If a tree falls in the forest and it hits a mime, would he make a noise? Brad Warner More Quotes by Brad Warner More Quotes From Brad Warner Buddhists have a long-standing tradition of believing that at some level we always know what the best course of action is in any given situation. We just have to be quiet enough to let that course of action present itself to us. And we need the confidence to act when life shows us what we need to do. Brad Warner confidencebuddhistbelieve Morality is a personal matter. Brad Warner personal-mattermoralitymatter Buddhism is all about finding your own way, not imitating the ways of others or even the ways of Buddha himself. Brad Warner findingsbuddhismway Buddhism doesn't promise to fulfill our desires. Instead it says, 'You feel unfulfilled? That's okay. That's normal. Everybody feels unfulfilled. You will always feel unfulfilled. There is no problem with feeling unfulfilled. In fact, if you learn to see it the right way, that very lack of fulfillment is the greatest thing you can ever experience.' This is the realistic outlook. Brad Warner buddhismlearningfeelings The state of ambiguity - that messy, greasy, mixed-up, confused, and awful situation you're living through right now - is enlightenment itself. Brad Warner enlightenmentconfusedawful Leaving home' to me means adopting the attitude that the pursuit of the truth is more vital than the pursuit of what society — your home — tells you is important. Brad Warner truthattitudemean The real goal of Zen is to find a way of life that's easy and undramatic. Strong attachments lead to upset and drama. Brad Warner strongrealdrama True nonattachment is understanding that you are fundamentally attached to everything and, through that understanding, dropping your attachment to the view that you are detached from that which you encounter. At the same time, real nonattachment means not clinging to things or people. It means dropping the idea that if you don't have this or if you can't get that, your life will be a catastrophe. Brad Warner realtimelife Real morality is based on a single criterion: right action, appropriate action, in the present moment and present situation. Brad Warner moralityrealaction The thinking brain influences the body’s responses and it makes a neat little loop. Brad Warner bodybrainthinking Everything you have, whether it's money or stuff, is an obligation. It is as much your duty to care for and nurture any object you own as it would be if that object were your child. All possessions come with responsibilities. More possessions equals greater responsibility. Brad Warner moneyresponsibilitychildren You can't live in paradise—but you are living right here. Make this your paradise or make this your hell. The choice is entirely yours. Really. Brad Warner living-rightparadisechoices How many Zen masters does it take to screw in a light bulb? The plum tree in the garden! Brad Warner gardenlighttree As for enlightenment, that's just for people who can't face reality. Brad Warner enlightenmentrealitypeople Consider this: 1. Would you ride in a car whose driver was on the consciousness-expanding "entheogenic" drug LSD? And here's a bonus question: 2. Why does an "expanded consciousness" include the inability to operate a motor vehicle? Brad Warner motor-vehiclescardrug True mindfulness is the awareness that everything you encounter Brad Warner encountersmeditationexpression No matter what we predict for our futures, we're always wrong anyway. The only sensible thing to do is to live this life as it is right now. Leave what happens after you die till after you die. Brad Warner our-futurethis-lifematter Just know that your expectations are only thoughts in your head, and keep on doing what you do. Brad Warner thoughts-in-your-headexpectationsknows Much of the hatred and fear of sexuality found in religions stems from the idea that sex is a thing of the body and that the body must be denied so that the spirit may be elevated. In Buddhism there is no notion that the body is made of inferior matter while the spirit flies free within. Brad Warner buddhismsexideas It may look like we're doing nothing when we sit zazen. But actually we are exposing ourselves to ourselves. Brad Warner doing-nothingmaylooks
