The Buddhist Way of Life : On following the Right Way

12. On following the Right Way

• Choose the Right Way. Depart not from it. 
• There are many paths ; not all lead to the Right Way. 
• The Right Path is for the happiness not of the few but of all. 
• It must be good at the beginning, good in the middle and good at the end. 
• To follow the right way is to lead the Buddhist Way of Life. 
• The best way is the eightfold way ; the best of truths the four words ; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see. 
• This is the way, there is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence. Go on this path. 
• If you so on this way, you will make an end of pain ! The way was preached by me, when I had understood the removal of the thorns (in the flesh). 
• You yourself must make an effort. The Tathagatas are only preachers. 
• ' All created things perish,' he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain.
• 'All forms are unreal," he who knows and sees this becomes passive in pain. 
• He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who, though young and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are weak, that lazy and idle man never finds the way to knowledge. 
• Watching his speech, well restrained in mind, let a man never commit any wrong with his body ! Let a man but keep these three roads of action clear, and he will achieve the way which is taught by the wise.
• Through real knowledge is gotten, through lack of real knowledge is lost ; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow. 
• Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish the road of peace. Nirvana has been shown by the Sugata 
• Do not follow the evil law ! Do not live on in thoughtlessness ! Do not follow false doctrine ! 
• Rouse thyself! Do not be idle! Follow the law of virtue ! The virtuous rests in bliss in this world. 
• He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds. 
• He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds. 
• If a man has transgressed the one law, and speaks lies, there is no evil he will not do. 
• Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end.
• This is an old saying. * They blame him who sits silent, they blame him who speaks much, they also blame him who says little ' ; there is no one on earth who is not blamed. 
• There never was, there never will be, nor is there now, a man who is always blamed, or a man who is always praised.
• Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue. Leave the sins of the mind, and practise virtue with thy mind. 
• Earnestness is the path of Nirvana, thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who 'are thoughtless are as if dead already.