As long as you look for a Buddha somewhere else, you’ll never see that your own mind is the Buddha
BODHIDHARMAThe true Way is sublime. It can’t be expressed in language. Of what use are scriptures? But someone who sees his own nature finds the Way, even if he can’t read a word.
More Bodhidharma Quotes
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Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.
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The essence of the Way is detachment. And the goal of those who practice is freedom from appearances.
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The awareness of mortals falls short. As long as they’re attached to appearances, they’re unaware that their minds are empty. And by mistakenly clinging to the appearance of things they lose the Way.
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All Buddhas preach emptiness. Why? Because they wish to crush the concrete ideas of the students. If a student even clings to an idea of emptiness, he betrays all Buddhas.
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Not engaging in ignorance is wisdom.
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Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.
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To have a body is to suffer. Does anyone with a body know peace? Those who understand this detach themselves from all that exists and stop imagining or seeking anything. The sutras say, “To seek is to suffer. To seek nothing is bliss.” When you seek nothing, you’re on the Path.
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Not creating delusions is enlightenment.
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You can’t know your real mind as long as you deceive yourself.
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Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.
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Worship means reverence and humility. It means revering your real self and humbling delusions. If you can wipe out evil desires and harbor good thoughts, even if nothing shows, it’s worship. Such form is its real form.
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As mortals, we’re ruled by conditions, not by ourselves.
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The essence of the Way is detachment.
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If you see your nature, you don’t need to read sutras or invoke buddhas. Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud your awareness. Doctrines are only for pointing to the mind. Once you see your mind, why pay attention to doctrines?
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Buddha means awareness, the awareness of body and mind that prevents evil from arising in either.
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