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In the sixth century, the Chinese Emperor Liang invited the Indian monk Bodhidharma to his capital in Nanjing. The emperor was very fond of Buddhism and often wore Buddhist garments and recited Buddhist prayers. He was, however, most proud of his unbending and unqualified support for Buddhism throughout his entire kingdom. Proud of his knowledge and the contributions towards Buddhism, he asked Bodhidharma, “Since I came to the throne, I have built many temples, published numerous scriptures and supported countless monks and nuns. How great is the merit in all these?” “No merit whatsoever” was his shocking reply. “You have gained no merit. What you have done produces only worldly rewards, that is, good fortune, great power, or great wealth in your future lives, but you will still be wandering around in samsara.” Now, the emperor thought, he had often heard teachings from renowned masters who said, “Do good, and you will receive good; do bad and you will receive bad. The Law of Cause a

Has a dog the Buddha Nature or not?" Chao-chou said, "Mu!" (Actually, he probably said "Wu," which is the Chinese for Mu, a Japanese word. Mu is usually translated "no," although the late Robert Aitken Roshi said its meaning is closer to "does not have." Zen originated in China, where it is called "Chan." But because western Zen has been largely shaped by Japanese teachers, we in the West tend to use Japanese names and terms.) SOURCE: What is Mu in Zen

The Bhagavad Gita, which is surely the basic text on the practice of detachment, is wonderfully explicit on this point. Krishna tells Arjuna that acting with detachment means doing the right thing for its own sake, because it needs to be done, without worrying about success or failure. (T.S. Eliot paraphrased Krishna's advice when he wrote, "For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.")

Om Mani Padme Hum Mantra for Achieving Buddhahood It is said that all the teachings of the Buddha are within this mantra. According to Buddhism all beings have the Buddha nature. We all have within us the seed of purity that is to be transformed and developed into Buddhahood. Your ordinary body, speech and mind are purified and transform into, Buddha's holy body, holy speech and holy mind (symbolically represented by AUM). 'Thus the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that by the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.' SOURCE: Om Mani Padme Hum

The eightfold path is the last of Buddha's "four noble truths." They are: 1) the truth about suffering, 2) the truth about the cause of suffering, 3) the truth about the cessation of suffering. Four noble truths cover the whole of the Buddhist path. The truth about suffering points to the fundamental problem of existence, and the truth about suffering shows the source of the problem. The third truth is that negative elements of human condition are not invariable, and the fourth shows how one can change his perception of reality and go beyond suffering. The whole problem of suffering lies in the way we perceive reality, so its solution involves a change in perception: we suffer from false views about what is pleasant, valuable, or desirable. Therefore, the truth about the path indicates the transformation of perception so that it is in harmony with reality, which allows to put an end to suffering. This path is commonly referred to as a "noble eight-way path" b

The 'kill the Buddha' comment must be interpreted within the context of the nondual realization espoused by Zen Buddhism. Buddha-nature transcends categories, making room for a world of distinct objects that are also empty of inherent existence. Indeed, from the point of view of Buddha (awakeness) there is no inside or outside - only a creative display infused with unborn awareness. Within the rubric of Zen practice it is impossible to see the Buddha. It is possible to see things that have a 'buddha' signifier attached to them from the conventional point of view, but this would not be construed as an enlightenment experience. Your basic nature is Buddha, neither inside nor outside. SOURCE: What-does-if-you-meet-the-Buddha-on-the-road-kill-him-mean