Buddhist Images

 

 

 

Contentment with whatever little one has!

 

 

 

The blessed Buddha once said:

Mind precedes and initiates all phenomena!
Mind is their chief, mind is their maker...
When one speaks or performs an action
with a mind, that is internally all pure,
then happiness and pleasure follows,
like a shadow that never departs...
Dhammapada 1

 

 

 

The over 2000 years old Bodhi Tree in Ceylon.

On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges & undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with
clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and
bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head
touch the floor. Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites
these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice:

As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!

I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...

I am a friend and helper to all,
I am sympathetic to all living beings.
I develop a mind full of love and
delights always in harmlessness.
I gladden my mind, fill it with joy,
makes it immovable and unshakable.
I develop the divine states of mind
not cultivated by simple men.
Theragatha. 648-9

 

Divorced from Possessiveness, Egoism, Clinging and Frustration!

 

 

How can one ever Succeed, when Never having Started?



The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, those who have neglected to begin this Noble 8-fold Way,
have failed to develop the Noble Method, which destroys Suffering!
While those who having indeed begun this Noble 8-fold Way, have
indeed also initiated the Noble Method, which destroys all Suffering!
And what, Bhikkhus, is this Noble 8-fold Way? It is simply this:

1: Right View (samma-ditthi)
2: Right Motivation  (samma-sankappa)
3: Right Speech  (samma-vaca)
4: Right Action  (samma-kammanta)
5: Right Livelihood  (samma-ajiva)
6: Right Effort  (samma-vayama)
7: Right Awareness  (samma-sati)
8: Right Concentration  (samma-samadhi)

Bhikkhus, those who have failed even to start on this Noble 8-fold Way,
have failed to cultivate that Noble Method, which destroys all Suffering!
While those, who have really started on this Noble 8-fold Way, have
indeed also made the first move capable of destroying all Suffering!