Buddha Vacana – Word Of The Buddha

The Buddha Vacana, literally “the word of the Buddha,” stands as a beacon of timeless wisdom in a world of fleeting certainties. These teachings, encapsulated in the ancient Pali Canon, continue to offer profound insights into the human condition. The enduring relevance of the Buddha Vacana lies in its exploration of suffering, its causes, and the path to its cessation, which remains universally applicable across cultures and epochs.

In contemporary society, where change is the only constant, the Buddha’s teachings on impermanence (anicca) provide a grounding perspective. They encourage acceptance of life’s transient nature, fostering resilience in the face of adversity. The Buddha’s insights into the origins of dissatisfaction (dukkha) challenge individuals to confront the unquenchable thirst for material possessions and status, which often fuels the frenetic pace of modern life.

Moreover, the Buddha Vacana’s emphasis on ethical conduct and mental purification resonates in an age where ethical dilemmas are magnified by technological advancements and complex societal structures. The teachings inspire a personal quest for integrity and the cultivation of virtues such as generosity, patience, and compassion.

The path outlined by the Buddha, marked by mindfulness and meditative practice, offers a sanctuary from the relentless stimuli of the digital age. It calls for a conscious engagement with the present moment, cultivating a peace that is not contingent on external circumstances.

In essence, the Buddha Vacana is a profound call to awaken to our true potential for wisdom and compassion. It prompts a deep reflection on our way of being in the world, guiding us toward a life that transcends the superficial and ephemeral, and that embraces a more meaningful and harmonious existence. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, the Buddha’s words remain a powerful source of inspiration, inviting us to transform ourselves and, by extension, the world around us.

 

A believer can be recognised by three things

"A believer can be recognised by three things. What three? He desires to see those who are virtuous; he desires to hear the good Dhamma; and with a heart free from stinginess, he lives at home generous, clean-handed, delighting in giving, one to ask a favour of, one who delights in sharing things with others." - Anguttara Nikaya 1.150 ...

A man suffering

"If a man suffering from a disease does not seek treatment, even when there is a physician at hand, it is not the fault of the physician. In the same way, if one is oppressed and tormented by the disease of the defilements but does not seek help from the Teacher, that is not the teacher's fault." Jataka Nidanakatha 28-29 ...

A person’s conversation

"Again, it may be understood by a person's conversation whether or not he is competent to discuss things. If, on being questioned, a person evades the question, changes the subject, displays anger, malice or sulkiness, then he is incompetent to discuss things. If a person does not do these things, then he is competent to discuss. Yet again, it may ...

A practice that benefits many people

"The Brahmin Sangarava said to the Lord: " we Brahmins perform the sacrifice and encourage others to do so. Whoever does this creates great good that affects many people. But he who goes forth from home into homeless life helps only himself, calms only himself, leads only himself to Nirvana. Such a person is, I say, practising something that creates ...

A tree makes no distinction

"A tree makes no distinction in the shade it gives. Even so, the meditator, the earnest student of meditation must make no distinction between any beings, by must develop love quite equally towards thieves, murderers, enemies and towards himself, thinking: "How may these beings be without enmity and without harm, how may they be at peace, secure and happy; how ...

Abstrain

"What sort of Dhamma practice leads to great good for oneself? Concerning this, the noble disciple reflects: "Here am I, fond of life, not wishing to die, fond of pleasure and averse to pain. If someone were to kill me, I would not like it. Likewise, if I were to kill someone they would not like that. For what is ...

And how is one contented?

"And how is one contented? Concerning this, one is satisfied with a robe to protect the body and with food to satisfy the stomach. Having accepted enough, he goes on his way as a bird with wings flies here and there, taking nothing but its wings." - Digha Nikaya I.71 ...

Balance

"The Venerable Sona, meditating in solitude, thought to himself: "The Lord's disciples live in active energy and I am one of them, yet my mind is not detached and free from the defilements. My family is rich; I can forsake the training, return to the household life, enjoy riches and do good." Now, the Lord read his mind, and as ...

Body, feeling, perception, mental constructs and consciousness

"That which is not yours put it away. Putting it away will be to your welfare and happiness. And what is not yours? Body, feeling, perception, mental constructs and consciousness are not yours. So, put them away. Putting them away will be to your profit and welfare. It is just as if a man should gather up, burn, or do ...

Cause of committing a deed

"Mahali said to the Lord : "Sir, what is reason, what is the cause of doing, of committing an evil deed? "Greed, hatred, delusion, not paying proper attention and wrongly directed thoughts-these are the reasons, these are the causes of doing, of committing an evil deed? "Then what, Sir, is the reason, what is the cause of doing, of committing ...

Cease to do evil

"Cease to do evil, learn to do good, Purify the mind - This is the teaching of the Buddhas. Despising none, harming none, Being restrained by the monastic rules, Moderation in food, living in solitude And devotion to meditation - This is the teaching of the Buddhas. Therefore, the meditation on love Should be done for oneself and others. All ...

Compassion is the pre-eminent quality in Buddhahood

"The noble quality of love should be thought about thus: "One concerned only with his own welfare, without concern for the welfare of others, cannot achieve success in this world or happiness in the next. How then can one wishing to help all beings but not having loved himself succeed in attaining Nirvana? And if you wish to lead all ...

