October 16, 2005
To Lea,
For meditation... and for guidance toward a more beautiful and fulfilling life.
Linda Cababa- Espinosa
Still Thoughts by Master Shih Cheng-Yen
.....moments of meditation and inspiration. A positive guide for loving and appreciating our lives.
- The sunlight is bright; our parents' love is great, a gentleman's forbearance is strong, a person who lacks moral cultivation is arrogant.
- Say good words, have good thoughts, and do good deeds.
- To forgive others is to be good to oneself.
- Success is bringing into full play one's good points; failure is the accumulation of one's weak points.
- Do not underestimate yourself, because everyone has boundless potential.
- Palm facing down is to help people, palm facing up is to ask for help; helping brings happiness while begging brings pain.
- The more you do, the more you gain; the less you do, the more you lose.
- Be willing to do, be happy to bear.
- Always bear in mind the following virtues: understanding, forgiving, gratitude, contentment, and treasuring one's blessings.
- To do whatever should be done is wisdom; to do whatever should not be done is ignorance.
- If one has a bad temper and a foul mouth, then no matter how good one's heart is, one is still not considered a good person.
- Only when knowledge is truly contemplated and reflected upon can it become your true wisdom.
- Love is not asking from others, but is giving of oneself.
- Our greatest enemy is not others but more likely ourselves.
- Let us compete on who is more likely ourselves.
- Loitering away each day turns us into consumers of life. Only by working enthusiastically can we become creators of life.
- Be mindful, don't worry or fret.
- A person who always makes excuses for himself can never improve.
- One who constantly looks down on others reveals his lack of moral cultivation.
- Weeds do not easily grow on a field planted with vegetables. Evil does not easily harbor in a heart filled with goodness.
- The greater the effort you put into your work, the more capabilities you gain.
- It is better to have a generous heart than a spacious dwelling.
- Getting angry is actually punishing yourself with the mistakes of others.
- A person's happiness stems not from how much he owns but from how little he complains.
- When one has weathered through all the sufferings, fortune may ensue; when one has enjoyed all the blessings, misfortune may turn up.
- When sitting quietly, reflect upon one's mistakes; when chatting, do not criticize others.
- It is not money that bring happiness. A person with a clean conscience is most at peace.
- Before criticizing others, think first whether one is perfect and fautless.
- If you do not do little chores, it will be difficult for you to accomplish great things.
- The greatest success in life is to stand up from failure.
