Character of the week: Buddha

by Paulo Coelho on July 25, 2010

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.

Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

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.

The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.

The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, 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.


Siddhārtha Gautama, regarded as the Supreme Buddha ( The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE)

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{ 129 comments… read them below or add one }

Jane Stewart (Dances With Crayons) December 10, 2011 at 5:21 am

Thankyou Paulo,
Glad to be here! Together feels like all and one at once.
Can you see An angel and a beautiful face in the mist?
Love and Gratitude to All,
Jane xo
Going to light a candle!

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jackienoriega December 9, 2011 at 9:26 pm

QUE VERDAD TAN CIERTA NO SE CONSIDERE UN BUEN HOMBRE POR SER UN BUEN ORADOR SINO POR LO QUE DICE ES LO QUE PRACTICA EN LA VIDA REAL SEAMOS LO QUE PREDICAMOS SINO NO DEMOS TANTAS VUELTAS NI NOS CREAMOS MEJORES PORQUE NO HAY MEJOR ENSENANZA QUE LA QUE DA CON EL EJEMPLO

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Mathilde December 21, 2010 at 1:28 am

‘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’.

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Mathilde November 24, 2010 at 12:46 pm

Gratefull

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Bingmalyn September 8, 2010 at 5:01 am

Oh, you beautiful soul, Paulo..you fascinate me. God bless the day I stumble upon you in Facebook! I had been wanting to do a virtual suicide in that social network until I found you. God bless you indeed, Paulo Coelho! I feel blessed, too because of you.

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sandra August 22, 2010 at 11:15 pm

colombia te quiere mucho

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gina zapata August 16, 2010 at 9:37 pm

GRACIAS, SUS PALABRAS LLEGARON EN UN MOMENTO DIFICIL EN MI ANDAR POR LA VIDA , Y HOY TENGO OTRA PERSPECTIVA DE LA QUE CREIA UNA DIFICULTAD

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sadsya August 5, 2010 at 9:47 am

guys…you don’t have to cLAssify everything into whether y love or hate it……

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Musomba August 1, 2010 at 10:23 pm

I respectfully beg to disagree that ‘Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals’. In its pure form, I think love is patient and tolerant of rivalry.

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anis August 1, 2010 at 1:48 pm

This is really inspiring

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estela August 1, 2010 at 12:35 am

no lo puedo leer.. solo hablo español… es una pena, eres mi escritor favorito

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Paulo Coelho August 1, 2010 at 2:10 am

utiliza la barra del traductor abajo

lina August 16, 2010 at 3:07 am

Estela en la parte de abajo sale una barra, da click donde dice translate , escoges en la lista el idioma al que quieres que lo traduzca y el texto te sale en ese idioma. :)

Shalvi Agarvwal July 31, 2010 at 12:54 pm

Buddha is what i aspire to be and live like….Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Cheers
Shalvi

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sujata chatterji July 31, 2010 at 12:12 pm

Your words ring so true and resonate, and resonate and resonate . . . . . . Thank you . . . .

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karolina amador July 31, 2010 at 9:31 am

la sabiduria k tienen sus palabras es verdaderamente
hermosa es usted muy afortunado en tener el don de la fe
ojala y yo tubiera un granito de mostaza de su fe
gracias por todo

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Amma July 30, 2010 at 5:19 pm

Beautiful words…

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sinthea July 30, 2010 at 9:09 am

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea. — this has to be my favorite. :)

i ♥ Paulo Coelho!

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Media Books July 29, 2010 at 6:54 pm

I can’t remember the day I knew your name, the 1st day I read one of your beautiful books, the 1st page, 2nd page, and so on. I don’t think that’s important compare to the blessing that I found you, my Guru. Love you, Paolo. Thank you for all the sharing..

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Laura Novais Garrido July 28, 2010 at 8:24 pm

A medida das nossas limitações como ser pensante, está em nossas ações contraditórias. Está no ato da mentira, no degustar demasiado,no endeusar tesouros que enferrujam,em ocultar o amor que dói no coração,na opressão dos menos favorecidos. Tornar-se feliz requer uma dose de ver, sentir,aceitar que ao redor tudo lhe pertence.E a todos também.

