Buddha Quotes on Knowledge
The early Buddhist canon presents the Buddha's teaching as a pragmatic epistemology directed at the cessation of suffering rather than at theoretical satisfaction. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path — within which "right view" (sammā-diṭṭhi) is the first member — frame knowledge as the diagnostic and therapeutic understanding of dukkha, its origin, its cessation, and the path to its cessation. The famous parable of the poisoned arrow and the catalogue of "unanswered questions" make the methodological priority explicit: speculative inquiries that do not bear on liberation are set aside, and the criterion of right knowledge is its efficacy in the practical work of awakening.
Quotes
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Attributed to Buddha:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts; it is made up of our thoughts.”
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Attributed to Buddha:
“Long is the night to the watcher, long is the road to the weary traveller, long is the round of birth and death to the foolish who do not know the true law.”
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“There are these four ways of answering questions . Which four? There are questions that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside . These are the four ways of answering questions.”
As quoted in: Ṭhānissaro (Bhikkhu.) (2004) Handful of leaves. Vol. 3, p. 80 -
“There are these four ways of answering questions . Which four? There are questions that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside . Thes”
As quoted in: Ṭhānissaro (Bhikkhu.) (2004) Handful of leaves. Vol. 3, p. 80 -
“Gautama Buddha in Digha Nikaya as quoted in Avatars down the ages by Felicity Elliot”
Now in those days, brethren, there shall arise in the world an Exalted One by name Maitreya (the Kindly One) an Arhat, a Fully Enlightened One, endowed with wisdom and righteousness, a Happy One, a World-knower, the Peerless Charioteer of men to be tamed, a teacher of the devas and mankind, an Exalted One, a Buddha like myself. He of His own abnormal powers shall realize and make known the world, -
“Whereas some ascetics and Brahmins remain addicted to attending such shows as dancing, singing, music, displays, recitations, hand-music, cymbals and drums, fairy-shows, acrobatic and conjuring tricks, combats of elephants, buffaloes, bulls, goats, rams, cocks and quail, fighting with staves, boxing, wrestling, sham-fights, parades, manoeuvres and military reviews, the ascetic Gotama refrains from attending such displays.”
M. Walshe, trans. (1987), Sutta 1, verse 1.13 -
“M. Walshe, trans. (1987), Sutta 1, verse 1.13”
Whereas some ascetics and Brahmins remain addicted to attending such shows as dancing, singing, music, displays, recitations, hand-music, cymbals and drums, fairy-shows, acrobatic and conjuring tricks, combats of elephants, buffaloes, bulls, goats, rams, cocks and quail, fighting with staves, boxing, wrestling, sham-fights, parades, manoeuvres and military reviews, the ascetic Gotama refrains from -
“The tongue is like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood; words in the hands of someone skilled can do more damage than a weapon in the hands of a warrior.”
M. Walshe, trans. (1987), Sutta 1, verse 5 -
“M. Walshe, trans. (1987), Sutta 1, verse 5”
The tongue is like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood; words in the hands of someone skilled can do more damage than a weapon in the hands of a warrior.