Siddharth Gautama the Buddha or Sakyamuni
Born into aristocracy at Lumbini (Indo-Nepal border) during 563 B.C, Siddharth Gautama was the natural heir to Suddhodhana, the Kshatriya king of Sakya. But at 29years of age, Buddha renounced this royal title, home and family. Further, he took up asceticism to find answers to profound questions that had been tormenting him. These were existential questions on sorrow and on eternal mysteries of life.
He started out as a disciple first to Brahmin ascetic Alara Kalama and then to Uddaka Ramaputta, mastering various techniques of meditations much to their delight. But dissatisfied with their answers, he moved on. He then tried self mortifying asceticism hoping for solutions but this path too failed him.
Finally, he chose the path of deep contemplation. Sitting under a banyan tree at Bodh, Gaya he decided he would not leave his seat till he found his answers. Eventually, after 40 days of meditation, he obtained enlightenment right under that tree.
Being a true selfless spiritual master, he dedicated the next 4 decades of his life teaching the way of Dhamma.
The following reasons make Buddha a timeless spiritual master whose precious Dhammapada quotes and others are sought after even today
- Firstly, he kept his message simple and chose the people’s language (Pali) to spread his message. Secondly, he avoided intellectual discussions on the nature of Divinity like in the Upanishads. Also, denounced elaborate rituals and caste differentiation found in the Brahmanas.
- Further, he gave the common man a simple code of conduct to stay on the path of virtue. This path also recognized that sorrow was a permanent feature in life and showed how to deal with it.
- The crux of his teachings, therefore, was that foolish desires were the cause of sorrow. So, he advocated a new outlook, to nip all evil thoughts/tendencies/words/actions and cultivate good ones. Thus, he said, the unhappy mind can become happy. (Udana 5.5). Itivuttaka (40) also says that all misfortunes of both this world and the next, rise from ignorance that fuels craving and desire
In conclusion, Buddha’s dhamma urges one to renounce pleasures, harbour no malice, and never do harm. Also, always ensure right intention, that would automatically lead to right thought, right speech and right action.
Dhammapada quotes
The Dhammapada is one of the most ancient and most revered Buddhist books believed to have been composed during the First Buddhist Council, around 477 B.C though Max Mueller dates it to 1st century B.C.
The Dhammapada quotes are Buddha sayings in a verse form that is a part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka (the 2nd of 3 divisions of Buddhist Pali canon of Theravada branch) . Further, this collection of quotes were compiled from various sources from the Buddha times and best represent the real spirit of Buddha’s teachings.
Dhamma means Dharma, law, religion and pada means the path. So Dhammapada means the path of virtue. Hence, every gem in this book of quotes embodies the way of Dharma or effort towards right intention(thought), right behaviour (deed) and right word (speech).
Read this Ultimate guide to the 10 day Vipassana Meditation Course.
