Buddha

Nothing ever exists entirely alone. Everything is in relation to everything else.

The greatest impurity is ignorance. Free yourself from it. Be pure.

Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.

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.

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

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

[on enlightenment] Body and mind dropped off.

To be like Christ is to be a Christian.

I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now? Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.

Heaven and earth and I are of the same root, The ten-thousand things and I are of one substance.

I think every person should have some faith inside him, in his heart. What matters is not an external display of this faith, but the inner state of the soul.

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

If God lived on earth, people would break his windows.

To a brave man, good and bad luck are like his left and right hand. He uses both.

Which is it, is man one of God’s blunders or is God one of man’s?

The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.

Right now, it’s like this.

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

I’m essentially agnostic. I don’t have a problem with God. I have a problem with religion. I’ve chosen to live my life without the certainties of religious faith. I think they’re dangerous. Music is something that gives my life value and spiritual solace.

It’s all God’s will: you can die in your sleep, and God can spare you in battle.

The ordinary mind is the way.