Famous, or favorite quotes.

[ajay0]

Sin repeatedly perpetrated, destroys intelligence; and the man who has lost intelligence, repeatedly commits sin.

Virtue repeatedly practised, enhances intelligence; and the man whose intelligence has increased, enhances intelligence; and the man whose intelligence has increased repeatedly practises virtue. ~ Vidura Neeti (Mahabharatha)


Saintliness is not dumbness! Divine perceptions are not incapacitating! The active expression of virtue gives rise to the keenest intelligence. ~ Sri Yukteshwar ( Autobiography of a Yogi)

 

[ajay0]

Virtue is that which tends to our improvement, and vice to our degeneration. Man is made up of three qualities — brutal, human, and godly. That which tends to increase the divinity in you is virtue, and that which tends to increase brutality in you is vice.

You must kill the brutal nature and become human, that is, loving and charitable. You must transcend that too and become pure bliss. Sachchidânanda, fire without burning, wonderfully loving, but without the weakness of human love, without the feeling of misery. ~ Swami Vivekananda


Good is that which elevates the mind, and evil, is that which degrades the mind. ~ Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar ( Shri Ánandamúrti )


Education which leads to the acquisition of knowledge plus morality makes for a peaceful society.~ Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

 

[ajay0]

Birth is not the cause, my friend; it is virtues which are the cause of welfare. Even a Chandala observing the vow is considered a Brahmana by the gods. ~ Krishna (Uttara-gita)


Virtue is preferable to the winning of kingdoms; it is, in fact, practice of austerities. ~ Krishna (Mahabharatha)


The divine qualities lead to liberation (enlightenment), while the demoniac qualities are the cause for a continuing destiny of bondage. ~ Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita)

 

[ajay0]

A knowledge of virtue is to precede its practice. A rational understanding of the nature and meaning of goodness, self-control, truth, wisdom and justice is the pre-condition of their being practised in life. ~ Swami Krishnananda


“If a behaviour has resulted from absence of the three poisons (attachment, hatred and ignorance), as the causal motive, it can be understood as a clean behaviour and a right behaviour; if a behaviour has resulted from, or is tainted with, any of the three poisons, it can be understood as an unclean behaviour and a bad behaviour.” ~ Samdhong Rinpoche


Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act non-virtuously, suffering results. ~ Sakyong Mipham


This stability of the mind (samadhi) can be brought about through sustained practice of meditation on one subject. At the same time, an orderly mind is necessary for the effective practice of meditation. However, to achieve a qualified samadhi, we must also have acquired, before and during our meditation practice, good conduct and high moral standards. ~ Samdhong Rinpoche

 

[ajay0]

Once you overcome the hatred within your mind, you will discover that in the world outside, there is no longer any such thing as even a single enemy. ~ Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche


We may shout, ‘Let there be peace!’ but this won’t really bring peace. Peace will appear in the world around us only when each individual learns to tame the disturbances arising within his or her own mind. ~ Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche .


We find in others what is in us. If we always find mud around us, it proves that there is mud somewhere in us. ~ Mira Alfassa


When it is impossible for anger to arise within you, you find no outside enemies anywhere. An outside enemy exists only if there is anger inside. ~ Thubten Zopa Rinpoche

 

[ajay0]

The person caught in a violence of reaction and revenge on others can never be at peace and remains uneasy and restless all the time. ~ Dadi Janki


Violence can be eliminated when we follow spiritual principles to become vice-less. ~ Brahma Kumaris


If we hurt someone even in our thoughts, we first hurt ourselves, because by nature we all are peaceful, loving, compassionate and non-violent. ~ Brahma Kumaris

 

[Viswa]

Whatever is visible and of temporary existence, is without any perceptible substantiality of its own; it is only an object of our fallacy, beyond which it has no existence. ~ Yoga Vasistha Book 4 Chapter 61 verse 23

 

[ajay0]

Every child should be taught mental hygiene - that is nonviolence. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


Nonviolence aims at doing no harm to living beings. Compassion aims at doing good to all beings. ~ Amit Ray


Compassion is the signature of Higher Consciousness. Non-violence is the tool to evolve into the Higher Consciousness. ~ Amit Ray


At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. ~ Martin Luther King



The more we practice nonviolence in our words, thoughts and actions the more peaceful will be our inner state. ~ Amit Ray

