Buddhist proverbs[1]
These are the words of the Buddha.[2]
1.
You are your own refuge.
2. A well-trained mind is the beacon of happiness.
2.
Nobody is more beloved than one’s own self.
3.
You are stained by your
own evil deeds.
4.
A wise man learns how to train himself.
5.
An earnest person who perseveres in his concentration will attain the
highest bliss.
6.
It is better to leave all evils undone.
7.
It’s better to do good.
8.
Those who do good
receive good; those who do evil receive evil.
9.
Sensual desire comes
from the thoughts which are allowed to wander uncontrolled.
10.
Sensual appetites could
never be gratified, even if gold was to rain.
11.
Never is there more
suffering than arising from sensual pleasure.
12.
Never is there any river
like the river of Craving.
13.
Desires are the most
difficult thing to get rid of.
14.
Desires are unlimited.
15.
Never is there any fire
like the fire of lust.
16.
Never is there a trap
like the trap of ignorance.
17.
Pleasure seekers usually
run after more and more pleasure.
18.
A fool, through his own
greed for wealth, kills himself as well as others.
19.
Sentient beings are
wrapped up in a cocoon of ignorance.
20.
Anger never pays.
21.
Anger is like the eating
of rust from a weapon.
22.
Anger leads to
destruction.
23.
Anger makes the mind
restless.
24.
Anger develops from
impatience.
25.
Anger causes the
greatest mistakes
26.
Happy is he who has
killed anger.
27.
A man is deprived of his
virtue when he is angry.
28.
He who is given to anger
brings about his own suffering
29.
He who is overpowered by
anger destroys the goodness and benefit that he already possesses.
30.
An angry person easily
destroys what is difficult to do when he is sober.
31.
Cut away your anger with
the knife of self restraint.
32.
Cut away your anger with
the knife of wisdom.
33.
Forbearance is the
highest practice of morality.
34.
Forbearance is always
crowned with happiness.
35.
Forbearance is the power
for those who meditate.
36.
Gods and men always love
a person endowed with forbearance
37.
Beings are lead by their
own thoughts.
38.
A stained mind is
destined to a miserable existence
39.
An unstained mind is
destined to a blissful existence.
40.
He who acts upon his
impulse always has to regret.
41.
A wise man always tames
his mind.
42.
Watch and guard your mind as carefully as one who carries a bowl full of
oil.
43.
A wise man always curbs his restless mind.
44.
An evil kamma always has a burning effect.
45.
It is difficult to do a kamma
(action),
which is both good and beneficial.
46. Safeguard your
virtue against decline, just as salt never loses its saltiness.
47.
Anger characterises a fool.
48.
There is no shelter or protection for him who has been overcome by
anger.
49.
Patience is the highest practice of morality.
50.
Patience is always crowned with happiness.
51.
Patience is the power of those who meditate.
52.
A person endowed with patience is always loved by gods and men.
.
53.
A well-guarded mind brings about happiness.
54.
The flavour of truth surpasses all other flavours.
55.
To take delight in truth transcends all other delights.
56.
One should overcome an evil person by virtue.
57.
One should overcome an angry person by not being angry.
58.
One should overcome a misery person by charity.
59.
One should overcome a liar by truthfulness.
60.
A discriminating charity is recommended by the Buddha.
61.
A giver of happiness usually gains happiness for himself.
62.
He who gives out increases his merit.
63.
Dhamma is like a lucid lake.
64.
The nature of the wise is very difficult to understand.
65.
The nature of the wise never suffers any deterioration.
66.
The virtuous live for the welfare of the others.
67.
Blessed is he who takes delight in the dhamma.
68.
Those who follow the dhamma live a happy life.
69.
The virtuous are protected by their own virtues.
70.
All kinds of phenomena must not be grasped at or clung to.
71.
Let a man do good for the sake of good.
72.
Of all the paths, the Noble Eightfold path is the excellent and the only
Path to Immortality.
73.
Whatever is born is to die.
74.
Health is wealth.
75.
It is difficult to be able to see a Buddha.
76.
The decline of life goes on gradually and incessantly.
77.
An opportunity is auspicious in itself. There is no connection with the
stars.
78.
Moderation is always advisable.
79.
Shame of sin and fear of its results help prevent the world from
destruction.
80.
Loving-kindness cements the people of the world.
81.
Jealousy leads to destruction of the world.
82.
An ungrateful person
cannot be satisfied even with the gift of the whole world.
83.
To be moved by compassion is a character of a great person.
84.
It is difficult to be born a human being.
85.
It is difficult to listen to the words of the virtuous.
