Neither my life of luxury in the palace -nor- my life as…

“He wanted to stick his finger in it and see what happened. Some story, some quest, started here, and he wanted to go on…

— Lev Grossman

Irrespective of whether you are born in a hut or a palace, life will hit you hard sometimes. You will experience disappointments, pains &…

— Chanda Kaushik

A holy life is not an ascetic, or gloomy or solitary life, but a life regulated by divine truth and faithful in Christian duty.…

— Tryon Edwards

“Asceticism is an antidote to the poison of self-centeredness common in our culture, which teaches us that satisfying our own desires is the key…

— Rob Dreher

“In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there…

— Yoshida Kenko

Believe nothing, O monks, just because you have been told it, or it is commonly believed, or because it is traditional or because you…

— Gautama Buddha

Do not be thoughtless, always be mindful, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out of the path of evil, like an elephant sunk in mud.

— Gautama Buddha

There is no satisfying the senses, not even with a shower of money. "The senses are of slight pleasure and really suffering." When a…

— Gautama Buddha

Meat-eating is condemned by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas; if one devours meat out of shamelessness he will always be devoid of sense.

— Gautama Buddha

Inflowing thoughts come to an end in those who are ever alert of mind, training themselves night and day, and ever intent on nirvana

— Gautama Buddha

He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.

— Gautama Buddha

Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.

— Gautama Buddha

Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…

— Gautama Buddha

For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.

— Gautama Buddha

One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…

— Gautama Buddha