Quote of the Day Week 8

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atisha

My goal for the next ~40 days is to be the best person I can be. This encompasses eating vegetarian as often as I can, being as kind-hearted and understanding and forgiving and helpful as I can be, and just being much more positive and mindful of not only my actions, but others as well. Therefore, I thought that this quote would not only inspire me but that it could also inspire others as well! I hope you like the quote!

- Vienna

Jade Buddha for Universal Peace in Escondido, CA

These photos were taken when the Jade Buddha came to Phap Vuong Temple in Escondido.
It's quite a beauty! Nearly 9 feet tall and weighs about 8800 pounds!
Click here for more info on the Jade Buddha tour...




















I took photos around the temple as well...
Some of the statues were just too pretty!




























~Vivien

The Buddha's Words on Friendship

Upaddha Sutta: Half (of the Holy Life)

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was living among the Sakyans. Now there is a Sakyan town named Sakkara. There Ven. Ananda went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, "This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie."

"Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path.

"And how does a monk who has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, develop & pursue the noble eightfold path? There is the case where a monk develops right view dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment. He develops right resolve ... right speech ... right action ... right livelihood ... right effort ... right mindfulness ... right concentration dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment. This is how a monk who has admirable people as friends, companions, & colleagues, develops & pursues the noble eightfold path.

"And through this line of reasoning one may know how admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life: It is in dependence on me as an admirable friend that beings subject to birth have gained release from birth, that beings subject to aging have gained release from aging, that beings subject to death have gained release from death, that beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair have gained release from sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair. It is through this line of reasoning that one may know how admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life."

"Upaddha Sutta: Half (of the Holy Life)" (SN 45.2), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, June 7, 2009

Quote of the Day Week 2

Question: How do I know if I’m having a moment of realization or if I’m just deluding myself (still in ego)?

Click here for Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche's Answer: http://www.thebuddhadharma.com/issues/2008/summer/ask_the_teachers.php

Quote of the Day Week 1

Becoming Truly Alive

We live a kind of artificial life, says Thich Nhat Hanh, lost in plans, worries, and anger. Our practice is to wake up and live each moment fully, allowing this moment to be the most wonderful experience of our life.

Click here for the rest of the quote: http://www.thebuddhadharma.com/issues/2009/xwinterfulliss/alive.php