Sir Edwin Arnold

“ Better would it be to swallow a red-hot iron ball than that a bad, unrestrained fellow should live on the charity of the land.—Dhammapada.
Our duty to do something, not only for our own benefit, but for the good of those who shall come after us.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.
Have respect for the aged as though they were thy father and mother; love the young as thy children or younger brethren.—Jitsu-go-kiyo.
All the people were bound close in family love and friendship.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Happy ... is the man that honors his father: he also that honors his mother is happy.—Udanavarga. ”

“ Of the numerous Buddhist works which have now been translated from some eight or ten eastern languages, the greater number, when regarded purely as literature, occupy a very low level. At times they are so remarkably dull and silly that the reader is inclined to ask why they were ever translated. But the one redeeming feature in the voluminous compositions of Buddhist writers is the boundless compassion which they consistently inculcate. ”

“ I look for no recompense—not even to be born in heaven—but seek ... the benefit of men, to bring back those who have gone astray, to enlighten those living in dismal error, to put away all sources of sorrow and pain from the world.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king. ”

“ The practice of religion involves as a first principle a loving, compassionate heart for all creatures.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.
Shall we in worshipping slay that which hath life? This is like those who practice wisdom, and the way of religious abstraction, but neglect the rules of moral conduct.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
How can a system requiring the infliction of misery on other beings be called a religious system?... To seek a good by doing an evil is surely no safe plan.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king. ”

“ Reaping the fruit of right or evil doing, and sharing happiness or misery in consequence.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Your evil thoughts and evil words but hurt yourself.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Hell was not created by any one.... The fire of the angry mind produces the fire of hell, and consumes its possessor. When a person does evil, he lights the fire of hell, and burns with his own fire.—Mulamuli. ”

“ Kill me first, ... and afterwards do to him as you list.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.
A heart bound by affection does not mind imminent peril. Worse than death to such a one is the sorrow which the distress of a friend inflicts.—Jatakamala.
This good man, moved by pity, gives up his life for another, as though it were but a straw.—Nagananda.
Sprinkle water on the seeds of virtue.—Story of Pratiharyya.
The fool thinks himself alone and commits sin. But I know of no lonely place at all.... Of a bad action my "Self" is a witness far more sharp-sighted than any other person.—Jatakamala. ”

“ To feed a single good man is infinitely greater in point of merit, than attending to questions about heaven and earth, spirits and demons, such as occupy ordinary men.—Sutra of Forty-two Sections.
What is goodness? First and foremost the agreement of the will with the conscience.—Sutra of Forty-two Sections. [27]
If you remove (from conduct) the purpose of the mind, the bodily act is but as rotten wood. Wherefore regulate the mind, and the body of itself will go right.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king. ”

“ In the eye of the wise, the only thing it is good for is to benefit one's fellow-creatures.—Katha Sarit Sagara.
Is not all I possess, even to my very body, kept for the benefit of others?—Nagananda.
All men should cultivate a fixed and firm determination, and vow that what they once undertake they will never give up.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king. ”

“ But if others walk not righteously, we ought by righteous dealing to appease them: in this way, ... we cause religion everywhere to take deep hold and abide.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Who is a (true) spiritual teacher?
He who, having grasped the essence of things, ever seeks to be of use to other beings. ”

“ If a man thus walks in the ways of compassion, is it possible that he should hurt anything intentionally?—Sha-mi-lu-i-yao-lio.
Living in the world, and doing no harm to aught that lives.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king. ”

“ But yours, O friend, is a charity free from such thoughts, the highest and best degree of charity, free from self-interest or thought of getting more.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
'Tis thus men generally think and speak, they have a reference in all they do to their own advantage. ”

“ With no selfish or partial joy ... they rejoiced.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
If thou see others lamenting, join in their lamentations: if thou hear others rejoicing, join in their joy.—Jitsu-go-kiyo.
My son, tell me thy sorrow, that it may become more endurable by participation.—Nagananda.
Every variety of living creature I must ever defend from harm.—Ta-chwang-yan-king-lun.
To think no evil and do none: on the contrary, to benefit all creatures.—Fo-pen-hing-tsih-king.
Let the wise man guard his thoughts, for they are ... ”

“ Let not one who is asked for his pardon withhold it.—Mahavagga.
'T is wrong to conquer him who sues for mercy.—Lalita Vistara.
Let none out of anger or resentment wish harm to another.—Metta-sutta.
Let us then live happily, not hating those who hate us. In the midst of those who hate [18] us, let us dwell free from hatred.—Dhammapada.
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by love; this is an old rule.—Dhammapada.
(To the) self-reliant there is strength and joy.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king. ”

