Page:Henry Mulford Tichenor - The Buddhist Philosophy of Life.djvu/20

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THE BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

profitless subtleties; let us surrender self and all selfishness, and as all things are fixed by causation, let us practice good, so that good may result from our actions.

The charitable man is loved by all; in death his heart is at rest, for he needs no repentance; he receives the opening flower of his reward, and the fruit that ripens from it.

By giving away our food, we receive more strength; by bestowing our goods on others, we gain more beauty; by donating abodes of purity and truth, we acquire great and lasting treasures.

We reach the immortal path only by acts of kindness; we perfect our souls only by love.

When a tree is burning with fierce flames, how can the birds congregate there? Truth cannot dwell where passion lives.

It is impossible to escape the results of our deeds; let us therefore practice good works.

Our good or evil deeds follow us continually like shadows.

That which is most needed is a loving heart.

As we sow, so shall we reap.

There are ways from light into darkness, and from darkness into light. These are ways, also, from the gloom into deeper darkness, and from the dawn into brighter light. The wise man will use the light he has to receive more light. He will continually advance in the knowledge of truth.

There is a state where there is neither earth, nor water, nor heat, nor air; neither infinity of space nor infinity of consciousness, nor