How Buddha Taught (Part 1) - Is It Love ?

How Buddha Taught (Part 1) - Is It Love ?


One day, Prince Abhayaraja offered alms to the Buddha in his house.

After the offering, Prince Abhayaraja said to The Buddha,

"Venerable Sir, don't mind me saying this - but sometimes you speak words that hurt others, Such as, "Devadatta will go to the evil state. No one can help him." -

When you say things like that, Devadatta get angry. And it seems to me there's no difference between yourself and ordinary worldlings when you talk like that."

The Buddha looked at the Prince, who at that moment was carrying his 2 year old infant son in his arms, replied,

"O Royal Prince, I speak the Truth as it is. But I never say harsh things to anyone.

Let us take an example.

If your infant son were to put a pebble or a morsel of dirt in his mouth, what will you do?"

"I'll take it out immediately", came the unhesitating reply.

"What if it's not easy to take out?" asked the Buddha again.

I'll do whatever it takes - put my finger in my son's mouth, bend it, probe the mouth etc, anything - as long as I can take out whatever he has put in his mouth", answered the Prince.

"But when you do that, you may cause discomfort, or maybe even hurt the child, isn't it?" The Buddha enquired.

"Certainly!" came the reply.

Looking at the Prince, the Buddha asked, "Did you do it because you love your child, or because you did not love your child?"

"Of course it's because I love my child!" cried the Prince.

Nodding his head in understanding, the Buddha said,

"In the same way, when I speak out the Truth as it really is, some people may feel hurt. Others may get angry.

But I do not say these things to hurt them. I say it precisely because of my deep love and limitless compassion for them."






"Only a loving and kind friend who truly cares about you would tell you your faults.

Others only lie and give you false hopes,

Sinking you further and deeper into samsara - Suffering."






"The Buddha only say things as it is;

His Teachings - The Dhamma is simple.

We are the ones who complicate things, who can't accept, who misinterpret, who distort and change the Truth based on our perception, past conditioning, views, opinions and beliefs."





"One should follow a wise man who admonishes one for one's faults;

As one would follow a guide to some buried treasure.

To one who follows such a wise man, it will be an advantage, and NOT a disadvantage."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 76






"The wise man should admonish others;

He should give advice and should prevent others from doing wrong;

Such a man in held dear by the good;

He is disliked only by the bad."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 77






"The foolish man, who, on account of false views,

Scorns the teachings of the Arahants,

The Noble Ones and the Righteous,

Produces fruit like the bamboo,

Only for self-destruction."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 164






"Long is the night to the wakeful;

Long is the journey to the weary;

Long is samsara to the foolish who knows not the Sublime Truth."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 60






"The evil done by oneself, arising in oneself,

And caused by oneself,

Destroys the foolish one,

Just as a diamond grinds a hard gem."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 161






"Just as rust is formed from iron,

And corrodes the iron from which it is formed,

So also, his own deeds lead the transgressor to a lower plane of existence."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 240






" 知错 能/肯 改，还不用紧；

帕的是, 知错却不肯改；

更糟的是，不知错也不肯改."