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fatima July 28, 2010 at 8:03 pm

Dios te bendiga Paulo tu sabiduria emanada de Dios la has sabido llegar a la humanidad,que esta sedienta de respuestas y de un guia que lo acompañe en esta escuela que es la vida,las palabras son sagradas y tienen vida y tu nos haz enseñado que hay que tener cuidado con lo que se dice y piensa,por algo hay un dicho que la lengua es el castigo del cuerpo.Que Dios te siga abriendo las puertas del exito Amen

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vaibhav July 28, 2010 at 5:04 pm

this is the right thinking that accept only if you feel/realize/believe it

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kealan July 28, 2010 at 4:19 pm

I feel that by far Buddhism is the closest humans can get to understanding the connection between life, soul, death, reincarnation and the universe we live in, in a religion. I have spent time studying different aspects in books and documentaries and would say to anyone interested in the subject to start learning about mediation first and to study the texts next… But I am no expert, but have a little more knowledge than the average man and know a few secrets!

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kealan July 29, 2010 at 10:55 pm

forgot to add my link ;o

margherita July 28, 2010 at 11:39 am

Per accendere altre candele dobbiamo essere accesi noi stessi. Per illuminare dobbiamo essere luminosi noi stessi.
Ma dobbiamo sempre essere molto attenti perchè il fuoco e la luce sono anche armi a doppio taglio. Il fuoco ci scalda, cuoce i nostri cibi, produce energia buona, ma brucia, annienta e distrugge anche. Così è della luce. Illumina la notte, ci indica la strada, rende visibile il nostro viso ed i nostri occhi, quindi anche le nostre intenzioni, e, d’altra parte, ci svela anche l’esistenza di tutte le brutture che l’essere umano è purtroppo capace di attuare. Così un raggio di luce diretto verso le pupille può diventare uno strumento di tortura, e le armi al laser sono capaci di distruggere, quindi sono negative.
Ogni cosa può essere “buona” se verrà usata sotto la guida della ragione e del buon senso, perciò con uno scopo “buono”, diretto a favore dell’umanità.
Ma noi esseri umani, quando impareremo ad usare positivamente i doni immensamente buoni che abbiamo ricevuto?
Ai posteri…

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Monica July 28, 2010 at 7:15 am

“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.”
A few weeks ago I read somewhere( not worth mentioning since I concluded it’s just theories based on some one’s beliefs) a beautiful article about the non existance of Christ. After a few agonizing days I came to the conclusion that no body is right…we all live in a small world full of ideas and images…the only truth is that of love and in my world that of Christ.
I recieved a sign when I asked for one and have come back once again to the light. I still haven’t been able to exorcise my own demons, they keep coming back but the light helps me fight these battles. As long as I can give love nothing else matters.

Monica

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Denise August 27, 2010 at 7:33 am

Giving love is good and healing.Connecting with love and to love, give and receive love can heal to release your demons.

Marisela July 28, 2010 at 12:03 am

Seus textos Paulo sempre me enchem o coraçao de alegria deixo para vc esta frase budista:

Um bom amigo, que nos aponta os erros e as imperfeições e reprova o mal, deve ser respeitado como se nos tivesse revelado o segredo de um oculto tesouro.
(Sakyamuni).

com Amor Marisela

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katie July 27, 2010 at 10:31 pm

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.

… and your own experience.

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Aina Bjornstad July 27, 2010 at 5:43 pm

Buddha and Rumi are two of my absolute favorites! They spoke with the voice of Spirit. I love Buddha’s teaching about walking our own paths, instead of following the drums of other people. The way he cast overboard his “privileged” life to follow the voice of his own Heart. Very inspiring! We all have our own destinies to live and complete. Thank you for sharing some Buddha wisdom, Mr Coelho!

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Pranisha July 27, 2010 at 1:51 pm

Buddha was only the existing wisdom coz he knew that nationality,religion and other things are not the part of true wisdom coz being a Hindu he didn’t spoke a word about religion but humanity and being a Nepali he never spoke on his nationality but he taught human symbol wherever he went.. and whatever he did was in consciousness and he represents a perfect human being on earth..a greatest source of human quality…

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San July 28, 2010 at 3:04 am

Pranisha I agree with you. However, during Buddha’s period Hinduism doesn’t exist and that period is called Vedicism. He read veda with different sage. But he is not satisfied so experiment for six years and found a new technique to gain liberation because he was not satisfied with the culture, rituals, system etc. A knowledge he found is called Buddha hood. Another thing during his period country is not divided alike Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh etc. Whole region is known as Bharatvarsha. Yeah! he never say I belong to Kapilvastu and I am prince of that state.
Actually, I wish you could get correct information of that time. Anyway have a great time dear!

