The gift of dharma excels all gifts.

Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest of the earth. I said then, I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
~ Eugene V. Debs, Address to the Court, Columbus, Ohio, September 14, 1918

"Patient forbearance is the highest sacrifice, supreme is Nibbana, so say the Buddhas. He is not 'one gone forth' who hurts others, no ascetic he who harms another. Not to do any evil, but cultivate the good, to purify one's mind, this the Buddhas teach. Not insulting, not harming, restraint according to rule, moderation in food, seclusion of dwelling, devotion to high thinking, this the Buddhas teach." ~ Mahapadana Sutta, DN 14.		There is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do no seek anything else. ~ Dogen, Shoji (Kotler & Tanahashi)

"...there are four Dhamma summaries stated by the Blessed One who knows and sees, worthy and rightly self-awakened. Having known and seen and heard them, I went forth from the home life into homelessness. Which four? "'The world is swept away. It does not endure': This is the first Dhamma summary stated by the Blessed One who knows and sees, worthy and rightly self-awakened. Having known and seen and heard it, I went forth from the home life into homelessness. "'The world is without shelter, there is no overlord': This is the second Dhamma summary... "' The world is without ownership. One has to pass on, leaving everything behind': This is the third Dhamma summary... "'The world is insufficient, insatiable, a slave to craving': This is the fourth Dhamma summary..." ~ Ratthapala Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya 82		The Three Pure Precepts Cease from evil -- release all self-attachment. Do only good -- take selfless action. Do good for others -- embrace all things and conditions. The Ten Precepts Affirm life. Do not kill. Be giving. Do not steal. Honor the body. Do not misuse sexuality. Manifest truth. Do not lie. Proceed clearly. Do not cloud the mind. See the perfection. Do not speak of others' errors and faults. Realize self and other as one. Do not elevate the self and blame others. Give generously. Do not be withholding. Actualize harmony. Do not be angry. Experience the intimacy of things. Do not defile the three treasures. (Loori)

"These five things ought to be reflected upon by woman and man, by house-dweller and by one gone forth. What five? "'Old age can come upon me; I cannot escape growing old!' "'Disease can come upon me; I cannot escape growing ill!' "'Death can come upon me; I cannot escape dying!' "'All that is is dear to me and everyone I love is subject to change. I cannot escape being separated from them.' "'My actions are my only true possessions. They are the ground upon which I stand. I cannot escape the results of my actions.'" ~ Anguttara Nikaya V 57		To carry the self forward to confirm all things is delusion. For all things to advance and confirm the self is realization. ~ Dogen, Genjokoan (Yasutani)

A BUDDHIST CREED Our religion teaches that truth and virtue must be realized through spiritual evolution. They cannot be acquired by merely assenting to creeds or believing doctrines. The following ideas which are widely held among Buddhists are offered solely as helpful signposts set up by those who have traveled the Way before us. I We think that universes originate, develop, change and perish through the operation of natural and inherent causes, and that this series of cycles has neither beginning nor end. II We think that humankind is not a mixture of physical form and everlasting spiritual substance, but a complex of processes which persists as long as it functions, just as a fire lives only while its fuel lasts. III We think that at death the vital forces cohere and, after an interval, precipitate again into a biological birth. IV We think that the unenlightened life is suffering, transitory, and empty, and we heartily desire to be free from it. V We think that sin is thought, speech and action which spring from wrong views and evil passions, and which obstruct compassion and insight. VI We think that evil deeds are to be avoided and good deeds are to be done, not through fear of punishment or through desire for reward, but rather through understanding and compassion, and through unselfish devotion to virtue. VII We think that the object of living is not the pursuit of wealth and pleasure, but the increase of virtue and wisdom. VIII We think that when the clouds of passion and ignorance are dispelled, the sun of insight will illuminate this world, and will reveal that its true nature is Buddhahood. IX We think that Buddhahood is perfect wisdom, perfect compassion, perfect power of accomplishing good, the underlying ground of all existing things, and the seed of enlightenment which lies within all living beings. ~Printed by Eastern Canada Buddhist Publications, 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto; reprinted with permission 1995, Department of Buddhist Education, Buddhist Churches of America, 1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.		To study the Buddha way is to study oneself. To study oneself is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to be enlightened by all things. To be enlightened by all things is to bring about the dropping away of body and mind of both oneself and others. The traces of enlightenment come to an end, and this traceless enlightenment is continued endlessly. ~ Dogen, Genjokoan (Yasutani)