+I am King Gesar of Ling,
+not so long ago named king
+and principal ruler of the six provinces of Ling,
+mandated by the gods to be the destined leader
+and the one to quell the demons of the dark side.
+Since I am the one entrusted with this aspiration,
+my deeds and actions must follow.
+ -- from "The Taming of the Demons: From the Epic of Gesar of Ling",
+ translated by Jane Hawes, David Shapiro, and Lama Chönam, published
+ by Shambhala Publications
+~
+ One of the stories that drew me to Zen was about how one of our Zen
+ancestors responded to both insult and praise. In this story, Hakuin Zenji
+was falsely accused of impregnating a young girl who lived in the village near
+his hermitage. When her parents and the villagers came to accuse him, he said
+merely, "Is that so?"
+ When the baby was born, Hakuin received the infant and cared for the child
+with the help of a wet nurse. Sometime later, the girl confessed to her
+parents that a village boy was the father of her child. Those who had accused
+him earlier came then to reclaim the child and to praise Hakuin.
+ In response to their praise, he simply said, again, "Is that so?"
+ -- Reb Anderson, from "Entering the Mind of Buddha: Zen and the Six Heroic
+ Practices of Bodhisattvas", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+One day in a lecture Suzuki Roshi said, "When you see one leaf falling, you
+may say, Oh, autumn is here! One leaf is not just one leaf; it means the
+whole autumn. Here you already understand the all-pervading power of your
+practice. Your practice covers everything."
+ -- Shunryu Suzuki, from "Zen Is Right Here: Teaching Stories and Anecdotes
+ of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind", published by
+ Shambhala Publications
+~
+Compared with the force of the all-powerful weapons that exist today, we are
+nothing, even less than ants. And yet those weapons were not made by demons
+or aliens from another planet. They were made by humans just like me and
+you... If we ever press the red button, others will do the same. If we bomb
+them, bombs will rain on us. That's cause and effect, and it will just go
+on and on. So what can we do? Only one thing can help us: loving-kindness.
+Loving-kindness is the very foundation of a civilized world.
+ -- Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, from "Sadness, Love, Openness: The Buddhist Path
+ of Joy", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+may lies taste like the spawn of ash in my mouth,
+may untruths burn themselves away in the mist,
+all fabrications will shatter and ooze away,
+that the manifest truths may shine free.
+ -- fred t. hamster
+~
+Anybody can become angry--that is easy; but to be angry with the right person,
+and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and
+in the right way--that is not within everybody's power; that is not easy.
+ -- Aristotle
+~
+Mindfulness can evolve into an experience of attending to the world with the
+world, not only infusing the body with more aliveness but also transforming
+the entire world into a field of aliveness. Yes, biological aliveness has
+always already been there, but every time I bring breath attention to it, I
+augment and refine it. It's like the difference between watering a
+houseplant and attending to it with a "green thumb." It's not quite
+clear what a green thumb is. Some people have it, some people don't. Maybe
+we can describe it as a mixture of extra nourishment and something intangible
+like attention, love, and care. For the houseplant, the green thumb is the
+difference between surviving and thriving. Mindfulness practice can have that
+effect on your life.
+ -- Christian Dillo, from "The Path of Aliveness: A Contemporary Zen Approach
+ to Awakening Body and Mind", published by Shambhala Publications
+~
+There never was a good war nor a bad peace.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+He that speaks much, is much mistaken.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+To find out a girl's faults, praise her to her girl friends.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+The cat in gloves catches no mice.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+Does thou love life?
+Then do not squander time;
+for that's the stuff life is made of.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+There can't be good living where there is not good drinking.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our
+country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by
+sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey
+is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+Energy and persistence conquer all things.
+ -- Benjamin Franklin
+~
+Benjamin Franklin's Thirteen Virtues
+
+Temperance
+ + moderation in food and drink
+Silence
+ + mentioning only important matters
+Order
+ + proper organization of time and space
+Resolution
+ + accomplishing one's responsibilities
+Frugality
+ + purchasing only worthwhile items and wasting nothing
+Industry
+ + making the most of one's time and energy
+Sincerity
+ + being honest and forthright
+Justice
+ + practicing impartiality and refusing to wrong others
+Moderation
+ + avoiding extremes
+Cleanliness
+ + using good hygiene under sanitary conditions
+Tranquility
+ + remaining calm and composed despite life's obstacles
+Chastity
+ + refusing to allow sex to interfere with one's life
+Humility
+ + avoiding excess pride and haughtiness
+~