his beliefs, both loving and forgiving, both kind and fearless.
Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace. – Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhism redefines all our ideas and brings us a new type of understanding, especially when it comes to happiness. Hapiness is not joy or excitement, but rather the serene peace of love and understanding.
The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows. – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism recognizes failure but not as we would think. Failure does not mean failing to meet some standards of success set by others, but rather failing to live a life true to the innermost beliefs of our hearts.
However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism warns us about one of the worst pitfalls in our quest for self-realization, which is seeking knowledge but never acting on it. However, it is no use to have the map of a road if we never actually walk the road itself.
Buddhism teaches us not to try to run away from suffering. You have to confront suffering. You have to look deeply into the nature of suffering in order to recognize its cause, the making of the suffering. – Thich Nhat Hanh
In Buddhist teachings, suffering is our wisest companion because it forces us to let go of the all the superficial things and to engage in a deep and thorough introspection, trying to understand the causes and effects of our choices and desires.
Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it. – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism reminds us through its simple and wise teachings that some of the most sought-after answers can be the simplest. Everyone is looking for the purpose of life, but the answer is quite simple. We must follow the calling of our hearts and devote ourselves entirely to our calling.
Doubt everything. Find your own light. – Gautama Buddha
If most religions tell us to have faith and never doubt, Buddhism embraces doubt as the guiding principle in our quest for truth. We must doubt everything that goes against our innermost principles and intuitions, and seek to find our own, unique path.
Buddha quotes to make you think and bring a smile to your mind. and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are.
