The Burning House
From the Dhammapada to the Lotus and Diamond Sutras: mind first, hatred that only ceases by love, and all things as a dream and a flash of lightning — with the Gita defending the immortal self the Buddha denies.
Day 1 of 7
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.”
— Dhammapada, The Dhammapada
Day 2 of 7
“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.”
— Dhammapada, The Dhammapada
Day 3 of 7
“Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.”
— Dhammapada, The Dhammapada
Day 4 of 7
“I myself am able to come out from the burning house through the door, quickly and safely... but my children, those young boys, are staying in the burning house, playing, amusing, and diverting themselves with all sorts of sports.”
— Lotus Sutra, The Saddharma-Pundarika (Lotus of the True Law, SBE XXI)
Day 5 of 7
“Life is a business, the proceeds of which are very far from covering the cost of it.”
— Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Idea (Vol. 3 of 3)
Day 6 of 7
“Birthless and deathless and changeless remaineth the spirit for ever.”
— Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita (The Song Celestial)
Day 7 of 7
“Stars, darkness, a lamp, a phantom, dew, a bubble. A dream, a flash of lightning, and a cloud - thus we should look upon the world.”
— Diamond Sutra, Buddhist Mahayana Texts: Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Sukhavativyuha (SBE XLIX)