86.
It is difficult for a Buddha to be born.
87.
Beauty or grace is spoiled through laziness.
88.
A person’s stain or purity is individual.
89.
None can purify another.
90.
One’s own faults are difficult to see, while others’ are easy to find.
91.
Never is there a secret place for those who commit a sin.
92.
Never in the world is there attachment without suffering.
93.
Female condition is very difficult to understand.
94.
In a critical moment, a brave man is needed.
95.
In face of a problem, a wise man is always welcome.
96.
Do not be infatuated by honour.
97.
Always develop the idea of renunciation.
98.
Those who search for the peace of mind are advised to sacrifice all
worldly pleasures.
99.
Let a man have an evenness of behaviour, both in an open and secret
place.
100.
Never boast of what has not been attained.
101.
Find out a refuge for your mind. Never live without a mental refuge.[3]
102.
Hope for health, which is the greatest wealth.
103.
Don’t brood over the past.
104.
Don’t worry about the future.
105.
Wisdom is the brightest light.
106.
Wisdom is the outcome of patience.
107.
Wisdom declines because of negligence.
108.
Wisdom is higher than wealth.
109.
A fool can never practise any meditation.
110.
To listen attentively is the cause of wisdom.
111.
A life guided by wisdom is an excellent one.
112.
A layman equipped with wisdom lives for the welfare of the many.
113.
They who are absorbed in pleasure are like dead man.
114.
Suffering is the outcome of the accumulated evil.
115.
Happiness is the outcome of the retreat from evil.
116.
People commit evil because of his own ignorance.
117.
While I am discussing the dhamma, there is no staining evil.
118.
A wise man equipped with morality shines like a blazing fire.
119.
A wise man carefully guards his senses.
120.
A wise man is not a fault-finder.
121.
The words of the virtuous do not concern sensual pleasure.
122.
Whoever does not speak according to the dhamma is not a virtuous one.
123.
He who has calmed his restless mind lives a happy life.
124.
A fool is always a fault-finder.
125.
Experience comes from careful judgement.
126.
Never is there a person who is not blamed.
127.
An honest person does not make a false statement.
128.
Parents are the children’s incarnated gods.
129.
Parents are the children’s first teachers.
130.
Parents are the children’s highest source of worship.
131.
The span of life, according to the wise, is very short.
132.
Old age cannot be wiped away by wealth.
133.
Never does a man live long because of his wealth.
134.
All beings, the rich and the poor, are all doomed to death.
135.
A mother is a real friend at home.
136.
A real friend is helpful in time of need.
137.
If you cannot find a good friend, then wander alone and do not do any
evil.
138.
If a king is righteous, then the people is happy.
139.
The words of the virtuous are the same as their thoughts.
140.
Those who utter harsh words usually have to regret.
141.
Cleanliness of the mind may be known through words.
142.
Never say what you will regret.
143.
Patience is the cause of freedom from suffering.
144.
A hard working person is rewarded with peace of mind.
145.
He who does his duty reluctantly will never be able to achieve any
success.
146.
He who does his duty willingly is sure to achieve success.
147.
Hatred ceases by love.
148.
Never can hatred cease by hatred.
149.
The taste of truth excels all other tastes.
150.
Mindfulness keeps a person awake.
151.
Mindfulness is always and everywhere needed.
152.
A mindful person is happy.
153.
A mindful person is better everyday.
154.
Contentment is a greatest wealth.
155.
To be satisfied with what one has is the cause of happiness.
156.
Blessed is he who is in solitude, is content, and has realised all
things as they are.
157.
Morality brings happiness until old age.
158.
Non-violence brings happiness.
159.
Peace is the highest bliss.
160.
Nibbana is the highest bliss.
161.
The Buddha’s births are for welfare of the many.
162.
Danger comes from over-confidence.
163.
Too much association lessens the love between each other.
164.
Suffering comes from association with the vicious.
165.
To associate with the wise is a cause of happiness.
[1] These proverbs will help to enhance the better understanding of this book. Please notice that the Buddha did not try to convince us to believe in anything beyond our comprehension. His words are incredibly ordinary, yet full of wisdom. We can easily follow and agree with him. However, those who can get the most out of these proverbs are the ones who engage in the practice of the four foundations of awareness.
[2] Extracts from The Buddhist Proverbs-Buddhasasanasubhasita-collected by His Royal Highness Prince Vajirananavarorasa, the late supreme patriarch of Thailand. Translated into English by Pra-maha Prayong Kittitharo, published by The Mahamakut Educational Council 1967/2510
[3] The ultimate mental refuge is innocent perception.