Daily Wisdom Archive

The fabled musk deer searches the world over for the source of the scent which comes from itself.

— Ramakrishna, Gospel of Ramakrishna, India, Modern (1836-1886)

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

— Buddha, Dhammapada, Verse 204, India, 6th-5th century BCE

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The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.

— Swami Vivekananda, Lectures, India, Modern (1863-1902)

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The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.

— Japanese Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Japan, Traditional

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You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will.

— Upanishads, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5, India, 800-200 BCE

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Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.

— Dogen Zenji, Shobogenzo (Genjokoan), Japan, Kamakura Period (1200-1253)

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All phenomena are non-self. When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.

— Buddha, Dhammapada, Verse 279, India, 6th-5th century BCE

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He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.

— Laozi, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 33, China, Zhou Dynasty (6th century BCE)

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Spilled water will not return to the tray.

— Japanese Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Japan, Traditional

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Stillness is the altar of spirit.

— Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, India, Modern (1893-1952)

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When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace.

— Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Japan, Modern (1904-1971)

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This very moment is the perfect teacher.

— Pema Chodron, Various Teachings, America/Tibetan Buddhist, Modern (1936-)

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Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.

— Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, Germany/Eastern, Modern (1948-)

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Where there is love there is life.

— Mahatma Gandhi, Various Writings, India, Modern (1869-1948)

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You didn't come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean.

— Alan Watts, Various Teachings, England/Eastern, Modern (1915-1973)

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A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

— Indonesian Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Indonesia, Traditional

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Be the change you wish to see in the world.

— Mahatma Gandhi, Paraphrased, India, Modern (1869-1948)

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A tree that is unbending is easily broken.

— Myanmar Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Myanmar, Traditional

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The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

— Chinese Proverb, Folk Wisdom, China, Traditional

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Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache. You won't be able to find it.

— Ajahn Chah, Forest Dhamma, Thailand, Modern (1918-1992)

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Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.

— Malay Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Malaysia, Traditional

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In a battle between elephants, the ants get crushed.

— Thai Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Thailand, Traditional

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Life is available only in the present moment.

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Various Teachings, Vietnam, Modern (1926-2022)

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The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step, Vietnam, Modern (1926-2022)

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The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.

— Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, India, Modern (1861-1941)

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One moment of patience may ward off great disaster.

— Korean Proverb, Folk Wisdom, Korea, Traditional

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Do nothing which is of no use.

— Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Japan, Edo Period (1584-1645)

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Even the ignorant may pass for learned if they know how to keep silent before the learned.

— Thiruvalluvar, Tirukkural, 403, India (Tamil), 1st century BCE - 5th century CE

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To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things.

— Dogen Zenji, Shobogenzo (Genjokoan), Japan, Kamakura Period (1200-1253)

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Do nothing which is of no use.

— Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Japan, Edo Period (1584-1645)

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