1.
You cannot rewind the clock back to right the wrong in the past. You’ve today to make a difference in your life, family, friend’s life and in society if you heed these words of Buddha,
“Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
2.
When you’ve a headache, you reach for painkiller. If you’ve a sore throat, you turn to throat lozenges. You know what is worrying and causing you discomfort in life. You are responsible for making the right move to remedy the situation. Buddha echoes similar sentiments in the statement,
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
3.
You can get away with acts which do not conform to society norms. You hide behind a wall of words to say one thing yet mean something else. You’ve practiced and perfected this act and succeed well yet you’re living a lie. However, there are three things Buddha says cannot be hidden.
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
4.
Anger has different ways of manifestation in different individuals. You break furniture, utensils and smash glass window your clenched fist to release steam. These are signs of anger gone wrong. The items are replaceable. But the scar your action leaves n the heart is irreparable. Buddha says of such acts,
“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.”
5.
You live in a society held hostage by dictates. You eat what you’re told is good for your health. You wear clothes recommended by fashion designers who by the way are making money. You also strive to think the same way everyone else does. Do you know you’re one of a kind? You’re unique and special and so is your mind.
“The mind is everything. What you think you become,” Buddha stated.
6.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” the saying goes. You’re part of your nation. Good health is a pre condition to economic growth of your country. That is on a wider scale. Buddha narrows good health to individual benefit saying,
“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” If negative thoughts cluster your mind your body suffers from ill health.
7.
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves,” Buddha commented. Your character is tied to your personality the same way the shadow is linked to the human body. It you think this is hearsay, try and shake off your shadow today.
8.
You’ve a dream. You might not share it with anyone else. But it is there down the last detail. You can put it off, shelve it while you pursue something else in life but the dream will be waiting at the door of your heart to be fullfilled. In the words of Buddha,
“What we think, we become.” Turn your dream into reality today.
9.
Meaning is in the mind of the listener just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But that doesn’t absolve you from carelessly using words to hurt others in communication.
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill,” Buddha admonishes. How do you influence others with your words?
10.
Imagine giving witness in court. If you know the truth, you tell it as it is because you’ve facts to prove it. The difficulty emerges when you try bending the truth.
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” These words of Buddha are true and are backed by verified records in history.
11.
Peace of mind is harder to achieve than any other goal you set in life. You’re in and out of peace of mind so often, you wonder if a time will come when you can say with absolute surety that you’ve “Perfect Peace.” There is only one reason to explain this.
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without,” Buddha said.
12.
Everything you’ve access to on earth is a gift. Friends and relatives shower you with gifts without expecting you to return a hand. That is the essence of giving. Your part is to acknowledge with a heart full of thanksgiving and be grateful for the things that come your way. If you’re envious, you turn the blessings away. But it goes deeper than that, you’ve troubled mind. Buddha says,
“Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.”
13.
Nothing challenges human beings heart as the fear of death. You’re scared stiff of anything that destroys the body. Life beyond physical body is remote, removed and farfetched a thought to entertain. You occupy the mind with fear of inevitable death of the body if you don’t live on purpose. Buddha notes,
“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
14.
How much do you love yourself? You strive to achieve perfection as if it’s something foreign and farfetched. Do you realize you’re made perfect in all ways? That is the reason you should concur with Buddha’s sentiments on self love,
“You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
15.
How much anger can you harbor in the heart before it explodes in angry torrent of words? If you’re honest, you know anger is destructive. You don’t think straight when you’re angry. Buddha points out that,
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” Are you angry at someone? Do not let the sun go down without resolving that conflict today.
16.
Change your thinking and you change your life is a good axiom to live by. Buddha says,
“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain? Of course not and this brings you back to transforming the mind in order to transform your life.”
17.
“Action speaks louder than words,” you’ve heard it said. Here is the challenge Buddha puts to you for consideration,
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?” No good comes out of empty words. Action is the key word.
18.
Your sense of touch warns you if the hand rests on hot plate, pan. The same sense of touch assists you to know you’re walking on solid ground and not wading through mud in darkness. Here is Buddha’s way of expressing the importance of the sense of touch,
“The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground,” Buddha.
