One of my absolute favorite books is called Dhamapada: The Sayings of the Buddha. It is a very small, pocket sized book but it presents very concise descriptions of how to work towards peace, love and kindness. The following is a brief excerpt from that powerful little book. Enjoy, Dr. Cox

Dhamapada – The Sayings of the Buddha

Choices

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or Act with an impure mind
And trouble will follow you
As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with a pure mind
And happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable.

“Look at how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Live with such thoughts and you live in hate.
“Look how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Abandon such thoughts and live in love.

In this world
Hate never yet dispelled hate
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law,
Ancient and inexhaustible.