The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, did a great service to the world by showing how deeply one could awaken. But he never asked us to take his word for it.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

He did not want us to remain stopped at what he said. He did not climb the mountain just to look down on us beatifically, beckoning us to climb up and stop short of where he was, waving his accomplishment in our face.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

He told us to see to ourselves, for salvation.

Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

He told us that the supreme peace and love which is the ultimate end of human existences was not to be found anywhere but in ourselves.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

And, he told us who we were bothering to do this for.

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.

It has been my experience that the Buddha was right.

The source of our suffering is not knowing what we are. We think that we are these limited lives, born to live a while, struggle, suffer, occasionally be content and then die. It is not so. All of the great sages of all religions have told us the same thing. To resolve the mistake we have only to find out what we really are. Since the goal of this search is you then there is only one place you can possibly find the answer; you. No one can be you for you. No one can hand you yourself but you. No one can be you except for you. And, the blessing of reality is that you already are that. Just as they have said.

The Buddha was right, and he wanted us to see that for ourselves, since only we can. He wants us not to approach him on the mountain top. He longs for us to join him on the path, and pass him, if we may.

The way has no end, other than you.  The ones who got the Buddha’s message saw the same thing.

The Way is basically perfect. It doesn’t require perfecting. The Way has no form or sound. It’s subtle and hard to perceive. It’s like when you drink water: you know how hot or cold it is, but you can’t tell others. – Bodhidharma

The Buddha never liberated anyone. But, you can. That one is you.

This adage is an oldie, but a goody.  For me, though, it’s always had an odd ring to it.  I recently decided that the phrase could use to be turned on its head.

Normally the adage, “All things in moderation,” means don’t go to excess in any area of life.  In this instance the definition being used is; “to lessen the intensity or extremeness of.”  Wine, women, song, business, religion, clothes, etc.  All are okay, as long as not used and abused to excess.  Good enough, but that leaves one with the job of deciding how much is too much ahead of time.  I find myself frequently poor at making those kind of self-determinations.

There’s another meaning to the word moderation though, which I think is useful.  Namely; “to preside over or act as chairman of.”  In this sense things in life are placed under a watchful eye.  Using this as a definition I am encouraged to be mindful when partaking of any activity and watch for when I am reaching my limit.  Rather than passively obeying a set end point, I stay actively engaged and in the moment.  Boundaries can be allowed to shift from day to day while still finding a sane cut-off point.  This also has the added benefit of turning any activity into a practice for awareness.

Be your own moderator.