Buddha quotes on Happiness from the Dhammapada
Also Read Bhagavad Gita quotes on Happiness here
1. Rouse yourself, do not be thoughtless. Follow the law of virtue. He who does this will be happy in this world and beyond. (Dhammapada 13.2, Lokavaggo)
2. There is no fire like passion, no ill like hatred, there is no sorrow like this physical individuality, there is no happiness greater than peace. (Dhammapada 15.6, Sukhavaggo)
3. Health is the greatest of gifts, contentment is the greatest wealth; trust is the best of relationships. Nirvana the highest happiness. (Dhammapada 15.8, Sukhavaggo)
4. He who is endowed with virtue and insight, who is established in the law, who is truthful, who minds his own affairs, the world holds him dear. (Dhammapada 16.9, Piyavaggo)
5.Thought, which is difficult to restrain, is fickle, and wanders at will, the control of it is good. Because a tamed mind is the bearer of happiness. (Dhammapada 3.3, Cittavaggo)
6.The sight of the noble is good; their company is always happiness. Hence, being happy means not being with fools. (Dhammapada 15.10, Sukhavaggo)
7.In this world Motherhood is happiness as is fatherhood, being religious/spiritual is happiness so is sagehood. (Dhammapada 23.13, Nagavaggo)
8.Happiness is virtue lasting upto old age; so is firmly rooted faith. Further, happiness is the attainment of wisdom; so is the avoidance of sins. (Dhammapada 23.14, Nagavaggo)
Happiness and its correlation to Karma
These Buddha quotes connect good virtuous deeds or karma to happiness and joy
9. Do not speak harshly. People will retaliate. Angry talk causes pain. (Dhammapada 10.5, Dandavaggo)
10. Practice the law of virtue, do not follow the law of sin. He who practices virtue lives happily in this world and beyond. (Dhammapada 13.3, Lokavaggo)
11.The righteous man rejoices in this world, the next; and in both. He rejoices, delighted with the purity of his own actions. (Dhammapada quote 1.16, Yamakavagoo)
12. If a man does good, let must keep doing it again and again. Let him set his heart on it. Happiness is the outcome of good conduct. (Dhammapada 9.3, Papavaggo)
13. Don’t underestimate yourself thinking goodness is beyond you. Just as tiny drops of water can fill a pot, so also little good deeds, can fill a wise man with goodness.(Dhammapada 9.7, Papavaggo)
Happiness and its relation to desires, cravings, greed and consequent fears
The following Buddha quotes how negative emotions like cravings, greed. desire, envy, fear etc eat into our happiness
14. Victory breeds hatred; the conquered dwells in sorrow. He who has given up (thoughts of both) victory and defeat, he is calm and lives happily. (Dhammapada 15.5, Sukhavaggo)
15. Greed is the worst disease and desire is the greatest sorrow. The one who knows this, to him Nirvana is the highest bliss. (Dhammapada 15.7, Sukhavaggo)
16.Liking leads to grief; it also leads to fear. To one who is free from this there is no grief. How then can there be fear? (Dhammapada 16.4, Piyavaggo)
17.Desire leads to grief, it also leads to fear. To one who is free from this there is no grief. How then can there be fear? (Dhammapada 16.7, Piyavaggo)
18. He who overcomes fierce craving, that is difficult to subdue, sorrow fall off from him like water droplets from a lotus leaf. (Dhammapada 24.3, Tanhavaggo)
19. As a tree, even though it has been cut down, grows again if its root is firm and safe, so also if the roots of craving are not destroyed, it returns to torment us again and again. (Dhammapada 24.5, Tanhavaggo)
20.Driven by craving Men scamper about like a hunted hare. Also, trapped in its fetters, they suffer repeatedly for long. (Dhammapada 24.9, Tanhavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Mind and Thoughts from the Dhammapada
1. Our disposition is a result of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him like a faithful shadow. (Dhammapada quote 1.2, Yamakavagoo)
2. Let the wise man guard his thought. Because thoughts are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle and wander at will. So, well guarded thoughts are the happiness bearers. (Dhammapada quote 3.4, Cittavaggo)
