Do good
Do no harm
Still your mind
The Buddha said more in these eight words than eight million books with 800 million words could ever top for advising how to lead a good life.
Do good.
Follow the internal compass, that morality that we have inside that let’s us know when we really “are” doing good. Not for ourselves. At least, not at first. By doing good for others, we eventually do good for ourselves. Try it for some eight hours. Do good for others. See if that good or something close to it doesn’t come back to you.
Do no harm.
I believe this is harder to do, particularly for someone active at work, home or play. That just about includes all of us, doesn’t it? How are we to know what actions will do “no harm?” Must we be cautious in all of our waking hours, tiptoeing around life challenges and not facing them boldly with quick determination? The answer here may lie in our “intent” to “do” no harm. By focusing on the “right way,” perhaps not the easy or more profitable way, we can be more sure our choices will cause no harm, no suffering.
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Still Your Mind
Contoveros 
A PERFECT post. Well done. I think about these things all the time. People think I am crazy because I don’t kill the house fly or the box elder bug LOL, but it makes me feel good to give them a place to warm up.
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Do no harm.
Respect every sentient being.
Yeah, people will think we’re crazy, but it’s a way of life where all can both find, as well as help others offer, freedom from suffering.
michael j
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Hey, Michael,
I woke up to a kind of miraculous morning, which followed a miraculous night, which began with being sick as a dog, throwing up, and praying desperately for the pain to stop (it did 🙂 ). It’s kind of one of those “born-again” (not in the evangelistic sense of the term!) mornings, and there’s a huge snowstorm on the way, and I love life.
Anyway, the point is that your post was the first thing I read this morning, and it was a perfect piece of punctuation to the wonderful feeling.
Have fun in the snow (I assume it will get over your way…I’m in northern N.J., so we’re practically neighbors)!
(Hey, S.B.–I have a feeling that snow isn’t in your forecast, but have a wonderful day anyway!)
Nancy
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Nancy,
Snow storm is here, and I feel “born again.”
Might even think of going to India to see one of the Buddhist temples with little monkeys hanging around. Or was that Cambodia?
Oh well, the idea has been planted. Will it grow to fruition?
Stay tuned.
Stay warm.
Stay miraculous!
michael j
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If We are not separate, then doing for others Is doing for ourselves? Life is not about the reward. Life is the reward?
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You are correct. Nicely put. Succinct.
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