The wisdom attributed to Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is profound and encompasses various aspects of life, suffering, and the path to enlightenment. Here are some key teachings and quotes that reflect Buddha’s wisdom:
- The Four Noble Truths:
- “The truth of suffering (dukkha), the truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya), the truth of the end of suffering (nirodha), and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering (magga).”
- The Eightfold Path:
- “Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.”
- Impermanence (Anicca):
- “All conditioned things are impermanent; when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.”
- Suffering (Dukkha):
- “Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering…”
- Non-Self (Anatta):
- “This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.”
- Mindfulness (Sati):
- “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
- Compassion (Karuna) and Loving-kindness (Metta):
- “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
- Mind and Mental States:
- “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.”
- Ignorance (Avijja) and Wisdom (Vijja):
- “Ignorance gives rise to volitional formations, volitional formations give rise to consciousness… thus is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.”
- The Middle Way:
- “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.”
- Cultivating Virtuous Qualities:
- “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
- Karma:
- “You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.”
- The Nature of Desire:
- “Desire is the root cause of all suffering.”
- The Simile of the Raft:
- “This is like a raft, O monks, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto.”
- The Simile of the Arrow:
- “When struck by an arrow, a wise man does not dwell on the pain; the arrow must be pulled out first.”
These teachings reflect the core principles of Buddhism and offer guidance on how to alleviate suffering and attain a state of enlightenment. They emphasize the importance of mindfulness, compassion, and the cultivation of wisdom on the path to liberation. Keep in mind that translations of Buddha’s teachings may vary, and the essence of the wisdom remains central to the various interpretations.