Consciousness

"Where do earth, water, fire and air no footing find? Where do long and short, small and great, pure and impure, name and form finally cease? The answer is: It is in the consciousness of the Noble One Invisible, boundless and all luminous. There it is that earth, water, fire and air No footing find. There it is that long ...

Cultivate a friend whose ways are seven

"Cultivate a friend whose ways are seven. What seven? He gives what is hard to give, does what is hard to do, bear what is hard to bear, he confesses his own secrets and keeps your secrets, in times of trouble he does not forsake you, and he does not forsake you when you are down." - Anguttara Nikaya IV.30 ...

Develop the meditation that is like water

"Develop the meditation that is like water, for in so doing, pleasant and unpleasant sensory impressions that have arisen and taken hold of thought will not persist. Just as people wash away faeces and urine, spittle, pus and blood, and yet the water is not troubled, worried or disgusted even so, develop the meditation that is like water. " - ...

Develop the meditation that is love

"Develop the meditation that is love, for by so doing, hatred will be got rid of. Develop the meditation that is compassion, for by doing so, harming will be got rid of. Develop the meditation that is sympathetic joy, for by doing so, dislike will be got rid of. Develop the meditation that is equanimity, for by doing so, sensory ...

Do not be afraid of doing good deeds

"Do not be afraid of doing good deeds. It is another name for happiness. I know well that good deeds lead to a ripening, a blossoming, which is pleasing, joyous and happy for a long time." - Itivuttaka 15 ...

Ethical conduct

"Unsurpassed is the Lord's way of teaching the Dhamma concerning one's proper conduct in virtue. One should be honest and faithful, without deception, chatter, hinting or belittling, not always ready to add gain to gain, but with the sense-doors guarded, moderate in food, a maker of peace, observant, active and strenuous in effort, a meditator, mindful, with proper conversation, steady-going, ...

Father and mother

"There are two people you can never repay. What two? Your father and your mother. Even if you were to carry them on your back and live a hundred years, supporting them, anointing them with medicines, bathing and massaging their limbs and wiping up their excrement after them, even this would not repay them. Even if you were to give ...

Four kinds of happiness

"There are these four kinds of happiness to be won by a householder who enjoys sense pleasures from time to time and when occasion offers. What four? The happiness of ownership, the happiness of wealth, the happiness of freedom from debt and the happiness of blamelessness. And what is the happiness of ownership? Concerning this, a householder has wealth acquired ...

Four persons found in the world

"Potaliya the wanderer came to visit the Lord, greeted him courteousiy, and sat down at one side, and as he did, the Lord said to him: "Potaliya, there are these four persons found in the world. What four? Concerning this, one criticizes that which deserves criticism at the right time, saying what is factual and true, but he does not ...

Four qualities

"With four qualities the wise, intelligent, worthy person goes about - not uprooted, not lifeless, not blameworthy, not censured by the wise. What four? With good conduct of body, speech and mind, and with gratitude, with gratefulness." - Anguttara Nikaya II.228 ...

Friends

"There are four types of people who should be known as enemies disguised as friends: the greedy person, who speaks but does not act, the flatterer and the squanderer. The greedy person is an enemy disguised as a friend for four reasons. He is greedy; he gives little and asks much; if he does what he should, it is only ...

Gains, honours and fame

"Truly dangerous are gains, honours and fame. Concerning this, I have known a man, reading his mind, who even for the sake of a golden bowl filled with silver nuggets would not deliberately tell a lie. That same man have I seen at another time telling lies because his heart was obsessed by gains, honours and fame. Truly dangerous are ...

Generosity

"Is it possible, Lord, to see the visible results of generosity?" And the Lord said: "Yes, it is possible to see the visible results of generosity. The giver, the generous one, is liked and dear to many. This is a visible result of generosity. The good and wise follow him. This is a visible result of generosity. A good reputation ...

Giving up lying

"Giving up lying, one becomes a speaker of the truth, reliable, trustworthy, dependable, not a deceiver of the world. Giving up slander, one does not repeat what is heard here, or repeat here what is heard there, for the purpose of causing divisions between people. Thus, one is a reconciler of those who are divided and a combiner of those ...

Giving up the five hindrances

"Giving up worldly desires, one dwells with a mind free from worldly desires and purified. Giving up ill-will and hatred, one dwells with a mind filled with compassion and love for the welfare of all beings, and purifies the mind of ill-will and hatred. Giving up sloth and laziness, one perceives the light, and mindful and clearly comprehending, one purifies ...

Good deeds

"Many garlands can be made From a heap of flowers. Likewise, many good deeds can be done By one born human. " - Dhammapada 53 ...

Good increases

"The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, which is greater, good or bad?" "Good is greater, Sire; bad is only small." "In what way?" "Sire, someone acting badly is remorseful, saying: 'An evil deed was done by me,‘ and thus evil does not increase. But someone doing good is not remorseful. Because of freedom from remorse, gladness arises, from gladness comes joy, ...

Grasping and worrying

"I will show you grasping and worry and I will show you the letting go of and freedom from grasping and worry. And what is grasping and worry? Concerning this, ordinary folk have this view: "This body is mine, I am this, this is myself." For one like this, the body alters and changes, and owing to this alteration and ...
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