3. What an enemy can do to another or what a hater may do to another, a wrongly directed mind will do greater harm than both. (Dhammapada quote 3.10, Cittavaggo)
4.Not a mother, not a father, nor any other relative can do us a greater service than a well-directed mind.(Dhammapada quote 3.11, Cittavaggo)
5.A man should hasten towards the good; restraining his thoughts from evil. But if he does not then his mind will start rejoicing in evil. (Dhammapada 9.1, Papavaggo)
6.Minds that are grounded in the (seven) elements of enlightenment (mindfulness, wisdom, energy, joy, peace, concentration, equanimity), that don’t cling to anything but rejoice in the freedom of non-attachment, whose appetites are conquered, who are full of light, attain Nirvana. (Dhammapada quote 6.14, Panditavaggo)
7.Be not thoughtless, guard your thoughts. Extricate yourself out of the evil just as an elephant sunk in the mud would. (the elephant signifies endurance and strength in Buddhism) (Dhammapada 23.8, Nagavaggo)
Mind and its cravings, fear and instability
9.Craving increases for the ones disturbed by thoughts, full of strong passions, yearning for the pleasant; thus making his fetters stronger. (Dhammapada 24.16, Tanhavaggo)
10.As an arrow-maker straightens arrows, so also the wise iron out their trembling, unsteady thoughts, that are both hard to restrain or guard. (Dhammapada 3.1, Cittavaggo)
11.There is no fear for him whose thought is untroubled, unagitated and who has ceased to think of good and evil but is vigilant. (Dhammapada 3.7, Cittavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Meditation (Reflection) and Mind : Being Mindful
1. A reflective person rouses himself. Also he is mindful that his deeds should be pure. Further, if he is considerate, self-restrained and lives by the law, his glory will increase. (Dhammapada quote 2.4, Appamavaggo)
2. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, so also passion makes its way into an unreflecting mind. (Dhammapada quote 1.13, Yamakavaggo)
3. The life of a single day of virtuosity and reflection is better than that of a hundred years of a wickedness and lack of restraint. (Dhammapada quote 8.11, Sahassavaggo)
4. The life of a single day of wisdom and reflection, is better than that of a hundred years of ignorance and lack of restraint. (Dhammapada quote 8.12, Sahassavaggo)
5. The one who goes from thoughtless to reflective lights up this world like the moon freed from a cloud. (Dhammapada 13.6, Lokavaggo)
6. He who is given into distractions and not to meditation, abandons his welfare for pleasures. Soon he will envy those who exert themselves in meditation.(Dhammapada 16.1, Piyavaggo)
7. Even the gods emulate the wise given in to meditation, the ones who delight in the peace of emancipation, the enlightened, the reflective (Dhammapada 14.3, Buddhavaggo)
8.From meditation springs wisdom but the lack of it leads to loss of wisdom. Knowing these paths of progress or decline, a man should act so his wisdom increases (Dhammapada 20.10, Maggavaggo)
9. There is no meditation for one without wisdom, no wisdom for the one without meditation. Also, he who has both meditation and wisdom, is indeed close to Nirvana (Dhammapada 25.13, Bhikkhuvaggo)
Buddha quotes on Self Control / Restraint from the Dhammapada
2,As the wind does not throw down a rocky mountain, so Mara indeed does not overthrow him who lives unmindful of pleasures, well controlled in his senses, moderate in eating, full of faith (in the Buddha, the Law, and the Samgha or community), and of high vitality. (8) (Dhammapada quote 1.8, Yamakavaggo)
3.The wise man, rouses himself, through vigilance, restraint, self control, making for himself an island which the flood cannot overwhelm (Dhammapada quote 2.5, Appamavaggo)
4.Even the gods envy him whose senses are subdued just like well-tamed horses from a charioteer, free from pride and taints. (Dhammapada quote 7.5, Arahantavaggo)
