Gautama Buddha has inspired many generations to achieve the best version of themselves, whether they are religious or not. His Buddhist sayings and phrases are synonymous with great intelligence and help many individuals to make positive changes in their lives. Buddhism has inspired many people to find themselves and give new meaning to existence.
In fact, even some forms of psychological therapy have been influenced by the teachings of the great spiritual master, such as Mindfulness .
Buddhism has a lot to contribute
If we understand and analyze his work, we realize his great wisdom. His phrases are motivating, promote well-being and can help you live life to the full, without giving up spirituality and good vibrations towards yourself .
Buddha once asked: “Evil-doing is due to the mind … If the mind is transformed, can evil-doing remain?” This question leads us to a deep reflection: “We must change the way we think about things (or situations) so that they improve. If our thinking changes in the process, so will our lives. “
Who was Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama “Buddha” was born around 560 BC . in an aristocratic family (his father was a monarch) and prosperous of the Shakya clan , in a location that now corresponds to present-day Nepal, in northern India. Buddha is a Sanskrit word that means “the one who woke up.” A good metaphor for an individual, Buddha, who managed to enlighten and awaken all his compatriots thanks to his infinite wisdom .
This was the founder of Buddhism . Unlike other religions, he was not a god, nor was he a prophet or a messiah. He was born as a normal human being, but thanks to his efforts he reached a state of perfect wisdom and complete sensitivity towards everything that exists. As the name suggests: “he awakened to his true potential and the true nature of the world around him.”
The 75 best Buddhist phrases
There are not many biographical mentions about the life of the Buddha, and the vast majority are from three major sources (the vinaya, the sutta-pitaka and the buddhacarita of Asvaghosa) all of them later texts from his time.
In this article we will see a compilation of his famous phrases that can help you achieve inner peace.
1. Take care of the exterior as much as the interior, because everything is one
Buddha already knew the importance of the environment in our behavior . One of the principles of Buddhism is to take care of yourself. However, it is also essential that we take care of our environment to be in harmony and peace. To find a true state of well-being, it is necessary that mind, body and our close environment (at least the one we control) are in balance.
Therefore, practicing compassion with yourself is not enough, you also have to practice it with others. This is one of the maxims of the Ho’oponopono philosophy .
2. Reflection is the way to immortality; the lack of reflection, the road to death
Reflection is necessary to continue growing as human beings and to learn from the past for a better present, a better here and now. At some point in our lives we have made mistakes and we have needed to reflect so as not to make those mistakes again.
Therefore, personal reflection is beneficial both for learning and for one’s own well-being .
3. Don’t hurt others with what causes yourself pain
This phrase is the same as the phrase “don’t do to others what we don’t like to be done to you.” Therefore, this phrase goes beyond the mere knowledge of oneself , because it makes a clear allusion to empathy .
When you hurt others, you stain your spirit. This, in the long run, will hurt you.
4. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional
Living situations or experiences that make us suffer and hurt us is part of life. When we have a bad time we go through a process to close the wound. Once this recovery period is over, we are the ones who decide if we remain stuck in that memory .
Therefore, it is our decision to overcome bad experiences as soon as possible, turn the page and find peace in the little things of day to day.
5. It is not the richest who has the most, but who needs the least
This phrase is similar to the one pronounced by Seneca “He who has little is not poor, but he who desires much”, and refers to the fact that the individuals who want or need the least material things are the ones who will definitely be the happiest in life. life .
Having a lot does not mean being happier. If you are content with little, you do not need to have much wealth.
6. Give, even if you have nothing but very little to give
Gratitude and generosity are two of the keys to our well-being. Giving what is left over is easy, the really difficult thing is to share something even in times when there is no abundance: that makes us greater as a person .
Both giving and forgiving are two very wise actions.
7. Rejoice because every place is here and every moment is now
The present is the only moment we can live. That is, the here and now, not yesterday or tomorrow . All our efforts must go into the present moment so that the next present moments are just as good as this one.
So you have to be happy to be able to live it and give it the value it deserves, which is not little.
8. Hate does not diminish with hate. Hate decreases with love
Neither hatred nor revenge is the solution. We should not feed violence or anger towards others or towards oneself , because that only increases that negative feeling. The true well-being is in loving ourselves and in wishing others the best even if we think they do not deserve it.
Compassion is one of the foundations of Buddhism and it is the path to happiness. Opening up to others means forgiving your faults and being humble despite the mistakes of others.
9. If you can appreciate the miracle that a single flower contains, your whole life will change
Appreciating the little details is another key to happiness. The world is full of extraordinary things that sometimes we are not able to see at first glance . Learning to appreciate them will change our lives.
In addition, we must be grateful for what we have because, like the flower, it is in simplicity that we feel comfortable.
10. To understand everything, it is necessary to forget everything
Not judging is another of the principles of Buddhist philosophy. When we are little we see the world with a beginner’s vision, enjoying the present: perceiving the world as it is. As we grow and learn, we are constantly judging . So our mind is conditioned by the culture and social norms that guide us in how we should be.
