Buddhist Boot Camp Quotes

Carlos Castaneda said, “We can make ourselves miserable, or we can make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.

Treat every living being, including yourself, with kindness, and the world will immediately be a better place.

Wouldn’t it be great to stop, if only for a minute on a regular basis, and reflect on how wonderful everything is?

By being so focused on how things “could be,” we are under-appreciating how great things already are.

You never know when a random act of kindness could literally save a person’s life.

The past will let go of you if you let go of the past.

Isn’t it refreshing to know that just because we’ve always been a certain way, it doesn’t mean we have to stay that way forever?

you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse. —E. James Rohn

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. —Frederick Douglass

Sometimes life isn’t about anything new that we have to learn, but about what we have to UNlearn instead.

Never underestimate the healing power of love. It is just as important for our survival as the food we eat, yet it’s free and available in unlimited supply. Love is the strongest medicine.

If we always do what we’ve always done, we will always be who we’ve always been. —Anonymous

I am another you, and you are another me. And the journey continues. Namaste.

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. —The Buddha

So go ahead, surround yourself with like-minded people for comfort and support, but don't forget to honor those who push your buttons just as much if not more, for they're the ones who provide the opportunity to grow and mature beyond having buttons that can be pushed.

All the happiness in the world stems from wanting others to be happy, and all the suffering in the world stems from wanting the self to be happy. —Shantideva

Our beliefs are merely stories in our minds that we ourselves wrote long ago. Knowing that, don’t you feel empowered to rewrite them if they no longer serve you?

Kindness is my religion,

Buddhism teaches us to be tolerant and accepting, but tolerance does NOT mean accepting what is harmful.

Seeking happiness outside ourselves is like waiting for sunlight in a cave facing north. —Tibetan saying

Instead of spending so much time thinking about what’s missing from your life, remind yourself (if only for twenty minutes a day), of everything you already have: from a comfortable bed to sleep on, to a roof over your head, to clean air, drinking water, food, clothes, friends, functioning lungs, and a beating heart.

Apologizing doesn’t always mean that you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego. —Anonymous

Our beliefs inevitably solidify to be the only truth and reality that we know, which puts a greater distance between us and anyone whose beliefs are different.

energy flows where attention goes

You’re not stuck in traffic; you ARE traffic. We blame society, but we ARE society. —Anonymous

We have a tremendous personal responsibility for the way our life has turned out, and an equally important role of steering it into the future. Although we constantly make decisions, we’re not always mindful of their far-reaching consequences.

You don’t have to agree with, only learn to peacefully live with, other people’s freedom of choice. This includes (but is not limited to) political views, religious beliefs, dietary restrictions, matters of the heart, career paths, and mental afflictions. Our opinions and beliefs tend to change depending on time, place, and circumstance. And since we all experience life differently, there are multiple theories on what’s best, what’s moral, what’s right, and what’s wrong. It is important to remember that other people’s perspective on reality is as valid as your own.

we don’t just eat with our mouths; we eat with our eyes and ears too. So if we watch or listen to poisonous negativity, violence, gossip, and pretty much anything that is not conducive to our growth or maturity as adults, then it’s no different than eating only refined sugars, fried foods and saturated fats; we’re bound to get sick. That sickness, however, takes the form of fear, paranoia, anxiety, greed, insecurity, a lack of trust in our fellow brothers and sisters, and discontentment with life altogether.

we are more alike than we care to admit.

It is very possible (and perfectly okay) for someone who is Catholic, Muslim, Atheist or Jewish, for example, to still find the Buddha’s teachings inspirational. You can love Jesus, repeat a Hindu mantra, and still go to temple after morning meditation. Buddhism is not a threat to any religion, it actually strengthens your existing faith by expanding your love to include all beings.

Buddhism teaches us that if we get attached to impermanent things (and feelings are a perfect example of things that are impermanent), then our lives will be full of anguish. But if we live each moment without getting attached to it, then we can eliminate the very cause of suffering right there and then, and joyfully live our lives.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. —Douglas Adams

If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse. —E. James Rohn

You never make the same mistake twice. The second time you make it, it’s no longer a mistake; it’s a choice.

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” —Art Linkletter

All the happiness in the world stems from wanting others to be happy, and all the suffering in the world stems from wanting the self to be happy.

The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do. —Anonymous

Our beliefs are merely stories in our minds that we ourselves wrote long ago. Knowing that, don’t you feel empowered to rewrite them if they no longer serve you? Scan your mind for viruses called fears, anxieties, judgments, doubts, hatred and despair, and put a little note next to them that says “Outdated; no longer valid.” I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I think I’m gonna go out there and make some more! —Anonymous

Compassionately understand that everyone is on his or her own path and, furthermore, honor where everyone is on that journey at every moment. No fear, no hatred, bigotry or animosity, just deep understanding, empathy, love, and respect for all beings.

