Click Here To Solve ShynessBuddha was a wise dude. I am by no means a Buddhist, but I do enjoy many of the teachings and philosophies of Buddhism.
There’s no need to stick to one teaching, one person, and one book. We can pick what feels right to us. The following life lessons are quotes from Buddha.
I’ve written about what they represent to me, so remember to stop and think about what you’re feeling as you read them.
Be aware of any tension, feelings, and thoughts that arise and just let them be.
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1. “A jug fills drop by drop.”
To me this signifies patience. In life, things build up slowly. This is especially apparent for me as I’m taking my online business to the next level.
So often we want to rush and get to our goals, but when we take a deep breath, relax, and think about it; the journey is actually what really matters.
2. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
Let’s face it, we worry too much, and it isn’t getting us anywhere. The majority of the time you spend dwelling on the past or worrying about the future is time wasted.
When you feel your mind drifting away from the present moment, bring it back, and be completely in the now. Feel your body, observe your surroundings, listen to the silence between sounds, and enjoy.
3. “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
You cannot fight for peace. Wars cannot be stopped by having more wars. Patience, forgiveness, and love are what we have to use if we want to make this planet a better place.
It is easier said than done, of course, but it is what needs to be done. As we grow and become more compassionate, these characteristics will naturally become a stronger part of us.
4. “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.”
How often have you held onto anger and replayed it over and over in your mind? If you’re anything like me, you’ve done it at least a few times.
It feels like it’s helping, but it really isn’t. When someone has done something to you, or something has happened, it may feel good to be angry, but anger never solves anything. It will only keep you stuck and miserable.
5. “In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”
Whenever your beliefs are challenged, you will feel resistance. That’s when you have to be aware of what’s going on and stay open-minded.
Life is not about who’s right and who’s wrong, it’s about personal growth. Stay open to new ideas and implement them if they are useful to you.
6. “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.”
Borders, countries, and race do not exist anywhere but in our minds. We ourselves make these decisions. Isn’t it time that we start rethinking and start looking at ourselves as one human race?
Think about the distinctions you make every day and how they affect your life. Are all of them what you want them to be?
7. “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
You alone are responsible for your life. If your life isn’t where you want it to be, it certainly doesn’t feel like that, but remember, you have the power to change, if you choose to do so.
Making excuses, blaming, and wallowing will get you nowhere. You alone must take responsibility and walk your path.
8. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
Happiness, peace, and joy all come from within. Sure, external circumstances may make you happy in the short-term, but they cannot bring you long-term joy.
There are ways to be happier working a job you hate, and there are ways to be miserable being your own boss. When you have enough, more money and more stuff will have a diminishing effect on your happiness.
9. “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
What do you focus on? Where are your thoughts right now? Where your focus goes, energy flows, so be very aware of what is going on in your inner space.
The mind needs stimulation. It wants to fix things, so much so that it can create problems in order to have something to solve.
10. “He is able who thinks he is able.”
Something I talk about a lot is finding your passion and making a living doing what you love. Some people are more than willing to give me a list of reasons for why they could never do what I do, while others jump right in and start making it work for them.
If you think you can, you can, but if you think you can’t, you can’t. There will always be obstacles in your way, and if you are constantly thinking negatively, you will run out of steam.
11. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Last, but not least: go easy on yourself. I’ve been working for myself and challenging the status quo ever since I got out of school at the ripe age of 18. I can be extremely harsh to myself, but during the last few years, I’ve learned that being okay with not being perfect is essential to my inner health.
You will make mistakes. You won’t know everything, so keep an open-mind, relax, and enjoy this journey we call life.
Follow your heart, your gut, and your intuition. They are there to keep you moving in the right direction.
You won’t always know what’s going on, but as long as you follow your excitement, and your passion, you will be on the right path.
Next –> Buddha’s Wisdom
This was a guest post by Henri Junttila, who writes at the Wake Up Cloud, where he leads the way to passion and freedom. He is also the author of Passionate Living: A Guide To Doing What You Love.
