iThink

Buddha

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iThink Buddha contains a selection of citations attributed to Gautama Buddha. They give us an idea of the thinking of one of
the greatest pioneers in Earth‘s recent history. By meditating and contemplating on the thoughts and ideas of Buddha, we
tune into the magnetic field of his consciousness and develop our own in the process. One of our evolutionary goals as a
human species is to transition from an emotional to a mental polarization in our consciousness. One way by which we attain
this mental polarization – which in its turn constitutes but a step to Soul awareness in our brain consciousness – is by
concentrating, meditating and contemplating on the thinking of those pioneers who have succeeded to propel all of humanity
forward on the arc of evolution. As such, iThink Buddha is not just a collection of quotes, it is much more than that. It is a
resource of seed thoughts to take into meditation and evolve via contemplation. And – most importantly – it is a collection of
ideas to put into active practice in our daily lives. In this way, we may not only emulate the thinking of Buddha but we may in
fact actualize a wealth of higher ideas that we all have to realize on our Journey to Awakening.

So here is the idea: Use this collection of citations as a workbook. Work your way through the thinking of Buddha by
spending a day with each one of the ideas presented. Pick a quote, think deeply about it and try to put it into practice
throughout the day. This simple exercise will literally transform your consciousness and life because by focusing your thinking
and directing your activities you will begin to consciously channel some of the energies and forces which it is your
evolutionary goal to master and control.

Gautama Buddha: c. 563 BCE or 480 BCE – c. 483 BCE or c. 400 BCE
Founder of Buddhism
Photo of Buddha by Otgonbayar Ershuu: Wikipedia

! I AM University
www.IAMUniversity.org ⎜ www.TotalEnlightenmentStore.com ⎜www.TotalEnlightenmentCoaching.com ⎜ 2015
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 Make of yourself a light.

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 ๏ The non-doing of any evil, the performance of what's skillful, the
cleansing of one's own mind: This is the Teaching of the
Awakened.

๏ The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings…
As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become.

๏ Make of yourself a light.

๏ Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

_________________________________________
๏ You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who
_________________________________________ is more deserving of your love and affection than you are
yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You,
_________________________________________ yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your
love and affection.
_________________________________________

_________________________________________ ๏ May all that have life be delivered from suffering.

_________________________________________

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๏ Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and
go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of
them all.
๏ Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to
others.
๏ Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life
of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by
being shared.
๏ An idea that is developed and put into action is more important
than an idea that exists only as an idea.
๏ Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the
truth.
๏ All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is
everything. What we think we become.
๏ To insist on a spiritual practice that served you in the past is to
carry the raft on your back after you have crossed the river.
๏ To understand everything is to forgive everything.
๏ You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by
your anger.
 ๏ Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the
purpose of living.

๏ Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

๏ Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except your self.

๏ As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden
your heart with judgments but rain your kindness equally on all.

๏ Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify

another.

๏ There are no chains like hate. Dwelling on your brother's faults

multiplies your own. You are far from the end of your journey.

๏ Following the Noble Path is like entering a dark room with a light
_________________________________________ in the hand; the darkness will all be cleared away, and the room
will be filled with light.
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๏ You are the community now. Be a lamp for yourselves. Be your
_________________________________________ own refuge. Seek for no other. All things must pass. Strive on
diligently. Don’t give up.
_________________________________________

_________________________________________ ๏ However many holy words you read, however many you speak,
what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
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๏ The Gift of Truth excels all other Gifts.

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 ๏ More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an
undisciplined mind does greater harm.

๏ All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

๏ We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.

๏ When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never
leaves.

๏ You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.

๏ When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head
back and laugh at the sky.

๏ The one who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than he
who has defeated a thousand times a thousand men.
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๏ If a traveler does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal,
_________________________________________ let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no
companionship with a fool.
_________________________________________

_________________________________________ ๏ A jug fills drop by drop.

_________________________________________ ๏ The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only
one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment.
_________________________________________

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 ๏ The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.

๏ Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no
matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and
your own common sense.

๏ Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you
will be filled with joy.

๏ Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.

๏ 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.

๏ The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

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๏ Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are
_________________________________________ cherished in the mind.
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๏ Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in
battle, he who conquers his own self, is the greatest of all
_________________________________________
conquerors.
_________________________________________
๏ Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a
_________________________________________ life of service and compassion are the things which renew
humanity.

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 ๏ 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.

๏ The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what

will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you
reject all help are you freed.

๏ No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We

ourselves must walk the path.

๏ Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of

peace.

๏ Rage is a powerful energy that with diligent practice can be

transformed into fierce compassion. However much we disagree
with our enemies, our task is to identify with them. They too feel
justified in their point of view.
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๏ Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who
_________________________________________ is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.
_________________________________________
๏ Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to
everything else.
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_________________________________________ ๏ If you are happy at the expense of another man's happiness you
are forever bound.
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๏ Understand that the body is merely the foam of a wave, the
shadow of a shadow.
๏ There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to
truth: not going all the way, and not starting.
๏ To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of
life. Foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
๏ Nothing is forever except change.
๏ The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for
the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live
in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
๏ It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.
Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by
angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
๏ Look not for recognition but follow the awakened
and set yourself free.
๏ Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to
give yourself to it.
๏ It is you who must make the effort. Masters only point the way.
 ๏ With our thoughts we make the world.

๏ Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

๏ Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do

not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored
by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found
written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely
on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in
traditions because they have been handed down for many
generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find
that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good
and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

๏ If a man's mind becomes pure, his surroundings will also become

pure.

_________________________________________ ๏ Do what you have to do resolutely, with all your heart.

The traveler who hesitates only raises dust on the road.
_________________________________________
๏ Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts.
_________________________________________

_________________________________________ ๏ For whatever you do, you do to yourself.

_________________________________________ ๏ Nowhere! Not in the sky, not in the midst of the ocean, nor deep
in the mountains can you hide from your own mischief.
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 ๏ Do not let pleasure distract you from meditation, from the way.
Free yourself from pleasure and pain.

๏ How easy it is to see your brother's faults. How hard it is to face

your own.

๏ Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings

peace.

๏ Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases
through love. This is an unalterable law.

๏ With gentleness overcome anger.

With generosity overcome meanness.
With truth overcome deceit.

๏ There is pleasure and there is bliss. Forgo the first to possess the
_________________________________________ second.

_________________________________________ ๏ Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you.
_________________________________________
๏ Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own
thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, no one can help you as
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much, not even your father or your mother.
_________________________________________
๏ You too shall pass away. Knowing this, how can you quarrel?
_________________________________________

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 ๏ People with opinions just go around bothering one another.

๏ Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people

will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.

๏ Life is a river always flowing. Do not hold onto things. Work hard.

๏ Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.

๏ If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look
after us?

๏ All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of

causes and conditions.

๏ The tongue like a sharp knife kills without drawing blood.

_________________________________________ ๏ Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with

diligence.
_________________________________________
๏ Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate
_________________________________________ the mind on the present moment.
_________________________________________
๏ Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who
_________________________________________ envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

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 ๏ Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.
Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the
oxen that draws it. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that
never leaves.

๏ A family is a place where minds come in contact with one

another. If these minds love one another the home will be as
beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of
harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with
the garden.

๏ He is able who thinks he is able.

๏ Be greatly aware of the present.

๏ Most problems, if you give them enough time and space, will
eventually wear themselves out.
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๏ Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and
_________________________________________ control, yet better, indeed, is a single day’s life of one who is wise
and meditative.
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_________________________________________ ๏ An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild

beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will
_________________________________________ wound your mind.

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๏ He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all
beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything
with an impartial eye.
๏ Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth,
faithfulness the best relationship.
๏ 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.
๏ If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.
๏ To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own
in the midst of abundance.
๏ Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the
aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak
and wrong. Sometime in your life, you will have been all of these.
๏ Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without
a spiritual life.
๏ I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be
done.
๏ As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the
master directs his straying thoughts.
 ๏ When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

๏ In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west. People create

distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be
true.

๏ Do not speak - unless it improves on silence.

๏ If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would
not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

๏ We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world.

๏ Short is the life of human beings, one should live as if one's head
was on fire.

_________________________________________ ๏ To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to

bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own
_________________________________________ mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to
Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to
_________________________________________ him.
_________________________________________
๏ All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed
_________________________________________ can wrong-doing remain?

_________________________________________ ๏ In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased

striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.

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 ๏ Those who are awake live in a state of constant amazement.

๏ 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.

๏ Our life is a creation of our mind.

๏ In separateness lies the world's greatest misery; in compassion lies

the world's true strength.

๏ Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a

glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a
lake is almost unnoticed.

๏ A child without courage is like a night without stars.

_________________________________________
๏ When you come upon a path that brings benefit and happiness to
_________________________________________ all, follow this course as the moon journeys through the stars.
_________________________________________
๏ Kindness should become the natural way of life, not the
exception.
_________________________________________

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 ๏ 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.

๏ 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.

๏ The wise ones fashion speech with their thought, sifting it as grain
is sifted through a sieve.

๏ Doubt everything. Find your own light.

๏ In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How
fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?
_________________________________________
๏ You only lose what you cling to.
_________________________________________
๏ Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what
_________________________________________ matters most.
_________________________________________
๏ If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
_________________________________________
๏ Speak the truth, do not become angered and give when asked,
_________________________________________ even be it a little. By these three conditions one goes to the
presence of the gods.

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 ๏ If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole
life would change.

๏ You throw thorns, falling in my silence they become flowers.

๏ Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.

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