5.Conquest of self is indeed better than the conquest of others as the one who has disciplined himself always practices self-.control. (Dhammapada quote 8.5, Sahassavaggo)
6. The teaching of the awakened is no reviling, non injuring, restraint according to the law, moderation in eating, dwelling in solitude, diligence in higher thought. (Dhammapada 14.7, Buddhavaggo)
7.The wise who control their body, likewise their speech and their mind are indeed well controlled. (Dhammapada 17.14, Kodhavaggo)
8.Restraint in the eye is good; so also in the ear, in the nose and in the tongue. (Dhammapada 25.1, Bhikkhuvaggo)
9. Restraint in the body is good, so also in speech, in thought and in all things. A mendicant who is restrained in all things is freed from all sorrow. (Dhammapada 25.2, Bhikkhuvaggo)
Buddha quotes on Diligence
1.Earnest amongst the slothful, awake amongst the sleepy, the wise man advances like a racehorse, leaving behind the rest. (Dhammapada quote 2.9, Appamavaggo)
2.The thoughtful exert themselves and do not delight in an abode just as swans who leave the lake.(Dhammapada quote 7.2, Arahantavaggo)
3. The life of a single day of a man who strenuously makes an effort is better than that of one who lives a hundred years, idle and weak (Dhammapada quote 8.13, Sahassavaggo)
4. He who does not get up when it is time to get up, who, though young and strong, is full of sloth, who is weak in resolution and thought, that lazy and idle man will not find the way to wisdom. (Dhammapada 20.8, Maggavaggo)
5. Fools, men of inferior intelligence, fall into sloth but the wise man guards his vigilance as his best treasure. (Dhammapada 2.6, Appamadavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Life from Dhammapada
1.Not others unworthy actions, nor their deeds of commission or omission, but one’s own deeds should one regard. (Dhammapada quote 4.7, Pupphavaggo)
2.The well-spoken but fruitless words of someone who doesn’t act on them are just like the beautiful colorful flowers that are bereft of scent.(Dhammapada quote 4.8, Pupphavaggo)
3. But the well-spoken and fruitful words of someone who acts on them are like the beautiful flowers full of both colour and scent. (Dhammapada quote 4.9, Pupphavaggo)
4. The scent of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor that of sandalwood, nor of tagara or mallika flowers, but the fragrance of good people travels even against the wind. Thus, a good man pervades every quarter. (Dhammapada quote 4.11, Pupphavaggo)
5. As the night is lengthy to the sleepless, the yojana (a distance of nine-twelve miles) is lengthy to the weary, so also lengthy is the chain of existence to the foolish, ignorant of the true law. (Dhammapada quote 5.1, Balavaggo)
6. Fools of little understanding, enemies to themselves, wander about doing evil deeds that bear bitter fruits. (Dhammapada quote 5.7, Balavaggo)
7.As a solid rock is not moved by the wind, so also the wise are not affected by criticism or praise. (Dhammapada quote 6.6, Balavaggo)
8.The one who constantly practices reverence and respect for the aged, four things will increase, life, beauty, happiness and strength (Dhammapada quote 8.10, Sahassavaggo)
9. Let no man cling to what is pleasant or unpleasant. Not to see what is pleasant is pain as also is to see what is unpleasant. (Dhammapada 16.2, Piyavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Friendship from Dhammapada
2.One should not associate with friends who are evil or despicable instead associate with friends who are virtuous, the best of men. (Dhammapada quote 6.3, Panditavaggo)
3. He who consorts with a fool suffers a long way. Because association with fools as with enemies always brings pain. But association with the wise, as with meeting one’s kinsfolk, brings happiness. (Dhammapada 15.11, Sukhavaggo)
4. Therefore, as the moon follows the path of the constellations one should follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the much enduring, the dutiful, the noble. (Dhammapada 15.12, Sukhavaggo)