To find well-being again we must look at ourselves and get to know ourselves again. In other words, we have to reeducate ourselves. The same goes for everything around us. So if we want to understand, we have to forget everything.
11. Peace comes from within, don’t look for it outside
True peace is born from within each person , and it is unwise to go looking for it in other people or in material goods.
12. In what we think, that is exactly what we will become
Our thoughts make us look for certain things in life . That is why it is so important to think positively and not worry about what we cannot change.
13. Your purpose in life is to find a purpose, and give it all your heart
In this Buddhist phrase there is a parallel with the existentialist philosophy developed in the 20th century.
14. The fool who recognizes his folly is a wise man. But a fool who thinks he is wise is, in truth, a fool
A reflection on intelligence and humility. If they do not go hand in hand, you simply lack intelligence . One cannot exist without the other.
15. Our good and bad actions follow us almost like a shadow
The laws of karma teach us that everything we do has an impact. It is up to you to create a destination according to what you want for your life.
16. No one will punish you for your anger; he himself will be in charge of punishing you
A sentence that reminds us of the little use of living in a continuous state of anger. Isn’t it more useful to find the positive side of things?
17. There are three things that cannot be hidden for long: the sun, the moon and the truth.
Poetic phrase and at the same time a reflection that invites us to rethink some things. The sun and the moon appear from time to time, and the same happens with the truth .
18. Death is not feared, if life has been lived wisely
Living in full consciousness scares away the fear of death. Such is the view of Buddhist practitioners on existence: the truth will set us free, death is just one more process .
19. Don’t live from the past, don’t imagine the future, focus on the present moment
Another phrase that perfectly sums up the intellectual and philosophical basis of Mindfulness . Living pending the past or the future only makes us slaves of memories or yearnings .
20. If you can appreciate the miracle that a single flower contains, your life will change completely
Valuing the little things makes us more human. Even something as seemingly trivial as a flower involves the miracle of life, nature, and existence. Let’s learn to value it .
21. You deserve love and affection
Never forget. Life is complicated, and we all deserve to receive tenderness from others , while offering this same feeling.
22. Passionately, do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death is coming
Compared to the rest of the religions, Buddhism proposes a philosophy of life that emphasizes the present. This idea is clear in this Buddhist phrase.
23. A disciplined mind brings happiness
In this quote, Buddha lyrically shows the relationship established in his philosophy between self-control and the good things associated with happiness.
24. He is not called noble who harms other living beings. Not harming other living beings, one is called noble
This Buddhist phrase from the Dhammapada exposes the value system related to Buddhism and the importance that is given in this to other forms of life.
25. The root of suffering is attachment
In Buddhism, the renunciation of certain pleasures has a fundamental role .
26. There is no fear for the one whose mind is not full of desires
Another quote from the Dhammapada in which the relationship between fears and desires is raised.
27. Firmly train yourself to achieve peace
In this quote , the search for inner peace is discussed as a form of training , that is, something that must be part of the habits and must be practiced constantly despite the effort involved.
28. Better than a thousand empty words, a single word that can bring peace
This quote emphasizes the need for words to have a philosophical and emotional impact .
29. Purity and impurity come from oneself; no one can purify another
One of the Buddha’s phrases in which the central role of the mind of each one is emphasized (understood as something private and subjective) in his philosophy of life, and more specifically, in the ethics of Buddhism.
30. True love is born from understanding
In the Buddhist way of life love is not a visceral force isolated from any form of reflection.
31. Conquering yourself is a bigger task than conquering others
In line with other Buddha phrases, in this quote the true vital goals are again related to processes that mainly involve oneself and the subjective mental world.
33. We can only lose what we cling to
Another of the Buddhist phrases in which the spirit of renunciation of the Buddha’s philosophy is shown .
34. Fill your mind with compassion
Although for Buddha the mind of oneself is the engine of religion, cultivating a good way of life involves showing appropriate attitudes towards other forms of life . Compassion is one of them.
35. It is better to travel well than to arrive
The objectives and challenges posed by the Buddhist religion do not have to do so much with final goals as with processes and the way in which the present is lived.
36. A madman is known for his actions, a wise man too
People are known for our actions. With this phrase, Buddha teaches us that we should trust only those who act, and not so much the great speakers .
37. Holding onto anger is like holding onto a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone; you are the one who burns
A famous quote that warns us that we must park bad feelings, or that it is so that they do not end up negatively affecting us.
38. Winners and losers lose in any battle.
In wars, everyone loses . There is no reason powerful enough to be worth a drop of human blood.
39. The truth itself can only be reached within oneself through the deepest meditation and awareness.
If you are looking to find yourself and your more spiritual self, don’t look around you.
40. Not even a god can turn the victory of one who has defeated himself into defeat.
An inspiring phrase to seek inner peace, from the great Buddha.
41. Few are among men who reach the other shore; most of it runs up and down on these beaches
A phrase for free interpretation . Perhaps it can be understood as a metaphor similar to Plato’s myth of the cave .
