And how does that better me?

The Buddha was asked if he ever felt anger.
“Of course.” said the Buddha.
The Buddha was asked if he ever felt the desire to strike another.
“Of course.” said the Buddha.
“But if I’m connected to all things,” said the Buddha,
“Hurting another is hurting myself.”

“And how does that better me?”

I investigate things.

I investigate things to complete my knowledge.
My complete knowledge makes my thoughts sincere.
My thoughts being sincere, my heart is pure.

Always Without Desire

Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.

We Are None Of Us Alone

We are none of us alone
even as we exhale it is inhaled by others
the light that shines upon me shines upon my neighbor as well
in this way everything is connected
everything is connected to everything else
In this way I am connected to my friend even as I am connected to my enemy
In this way there is no difference between me and my friend
In this way there is no difference between me and my enemy
We are none of us alone