A monk … who strives in the Buddha’s teachings is like the moon emerging from the clouds and lighting up the world. ~ The Buddha – Dhammapada
Novice Ananda at Kiryvongsa Bopharam temple.
Whoever being depraved, devoid of self-control and truthfulness, should don the monk’s yellow robe, he surely is not worthy of the robe.
But whoever is purged of depravity, well-established in virtues and filled with self-control and truthfulness, he indeed is worthy of the yellow robe. ~Dhammapada
Evil-doers who denounce the wise resemble a person who spits against the sky; the spittle will never reach the sky, but comes down on himself. Evil-doers again resemble a man who stirs the dust against the wind; the dust is never raised without doing him injury. Thus, the wise will never be hurt, but the curse is sure to destroy the evil-doers themselves. ~ Gautama Buddha
The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought. ~James Allen
3-year-old Ananda learns how to meditate.
The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear. ~ Prasad Mahes
Wakefulness is the way to life.
The fool sleeps
As if he were already dead,
But the master is awake
And he lives forever.
~ The Buddha – Dhammapada
Venerable Dejapanno with little Ananda.
Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances. ~Dalai Lama
Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm. ~Buddha
Novice Ananda – June, 2019.
As we encounter new experiences with a mindful and wise attention, we discover that one of three things will happen to our new experience: it will go away, it will stay the same, or it will get more intense. whatever happens does not really matter. ― Jack Kornfield
All beings want to be happy, yet so very few know how. It is out of ignorance that any of us cause suffering, for ourselves or for others. ~Sharon Salzberg