Nonviolence is the way to listen to the inner voice. ~ Amit Ray

Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone. ~ Mahatma Gandhi



If you are driven by fear, anger or pride nature will force you to compete. If you are guided by courage, awareness, tranquility and peace nature will serve you.~ Amit Ray


Non-violence is more powerful than violence. Nature eliminates violent animals bit by bit. ~ Amit Ray

 

[ajay0]

Desires slay patience. ~ Vidura (Mahabharatha)


If you have patience, then you'll also have love. Patience leads to love. ~ Mata Amritanandamayi


Patience leads to love. If you forcefully open the petals of a bud, you won't be able to enjoy its beauty and fragrance. Only when it blossoms by following its natural course, will the beauty and fragrance of a flower unfold. ~ Mata Amritanandamayi


Patience is all the strength that a person needs. ~ Sai Baba


Our patience will achieve more than our force. ~ Edmund Burke


Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. ~ Jon Kabat Zinn


Bear sorrows and calamities patiently, otherwise you will never be happy. ~ Ali ibn Abi Talib


I will be patient till even patience tires of my patience. ~ Ali ibn Abi Talib


To be patient means to suffer something that hinders or hurts us, and still retain our self-composure. How many difficulties, with their consequent unpleasantness and discord, could be smoothed over and almost entirely eliminated by patience !

Patience always elevates and strengthens our character. We need it not only with others but also with ourselves. ~ Swami Chinmayananda

 

[rocala]

Thus shall ye think of this fleeting world; a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightning in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.

– The Buddha Gautama, Diamond Sutta

 

[ajay0]

Truth, as it exists in all the world, is of thirteen kinds. The forms that Truth assumes are impartiality, self-control, forgiveness, modesty, endurance, goodness , renunciation, contemplation, dignity, fortitude, compassion and abstention from injury. ~ Mahabharatha


Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it." ~ David Starr Jordan


Virtue depends partly upon training and partly upon practice; you must learn first, and then strengthen your learning by actions. ~ Seneca the Younger


For the learning of every virtue there is an appropriate discipline, and for the learning of suspended judgment the best discipline is philosophy. ~ Bertrand Russell

 

[ajay0]

Pleasure is the greatest incentive to evil. ~ Plato


The senses are, of course, dangerous. In the normal state, they ought to be dependent on reason, while we generally find them asserting their authority and claiming independence, fighting with and resisting reason. - S.Radhakrishnan


Virtue is reason which has become energy. – Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel


True freedom consists in performing all actions - eating, reading, working and so forth - in accordance with right judgement and choice of will, not in being compelled by habits. - Yogananda


All earthly blessings virtue sends: On virtue all the world depends. – Valmiki


Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. – Benjamin Franklin


Innocent pleasures are got by virtue and well-earned wealth. – Swami Dayananda Saraswati

 

[ajay0]

'The first kind of protection – inner protection – is to defend oneself against lobha (desire, selfishness), dosa (anger, cruelty, hatred) and moha
(delusion, stupidity). These arise within one’s being.

If one gives in to these, under their influence one no longer behaves like a true human being. One cannot keep one’s mentality humane. And although human, one loses one’s basic human intelligence. ' ~ Sayadaw U Pandita


The mind controlled and trained is better equipped to help us in all professions, in all situations. The disciplined mind will keep our lives balanced, make work easier and develop and nurture reason to govern our actions. In the end our happiness will increase accordingly as we follow the proper mind training. ~ Ajahn Chah


Sense indulgence is contrary to self-restraint. The urges of the lower personality are to be controlled. This is self-control. ~ Swami Krishnananda



Self-control will place a man among the Gods; the want of it will drive him into the thickest darkness of hell. ~ Thiruvalluvar (Thirukkural)



All stages of yoga are stages of self-control. In one term, one phrase, one word we can say yoga is self-control. ~ Swami Krishnananda


Self-control is the way to Self-realisation. The lower self is to be controlled for the sake of the realisation of the higher Self. The lower self is what we identify ourselves with in relation to the physical body and the localised personality. When we control it by the control of our passions and the perceptive apparatus, we gradually get into an insight of the realities that are in the world also. ~ Swami Krishnananda


The active expression of virtue gives rise to the keenest intelligence. ~ Sri Yukteshwar

 

[ajay0]

When even one virtue becomes our nature, the mind becomes clean and tranquil. Then there is no need to practice meditation; we will automatically be meditating always. - Swami Satchidananda


