Truisms of Buddhism

 

 

I am a fan of Buddhist quotes. I love the timeless wisdom and universal insight. Here are a few I especially like:

 

“Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.”

 

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

 

“Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.”

 

I recently interviewed Thane Lawrie for the podcast. Thane’s book, The Buddhist CEO, talks about how he integrated Buddhist principles into his life as a CEO.

Talking to Thane helped me clarify why I find aspects of the Buddhist philosophy appealing. It’s experiential as opposed to dogmatic. It’s all about looking within to find your truth; about the universal connections we all share. It’s about kindness and psychological self responsibility. Those are guideposts  I can strive to live by.

I think, at some point, most people search for a spiritual true north. Spirituality, as Elizabeth Lesser points out in her book The Seekers Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure, is not religion. She defines it as

 

“an attitude of fearlessness, a sense of adventure.

It is a way of looking boldly at the life we have been given, here, now, on earth, as this human being…

Spirituality is nothing more than a brave search for the truth about existence.”

 

The “truth about existence” permeates much of the Buddhist perspective widely shared in the west. I am one of the sightseers when it comes to this ancient tradition. I read and heed many of the sayings because they speak to me, the fallible person, looking within for greater truth. Wisdom and the experience of decades touches my timeless soul.  And in talking to Thank Lawrie, I met a man who has devoted himself to his spiritual practices while navigating a life in this material world.

No matter what spiritual beliefs you may have, this is a story for all of us, about belief, so-called reality and finding congruence between the two. Check it out here.