“ May I speak kindly and softly to every one I chance to meet.—Inscription in Temple of Nakhon Vat.
Offensive language is harsh even to the brutes.—Suttavaddhananiti.
Courtesy is the best ornament. Beauty [17] without courtesy is like a grove without flowers.—Buddha-charita.
He knew not the art of hypocrisy.—Jatakamala.
Let a man say that which is right, not that which is unrighteous, ... that which is pleasing, not that which is unpleasing, ... that which is true, not that which is false.—Subhasita-sutta. ”

“ If we sometimes give to this injunction the sense of extending our sympathy to the lowest sentient being, and not causing pain to living creatures while they live, we shall perhaps not be doing violence to the spirit of mercy by which it was prompted. There are many passages in Buddhist works which advocate preference for the spirit over the letter, or the exercise of judgment in accepting what we are taught. ”

“ Not by birth does one become low caste, not by birth a Brahman; by his deeds he becomes low caste, by his deeds he becomes a Brahman.—Vasala-sutta.
Whosoever strikes, or by words annoys, mother or father, brother or sister, ... let us know such as a "base-born."—Vasala-sutta.
Causing destruction to living beings, killing and mutilating, ... stealing and speaking falsely, fraud and deception, ... these are (what defile a man) .—Amagandha-sutta.
Whosoever ... harms living beings, ... and in whom there is no compassion for them, let us know such as a "base-born."—Vasala-sutta. ”

“ LIFE AND LETTERS presents creative thought to you in a simple, compact, inexpensive form. It takes one great personality each month—such as Plato, Goethe, Shakespeare, Nietzsche, Thoreau, Darwin—and gives a comprehensive report of the man's life and achievements. ”

“ Wherein does religion consist?
In (committing) the least possible harm, in (doing) abundance of good, in (the practice of) pity, love, truth, and likewise purity of life.—Pillar Inscriptions of Asoka.
(Not superstitious rites, but) kindness to slaves and servants, reverence towards venerable persons, self-control with respect to living creatures, ... these and similar (virtuous actions are the rites which ought indeed to be performed.) ”

“ On this point a far higher stand is taken by Buddhism than by Christianity—or at any rate than by Christianity as understood and interpreted by those who ought to know. Not only is the whole question of our duties to the lower animals commonly ignored in Christian works as, for instance, in the famous Imitation of Christ, and scores of others ”

“ He felt compassion towards those who tormented him.—Attanagalu-vansa.
The bearer of ill-will towards them that bear ill-will can never become pure; but he who bears no ill-will pacifies them that hate.—Udanavarga.
The man who foolishly does me wrong, I will return him the protection of my ungrudging love.—Sutra of Forty-two Sections.
Whether of the higher class of beings, as ... a perfect man, ... or of the lower class of beings, as a grasshopper or the smallest insect—in one word, whatever hath life thou shalt not kill.—Sha-mi-lu-i-yao-lio. ”

“ Concerning that oft-repeated injunction, not to kill any living creature whatsoever, we can [7] hardly doubt that there are many cases in which to take life, provided it is taken painlessly, not only is not on the whole an unkindness, but is an act of beneficence. ”

“ Feeling deep compassion for the poor, grudging nothing which he possessed.—Phu-yau-king.
Humble in mind, but large in gracious deeds, abundant in charity to the poor and helpless.—Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.
Full of modesty and pity, ... kind and compassionate to all creatures that have life.—Tevijja-sutta.
He who ... is tender to all that lives ... is protected by heaven and loved by men.—Fa-kheu-pi-u.
Day and night the mind of Buddha's disciples always delights in compassion.—Dhammapada. ”

“ Buddhist Birth Stories, or Jataka Tales, by T. W. Rhys Davids. Hibbert Lectures for 1881, by T. W. Rhys Davids. Buddhism, by T. W. Rhys Davids. Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese, by Rev. S. Beal. Abstract of Four Lectures on Buddhist Literature in China, by Rev. S. Beal. Romantic Legend of Sakya Buddha, by Rev. S. Beal. Texts from the Buddhist Canon known as Dhammapada, by Rev. S. Beal. Udanavarga, by W. W. Rockhill. Lalita Vistara, by Rajendralala Mitra. Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal, by Rajendralala Mitra. Mahavamsa, by L. C. Wijesinha. ”