5.If you find a companion, who is intelligent, leads a good life, lives soberly overcoming dangers, then walk with him delighted and thoughtful. (Dhammapada 23.9, Nagavaggo)
Peace Buddha quotes from Dhammapada
1.Even as a deep lake is clear and calm so also wise men become peaceful after they have listened to the laws. (Dhammapada quote 6.7 Panditavaggo)
2.His thought is calm, word is calm and so is his deed when he if free and peaceful with true knowledge. (Dhammapada quote 7.7, Arahantavaggo)
3. One sensible word, hearing which one becomes peaceful is better than a thousand utterances of meaningless words. (Dhammapada quote 8.1, Sahassavaggo)
4. One verse, hearing which one becomes peaceful is better than a thousand verses of meaningless words. (Dhammapada quote 8.2, Sahassavaggo)
5.One text, hearing which one becomes peaceful is better than reciting a hundred verses of meaningless words. (Dhammapada quote 8.3, Sahassavaggo)
6.He in whom envy is destroyed, removed by its very root, he, indeed, enjoys peace by day and night. (Dhammapada 18.16, Malavaggo)
7. Men donate as per their faith and friendliness. Therefore, fretting about the food and drink given, takes away peace of mind. (Dhammapada 18.15, Malavaggo)
8.A man is not learned simply because he talks much. But he who is peaceful, hatred-free and fear-free is the learned (Dhammapada 19.3, Dhammathavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Karma from Dhammapada
Also read Karma Bhagavad Gita quotes here
1. The one who despite reciting a small number (of verses), acts rightly as per the law, has forsaken passion, hatred, folly and worldly desires, also has acquired true knowledge and serenity of mind, he has a share in the religious life. (Dhammapada quote 1.20, Yamakavaggo)
2.Good people walk on whatever happens to them. They do not hanker, yearning for pleasures. These wise do not have changing moods, whether touched by happiness or by sorrow. (Dhammapada quote 6.8, Panditavaggo)
3.Give not yourselves over to sloth or to the intimacy with lust and sensual pleasures. He who meditates with earnestness attains great joy. (Dhammapada 2.7, Appamadavaggo)
4. As many kinds of garlands can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good works should be achieved by a mortal once he is born. (Dhammapada 4.10, Pupphavaggo)
5.If one man were to conquer in battles a thousand times, a thousand men, while another simply conquers himself, the latter indeed is the greatest of conquerors. (Dhammapada 8.4, Sahassavaggo)
6.Do not follow evil law. Don’t live in thoughtlessness. Do not follow false doctrine. Don’t become too worldly (Dhammapada 13.1, Lokavaggo)
7.Life is easy to live for the shameless with the impudence of a crow hero, for the mischief-maker, the slanderer and the impure. (Dhammapada 18.10, Malavaggo)
8.But life is hard for the man with insight who has a sense of modesty, who seeks the pure, who is not worldly, not impudent but who lives in purity. (Dhammapada 18.11, Malavaggo)
9.A man is not noble because he injures living creatures but because he does not injure living beings. (Dhammapada 19.15, Dhammathavaggo)
Karma, the eightfold path and effects of Bad Karma, transmigration
10. If a man commits sin, let him not do it again and again. Further, let him not set his heart on it as sorrowful is the accumulation of evil conduct (Dhammapada 9.2, Papavaggo)
11. Suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the noble eightfold path which leads to the cessation of suffering. (Dhammapada 14.13, Buddhavaggo). The eightfold path referred to here is right views, right aspirations, right speech, right action, right living, right exertion, right recollection and right meditation
12. Just like fine dust thrown against the wind recoils on a fool, evil done to an innocent, pure, sinless person, recoils back to the doer (Dhammapada 9.10, Papavaggo)
13. He who punishes or offends those who do not deserve it, the will suffer eventually in one of the 10 ways. (Dhammapada 10.9, Dandavaggo). The 10 ways described as various kind of misfortunes like ones house on fire etc.
