The Buddhist Way of Life : On thoughtfulness and mindfulness.

8. On thoughtfulness and mindfulness.

•  In everything be thoughtful; in everything be mindful ; in all things be earnest and bold. 
• This is the Buddhist Way of Life. 
• All that we are is the result of what we have thought ; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of your thoughts. 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. Therefore pure thoughts are important. 
• Be not thoughtless, watch your thought! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud.
• Let the wise man guard his thoughts, for they are difficult to perceive, very artful, and they rush whenever they list; thoughts well-guarded bring happiness. 
• As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind. 
• As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.
• This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it liked, as it listed, as it pleased ; but I shall now hold it in thoroughly, as the Elder who holds the hook holds the furious elephant. 
• It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and tightly, rushing wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness. 
• Those who bridle their mind which travels far, will be free from the bonds of temptation.
• If a man's faith is unsteady, if he does not know the true Dhamma, if his peace of mind is troubled, his knowledge will never be perfect. 
• Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly directed mind will do him greater mischief.
• Not a mother, not a father will do so much, nor any other relatives as a well directed mind will do us.