The Buddhist Catechism Quotes

“118. Q. Why does ignorance cause suffering? A. Because it makes us prize what is not worth prizing, grieve when we should not grieve, consider real what is not real but only illusionary, and pass our lives in the pursuit of worthless objects, neglecting what is in reality most valuable.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“Physiologically speaking, man's body is completely changed every seven years.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“Hindrances? A. Greed, Malice, Sloth, Pride, and Doubt.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“I taught you not to believe merely because you have heard, but when you believed of your own consciousness, then to act accordingly and abundantly." (See the Kālāma Sutta of the Anguttara”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“Buddha taught that we should not merely not be evil, but that we should be positively good.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“A. The eight parts of this path are called angas. They are: 1. Right Belief (as to the law of Causation, or Karma); 2. Right Thought; 3. Right Speech; 4. Right Action; 5. Right Means of Livelihood; 6. Right Exertion; 7. Right Remembrance and Self-discipline; 8. Right Concentration of Thought. The man who keeps these angas in mind and follows them will be free from sorrow and ultimately reach salvation.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“Q. Was the Buddha God? A. No. Buddha Dharma teaches no "divine" incarnation.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism

“THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA 1. Question. Of what religion[1] are you? Answer. The Buddhist. 2. Q. What is Buddhism? A. It is a body of teachings given out by the great personage known as the Buddha. 3. Q. Is "Buddhism" the best name for this teaching? A. No; that is only a western term: the best name for it is Bauddha Dharma. 4. Q. Would you call a person a Buddhist who had merely been born of Buddha parents? A. Certainly not. A Buddhist is one who not only professes belief in the Buddha as the noblest of Teachers, in the Doctrine preached by Him, and in the Brotherhood of Arhats, but practises His precepts in daily life.”
― Henry Steel Olcott, The Buddhist Catechism