Buddha

Buddha's father was Suddhodana, king of the Sakhyas. Buddha's mother was named Maya. Buddha was born in B.C. 560 and died at the age of eighty in B.C. 480. The place of his birth was a grove known as Lumbini, near the city of Kapilavastu, at the foot of Mount Palpa in the Himalayan ranges within Nepal. This small city Kapilavastu stood on the bank of the little river Rohini, some hundred miles north-east of the city of Varnasi. As the time drew nigh for Buddha to enter the world, the gods themselves prepared the way before him with celestial portents and signs. Flowers bloomed and gentle rains fell, although out of season; heavenly music was heard, delicious scents filled the air. The body of the child bore at birth the thirty-two auspicious marks (Mahavyanjana) which indicated his future greatness, besides secondary marks (Anuvyanjana) in large numbers. Maya died seven days after her son's birth. The child was brought up by Maya's sister Mahaprajapati, who became its foster-mother.

http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/saints/buddha.htm - birth

MIND

Just as an arrowsmith shapes an arrow to perfection with fire,

So does the wise man shape his mind,

Which is fickle, unsteady, vulnerable, and erratic.

Like a fish taken from the safety of its watery home

And cast upon the dry land,

So does this mind flutter, due to the lure of the tempter.

Therefore one should leave the dominion of Mara.

How good it is to rein the mind,

Which is unruly, capricious, rushing wherever it pleases.

The mind so harnessed will bring one happiness.

A wise man should pay attention to his mind,

Which is very difficult to perceive.

It is extremely subtle and wanders wherever it pleases.

The mind, well-guarded and controlled,

Will bring him happiness.

One who keeps a rein on the wandering mind,

Which strays far and wide, alone, bodiless,

Will be freed from the tyranny of the tempter.

A man of fickle mind

Will never attain wisdom to its fullest,

Since he is ignorant of the Dhamma

And has wavering faith.

The heart of the fully conscious man is fearless -

He has freed his mind of lust and anger,

He has transcended both good and evil.

Observe this body, as fragile as an earthen vase.

Build a mind as solid as a fortified city,

Then confront Mara with the weapon of insight

And (proceeding without attachment)

Guard what you have already conquered.

Certainly before long this body will lie on the ground,

Lifeless and unconscious,

Cast aside like a useless log.

A mind out of control will do more harm

Than two angry men engaged in combat.

A well-directed mind creates more well-being

Than the wholesome actions of parents

Toward their children.

BU1-01

                          FLOWERS

See this body, as fragile and transient as foam.
Know that it is as insubstantial as a mirage,
And thereby avoid the lure of the tempter's
    flowery arrows,
And put yourself beyond death's grasp.

Just as a raging flood sweeps away a sleeping
    village,
So does death claim a man of distracted mind,
As he continually seeks more and more
Of life's fleeting pleasures.

Death drowns the unsatisfied man,
Whose restless mind clutches
For greater and greater pleasures.

The wise man goes gently through the village,
Like a bee extracting honey from the flower
But leaving the color and fragrance intact.

Pay no attention to harsh words uttered by
    others.
Do not be concerned with what others have
    or have not done.
Observe your own actions and inactions.

Like a beautiful brightly colored flower without
    fragrance
Is the well-spoken word without action.

Like a beautiful brightly colored flower full of
    fragrance
Is the well-spoken word and the deed that
    matches the word.

A man born to this world should do many
    good deeds,
As a garland maker makes garlands from
    a heap of flowers.

The scent of flowers is carried
No farther than the wind allows,
Neither the sandalwood, tagar, nor jasmine.
But the fragrance of the deeds of good men
    spreads
To the ends of the earth, in all directions,
Regardless of the wind.

          BU1-02

                     THE ROD

Everybody fears being struck by a rod.
Everybody fears death.
Therefore, knowing this, feeling for others as
    for yourself,
Do not kill others or cause others to kill.

Everybody fears being struck by a rod.
Life being dear to all.
Therefore, knowing this, feeling for others as
    for yourself,
Do not kill others or cause others to kill.

If one, pursuing happiness, strikes
Living beings who also strive to live happily
With a rod or other instrument,
He will reap an unwholesome harvest.

If one pursues his own happiness,
While causing no harm to other living beings
Who also strive to live happily,
He will reap a wholesome harvest.

Avoid harsh speech.
Angry words backfire upon the speaker.

By making yourself as still as a cracked cymbal,
Not retaliating, you achieve nirvana.

                                                       BU1-03

BU1 - The Dhammapada, The Path of Truth

(Teachings of the Buddha)

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, trans.

Parallax Press

- 01 (3), p. 9

   - 02   (4), p. 14

     - 03  (10), p. 37