Home / Topics / Enlightenment Quotes

Enlightenment Quotes

Browse 3092 quotes about Enlightenment.

Enlightenment Quotes

“Determine where you are and where you wish to be. Then use all of your self-effort to make that happen, following the guiding principles of all the Buddhas and bohisattvas and seekers of the dharma, of enlightenment.”

Self Use Happens Wish Effort Principles Enlightenment Intention Determine Following Where You Are Seekers Dharma Guiding Principles

Author:Frederick Lenz

“As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain that human beings are endowed with Dharma-nature by birth. If this is the case, why did the Buddhas of all ages - undoubtedly in possession of enlightenment - find it necessary to seek enlightenment and engage in spiritual practice?”

Ifs Humans Age School Spiritual Human Beings Practice Cases Study Buddhism Birth Enlightenment Possession Dharma Spiritual Practice Esoteric

Author:Dogen

“Right now we have obtained a human rebirth and have the opportunity to attain enlightenment through Dharma practice, so if we waste this precious opportunity in meaningless activities there is no greater loss and no greater foolishness.”

Ifs Humans Opportunity Loss Practice Greater Right Now Activity Waste Enlightenment Meaningless Foolishness Rebirth Dharma

Book:Modern Buddhism: The Path of Compassion and Wisdom - Volume 1 Sutra

Source: Modern Buddhism: The Path of Compassion and Wisdom - Volume 1 Sutra

“There's many lanes on the highway of enlightenment, they don't have to be on the razor's edge like the yellow line dotted in the middle. Balance is appropriate, not too tight, not too loose, the Middle Way as we call it in Buddhist dharma teachings.”

Way Lines Teaching Middle Balance Enlightenment Edges Buddhist Appropriate Yellow Highways Dharma Lanes Razors Middle Way

Author:Surya Das

“They are not following dharma who resort to violence to achieve their purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and wrong, may be called guardians of the dharma. Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”

Mind May Mean Purpose Strong Term Knowing Path Violence Achieve Enlightenment Determination Following Buddhist Resorts Guardian Dharma Path To Enlightenment Strong Determination

Author:Gautama Buddha

“Because not even the least Dharma is there found or got at. Therefore is it called 'utmost, right and perfect enlightenment'. Self-identical is that Dharma and nothing is therein at variance. Therefore is it called 'utmost, right and perfect enlighten'”

Self Found Perfect Awareness Enlightenment Enlightening Identical Dharma Variance

Author:Gautama Buddha

“The zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is simply the Dharma gate of repose and bliss, the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is the manifestation of ultimate reality. Traps and snares can never reach it. Once its heart is grasped, you are like the dragon when he gains the water, like the tiger when she enters the mountain. For you must know that just there (in zazen) the right Dharma is manifesting itself and that, from the first, dullness and distraction are struck aside.”

“Followers of the Way, if you want insight into dharma as it is, just don’t be taken in by the deluded views of others. Whatever you encounter, either within or without, slay it at once. On meeting a buddha slay the buddha, on meeting a patriarch slay the patriarch, on meeting an arhat slay the arhat, on meeting your parents slay your parents, on meeting your kinsman slay your kinsman, and you attain emancipation. By not cleaving to things, you freely pass through.”

Buddhism Enlightenment Zen Dharma Zen Buddhism Linji Yixuan

Book:The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi

Source: The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi

“Every day, priests minutely examine the Dharma And endlessly chant complicated sutras. Before doing that, though, they should learn How to read the love letters sent by The wind and rain, the snow and moon.”

Poetry Enlightenment Awakening Zen Dharma Spiritual Poetry Buddhis

Book:Ikkyu and the Crazy Cloud Anthology: A Zen Poet of Medieval Japan (UNESCO Collection of Representative Works. Japanese Series)

Source: Ikkyu and the Crazy Cloud Anthology: A Zen Poet of Medieval Japan (UNESCO Collection of Representative Works. Japanese Series)

“The Bodhisattva is in no rush. For once we have tasted a single drop of the bliss of bringing others into that freedom, with the Spirit of Enlightenment of love and compassion, once we have loosened the grip of the solid, separated, alienated self that is the core of self-centeredness, then we are already happy in a certain way. The Bodhisattva is always joyful, even when suffering. Bodhisattvas are always happy and cheerful under pressure, because they have felt the essence of reality as freedom (p. 223)”

Joy Buddhism Enlightenment Awakening Bliss Dharma The Path Of The Bodhisattva Spirit Of Enlightenment

Book:The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism

Source: The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism

“All of us have our own life’s path, and while moving along it, we will meet with various kinds of problems and suffering. No matter how many difficulties may arise, we should look back at what we have accomplished and keep in mind the path we wish to travel along. This will help us to remain stable. However much we may have to endure, we should develop tolerance so that we can progress along our way. Until we have come to the end of our path and accomplished all our goals, we should heed neither suffering nor joy; otherwise, the goal we seek will never come within our reach. – 17th Karmapa”

Happiness Joy Suffering Buddhism Enlightenment Awakening Dharma Spiritual Transformation

Book:Music in the Sky: The Life, Art, and Teachings of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje

Source: Music in the Sky: The Life, Art, and Teachings of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje

“If someone has compassion, he is a Buddha; Without compassion, he is a Lord of Death. With compassion, the root of Dharma is planted, Without compassion, the root of Dharma is rotten. One with compassion is kind even when angry, One without compassion will kill even as he smiles. For one with compassion, even his enemies will turn into friends, Without compassion, even his friends turn into enemies. With compassion, one has all Dharmas, Without compassion, one has no Dharma at all. With compassion, one is a Buddhist, Without compassion, one is worse than a heretic. Even if meditating on voidness, one needs compassion as its essence. A Dharma practitioner must have a compassionate nature. Compassion is the distinctive characteristic of Buddhism. Compassion is the very essence of all Dharma. Great compassion is like a wish-fulfilling gem. Great compassion will fulfill the hopes of self and others. Therefore, all of you, practitioners and laypeople, Cultivate compassion and you will achieve Buddhahood. May all men and women who hear this song, With great compassion, benefit all beings!”

Freedom Compassion Buddhism Enlightenment Awakening Dharma The Path Of The Bodhisattva Buddhahood

Book:The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin

Source: The Life of Shabkar: The Autobiography of a Tibetan Yogin

“Buddhism is a religion of the heart. Only this. One who practices to develop the heart is one who practices Buddhism [...] Use your heart to listen to the Teachings, not your ears.”

Heart Buddhism Enlightenment Awakening Dharma

Book:Reflections

Source: Reflections