42. Like beautiful flowers, with color, but without aroma, they are the sweet words for those who do not act in accordance with them.
A poetic quote that tells us the reality about people who tend to lie more than speak.
43. Not even your worst enemy can harm you as much as your own thoughts
Happiness lies in the quality of our inner life . Don’t let your thoughts limit you.
44. To teach others, first you have to do something very hard: you have to straighten yourself
One of the keys to teaching is having a prior mentalization. You can only be able to teach if you have a clear mind .
45. There is no fire like passion: there is no evil like hatred
Passion is the energy that moves civilizations and history. However, hatred only leads to rancor, wars and destruction.
46. Wealth consists much more in enjoyment than in possession
Against materialism, Buddha pronounced this famous phrase to show that it is not richer who has more, but who manages to be happy with little.
47. If you add a little to a little, and do it frequently, soon little will become a lot
The value of constancy and perseverance , masterfully explained in this famous Buddhist quote.
48. Your duty is to discover your world and then surrender to it with all your heart
Don’t just go from home to work and from work to home. You have a whole world to discover, it is your duty as a human being to take the trouble to live unique experiences .
49. More than a thousand useless words, only one is worth giving peace
Antiwarism is one of the elementary principles of Buddhism . Perhaps for this reason Buddha has so many famous phrases related to pacifism and respect for diversity.
50. As a solid rock does not move with the wind, so the sage remains undisturbed by slander and flattery
Wise people do not delegate their self-esteem to third parties . And they do well.
51. If you have a solution, why are you crying? If there is no solution, why are you crying?
It makes sense, right? We spend a lot of time lamenting over things that are hopeless. What if we dedicated it to something more productive?
52. We are in this world to live in harmony. Those who know do not fight each other and achieve inner peace
Nothing to add. To be happy we need to be fair and peaceful with others.
53. Do not seek the friendship of those who have an impure soul; do not seek the company of men of perverse soul. Associate with those who have the beautiful and good soul
If you want to be happy, surround yourself with people who value your soul and who know how to communicate in a positive way.
54. What we are today rests on what we thought yesterday, and our current thoughts shape our future life
The way we think ends up generating springs that lead us to one destination, or another.
55. With our thoughts we create the world
Along the lines of the previous one, the magic of thoughts is that, eventually, they become reality.
56. Better a word that serene who hears it than a thousand absurd verses
In the short term the essence can be.
57. Through effort, vigilance, discipline and self-control, the wise man creates an island that the flood cannot destroy.
A phrase that teaches us the capacity for sacrifice and self – control of the wise.
58. To live a detached life, one must not feel owner of anything in the midst of abundance
The key to Buddhism lies in the austere life . Do not give more importance to material goods, begin to feel with your heart.
59. Just as a candle does not shine without fire, man cannot exist without a spiritual life
The light that shines in each one of us; our guide to know how to live in peace is our spiritual life.
60. Long is the night for the one who lies awake; long is the mile for the weary; long is life for the fool who does not know the true law
A famous quote that can be interpreted in different ways.
61. Doubt everything. Find your own light
All said. Your destination will be wherever your thoughts and feelings want to reach you .
62. The maximum victory is the one won over oneself
Do not compete against others, but against yourself. Get up every day trying to be a better person, best friend, lover, father …
63. Your virtue should be professing love and peace to those around you.
If you are comfortable with the people who live near you, your life will be easier and will be full of good times.
64. Bless your friend … he allows you to grow
Who has a friend, has a treasure . Friends allow us to discover new realities and have support when we need advice.
65. Holding a grudge is like holding a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else; it is one who burns
Hatred only breeds hatred and resentment. Let’s keep it out of our existence.
66. No one will punish you for your anger; your anger will take care of punishing you
Another phrase from Buddha that reminds us that bad feelings never play in favor of our well-being.
67. Beautiful flowers bloom but eventually die
A reflection on the flow of life.
68. Do not overestimate what you have received or envy others; he who envies has no peace
Be happy with what you have and you will be blessed.
69. To be healthy, find true happiness, and bring peace to all, people must first control their own mind. If they succeed, they will have reached enlightenment and all wisdom and virtue will come naturally.
Self-exploration allows us to get to know ourselves better and fight for our most human desires.
70. Don’t live in the past, don’t imagine the future, concentrate your mind on the present moment
A reflection on the importance of focusing our attention on the moment we live in.
71. The foot feels itself when it feels the ground
Consciousness does not exist in isolation from the elements that exist.
72. Virtues, like muses, always come in groups
A reflection on what leads us to behave in a methodical way.
73. Virtue is more persecuted by the wicked than loved by the virtuous
Another of the reflections about the way in which we internalize the correct ways of behaving .
74. Words must be chosen carefully, as they will influence other people for better or for worse
There is a responsibility in the way we express ourselves.
75. Chaos is inherent in all things that are composed
About the dialectic between order and disorder.