The Sayings of the Buddha in Forty-Two Sections

2. The Buddha said, "The renunciate Sramana cuts off the passions, frees himself of attachments, understands the source of his own mind, penetrates the deepest doctrine of Buddha, and comprehends the Dharma which is immaterial. He has no prejudice in his heart, he has nothing to hanker after. He is not hampered by the thought of the Way, nor is he entangled in karma. No prejudice, no compulsion, so discipline, no enlightenment, and no going up through the grades, and yet in possession of all honours in itself - this is what is meant by the Way."

5. The Buddha said, "If a man who has committed many sins, does not repent and purify his heart of evil, retribution will come upon his person as sure as the streams runs into the ocean which becomes ever deeper and wider. If a man who has committed sins, come to the knowledge of it, reforms himself, and practises goodness, the force of retribution will gradually exhaust itself as a disease gradually loses its baneful influence when the patient perspires."


9. The Buddha said, "If you endeavour to embrace the Way through much learning, the Way will not understood. If you observe the Way with simplicity of heart, great indeed is this Way."


12. The Buddha said, "There are twenty difficult things to attain in this world: 　　
1. It is hard for the poor to practice charity. 　　
2. It is hard for the strong and rich to observe the Way. 　　
3. It is hard to disregard life and go to certain death. 　　
4. It is only a favoured few that get acquainted with a Buddhist sutra. 　　
5. It is hard to be born in the age of the Buddha. 　　
6. It is hard to conquer the passions, to suppress selfish desires. 　　
7. It is hard not to hanker after that which is agreeable. 　　
8. It is hard not to get into a passion when slighted. 　　
9. It is hard not to abuse one's authority. 　　
10. It is hard to be even-minded and simple hearted in all one's dealings with others. 　　
11. It is hard to be thorough in learning and exhaustive in investigation. 　　
12. It is hard to subdue selfish pride. 　　
13. It is hard not to feel contempt toward the unlearned. 　　
14. It is hard to be one in knowledge and practice. 　　
15. It is hard not to express an opinion about others. 　　
16. It is by rare opportunity that one is introduced to a true spiritual teacher. 　　
17. It is hard to gain an insight into the nature of being and to practice the Way. 　　
18. It is hard to follow the way of a saviour. 　　
19. It is hard to be always the master of oneself. 　　
20. It is hard to understand thoroughly the Ways of Buddha."


40. The Buddha said, "O monks, you must not walk on the way as the ox is attached to the wheel. His body moves, but his heart is not willing. But when your hearts are in accord with the Way, there is no need of troubling yourselves about your outward demeanor."

-The Sayings of the Buddha in Forty-Two Sections
by Kasyapa Matanga and Gobharana

- wong chee tat :)