Day 9

Only you would know the genuineness of your conducts,
Who else decides the cause of fortune and misfortune?
Karmic retributions good or bad, are only eventual
Sooner or later? It is only the matter of difference.
During spare times, reflect on your life's doings,
Meditate and contemplate on your daily conduct,
Constantly set you mind on what is righteous
Naturally, heaven and earth will never betray you.

Yuzhu Yuexin Ji

Day 10

For every person we see, we must love them all,
All are under the same sky, over the same earth.
If noble in conduct, we will also be noble in name.
What people respect are not our appearances.

Flatter not the rich, or belittle the poor,
Loathe not the old, nor prefer the new.
People have faults, speak not of them,
People have privacy, expose not of them.

To speak of other's virtue, is virtue itself;
Upon hearing such, they will improve even more.
To speak of others' faults, is fault itself;
It attracts only hatred, and causes more wrong.

Encouragement of good, an establishment of virtue;
Failing to help others correct, a deficiency for both.
In giving and receiving, awareness is essential.
Better to give more, and better to take less.

Before treating others, ask ourselves first?
What we find undesirable, stop it instantly.

Repay all kindnesses, forget all resentments;
Shorten our grudges, Extend our gratitude!

Di Zi Gui

Day 11

Money can buy food but not appetite.
Money can buy medicine, but not health.
Money can buy a bed, but not sound sleep.
Money can buy reputation, but not close friends.
Money can buy books, but not a beautiful disposition.
Money can buy lovers, but not love.
Money can buy people but not their hearts.
Money can buy vacations, but not tranquility.
Money can but houses, but not security.
Money can buy treasures, but not wisdom.

"Humble Table"

Day 12

TURNING
by Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - )
English translation: Miao Guang

We struggle in the grey zone of clouded judgment,
Blending in with this worlds confusions of black and white;
Hold onto that true nature of yours,
Let your mind stay clear as water.
Turn,
Like water that bends around mountains,
Like water that channels around rocks,
Like water that veers around embankments,
Like water that ripples around boats.
In the journey of life,
In times when we are wronged or cannot speak our voice,
Turn towards yourself,
Turn towards your true nature,
Turn towards that ocean called life.

Turn,
Like water that bends around mountains,
Like water that channels around rocks,
Like water that veers around embankments,
Like water that ripples around boats.

from Renjian Yinyuan

Day 13

We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicines, but less healthiness.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've built more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communications; we have become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These times are times of fast foods but slow digestion; tall man but short character; steep profits but shallow relationships.
It is time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room."

Dr. Bob Moorehead

Day 14

"Truth is available only to those who have the courage to question whatever they have been taught?"

Day 15

m.youtube.com/watch

Arz

Day 16

One who truely knows how to listen,
Listens to the sound of silence.
One who genuinely knows how to look,
Looks at the inner world.

Day 17

THE TWENTY FOREMOSTS IN LIFE

by Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: FGS Nan Tien Temple Translation Committee

The foremost enemy in life is oneself.
The foremost disease in life is selfishness.
The foremost sadness in life is ignorance.
The foremost error in life is delusion.
The foremost failure in life is arrogance.
The foremost defilement in life is desire.
The foremost ignorance in life is to complain.
The foremost worry in life is birth and death.
The foremost default in life is infringement.
The foremost problem in life is understanding right and wrong.
The foremost virtue in life is compassion.
The foremost courage in life is to admit mistakes.
The foremost reward in life is contentment.
The foremost energy in life is religious faith.
The foremost possession in life is gratitude.
The foremost cultivation in life is magnanimity.
The foremost asset in life is dignity.
The foremost happiness in life is spiritual joy.
The foremost hope in life is peace.
The foremost devotion in life is to benefit beings.

from Mindful Wisdom, Heartful Joy

Day 18

When you stumble, find out why and pull yourself up.
When you are frustrated, find the reason and start again.
When you have problems, ask if you are the cause and break your stubborness.
When you are baffled? Examine your goal and follow causes and conditions.