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Although a cloth be washed a hundred times, How can it be rendered clean and pure If it be washed in water which is dirty?
Acharya Nāgārjuna

Quote Author: Acharya Nāgārjuna

Acharya Nāgārjuna

Acharya Nāgārjuna

Acharya Nāgārjuna (Telugu: నాగార్జున; Chinese: 龍樹; Tibetan: Klu Sgrub) (c. 150 - 250 CE) was an Indian philosopher, the founder of the Madhyamaka (Middle Path) school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, and arguably the most influential Buddhist thinker after Gautama Buddha himself.

His writings were the basis for the formation of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school, which was transmitted to China under the name of the Three Treatise (Sanlun) School. He is credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras, and was closely associated with the Buddhist university of Nalanda. In the Jodo Shinshu branch of Buddhism, he is considered the First Patriarch.

Little is known about the actual life of the historical Nagarjuna. The two most extensive biographies of Nagarjuna, one in Chinese and the other in Tibetan, were written many centuries after his life and incorporate much lively but historically unreliable material which sometimes reaches mythic proportions. Nagarjuna was born a "Hindu," which in his time connoted religious allegiance to the Vedas, probably into an upper-caste Brahmin family and probably in the southern Andhra region of India[1].

Other Acharya Nāgārjuna Quotes

Although a cloth be washed a hundred times, How can it be rendered clean and pure If it be washed in water which is dirty?

Those who speak ill of the spiritual life, Although they come and go by day, Are like the smith's bellows: They take breath but are not alive.

If you desire ease, forsake learning. If you desire learning, forsake ease. How can a man at ease acquire knowledge, And how can an earnest student enjoy ease?

Moral conduct, self-restraint, And control of the mind- What else does one need Who perseveres in these?

One's desire to be attractive and happy And to enjoy the pleasures of wealth, Is like the foolishness of a drunken person, Who, though healthy, must be carried.

The career of a sage is of two kinds: He is either honored by all in the world, Like a flower waving its head, Or else he disappears into the silent forest.

The foolish are like ripples on water, For whatsoever they do is quickly effaced; But the righteous are like carvings upon stone, For their smallest act is durable.

The man against whom you feel anger in your heart Is not to be admonished by mere words. First, subdue him by force, And then use your weapon of words.

The misery which follows pleasure Is the pleasure which follows misery. The pleasure and misery of mankind Revolve like a wheel.

The teachings of elegant sayings Should be collected when one can. For the supreme gift of words of wisdom, Any price will be paid.

If you are truly persevering in virtue, What is the place of a haughty attitude? The cow which has no milk will not be purchased, Even though equipped with a pleasant-sounding bell.

This body, full of faults, Has yet one great quality: Whatever it encounters in this temporal life Depends upon one's actions.

Property is unstable, and youth perishes in a moment. Life itself is held in the grinning fangs of Death, Yet men delay to obtain release from the world. Alas, the conduct of mankind is surprising.

Those who speak with discretion Are respected by mankind, As the sun, emerging from the shadows, By its rays creates great warmth.

True knowledge is a virtue of the talented, But harmful to those without discernment. Spring water free of impurity, entering the ocean, becomes undrinkable.

Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

When possessed of wealth or learning, Low people become proud. But even when doubly honored, The wise become more humble.

When young, rejoice in the tranquility of the old. However great your glory, be forbearing in your manner. Boast not of what you know, even when learned. However high you may rise, be not proud.

When your eyes are fixed in the stare of unconsciousness, And your throat coughs the last gasping breath - As one dragged in the dark to a great precipice - What assistance are a wife and child?

Whoever benefits his enemy With straightforward intention That man's enemies will soon Fold their hands in devotion.

Although you may spend your life killing, You will not exhaust all your foes. But if you quell your own anger, Your real enemy will be slain.

There is no ornament like virtue, There is no misery like worry, There is no protection like patience, There is no friend equal to generosity.

Even if the son of his enemy speaks sweetly, The wise man remains on guard. A poisonous leaf retains its potency, And can cause injury at any time.

A hero is born among a hundred, A wise man is found among a thousand, But an accomplished one might not be found Even among a hundred thousand men.

A highly learned man has two sources of happiness: Either he abandons all earthly interests Or else he possesses much which could be abandoned.

Although you may remain somewhere for a long time, It is certain that you will have to leave; Whatever may be the manner of parting, The actual going cannot be avoided.

An anthill increases by accumulation. Medicine is consumed by distribution. That which is feared lessens by association. This is the thing to understand.

Any man who strives to do his best Whether his work be great or small Is considered to be doing the work of a lion.

The fire which burned the forest Became the companion of the wind. But just as the wind extinguished the fire, The weak man loses his friends.

By association with the exalted, Who would not become uplifted? The thread which strings the flowers Becomes a garland for the head.

If one is plotting evil, He always uses pleasant words. When a hunter sees the game, He sings a sweet song to lure it.

He who does not attempt to make peace When small discords arise, Is like the bee's hive which leaks drops of honey - Soon, the whole hive collapses.

He who does not try a remedy For the disease of going to hell What will he do when he reaches that place Where there is no cure to be found?

He who knows one thing, knows all things; And he who knows all things, knows one thing. He who is careless in all respects, is in danger; he who is not careless in all respects, is free from danger.

As long as you watch the way, As long as your steps are steady, As long as your wisdom is unimpaired, So long will you reap profit.

He who pursues people for what they can give, And yet pays no heed to those who have offered much, Is like the man who thinks only of the butter to come, And pays no heed to what has already been churned.

He who knoweth the precepts by heart, But faileth to practice them, Is like unto one who lighteth a lamp And then shutteth his eyes.

He whose anger causes no fear, Who can confer no benefit when pleased, Who can neither destroy nor subjugate, What good is such a man's anger?

The logs of wood which move down the river together Are driven apart by every wave. Such inevitable parting Should not be the cause of misery.

Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

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