The Buddha And the Terrorist Quotes

“We must realize that violence is not confined to physical violence. Fear is violence, caste discrimination is violence, exploitation of others, however subtle, is violence, segregation is violence, thinking ill of others and condemning others are violence. In order to reduce individual acts of physical violence, we must work to eliminate violence at all levels, mental, verbal, personal, and social, including violence to animals, plants, and all other forms of life.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Whatever lessens suffering in yourself and others, that is right. Whatever increases suffering, that is wrong. The answer is within you. When you are free of pride and prejudice, when you are calm and attentive, a light will shine within you. Through meditation and through being mindful you will find your own knowledge of rightness. You will be your own light.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Someone, somewhere, needs to take courage to break the cycle of violence. Forgiveness is superior to justice. Being kind and compassionate to those who are good to you is easy. True forgiveness and compassion come only when one is able to forgive even those who have committed barbaric acts. If Angulimala is capable of renouncing violence, then tell me, your Majesty: is your civilized society also capable of being truly civilized and renouncing violence?”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“So it is with the mind, Nandini. Allow it to be in balance. Avoid extremes: the middle way is better. Neither force the mind too hard into concentration nor let it wander aimlessly. Meditation is to pay attention, to be aware of your breathing, your posture, your feelings, your perceptions, your thoughts, and all that passes through your mind and the mind itself; whatever is going on within you and between you and the universe. Meditation is not just sitting for an hour here or an hour there; meditation is a way of life. It is practiced all the time. There is no separation between meditation and everyday living. When you have ceased to be bound by the past or by the future, when you are fully present in the here and now, then it is meditation.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Take away your father and your mother, take away all the ancestral influences you have inherited, take away all the culture, language, and perceptions you have acquired: then what will be left of you? In this big picture, you carry within you the entire history of evolution as well as millions of years of the future to come, the entire network of relationships, the continuous dance of life; you are much much more than this small individual soul imprisoned in this flesh and blood personality. You are infinitely flowing energy, you are indivisible; and that is what makes you individual.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist

“The power of love grows from inside, whereas the power of the sword is imposed from the outside. Like a tree grows from a seed, the power of love grows from the self; seek your power within and be your own light.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist

“Whatever lessens suffering in yourself and others, that is right. Whatever increases suffering, that is wrong.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Now is the moment to live fully, and live in happiness. If there is no happiness today, how can you expect to be happy tomorrow?”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“You discover that it takes far more courage to transform the impulse toward justified violence into the embrace of a supposed adversary.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist