LIFE LESSONS AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT
10 Profound Quotes Of The Buddha
If Applied, Will Change The Course Of Life Forever
In this journey called life, we spend countless years revolving around the same mundane experiences, same mundane emotions. We exist yet are afraid to experience what existence has to offer. At the same time, there’re those who, rather than wading in shallow waters, took a risk to dive deep and explore the depths of their being and attained highest human potential. Either by their own understanding and knowledge or by following the path laid out clearly by ancient enlightened sages.
To reach our fullest potential, perhaps, it may be wise to borrow the wisdom of those who walked the earth ages before us. For indeed there is nothing new under the sun. The same tenets that birthed and fulfilled many lives in the past still have application in the technological era we live in today.
Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (means an enlightened one), was twenty-nine years old when his life changed. Prince Siddhartha first saw a sick person, then an old man, then a corpse. This shook him to the core of his being. He realized that his privileged status would not protect him from sickness, old age, and death.
Siddhartha Gautama, the prince renounced his worldly life, began a spiritual quest and sat in meditation beneath “the Bodhi tree” until he reached his highest human potential until he realized enlightenment. And from that time on, he spent the rest of his life teaching people.
Buddha set in motion the wheel of teaching and his teachings can be summed up in one word: Dhamma. The Buddha appeals to man to be noble, pure, and charitable not to please any Supreme Deity, but to be true to the highest in himself.
The teachings of Buddha have guided me in every area of my life — spiritual, personal and professional and I believe these teachings can help all of us face the challenges and choices we encounter daily.
Allow me to share some of the profound wisdom words of The Great Buddha. If understood and applied correctly, they provide valuable tools to help us navigate the path to personal and professional enlightenment.
1. 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.
We must find our convictions and follow them. If we navigate life without a belief we become lost in the maze that is existence itself. By defining what we believe, we get vision which shines a light on the path to achieving our destiny. We must be fully certain of what we hold fast and never be swayed by the winds of doctrine.
How To Apply
We must find time to introspect on our convictions and what lies within us. Reason out any argument before we accept it as truth and believe only when it proves itself to our conscience.
2. Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.
The seemingly small steps and actions we take daily add up to the big things. To avoid getting overwhelmed, there is much wisdom in taking things one step at a time.
Never despise the small beginnings for it is from there that greatness can be achieved, a little bite-sized chunk at a time.
How To Apply
Break down bigger and numerous tasks into smaller manageable tasks throughout the day. Manage time more effectively and allocate a specific time to each task.
Start wherever you are, with the little that you have. Small consistent efforts over time will build-up to the business of your dreams.
3. Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.
It is better to try and to fail than to live a life in perceived security with the potential to achieve nothing. A full life is a life of taking calculated risks, even though we may fail sometimes but it is better than never having tried.
How To Apply
Rather than overthinking our plans and business ventures we must go out and start. Live, love and be yourself, if it fails get up and try again.
4. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
It is true love and compassion that brings out the very best in people, but more often than not we find it easier to express our love towards other people but never to ourselves. We give so much of ourselves and never take the time to care for ourselves. Self-love is an essential component in our lives, for how can we know how to love another is we do not love ourselves?
The love that I speak of here is not one driven by ego and pride but rather appreciating oneself and realizing that you are as important as the next person.
How To Apply
We must remove ourselves from toxic soul suckers who do not add any value to us. We must do things that make up happy, find time to enjoy our own company, reflect more, and care for ourselves.
The world does not stop and so we must find time for ourselves lest we are drowned in the sea of everything going on around us that we become crushed in loving others.
How to help others without burning out and hurting yourself, please read my curated article ‘When Empathy Leads To Burnout’ here:
5. Mind is the forerunner of all actions. All deeds are led by mind, created by the mind. If one speaks or acts with a serene mind, happiness follows, as surely as one’s shadow.
We must never underestimate the power of the mind, for we become what we think. If we think we can achieve then it can be done, but if we doubt, we fail to realize what could have been.
How To Apply
We must focus our mind on thinking positive thoughts, affirming our ability, and dispelling any thoughts of doubt that can linger in our minds. Read-only that which strengthens our resolve and avoid people who only speak words of fear and doubt.
6. Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot at least, we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.
Being grateful sows the seed for happiness in our lives. If we get caught up in grumbling and complaining we allow the roots of bitterness to creep in and sour our inner being.
There is always something to be grateful for if things did not go your way, at least you learned something. We must be grateful for the things around us, for the ability to rise and try another time.
How To Apply
Practice the habit of being grateful. When you wake up in the morning verbalize three things you are grateful for. Take the time to note something to be grateful for, there is always something to be grateful for.
When you are grateful, the universe opens for you to receive much more.
7. I shall live here in the rains, there in winter, elsewhere in summer, muses the fool. Not aware of the nearness of death.
Focusing on the future and waiting to live until we accomplish our dreams is a way to keep our lives trapped in stress, dissatisfaction, and suffering. We must enjoy the journey of life for as long we have it, for death is a certainty.
We must make the most out of every day that we have. If we fixate on a future guaranteed to no one, we risk not enjoying the present. Yet life is the everyday moments, not in the culmination.
It is only in the present can we remain mindful and be completely happy.
How To Apply
Treasurer each moment as it comes, enjoy the little everyday things. Take time with those we love, find time to help other people, never be in a rush to get to a destination lest you miss out on life.
8. Oneself, indeed, is one’s, own protector. One does, indeed one’s own destiny. Therefore, control yourself as a merchant does a fine horse.
We must walk our path to achieve our highest potential, our enlightenment. Expecting other people to come and do it for us is foolhardy and will only bring resentment and suffering to us.
How To Apply
What we fail to achieve we must not blame everyone but ourselves for our shortcomings. If we shift the blame and responsibility for our lives we will forever remain stuck in unpleasant circumstances. It is only when a man can acknowledge his own shortcomings can true progress be made.
9. Know from the rivers in clefts and crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever is not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet.
Take time to reflect, have moments of silence that allow you to hear the universe, to find the void within you, to know yourself, and to be mindful. There is a contentment to be found in silence.
How To Apply
We must take the time to have moments of silence, meditation, prayer, retreat to drown the noise of the world around us that we may become attuned to what lies within us. Only then can we bring out the best in us and achieve all that we are capable of.
To understand the power of silence in today’s digital age, read my curated article ‘The Sound Of Silence In Today’s Digital Age’ here:
10. Understanding is the heartwood of well-spoken words.
Integrity compassion for others will yield understanding, one of the greatest asset in life and business. Our words must be sprinkled with kindness and understanding. A kind word will form long-lasting relationships which have the potential to yield much fruit in our lives and our business.
How To Apply
We must carefully consider the words we speak in our business conduct, avoid inflicting hurt and pain on people. Think before we speak.
To understand and cultivate the subtle art of listening in this cacophonous world, read my curated article ‘Listening Beyond The Words’ here:
