by Katsuki Sekida.

In Buddhist literature, the ox is likened to one's own True Nature. To search for the ox is to investigate this True Nature. The first stage in the sequence is the starting of the investigation. Consider young men or women on the threshold of their lives. They probably do not know what they really want from life, but in their naivete they may think that...

by Franz Metcalf.

Don't worry, I won't give you a history of Buddhism. There are many dull accounts of this history and a few not-so-dull ones. For now, let's get right to the living center of Buddhism: what the Buddha saw, felt, and taught to his disciples. We'll also look at the continued growth of Buddhist ideas beyond what the Buddha himself taught...

by Katsuki Sekida.

Zen is concerned with the problem of the nature of mind, so it necessarily includes an element of philosophical speculation. However, in Zen we are never separated from our personal practice, which we carry out with our body and mind. Zen aims at overthrowing our distorted view of the world...

by Sharon Salzberg.

Compassion is not a thought or a sentimental feeling, but is rather a movement of the heart. Compassion is born out of lovingkindness. But we may get distracted, we forget, we get caught up in something else, or we confuse another feeling for the state of compassion.

by Pema Chodron.

It's up to us. We can spend our lives cultivating our resentments and cravings or we can explore the path of the warrior ? nurturing open-mindedness and courage. Most of us keep strengthening our negative habits and therefore sow the seeds of our own suffering. The bodhichitta practices, however, are ways for us to sow the seeds of well-being. Particularly powerful are the aspiration practices of the four limitless qualities ? loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

by Woody Hochswender, Greg Martin & Ted Morino.

Buddhism explains the profound truths of life. But it also provides an immensely practical method for overcoming obstacles and transforming oneself. It can be applied to every area of your existence: family, work, relationships, health. And it can be applied by anyone. Each and every human being contains the inherent capacity to be a Buddha

by Jack Kornfield.

When we are faced with a variety of spiritual teachings and practices, we must keep a genuine sense of inquiry. What is the effect of these teachings and practices on myself and others? In his last words, the Buddha said we must be a lamp unto ourselves.

by Khenpo Kharthur Rinpoche.

I came to the United States twenty-two years ago. People at that time did not seem to know very much about Buddhism. We Tibetans realized that it would be beneficial to teach and explain the dharma. We began to talk to people about how to create peace within their heart and peace within the world. We taught how to move beyond suffering...

by Alan Cohen.

One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the messiah?" "No", answered Buddha. "Then are you a teacher?" "No, I am not a teacher." "Then what are you?" "I am awake", Buddha replied. The goal of Buddhism, like any self-respecting spiritual path, is not to have titles or to make distinctions between degrees of holiness; it is to wake up.

by Martin E. Segal.

Buddha is sitting in a relaxed, yet contemplative position and there is a big smile on his face. Is he laughing at me...? Is he gloating because he knows something that I don't know, which enables him to be so calm and serene at those times I am thrashing about? I think not -- his smile is really one of unbearable compassion for the poignancy of our human predicament.