Olta Ana July 27, 2010 at 1:43 pm

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.

The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, 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.

All of his words are very wise and beautiful! I love them! <3

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Tanika S July 27, 2010 at 7:21 am

Buddhism has suddenly captured the minds of the masses suddenly..may be we are all need of Lotus sutra!

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San July 28, 2010 at 3:17 am

Its an ocean. In order to quench your thirst you can take water from any bank. So, Besides Lotus sutra there are other sutra and meditation technique which really benefits us. A story: five blind boys were taken to zoo to teach how an elephant look like. First blind boy is blind already can’t see. He reached at its leg and found that elephant is just like a pillar, second reached at its tail and he understand that elephant look like a rope. third one reached at its trunk and he understand its like an huge flexible surface and the final one reach at its ear. But the information they gain is incomplete so we must look ourself whether we act like those blind or not.

dipak July 27, 2010 at 6:01 am

“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. ”

very few people can say and quote this line.
thank you Paulo. i have put these lines on my page Deja Vu and me … with link to this blog.i hope you don’t mind.

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dev August 3, 2010 at 11:13 am

Dear Dipak,
if you are confused, i just wanna clarify that these words are not of Dear Paulo Cohelo but of Lord Buddha.So sure he wiil not mind it.

Leelja July 27, 2010 at 4:16 am

One of his students asked Buddha, “Are you the messiah?”
“No”, answered Buddha.
“Then are you a healer?”
“No”, Buddha replied.
“Then are you a teacher?” the student persisted.
“No, I am not a teacher.”
“Then what are you?” asked the student, exasperated.
“I am awake”, Buddha replied.

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mico July 27, 2010 at 10:41 am

This is really great..i will remember it forever.

Olta Ana July 27, 2010 at 1:48 pm

JUST A LIGHTED CANDLE who emanates lots of light which teaches and heals by itself. We see its bright light and try to give it an explanation instead of becoming as it is.heh :)
Be awake people. We all can be bright candles like Buddha was! BELIEVE IT!

Solveig Rudolph July 27, 2010 at 2:06 pm

Hello Leelja,

” I am awake”.
Yes, this is the biggest challenge in our life! Easy to say, but hard to put into practice.

Thank you very much .
Best regards,
Solveig Rudolph

Andrea July 27, 2010 at 2:00 am

Coscioussness go beyond time and space… Then why think about, why ask when a buddha was born, and when did he live? A buddha knows that time and space are illusion.Truth is important not who sayd it!
Thanks you Paulo, for your post that tonight let me thought about coscioussness or, if you prefere, buddhism!

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Beachdrifter July 27, 2010 at 12:26 am

So many look but do not see,
So many listen but but to not hear,
Don’t be afraid of dieing, be afraid of not living,
Life IS a gift, don’t waste it.

Hey…..I love the teachings of Vuddah would love to live my life by these ideals but either life won’t let me or I don’t know how to.
If my life is a path that I musr follow I wish I’d been given a smoother one

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Layman Don July 27, 2010 at 5:54 am

Dear Beachdrifter,

Your life is created by you. If you don’t know how to live, find out. Many people no more talented than you have done so. Everyone who is not enlightened (free of delusion) wants their life’s path to be smoother. The greater the question, the greater the awakening. Focus on doing good and avoiding evil; that is the Buddha’s path to happiness.

Mathilde otgaar July 26, 2010 at 11:13 pm

everyday i speak my gratitude for all that is.

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Annie July 26, 2010 at 10:28 pm

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, 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.”

I am thankful i am alive and live this day today..

BTW, the photo though dark , it looks like a street lamp to me :D fantastic! always emanating light..

With much Love and Gratitude
Annie

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itsMehdi July 26, 2010 at 10:22 pm

Gautam Buddha really inspires life.

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shishir Tamang July 26, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Let me know my way. I am los into the oceon of human but i don’t feel that i becam a human with my duty to this world.

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Layman Don July 27, 2010 at 6:00 am

Dear Shishir,

I like your prayer. Your duty is to know your own mind. If you are not a human, be the best non-human you can be. If you are a human, be the best human you can be. That’s it.

Marilyn Bonnett July 26, 2010 at 9:30 pm

I love that you can spread happiness and it does not take any away from your own.

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Layman Don July 27, 2010 at 6:03 am

Correct. the same is true of love and information, knowledge and wisdom. Be well and happy.

sonu July 26, 2010 at 9:13 pm

through silence u reach god

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San July 28, 2010 at 3:21 am

God helps to those who help themselves.
God says: I m within you if you do meritorious deed and remember I won’t be within you when you start to think about non-meritorious deed.

Nick Mariano July 26, 2010 at 9:08 pm

In the begginning Siddartha has 3 escursions outside the palace where he saw an aged man, a sick man, and a dead man’s funeral. The realization that this can happen to him fuels the desire for Siddartha to look for enlightenment which he eventually did found under the Banyan tree. Now after enlightenment he live to be 80, a very old man. He got sick because of food poisoning. And he died because of it. Isn’t this ironic?

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Layman Don July 27, 2010 at 6:07 am

Perhaps. But his life was spent teaching and helping others, that’s the important thing. That’s what made him awake.For the rest of us, if it doesn’t keep getting better, try another path.

Christine Reeb July 26, 2010 at 8:58 pm

Buddha, just like other prophets’ souls and spirits that live within their minds, are so far above me and so unreachable, that I could only wish to be able to go through the destroyed/hidden truths and false interpretations done on their names and grasp a tiny grain of their true knowledge, wisdom and inner-peace.

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patricia July 26, 2010 at 10:24 pm

Christine: the real truth is your truth and when you find wisdom in your truth you’ll feel stronger and that strength bring you to a “real happiness”

katie July 26, 2010 at 11:42 pm

buddha energy is in each of us.
we just need to nurture this; and develop empathy & compassion.
this can be done actively and is a way to learn the buddha’s way.

Layman Don July 27, 2010 at 6:08 am

Keep at it, it will improve. It took me 70 years. May you do it faster.

Jm July 28, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Christine,
Do not let yourself be drifted away from the core by those teachings that are not understandable – remember the following:

1) Siddhartha Gautama said, study the teachings and keep only what is true. If you don’t understand it, it’s not true.
2) It’s all about the middle way. Remember what the name “middle way” suggests when you are applying any of the teachings to your mindset.
3) Although Buddhist philosophy states nothing about deity, note that it does leave the room for it in the light of point 1. It is something everyone has to find out for themselves. For me, for example, there is God.
4) The older the teaching, the less there have been interpretations since it was found. In this regard, I liked a lot a book of Jack Kornfield, “Teachings of the Buddha”.

Due to the core philosophic nature of the Buddhist teachings (point 1 again), there are millions of teachings from thousands of teachers, and they all present their own view in what they say (and how). That’s why it seems so much a jungle of contradiction.

Given the book hint I gave, all Buddhist study should still begin with the following (including the Noble Eightfold Path): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths

About meditation, a core Buddhist method, there is a good free book (PDF) available (give or take the Sangha): http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/anapanasati.pdf

For me, Buddhist learning is much about grasping our existing definition of a term (any English word), dismantling it, and letting it build itself again in its true form. When this task has been completed, the rest is applying the methods to our daily life, letting change and growth build to our being.

I wish you and everyone enjoyable moments on the path of growing understanding.

Paulo, thank you.

J

VC July 26, 2010 at 8:55 pm

“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea”.

I really really like this! How many times have I said it and certain people don’t seemed to get it!

“The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood” Ahg! nuf said.. Love it!!!

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kei July 26, 2010 at 8:12 pm

I can’t remember the day I knew your name, the 1st day I read one of your beautiful books, the 1st page, 2nd page, and so on. I don’t think that’s important compare to the blessing that I found you, my Guru. Love you, Paolo. Thank you for all the sharing..

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Angela July 26, 2010 at 7:42 pm

Happiness never decreases by being shared – it is very beautiful.

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Nitin July 26, 2010 at 7:32 pm

Well PC ,
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, 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.”

pretty much sums up my day.. hahaha

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Bizar July 26, 2010 at 7:22 pm

….:)…:)..:).:D

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