Quotes by Buddhist Priests

Modern man has too many masks to wear. We must unmask and be ourselves, sincerely, earnestly and live truly as we are,
Gyomay M Kubose
In the nembutsu we see and feel the Buddha everywhere and in everything. Life itself becomes the unfolding of Buddha
Gyomay M Kubose
...“living in oneness with Buddha’s teaching, is a creative life in which everything becomes meaningful.
Gyomay M Kubose
On the other hand, we can all call to mind the case of seeing the same thing many times over and over. Everyone has had the experience of having their impression of a particular object change depending upon their feelings or conditions at a given moment. This is because the object is seen under the influence of the mental state of that moment. Of course, at the time when we are looking at something, we are generally not aware of the way our feelings are being protected into the situation.Seen in this way, our so-called cognition, or the action of discerning the meaning of things as they are perceived by us, is never in any case a perception of the external world exactly as it is, but rather a world that can only be apprehended via its interface with our present mental state. In other words, it is nothing other than our own mind that constructs things and determines their content. This is the meaning of "consciousness-only," or "nothing but the transformations of consciousness." And, if we turn this around, we ourselves are nothing other than things that dwell in a world defined by the limits of that which is knowable by the functions of our own mind.
Tagawa Shun'ei
We live our lives based on the assumption that we directly perceive, and are accurately interpreting, objects with a fair amount of accuracy. Since we naturally assume that we are apprehending objects of cognition as best as possible, it does not occur to us that we are purposely twisting the object before our eyes to fit our own convenience.
Tagawa Shun'ei
Intruding upon a dimension rightfully ours, modern medicine robs us of the dignity of what people in the past regarded as most precious: that final moment of death.
Shinmon Aoki
When you die, you want to die a beautiful death. But what makes for a beautiful death is not always clear. To die without suffering, to die without causing trouble to others, to die leaving behind a beautiful corpse, to die looking good -- it's not clear what is meant by a beautiful death. Does a beautiful death refer to the way you die or the condition of your corpse after death? This distinction is not clear. And when you start to stretch the image of death to the method of how to dispose of your corpse as befitting your image of death, everything grows completely out of hand.
Shinmon Aoki
A maggot is just another life form.
Shinmon Aoki
When we are truly able to see and understand life, its reality, its value and beauty as well as its troubles, we are able to accept life dynamically and walk its path with appreciation and gratitude. This way of life is Buddhism.
Gyomay M Kubose
Enlightenment was not just Gautama Buddha's, but you too, individually, must find this new perspective of life, this new point of view in your life and in all things." -
Gyomay M Kubose
There is no "I" as such apart from others.
Gyomay M Kubose
The reality of nature, the reality of life is oneness. But we humans have such a strong egotistic nature. We are the ones who create dualism; we are the ones who talk about two sides: front and back, right and wrong, me and you. As soon as life is dichotomized, tension is created.
Gyomay M Kubose
Oneness and individuality coexist. There is no question about the importance and uniqueness of each individual life. However, difference is no difference. The very difference is equality, is one.
Gyomay M Kubose
Only when I see myself truly is Gautama Buddha is present in me.
Gyomay M Kubose
Forget self pity, live life! Be the artist of your own life.
Gyomay M Kubose
May we be free of the tyranny of our expectations of others.
Gyomay M Kubose
We do not understand that we are literally able to live and enjoy life only because of other people and things. If one really understands this truth, he cannot help but become humble and appreciate others.
Gyomay M Kubose
We must find the way of love rather than that of being loved.
Gyomay M Kubose
In fact, no form of death places a greater burden on society than suicide, for the act of suicide is the way a person seeks to resolve his alienation from a cooperative society.
Shinmon Aoki
It is a great mistake to say ”Conquer it,” for we can never conquer nature; we can only harmonize with it.
Gyomay M Kubose