Practice listening to other people talk about their beliefs without interrupting them. Listen to Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons, Anarchists, Republicans, KKK members, Heterosexuals, Homosexuals, Meat Eaters, Vegans, Scientists, Scientologists, and so on . . . Develop the ability to listen to ANYTHING without losing your temper. The first principle here at Buddhist Boot Camp is that the opposite of what you know is also true. Accept that other people’s perspectives on reality are as valid as your own (even if they go against everything you believe in), and honor the fact that someone else’s truth is as real to them as yours is to you. Then (and this is where it gets even more difficult), bow to them and say, “Namaste,” which means the divinity within you not only acknowledges the divinity within others, but honors it as well. Compassion is the only thing that can break down political, dogmatic, ideological, and religious boundaries. May we all harmoniously live in peace. You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. —The Buddha

If we’re so attached to tangible things, imagine how difficult letting go of opinions must be (let alone opening our minds to new ideas, perspectives, possibilities and futures).

We cannot control what anyone else is up to; we can only be mindful of what we can each do individually, and do it well.

If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author, and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page. —Mark Houlahan

When you approach each moment with gratitude, not only will you stop experiencing life from a place of lack, you will experience abundance!

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.

Is peace merely the absence of war, or is it tranquility despite the conflict? Is happiness the absence of suffering, or is it contentment despite the imperfections?

You can't calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. —Art Linkletter

The sentiment behind the golden rule is great (treating others the way we wish to be treated ourselves). But nowadays we don’t even treat ourselves very well! We knowingly consume things that are bad for us, continue working at jobs we hate, and don’t spend half as much time relaxing as we do stressing. Come to think of it, we ARE treating others the way we treat ourselves: poorly! We feed our children junk food, opt for cheap instead of quality even when it matters, rarely give anyone our undivided attention, and demand a lot more from others than what is reasonable or even possible. Let’s try something new: let’s treat everybody as if we just found out they’re about to die. Why? Because it seems that’s the ONLY time we slow down enough to get a new perspective on life—either then or when we have a near-death experience ourselves. Be gentle, patient, kind and understanding. We’re all headed in the same direction, so let’s start treating each other better along the way!

Accept that other people’s perspectives on reality are as valid as your own (even if they go against everything you believe in), and honor the fact that someone else’s truth is as real to them as yours is to you.

Just as we habitually hoard old birthday cards and souvenirs, bank statements and receipts, clothes, broken appliances and old magazines, we also hang on to pride, anger, outdated opinions and fears. If we’re so attached to tangible things, imagine how difficult letting go of opinions must be (let alone opening our minds to new ideas, perspectives, possibilities and futures). Our beliefs inevitably solidify to be the only truth and reality that we know, which puts a greater distance between us and anyone whose beliefs are different. This distance not only segregates us, it feeds our pride.

Don’t believe everything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real. Discover that there are virtuous things and there are non-virtuous things. Once you have discovered for yourself, give up the bad and embrace the good.

Habitually contemplate whether your thoughts stem from love or from fear. If your thoughts originate in love, then follow them. But if they originate from a place of fear, then dig deep to find the root of your fear. Only then will you be able to finally let go of it so that fear no longer limits your possibilities.

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future, that he does not enjoy the present moment. As a result, he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never truly lived. —The Dalai Lama,

you invite me to an anti-war rally, I won’t go. Invite me to a pro-peace rally, and I’ll be there! —Mother Teresa

anything not meant to benefit others is simply not worth undertaking.

I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I think I’m gonna go out there and make some more! —Anonymous

If we always do what we’ve always done, we will always be who we’ve always been.

As the Dalai Lama says, “Don’t try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.

Make an effort to shine no matter what, to love unconditionally, and to be a kind and gentle soul (even when nobody is watching).

Beyond right and wrong there is a field. I will meet you there!

Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.

If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse.

A stranger is simply a friend you haven’t met yet.

Be Grateful.

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.

The most important (and difficult) aspect of ANY job is to focus on the task at hand, and to not worry whether someone else is doing her or his part.

I find television very educational. Every time someone switches it on, I go into another room and read a good book. —Groucho Marx

Gratitude has a way of turning what we have into enough,

We can’t just THINK ABOUT compassion and kindness; we must BE compassionate and kind.

Everything is subject to time, place, and circumstance. There are no “shoulds” in compassionate thinking!

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. —The Buddha

Never judge anyone for the choices that they make, and always remember that the opposite of what you know is also true. Every other person’s perspective on reality is as valid as your own, so no matter how certain you are that what you’re doing is the “right thing,” you must humbly accept the possibility that even someone doing the exact opposite might be doing the “right thing” as well.

Life is an ongoing classroom in which everyone is our teacher, and every situation contains a lesson for us to learn. It is only by first being patient with myself that I can ever learn to be patient with others. I

Our beliefs inevitably solidify to be the only truth and reality that we know, which puts a greater distance between us and anyone whose beliefs are different. This distance not only segregates us, it feeds our pride.

while everyone’s recipe is a little different, the main ingredients for a successful batter are love, gratitude, kindness and patience. And the single most common ingredient that makes people’s cake bitter is fear, so don’t use

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future, that he does not enjoy the present moment. As a result, he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never truly lived. —The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprises him the most

There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going to.

Being enlightened isn’t something you “become”; it is something you continually do!

Life is an ongoing classroom in which everyone is our teacher, and every situation contains a lesson for us to learn.