5 Groups of Existence

What now is the Noble Truth of Suffering?

Birth is suffering; decay is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering; not to get what one desires is suffering; in short the five groups of existence are suffering.

-Samyutta Nikaya

Stupidity and Wisdom

When all the myriad streams that flow in different places, each with its own color and taste, enter the great ocean, they blend and become just one taste, with one name. In the same way, stupidity and wisdom both become one in the awakened mind. When one first starts along the path, there seems to be a distinction that this is stupidity and that is wisdom. But later, when one penetrates more deeply, one finds there is no difference between stupidity and wisdom.

-Visuddhi Magga

The Peaceful Feeling

One sees pleasure as suffering
And sees pain as a dart.
One sees as impermanent the peaceful feeling
That is neither pleasant nor painful.

Such a bhikkhu who sees rightlyIs thereby well released.
Accomplished in knowledge, at peace,
That sage has overcome all bonds.

-Itivuttaka

"Mind" and "Mentality"

Just as a monkey roaming through the forest grabs hold of one branch, lets that go and grabs another, then lets go and grabs still another, so too that which is called "mind" and "mentality" and "consciousness" arises as one thing and ceases as another by day and by night.

-Buddha

Sutta Nipata

The teaching about the way things are is not a way to enlightenment for someone who is still filled with desires or who still longs to be this or that. But those who do understand it will become beings of distinction, dispersing all the forces of confusion.

-Sutta Nipata

True Dhamma

For a person of unsteady mind,

Not knowing true Dhamma,

Serenity

Set adrift:

Discernment doesn't grow full.

For a person of unsoddened mind,

Unassaulted awareness,

Abandoning merit & evil,

Wakeful,

There is no dangerNo fear.

-Dhammapada

Chance to Repent

The good die young that they may not degenerate; the wicked live on that they may have a chance to repent, or to produce a virtuous progeny.

-Zohar