True realisation of the actual nature of this material world, its perishable, transitory and illusory aspects best dawns on a person in suffering.
To uphold righteousness, so supreme an act did he perform; he gave his head, but did not utter a word of sorrow. For the sake of righteousness, he did this great heroic deed; he laid down his life but not the principles… Guru Tegh Bahadur broke his earthly vase on the head of the Emperor of Delhi – and went to the abode of God.
Good is that which elevates the mind and evil is that which degrades the mind. Social virtue and vice are temporal entities; they have nothing to do with your relationship with the Supreme.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
When we see everything in life as a game, we will be equally joyous when falling as we are when rising. If we can fully understand this – if we can see life as swinging on a swing – we will never fall apart when failure comes our way.
A man’s value depends upon his courage and resolution, his veracity depends upon his traits of nobility and self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor.
Things that are real are given and received in silence. God has been everlastingly working in silence, unobserved, unheard, except by those who experience His infinite silence.
