Buddha quotes and sayings exuberate feelings of peacefulness, tranquility, and change. These are all components of a happy life. However, along the way, it gets easy to lose sight of what’s really important in life.
Buddha has inspired millions around the world through his wise teachings, deep questions, and philosophical insights.
With time, Buddha understood that meditation was the only path to self-awareness and lived his life like a free soul.
For this reason, Buddha quotes have been translated and read across the world.
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Who was Buddha?
Buddha, also known as the “enlightened one” was the son of a man who ruled a large tribe in Nepal. He was a spiritual leader who served the foundation of the Buddhist religion.
According to ancient history, the king of Gods, Brahma who persuaded Buddha to step forward and teach people.
So for the next 80 years of his life, Buddha traveled around the area and followed the road to enlightenment.
Today, Buddha is considered as among the most influential personalities in world history. His teachings are widely used in the Western world and within India.
Buddha Quotes on Peace
attaining inner peace. It teaches us to free our minds from prejudice and disconnect ourselves from all that makes us ignorant.
Human beings are harsh critics and at times, end up tarnishing their own self-esteem. So how do you escape from this puddle of self-doubt and misery? Buddha emphasizes the importance of taking control and being true to one’s self.
This is why Buddhism follows a path of non-violence which aims to combat emotions such as anger, covetousness, and envy. Here are some of the most popular Buddha quotes on peace:
- “Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy.”
- “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
- “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
- “Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.”
- “The root of suffering is attachment.”
- “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.”
- “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”
- “There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
- “In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.”
- “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
Buddha Quotes on Happiness
Happiness is a state of mind. Buddha believed that happiness can only be attained from within and that can only be done by realizing the root cause of suffering. Buddhism focuses on the importance of living in the present. Keep in mind that this is not from detaching yourself from the world.
It is about setting yourself free from the past and living each moment like it’s your last. This is the only way to attain the purest form of happiness.
Here, you must understand that you are the master of your own universe and hold the key to your happiness.
Here are some of the most popular Buddha quotes on happiness:
- “If you are quiet enough, you will hear the flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this flow. Happiness lies ahead. Meditation is key.”
- “It is ridiculous to think that somebody else can make you happy or unhappy.”
- “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
- “Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
- “Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.”
- “A disciplined mind brings happiness.”
- “Happiness is not having a lot. Happiness is giving a lot.”
- “There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.”
- “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
- “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.”
Buddha Quotes on Love
By nature, human beings are habitual of entangling themselves on the complexities of life. At times, this may get in the way of finding true love. Buddha emphasizes the importance of finding and loving yourself as the foundation of seeking companionship. In its true essence, love is about compassion and forgiveness. So open your eyes to happiness and contentment and notice how wondrous the world around you is. Here are a few popular Buddha quotes on love:
- “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
- “If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.”
- “True love is born from understanding.”
- “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
- “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.”
- “To understand everything is to forgive everything”
- “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
- “In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?”
- “Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.”
- “One should strive to understand what underlies sufferings and diseases – and aim for health and well-being while gaining in the path.”
More Quotes by Buddha on Life, Self, Mind, and Meditation
- “A jug fills drop by drop.”
- “A man asked Gautama Buddha, “I want happiness.” Buddha said, “First remove “I,” that’s Ego, then remove
- “want,” that’s Desire. See now, you are left with only “Happiness”. Buddha”
- “Attachment leads to suffering.”
- “Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.”
- “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
- “Born out of concern for all beings.”
- “Buddha Quote Becoming Yourself”
- “Doubt everything. Find your own light.”
- “Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.”
- “Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame. Click to tweet”
- “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”
- “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”
- “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
- “If you find no one to support you on the spiritual path, walk alone.”
- “If you propose to speak always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.”
- “Life is so very difficult. How can we be anything but kind?”
- “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.”
- “One who acts on truth is happy in this world and beyond.”
- “The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”
- “The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.”
- “What we think, we become.”
- “What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.”
- “You only lose what you cling to.”
- “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” – Buddha
- “A disciplined mind brings happiness.”
- “A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
- “A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but is he peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.”
- “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” Buddha
- “All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
- “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
- “Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.”
- “As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.” -Buddha
- “Avoid evil deeds as a man who loves life avoids poison.”
- “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
- “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
- “Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.”
- “For soon the body is discarded, Then what does it feel? A useless log of wood, it lies on the ground, Then what does it know? Your worst enemy cannot harm you As much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, No one can help you as much, Not even your father or your mother.”
- “Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.”
- “Happiness is not having a lot. Happiness is giving a lot.”
- “Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
- “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.” -Buddha
- “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
- “Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
- “He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”
- “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” – Buddha
- “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
- “However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?”
- “I guess if I had to pick a spiritual figurehead to possess the deed to the entirety of Earth, I’d go with Buddha, but only because he wouldn’t want it.” Sarah Vowell, Unfamiliar Fishes
- “I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”
- “If a man’s thoughts are muddy, If he is reckless and full of deceit, How can he wear the yellow robe? Whoever is master of his own nature, Bright, clear and true, He may indeed wear the yellow robe.”
- “If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.”
- “If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.”
- “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. ”
- “If you are facing in the right direction, all you need to do is keep on walking.” -Buddha
- “If you are quiet enough, you will hear the flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this flow.
- “Happiness lies ahead. Meditation is key.”
- “If you knew what I know about the power of giving you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.”
- “If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.” -Buddha
- “If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.”
- “Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you.”
- “In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.”
- “In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?” – Buddha
- “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.”
- “It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.”
- “It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
- “It is ridiculous to think that somebody else can make you happy or unhappy.”
- “Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm.”
- “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha
- “Love is a gift of one’s inner most soul to another so both can be whole.” -Buddha
- “Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” -Buddha
- “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
- “Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.”
- “Nothing is permanent.”
- “On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.”
- “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life and one life can change the world.” -Buddha
- “One should strive to understand what underlies sufferings and diseases – and aim for health and well-being while gaining in the path.”
- “Pain is certain, suffering is optional.” -Buddha
- “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
- “People with opinions just go around bothering one another.”
- “Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.”
- “Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.”
- “Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy.” -Buddha
- “Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you.”
- “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
- “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha
- “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
- “The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live.”3
- “The root of suffering is attachment.”
- “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. ”
- “The trouble is, you think you have time.”
- “The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. ”
- “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
- “The words of the Buddha offer this truth: ∼ Hatred never ceases by hatred but by love alone is healed.” Jack Kornfield, The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace
- “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
- “There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it. ”
- “There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.”
- “There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.” – Buddha
- “There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.”
- “There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle.”
- “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
- “Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.”
- “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
- “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Buddha
- “To abstain from lying is essentially wholesome.”
- “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”
- “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” – Buddha
- “To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear”
- “To understand everything is to forgive everything.” -Buddha
- “True love is born from understanding.”
- “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
- “Wear your ego like a loose fitting garment.”
- “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.”
- “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
- “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” -Buddha\
- “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”
- “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.”
- “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.”
- “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
- “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” -Buddha
- “Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.” -Buddha
- “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
- “Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.”
Couldn’t find your favorite Buddha quotes on this list? Tell us about it in the comment section below!