Awaken A New Earth

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Enlightenment Is Always There

Enlightenment is always there. Small enlightenment will bring great enlightenment. If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive—that you can touch the miracle of being alive—then that is a kind of enlightenment. Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive.

That is the environment people live in. But with a practice, we can always remain alive in the present moment. With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment. It is possible to live happily in the here and the now. So many conditions of happiness are available—more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don't have to run into the future in order to get more.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Virtuous Friends

Those who have faith and ethics in abundance
Possess wisdom and great austerity,
And associate with virtuous friends -
They will swiftly become a Tathagata.

To arise as a Buddha in the world,
Supreme joyful effort must be made,
All sentient beings held within one's care,
And one must teach the Dharma of virtuous action.

On loving thoughts, and likewise too,
On supreme celibacy remain focused.
Bhaishajya-sena, after having heard this speech,
You should practise this supremely.

Seeing liberation, and enlightened, and
The leader whose speech is acclaimed,
And the father and the mother of the world;
He is called 'bodhicitta'.

A virtuous friend who teaches this Dharma
In the world is supremely rare.
Those who listen with respect to the teachings of the Buddha
Will become unsurpassed Buddhas gone-to-bliss.

Those who are respectful
Towards the peaceful Buddhas' heirs
Will also become the protectors of the world
Releasing all sentient beings.

- The Buddha (The Arya Sanghata Sutra Dharmaparyaya)