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108AdagesofWisdomII108AdagesofWisdomII

LivingaCarefreeLife

1.Behumbletothosebelowandshowrespecttothoseabove.Theseareimportantlessonsforabodhisattvapractitioner.

2.Dedicationratherthancompetition.Cherishblessingsratherthanindulgence.

3.Loveyourself,others,andallsentientbeings;rescueyourself,others,andallsentientbeings.

4.Analtruisticmindisapuremindthatdoesnotaskforanyresultorreward.

5.Theessenceofpossessionandgivingislove,but,onebenefitstheself,thesecondbenefitsothers.Possessionisselfcraving;givingstemsfromagreatlovethatisselfless,joyful,andequanimous.

6.Self-disciplinedbyprinciplethebodhisattvadoesnotdemandofotherswhatisinappropriateorimpossible.

7.Abodhisattvaisbroad-mindedandbig-hearted.Heisthesteppingstoneandpathtoaccomplishmentforothers.

8.Whenothersmisunderstandyou,firstrealizethatthefaultlieswithyou.

9.Atataskthinkofothers;inamistake,looktoyourself.

10.Accomplishyourownendsbyhonoringothers;reconcilehostilitywithrespecttoothers;increaseharmonywithpraiseofothers.

11.Onewhocannotletgoofhimselflackswisdom;onewhocannotletgoofotherslackscompassion.

12.Greetotherswithablessing,gainfriendshipandpeaceatthesametime.

13.Showfriendshipandextendahelpinghandandyouwillemittheradianceofharmony,happiness,andpeace.

14.Lessquarrelingleadstolesscontroversy;moresincerityleadstomorepeace.

15.Toaffirmyourstrengthsisself-confidence;toknowyourdefectsisgrowth;tounderstandothersisrespect.

16.Careforsentientbeingsandletgoofyourachievement.

17.Whenworkingtogetherwithasubordinate,showconcernnotblame,encouragementnotarrogance,consultationnotauthority.

18.Aforcefulandstubbornpersononlyhurtsotherswithouthelpinghimself;amildandpatientpersonisatpeacewithhimselfandothers.

19.Tocalmpeopleyoumustharmonizewiththem.Togainrespect,beapersonwhoismildandpatient,forharmonyunitespeopleandmildnessdiffusesseverity.

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20.Themeaningoflifeliesinconstantlearninganddedication;helpingothersleadstoself-growth.

21.Ifwisdomisyourmeasure,youwillrefrainfromidlechatter.

22.Friendlinesstowardsothersbringsalifeofpeace.

23.Abrightpersonisnotnecessarilywise;adullpersonnotnecessarilyfoolish.Wisdomisnotthesameasknowledge;itliesinhowyoutreatothersandhandleyourself.

24.Compassionistoreduceothers'vexations;wisdomistoreduceyourown.

25.Donotforceotherstowearyourshoes;donotconfuseothers'problemswithyourown.

26.Greatmeritliesinattendingtoothers'suffering;Greatwisdomliesinhelpingthemsolvetheirproblems.

27.Onceyourealizethatallphenomenainthisworldareimpermanent,youwillattaintrueinnerpeace.

28.Reapgratitudenothatredyouwillliveinharmonyandjoy.

29.Asmileandakindwordaregreatgivingthatsowfavorableconditions.

30.Ifyoucanreducemeaninglessemotions,youwillavoidunnecessarytrouble.

31.Dedicationrepaysgratitude;repentancedisciplinestheself.

32.Doyourbesttobenefitothersandintheprocessimproveyourself.Thisisthemeasureofsuccess.

33.Howshouldyouconductyourselfanddealwithothers?Be"squareinside"livebyprinciple;and"roundoutside"exerciseexpedience.

34.Ifyoucannothelpothers,thenatleastrefrainfromhurtingthem.

35.Increasevirtueinyourspeech;decreaseillwillinspeaking.Thesegreatmeritswillnurtureblessings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------LivingaSimpleLife

36.Pursuewhatyouwillinharmony;keephopeinexertion.

37.Reducethemindofgainandloss;anddirectyourefforttotimelyendeavor,andsuccessfulislikely.

38.Thewarmthofafamilyliesinmutualrespectandlove;thevalueofafamilyliesinmutualhelpandunderstanding.

39.Asaboss,reducethemindofgainandloss.Alwayskeephonorandintegrityinmind,sosuccesswillnotpassyouby.

40.Whenyouheargossip,calmdownandexamineyourselfcorrectmistakesandguardagainstnewones.Instabilityandimpatiencemakegossipworse.

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85.Compassionisfeelingwithintelligence;wisdomisintelligencewithflexibility.

86.South,north,east,westareallfairdirection;walking,standing,sitting,andlyingarenootherthanthePath;bearcontritioninmindoften;repentanceandrepaymentofgratitudeyieldthehighestvirtue.

87.Apractitionershouldbefrankandsincereandharbornoevilthoughts;thisisthemeaningof"astraightforwardmindisthepath"(VimalakirtiSutra).

88.Whenvexationsoccur,donotconfrontthemhead-on,butresolvethemwithamindofshame,repentance,andgratitude.

89.ToexperiencelifewholeheartedlyisChanpractice.

90.Topossesshealthinbodyandmindisthegreatestwealth.

91.Breathingiswealthandbeingaliveishope.

92.Whenthemindisknotted,bestlookinwardwherethoughtsarise.

93.Whenvexedandtroubled,enjoythefeelingofyourownbreathing.

94.Whenthereishindranceinthemind,theworldisjarring;whenthereisnotroubleinthemind,theworldisinbrightharmony.

95.Whenthemindisnotopenandclear,sufferingoccurs;whenthemindisopenandclear,sufferingturnstohappiness.

96.Risingandfallingarenormalconditionsoftheworld.Ittakesawisepersontopenetrateintothephenomenaofrisingandfalling.

97.Turnyourmindandturnyourfate.

98.Wisdomismorethanknowingthesutras;itmeanspossessingtheskilltotransformvexations.

99."Defilementisidenticaltoenlightenment"doesnotmeanthatyoudonothavedefilement,butthatyoudonottreatdefilementasdefilement.

100.Witheven-mindednessandapeacefuldisposition,lifewillbehappy.

101.Infacinganger,lookwithinandexaminethesourceofyouranger.

102.Whenyouareworried,youareoccupied;whenyouletgo,youarefree.

103.Self-affirmation,self-improvement,andself-dissolutionarethreestagesinthepathfrom"self"to"no-self".

104.Itisbettertoplaceemphasisoncultivatinggoodcausesratherthanexpectingpleasantresults.

105.Whenyourealizethatyoulackwisdom,yourwisdomincreasesimperceptibly.

106.Themindshouldbelikeawallstillandunwavering,yetalwaysfunctioning.

107.Belikeadustlessmirrorthatclearlyreflectseverything,butonwhichnothingadheres.

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108.Whenpeoplecompeteblindly,itisbettertochooseanotherpath.

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