Conquer

These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood.

Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings,

How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind!

You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself,
and you will not find that person anywhere.

Conquer the angry man by love.

Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.

Conquer the miser with generosity.

Conquer the liar with truth.

The Dhammapada

Perspective

The master was in a mellow mood and the disciples were inquisitive.

Did he ever feel depressed, they asked.

He did.

Wasn't it also true that he was in a continual state of happiness, they persisted. It was.

What was the secret, they wanted to know.

Said the Master, "This: Everything is as good or as bad as one's opinion makes it."

Challenge

An easy-going disciple complained that he had never really experienced the silence that the master frequently commended.

Said the Master, "Silence only comes to active people."

Non-violence

A snake in the village had bitten so many people that few dared to go into the fields.

Such was the Master's holiness that he was said to have tamed the snake and persuaded it to practise the discipline of non-violence.

It did not take long for the villagers to discover that the snake had become harmless.

They took to hurling stones at it and dragging it around by the tail.

The badly battered snake crawled into the master's house to complain.

Said the Master, " Friend, you've stopped frightening people. That's bad.!"

"But it was you who taught me to practise the discipline of non violence", answered the snake.

"Friend," sighed the Master, "I told you to stop hurting , not to stop hissing!"