When one is overcome by this wretched, clinging desire in the world, one's sorrows increase like grass growing up after a lot of rain.

The one who wanders independent in the world, free from opinions and viewpoints, does not grasp them and enter into disputations and arguments. As the lotus rises on its stalk unsoiled by the mud and the water, so the wise one speaks of peace and is unstained by the opinions of the world.

Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.

Apply yourself to solitude. One who is given to solitude knows things as they really are.

Live contemplating the body. Contemplate internally and externally. Contemplate the origination of things in the body. Contemplate the dissolution of things in the body.

Don't believe a teaching just because you've heard it from a man who's supposed to be holy, or because it's contained in a book supposed to be holy, or because all your friends and neighbors believe it. But whatever you've observed and analyzed for yourself and found to be reasonable and good, then accept that and put it into practice.

The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast.