Rational Nation USA

A person should hurry toward the good and restrain one’s thoughts from the bad. If a person is slow in doing good, one’s mind will find pleasure in wrong. If a person does what is wrong, let one not do it again. Let one not find pleasure in wrong. Painful is the accumulation of bad conduct. If a person does what is good, let one do it again. Let one find joy in it. Happiness is the result of good conduct. Even a wrong-doer sees happiness as long as one’s wrong action does not ripen; but when the wrong action has ripened, then does the wrong-doer see bad. Even a good person sees bad as long as one’s good action does not ripen; but when one’s good action has ripened, then the good person sees the good. Let no one underestimate evil, thinking, “It will not come near me.” Even a water-pot is filled by the falling of drops of water. A fool becomes full of evil even if one gathers it little by little. Let no one underestimate good, thinking, “It will not come near me.” Even a water-pot is fi...

  Awareness is the path of immortality; thoughtlessness is the path of death. Those who are aware do not die. The thoughtless are as if dead already. The wise having clearly understood this, delight in awareness and find joy in the knowledge of the noble ones. These wise ones, meditative, persevering, always using strong effort, attain nirvana, the supreme peace and happiness. If a person is awake, aware, mindful, pure, considerate, self-restrained, and lives according to duty, that person’s glory will increase. By awakening, by awareness, by restraint and control, the wise may make for oneself an island which no flood can overwhelm. Fools follow after vanity, are ignorant and careless. The wise keep awareness as their best treasure. Do not follow after vanity nor after sensual pleasure nor lust. Whoever meditates with awareness obtains great joy. When the wise conquer thoughtlessness by awareness, climbing the terraced heights of wisdom, free from sadness viewing the sad crowd bel...

  “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. “ – Lord Buddha Lord Buddha Buddhism is based on the teachings and life of Gautama Buddha. The Buddha was born as a privileged Indian Prince, named Siddhartha Gautama. As a young man he was shielded from the suffering and mortality of human life and given all the worldly privileges that his family could offer him. They wished to shield him from suffering because it was foretold that when the young prince came upon suffering he would renounce the world to live the life of an ascetic. However eventually Siddhartha ventured from the Palace into the outside world and for the first time came across death, illness and suffering. This led the Buddha to question his worldly life. Although he had all of life’s material comforts these could no longer sat...

  ” Confused by thoughts, we experience duality in life. Unencumbered by ideas, the enlightened see the one Reality.” – Hui Neng