Buddhist Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old buddhist quotes, buddhist sayings, and buddhist proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

The reason Buddhism can be so naturalised is because, stripped of its supernatural elements, its core teachings can be giving a sound, secular philosophical interpretation. In other words, it becomes a religion acceptable to the contemporary, naturalistic mind only when it ceases to be a religion. Julian Baggini
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. Dalai Lama
Those who see worldly life as an obstacle to Dharma see no Dharma in everyday actions. They have not yet discovered that there are no everyday actions outside of Dharma. Dogen Zenji
All suffering is caused by one belief....the belief in separation. Vivian Amis
To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves. Dogen Zenji
Harmonizing opposites by going back to their source is the distinctive quality of the Zen attitude, the Middle Way: embracing contradictions, making a synthesis of them, achieving balance. Taisen Deshimaru
The one who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than he who has defeated a thousand times a thousand men. Buddha
Buddhism is really, one of its main practices is understanding and experiencing compassion, and how that ultimately is a road to happiness. Goldie Hawn
One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield. Buddha
If you want to experience the unalloyed ecstasy of life, you can accomplish this through the twin Buddhist practices of meditation and mindfulness. Frederick Lenz
Buddhism teaches you to embrace change. Koo Stark
Buddhism is all about finding your own way, not imitating the ways of others or even the ways of Buddha himself. Brad Warner
Buddhism talks about the possibility of transforming greed, hatred, and delusion. But sometimes need turns into greed. Jack Kornfield
I come to realize that mind is no other than mountains and rivers and the great wide earth, the sun and the moon and stars. Dogen Zenji
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Nhat Hanh
In Buddhism what we seek to do is change ourselves into someone who's beautiful to be. Frederick Lenz
Buddhism itself is all about empowering yourself, not about getting what you want. Pema Chodron
Here in this body are the sacred rivers, here are the sun and moon, as well as the pilgrimage places. I have not encountered another temple as blissful as my own body Saraha
You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child. Dogen Zenji
Buddhism doesn't tell you what is false and what is true but it encourages you to find out for yourself. Chogyam Trungpa
Buddhism is the process of getting to that part of us that is always eternally happy. Frederick Lenz
Buddhism doesn't come from anybody. It exists by itself. Frederick Lenz
For as long as space remains, For as long as sentient beings remain, Until then may I too remain to dispel the miseries of the world. Acharya Shantideva
In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. Buddha
The point of the spiritual revolution is not to become a good Buddhist, but to become a wise and compassionate human being, to awaken from our life of complacency and ignorance and to be a buddha. Noah Levine
We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. Gautama Buddha
Zen Buddhism is a discipline where belief isn't necessary. David Sylvian
Buddhism has a very beautiful teaching that says the worst thing you can do to your soul is to tell someone their faith is wrong. Ricky Martin
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood. Gautama Buddha
Buddhism isn't about temples, and incense, and shaved heads, and robes. It's not about church. There are aspects of Buddhism that involve that. People enjoy that, it helps them, it strengthens their practice. Frederick Lenz
Buddhism does not deny the existence of gods—they are described as powerful beings who can bring rains and victories—but they have no influence on the law that suffering arises from craving. If the mind of a person is free of all craving, no god can make him miserable. Conversely, once craving arises in a person's mind, all the gods in the universe cannot save him from suffering. Yuval Noah Harari
Buddhism is simply a methodology, a way of becoming one with the part of ourselves that is happy. Frederick Lenz
In Buddhism there are words you can say... as you say the words with rhythm the conscious tells the subconscious. Tina Turner
Having dreams without enthusiasm is like a bird living in a cage. Debasish Mridha
Buddhism has become a socially recognized religious philosophy for Americans, whereas it used to be considered an exotic religion. Thurston Moore
Try your best, before any rest. Life gets its beauty from the best. Debasish Mridha
The knowledge of the past stays with us. To let go is simply to release any images and emotions. Alan W. Watts
Buddhism notes that it is always a mistake to think your soul can go it alone. Annie Dillard
Buddhism is the study of changing who we are, modifying or perhaps totally restructuring ourselves as perceivers. Frederick Lenz
Buddhism teaches us not to try to run away from suffering. You have to confront suffering. You have to look deeply into the nature of suffering in order to recognize its cause, the making of the suffering. Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhism has turned me on to my humanness, and is challenging my humanness so that I can become more human. Herbie Hancock
Life is not about reality. It is about how you perceive it. Debasish Mridha
Buddhism is the study of how to be immeasurably happy. Frederick Lenz
It is not a Buddhist approach to say that if everyone practiced Buddhism, the world would be a better place. Wars and oppression begin from this kind of thinking. Sulak Sivaraksa
Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine. Shunryu Suzuki
Buddhism is more a philosophy for living rather than a religion or dogma - it's about being awake, free from illusions and fear, so that compassion and loving kindness permeates all of our relationships. Charlotte Kasl
In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light. Dogen Zenji
Life is dear to all beings, they have the right to live the same that we do. Gautama Buddha