14. There is no place on Earth, neither the sky, nor the sea nor the clefts of the mountains where man can escape from the consequences of his evil actions,(Dhammapada 9.23, Papavaggo)
15. An evil doer might see good for as long as his evil deeds have not ripened, but when it does he will see sorrow. (Dhammapada 9.4, Papavaggo)
16. The good might see evil for as long as his good deeds have not ripened, but when it does he will see joy (Dhammapada 9.5, Papavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Self from Dhammapada
1.If a man holds himself dear, let him diligently watch himself. (Dhammapada 12.1, Attavaggo)
2. Let each man first establish himself in what is proper, then let him teach others. Before we teach others we must set ourselves right (Dhammapada 12.2, Attavaggo)
3. If a man shapes his life so as to be directing others, then by subduing himself well, he might indeed subdue others since that is the most difficult part.(Dhammapada 12.3, Attavaggo)
4.The Self is the Lord of Self, Who else could be the lord ? Because with this Self well-subdued, a man finds a Lord who is hard to obtain. (Dhammapada 12.4, Attavaggo)
5. Just as a smith removes the impurities of silver, so also must a wise man remove his impurities, one by one, little by little, from time to time. (Dhammapada 18.5, Malavaggo)
6. As a frontier town is well-guarded within and without, so also guard the Self. Do not let a moment glide by, for they who allow moments to pass by suffer in the world beyond. (Dhammapada 22.10, Nirayavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Evil from Dhammapada
1.As a creeper overpowers the entwined sal tree, he whose impiety is great, is dwarfed to a state wished for by his enemies (Dhammapada 12.6, Attavaggo)
2. Evil deeds, harmful to oneself, are easy to do. But the beneficial and good, is hard to do (Dhammapada 12.7, Attavaggo)
3. Evil is done by ones own self just as injury is done by ones own self. But when one refuses it, he purifies himself. Thus, purity and impurity belong to oneself only, no one purifies another. (Dhammapada 12.9, Attavaggo)
4.The eschewing of all evil, the perfecting of good deeds, the purifying of one\’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas (the awakened). (Dhammapada 14.5, Buddhavaggo)
5.Impurities (rust) born out of the iron eats into it just like evil deeds of the transgressor waste him away in evil. (Dhammapada 18.6, Malavaggo)
6. But he who always quiets evil tendencies, small or large, he is called a pious/spiritual man. (Dhammapada 19.10, Dhammattavaggo)
7. Evil is not easily controlled. Let not greed and wrong-doing bring you to grief for a long time (Dhammapada 18.14, Malavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Anger from Dhammapada
1.Let a man put away anger, let him renounce pride and let him go beyond all worldly attachments. Further, no sufferings befall him who is not attached to name and form and who calls nothing his own. (Dhammapada 17.1, Kodhavaggo)
2. Let a man overcome anger by gentleness, overcome evil by good, overcome the miserliness by generosity. Finally let him overcome lies by truth! (Dhammapada 17.3, Kodhavaggo)
3. One should speak the truth, not yield to anger. Also give atleast a litte when asked. By these three means one will certainly come into the presence of the gods (Dhammapada 17.4, Kodhavaggo)
4. He who curbs his rising anger like an out of control chariot, is a real charioteer but others merely hold the reins (Dhammapada 17.2, Kodhavaggo)
Buddha quotes on Wisdom from Dhammapada
2. He in whom dwells truth, virtue, non-violence, restraint, control and also he who is free from impurity and is wise is called an elder. (Dhammapada 19.6, Dhammattavaggo)
3. He in whom envy, greed, and wickedness are destroyed by the very root, also he who is wise and guilt-free, is handsome. (Dhammapada 19.8, Dhammattavaggo)
4. All created things are impermanent (transitory). When through wisdom one realizes this, he heeds not to the world of sorrow but is on the path to purity. (Dhammapada 20.5, Maggavaggo)
5. Guarding his speech, restraining well his mind, let a man not commit anything wrong with his body. He who thus keeps these three clear, will achieve the way taught by the wise (Dhammapada 20.9, Maggavaggo)
6. Good people shine from afar like the Himalaya mountains but the wicked are not seen, like arrows shot in the night. (Dhammapada 21. , Pakinakkavaggo)
7.Just as the splendid chariots of kings wear away; the body too ages but the virtue of the good never ages, thus the good teach to each other (Dhammapada 11.6, Jaravaggo)
8.There is no satiating one’s passions even with a shower of gold. Thus, he who knows that passions are meagre enjoyments but productive of pain is a wise man (Dhammapada 14.8, Buddhavaggo)
9. There never was, nor there ever will be, anyone who is found wholly only criticized or only praised.(Dhammapada 17.8, Kodhavaggo
Recommended Reading : The Dhammapada by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
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