To let go of desires you have to follow a certain code of conduct. This is the manure by which the rose of love will blossom. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


Love is a state of mind where self interests are removed. The mind dwells in its natural state of sat-chit-ananda - existence, consciousness, bliss. Love is not created; it is a mental state which develops by living a disciplined life and developing positive qualities. Human ego is very attracted to negative qualities, so it needs much austerity to develop positive qualities. ~ Baba Hari Dass

 

[ajay0]

Morality requires a certain degree of mental control as a prerequisite. You can’t follow any set of moral precepts without at least a little self-control,
and if your mind is perpetually spinning like a fruit cylinder in a slot machine, self-control is highly unlikely. So mental culture has to come first. ~ Henepola Gunaratana


The personality of the human being is a very complex structure, and its expressional habit is the reason why we should exercise self-control. If
this control over the self is not to be exercised, we would be giving a long rope to this habit which compels us to go beyond ourselves, to cross limits
of decency and break the boundaries of etiquette. ~ Swami Krishnananda


The mind controlled and trained is better equipped to help us in all professions, in all situations. The disciplined mind will keep our lives balanced, make work easier and develop and nurture reason to govern our actions. In the end our happiness will increase accordingly as we follow the proper mind training. ~ Ajahn Chah

 

[ajay0]

Ethics and morality in yoga are a conscious endeavour to reflect the nature of Truth in one's own behaviour in life. ~ Swami Krishnananda


Our conduct should reflect the nature of Reality. This is morality. If our conduct is dissonant with the nature of Truth, it means that we do not want it and are only talking about it unnecessarily. Our heart does not long for it, and our behaviour shows that this is so. ~ Swami Krishnananda


If you lead your life according to ethical principles you can fulfil your dharma. Accept the principle of morality and obey it as long as you live. ~ Bhagavan Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhuji


Try your best to promote the realization of ethical ideals. This will contribute to an existence of harmony. ~ Bhagavan Sri Deep Narayan Mahaprabhuji

 

[ajay0]

Dharma is only one – humanity and sadachar (virtue). ~ Shri Pramukh Swami Maharaj


If you overflow with humanity, divinity has to descend. ~ Sadhguru


Somehow in the name of divinity we have just lost our humanity. Don’t talk about divinity, let your humanity overflow. When your humanity overflows, you will touch divinity, otherwise there is no way. It is simply empty talk; it doesn’t get anybody anywhere. ~ Sadhguru

 

[ajay0]

If you are crawling through your work, that is karma. If you are dancing through your work, that is karma yoga. ~ Sadhguru


Do everything happily. Walk, talk, sit happily; even if you complain against somebody, do it happily. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


Be happy no matter what. It is the strongest weapon you can possess. ~ Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra


Real happiness can stand the challenge of all outer experiences. ~ Paramahamsa Yogananda


”If you are happy, happiness will come to you because happiness wants to go where happiness is.” ~ Harbhajan Yogi Bhajan.

 

[ajay0]

Ethical virtues are intelligent ways of focusing man's understanding and reviving his exhausted energies and fatigued spirit to live.
~ Swami Chinmayananda


Virtue alone is sufficient to make a man great, glorious, and happy.” ~ Benjamin Franklin


Virtue is the best guard against the many unavoidable evils incident to us; nothing better alleviates the weight of the afflictions or gives a truer relish of the blessings of human life.~ Benjamin Franklin


“Only a powerful soul can offer love. Only a powerful soul can afford to be humble. If we are weak, then we become selfish. If we are empty, we take, but if we are filled, we automatically give to all. That is our nature.”~ Brahma Kumaris

 

[ajay0]

All phenomena of samsara and nirvana are your own mind. ~ Padmasambhava


Samsara is mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is mind turned inwardly, recognizing its nature. ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche


Take your stand on the ultimate practice of the heart essence — samsara and nirvana are the display of awareness. Without distraction, without meditation, in a state of natural relaxation, constantly remain in the pure, all-penetrating nakedness of ultimate reality. ~ Dudjom Rinpoche


“We choose ignorance because we can. We choose awareness because we can. Samsara and nirvana are simply different points of view based on the choices we make in how to examine and understand our experience.

There’s nothing magical about nirvana and nothing bad or wrong about samsara. If you’re determined to think of yourself as limited, fearful, vulnerable, or scarred by past experience, know only that you have chosen to do so, and that the opportunity to experience yourself differently is always available.” ~ Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche