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Gautama Buddha

Gautama Buddha Quotes

Founding Figure

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha, was a spiritual leader and the founder of Buddhism. Born in the 6th century BC in the region of Lumbini, Nepal, he renounced his princely life to seek enlightenment. His teachings, emphasizing the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, have profoundly influenced the lives of millions around the world.

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Famous Gautama Buddha Quotes

“If you don't see God in the next person you meet, look no further.”

Ifs Looks Persons Next Buddhist

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.”

Ifs Mind Courses Water Clear Meditation Buddhist Settling Upset Mind Set Cloudy

Author:Gautama Buddha

“A virtuous man or woman who is determined to develop the Supreme Enlightened Mind, should thus develop it: I have to lead all living beings to put a stop to (reincarnation) and escape (suffering), and when they have been so led, not one of them in fact stops (reincarnating) or escapes suffering. Why? Because, if a Bodhisattva believes in the notion of an ego, a personality, or a living being, he is not a true Bodhisattva.”

Ifs Men Should Mind Believe Has Beens Facts Suffering Personality Ego Notion Determined Supreme Buddhist Enlightened Virtuous Reincarnation Bodhisattva

Author:Gautama Buddha

“The poisonous serpent of afflictions is sleeping in your mind; just as if a black viper were asleep in your room. You must use the hook of precepts to quickly remove it. When the sleeping snake is gone, then you can rest at ease.”

Ifs Life Mind Use Black Sleep Rooms Gone Buddhist Ease Remove Affliction Snakes Hook Serpent Poisonous Sleeping In Your Room Vipers

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Thus all things are subject to death, sorrow and suffering. I became aware that I too was of the same nature, the nature of beginning and end. What if I searched for that which underlies all creation, that which is nirvana, the perfect freedom from unconditioned existence?”

Ifs Ends Suffering Perfect Existence Subjects Creation Sorrow All Things Buddhist What If Beginnings And Ends

Author:Gautama Buddha

“For those who are ready the door to the deathless state is open. If you have ears give up the conditions that bind you and enter in.”

Ifs Giving States Doors Conditions Ready Giving Up Ears Buddhist Deathless

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If there is no other world and there is no fruit and ripening of actions well done or ill done, then here and now in this life I shall be free from hostility, affliction, and anxiety, and I shall live happily.”

Ifs World Wells Done Action Anxiety Fruit Ill Buddhist This Life Affliction Hostility Here And Now Other Worlds Well Done Ripening

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If it is not truthful and not helpful, don't say it. If it is truthful and not helpful, don't say it. If it is not truthful and helpful, don't say it. If it is truthful and helpful, wait for the right time.”

Ifs Waiting Buddhist Helpful Truthful Right Time

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If a man can control his body and mind and thereby refrains from eating animal flesh and wearing animal products, I say he will really be liberated.”

Ifs Men Mind Body Animal Products Eating Flesh Buddhist Mind And Body Vegetarianism Liberated Refrain Eating Animals

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Meat-eating is condemned by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas; if one devours meat out of shamelessness he will always be devoid of sense.”

Ifs Eating Buddhist Meat Meat Eating Bodhisattva

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Even if a fool lived with a wise man all his life, he would still not recognise the truth, like a wooden spoon cannot recognise the flavour of the soup.”

Ifs Men Stills Wise Fool Buddhist Soup Recognise Spoons Flavour Wooden Spoons

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If we destroy something around us we destroy ourselves. If we cheat another, we cheat ourselves.”

Ifs Buddhist Cheat

Author:Gautama Buddha

“No one can escape death and unhappiness. If people expect only happiness in life, they will be disappointed.”

People Ifs Buddhist Unhappiness Disappointed Life Happiness

Author:Gautama Buddha

“There is, Oh Monks, a not-born, a not-become, a not-made, a not-compounded. Monks, if that unborn, not-become, not-made, not-compounded were not, there would be no escape from this here that is born, become, made and compounded.”

Ifs Made Would Be Born Buddhist Monk Unborn

Author:Gautama Buddha

“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. A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.”

Ifs Evil Secret Mistake Hot Treasure Buddhist Imperfection Throwing Burned Good Friend Coal Holding On Grasping Rebuke Wise Buddhist Hidden Treasure Real Buddhist

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”

Source: The Dhammapada

“Live every act fully, as if it were your last.”

Ifs Life Lasts Family Live Life Loving Life

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox. Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form.”

Ifs Mind Form Suffering Speak Meditation Pure Shadow Wheels Footsteps

Author:Gautama Buddha

“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind. If a man speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering will follow him as the wheel of the cart follows the beast that draws the cart. If a man speaks or acts with a pure mind, joy follows him as his own shadow.”

Ifs Men Mind Today Life Is Joy Suffering Speak Our Lives Meditation Creation Tomorrow Pure Draws Shadow Yesterday Beast Wheels Our Thoughts Carts

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.”

Ifs Helping Light Truth Spirituality Path Buddhism Helping Others Making A Difference Lamps Buddhist Life Zen Life

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Do not believe anything because it is said by an authority, or if it is said to come from angels, or from Gods, or from an inspired source. Believe it only if you have explored it in your own heart and mind and body and found it to be true. Work out your own path, through diligence.”

Ifs Mind Believe Heart Said Body Found Religious Path Source Authority Angel Inspired Work Out Being True Heart And Mind Mind And Body Diligence

Author:Gautama Buddha

“But if you miss it, you will next be confronted with the angry deities, ... threatening you and barring your passage ... because you turned a deaf ear to the saving truths of religion. All these forms are strange to you, ... they terrify you, ... and yet it is you who have created them. Do not give in to your fright, ... flee them not! They are but ... the contents of your own mind... If at this point you should manage to understand that, ... and you will find yourself in a paradise among the angels.”

Ifs Giving Should Mind Book Form Next Missing Strange Holy Angel Ears Angry Manage Saving Paradise Finding Yourself Passages Threatening Deaf Deities Fright Holy Books Deaf Ears

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Mind precedes all phenomena, mind matters most, everything is mind-made. If with an impure mind, you speak or act, then suffering follows you as the cartwheel follows the foot of the draft animal. If with a pure mind, you speak or act, then happiness follows you as a shadow that never departs”

Ifs Mind Made Matter Inspiration Suffering Speak Animal Feet Pure Shadow Cartwheels

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Thoughtfulness is the way to deathlessness, thoughtlessness the way to death. The thoughtful do not die: the thoughtless are as if dead already.”

Ifs Way Suffering Dies Thoughtful Thoughtfulness Thoughtlessness

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you hold yourself dear, protect yourself well.”

Ifs Wells Protect Dear Protect Yourself

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you find someone with wisdom, good judgment, and good actions; make him a companion.”

Ifs Action Judgment Companion Good Actions Good Judgment

Author:Gautama Buddha

“The masters only point the way. But if you meditate And follow the dharma You will free yourself from desire. 'Everything arises and passes away.' When you see this, you are above sorrow. This is the shining way.”

Ifs Way Desire Meditation Masters Sorrow Shining Arise Dharma Passing Away Free Yourself

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If a man's thoughts are muddy, If he is reckless and full of deceit, How can he wear the yellow robe? Whoever is master of his own nature, Bright, clear and true, He may indeed wear the yellow robe.”

Ifs Men May Clear Meditation Masters Deceit Yellow Reckless Robes Muddy

Author:Gautama Buddha

“How can a troubled mind Understand the way? If a man is disturbed He will never be filled with knowledge. An untroubled mind, No longer seeking to consider What is right and what is wrong, A mind beyond judgements, Watches and understands. Know that the body is a fragile jar, And make a castle of your mind. In every trial Let understanding fight for you To defend what you have won.”

Ifs Knows Men Way Mind Body Fighting Understanding Watches Meditation Filled Seeking Trials Judgement Fragile Castles Disturbed Jars

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you endeavor to embrace the Way through much learning, the Way will not be understood. If you observe the Way with simplicity of heart, great indeed is this Way.”

Ifs Way Heart Meditation Understood Embrace Simplicity Endeavor

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Wakefulness is the way to life. The fool sleeps As if he were already dead, But the master is awake And he lives forever.”

Ifs Way Sleep Forever Meditation Masters Fool Awake

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Moved by their selfish desires, people seek after fame and glory. But when they have acquired it, they are already stricken in years. If you hanker after worldly fame and practise not the Way, your labors are wrongfully applied and your energy is wasted. It is like unto burning an incense stick. However much its pleasing odor be admired, the fire that consumes is steadily burning up the stick.”

People Ifs Way Years Desire Energy Fire Meditation Fame Glory Labor Moved Sticks Selfish Burning Worldly Practise Odor Incense Selfish Desire

Author:Gautama Buddha

“An unreflective mind is a poor roof. Passion, like the rain, floods the house. But if the roof is strong, there is shelter. Whoever follows impure thoughts Suffers in this world and the next. In both worlds he suffers And how greatly.”

Ifs World Mind Suffering Passion Next House Strong Poor Meditation This World Rain Shelter Flood Roof Impure Thoughts

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If the traveller can find A virtuous and wise companion Let him go with him joyfully And overcome the dangers of the way. But if you cannot find Friend or master to go with you, Travel on alone.”

Ifs Way Wise Meditation Danger Masters Overcoming Companion Virtuous Traveller Let Him Go

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you sleep, Desire grows in you Like a vine in the forest. Like a monkey in the forest You jump from tree to tree, Never finding the fruit - From life to life, Never finding peace. If you are filled with desire Your sorrows swell Like the grass after the rain. But if you subdue desire Your sorrows shall fall from you Like drops of water from a lotus flower.”

Ifs Desire Fall Grows Water Sleep Meditation Tree Flower Sorrow Findings Rain Filled Fruit Forests Grass Monkeys Finding Peace Vines Drop Of Water Lotuses Lotus Flower After The Rain

Author:Gautama Buddha

“There is pleasure And there is bliss. Forgo the first to possess the second. If you are happy At the expense of another man's happiness, You are forever bound.”

Ifs Men Firsts Pleasure Forever Meditation Bounds Bliss Expenses Another Man

Author:Gautama Buddha

“There is nothing like lust. Lust may be said to be the most powerful passion. Fortunately, we have but one thing which is more powerful. If the thirst for truth were weaker than passion, how many of us in the world would be able to follow the way of righteous?”

Ifs World Way May Said Would Be Able Passion Powerful Meditation One Thing Lust Most Powerful Righteous Thirst

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you determine your course With force or speed, You miss the way of the dharma. Quietly consider What is right and what is wrong. Receiving all opinions equally, Without haste, wisely, Observe the dharma.”

Ifs Way Courses Force Opinion Meditation Missing Determine Speed Receiving Dharma Haste

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If one man kills a hundred men, and another man masters himself, the second man is the much greater warrior.”

Ifs Men Courage Greater Masters Integrity Hundred Warrior One Man Another Man

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If we can look upon our work not for self-benefit,but as a means to benefit society,we will be practicing appreciation and patience in our daily lives.”

Ifs Looks Mean Self Discipline Benefits Ethics Appreciation Look Up Daily Life Self Discipline

Author:Gautama Buddha

“This is my child, this is my wealth: such thoughts are the preoccupations of fools. If we are unable to own even ourselves, why make such claims?”

Ifs Life Children Wealth Fool Letting Go Claims My Children Preoccupation

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Sometime, somewhere you take something to be the truth. But if you cling to it too strongly, then even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it.”

Ifs Persons Doors Inspirational Life

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given.”

Ifs Knows Giving Given Results

Author:Gautama Buddha

“A good friend who points out mistakes is to be respected, as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.”

Ifs Secret Mistake Climate Change Treasure Good Friend Rebuke Wise Buddhist Hidden Treasure Real Buddhist

Author:Gautama Buddha

“There are having flowers in Spring, breezes in Summer, moon in Autumn, snows in Winter. If there is nothing worrying over you, it will be the best seasons at all times.”

Ifs Worry Grace Flower Moon Summer Spring Seasons Harmony Winter Snow All Time Being The Best Autumn Over You Breeze

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Embrace nothing: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Only live your life as it is, Not bound to anything.”

Ifs Father Embrace Bounds Live Your Life

Author:Gautama Buddha

“All the holy words you read and all the holy words you speak are as nothing if you do not act upon them. Even if you read little and say little but live the right way, forsaking craving, hatred and delusion, you will know the truth and find calmness and will show others the path.”

Ifs Knows Way Littles Shows Speak Path Holy Hatred Delusion Right Way Craving Calmness Words You Speak

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present.”

Ifs Want Looks Past Causes Results

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If the traveler cannot find master or friend to go with him, let him travel alone rather than with a fool for company.”

Ifs Company Masters Fool Traveler

Author:Gautama Buddha

“If desires are not uprooted, sorrows grow again in you.”

Ifs Desire Grows Sorrow

Author:Gautama Buddha

About the Author

Born: 567 BC
Died: 484 BC
Known for: Founding Figure
Quotes: 1183

Related Topics

Buddhist Mind Ifs Men Buddhism Wise Way World Suffering Meditation Doe Wise Buddhist Knows Should Heart Giving Evil Real Buddhist Siddhartha Inspirational Buddhist

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Books & Sources

The DhammapadaRelated source material

Zen DogsRelated source material

Zen KittensRelated source material

Zen Puppies: Meditations for the Wise Minds of Puppy LoversRelated source material

The Lotus SutraRelated source material

DhammapadaRelated source material

Sayings of BuddhaRelated source material

The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima NikayaRelated source material

The splendour of enlightenment (sambodhipabhāsakathā: a life of the BuddhaRelated source material

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