Choose "Buddha's sayings" as a dedication of merits to departed loved ones...

Learning attitude

Nirvana – is the highest bliss. In each of us, lies the Buddha Nature, the potential to become a Buddha, a fully awakened one. There are 4 groups of people in life: a) Those who go from darkness to darkness b) Those who go from light to darkness c) Those who go from darkness to light d) Those who go from light to light Little by little, moment to moment, a wise man removes his own impurities, as a goldsmith removes the dross of gold. Little by little, moment to moment, a wise man removes his own impurities, as a goldsmith removes the dross of gold. You yourself should make the effort. The Awakened Ones are only teachers, who merely show the way. If you find truth in any religion, science or philosophy, then accept the truth without any prejudice. The greatest miracle in life is the miracle of education. It’s absolutely fine to doubt. Do not accept or reject anything blindly, but only with thorough investigation and understanding.

Purpose of Life

Not by birth does one become a high caste, not by birth does one become a low caste. By deeds one become a high caste, by deeds one become a low caste. Fools wait for a lucky day, but everyday is a lucky day for an industrious man. Though he should live a hundred years, immoral and uncontrolled, yet better indeed, is it to live a single day virtuous and meditative. As a flower that is lovely and beautiful but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who practices it not. It is by giving up a lesser happiness, one may behold a greater one. A wise person gives up the lesser happiness, in consideration of the greater happiness.

Humility

Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and opportune hearing of the Dhamma. This is the highest blessing. To be attached to a certain view and to look down upon other views as inferior, this wise man calls a mental hindrance. When there is no 'I', there is no suffering. One should give up anger, remove pride and overcome all fetters. Suffering never befalls him who clings not to mind and body, and is detached. He who is respectful to the elders, 4 blessings grow in him; long life, beauty, happiness and health.

Patience

Hatred can never be overcome by hatred. Hatred can only be appeased by love. This is the eternal law. All conditioned things are impermanent. When one sees this in wisdom, then one becomes dispassionate towards the painful. Let not one deceives another, nor despise any person whatsoever in any place. In anger or ill will, let him not wish any harm to another. You are responsible. Your misdeeds were not committed by your parents, or by your brothers and sisters, or by your friends, or by relatives and priests. It is you who are responsible. The fault of others is easily seen, but one's own is hard to see. Like chaff one winnows other's faults, but ones own one conceals, as a crafty fowler disguise himself.

Trustworthiness

Not to associate with fools. To associate with the wise and honour those who are worthy of honour. This is the highest blessing. Monks, I know not of any other thing of such power to cause the arising of good states if not arisen, or the waning of evil states already arisen, as friendship with the lovely. I'm blind. My eyes are destroyed. I have stumbled on a wilderness tract. Even if I must crawl, I'll go on, but never with an evil companion. If one finds a person who points out one's faults and who reproves one, one should follow such a wise and sagacious counselor, as one would follow guide to a hidden treasure. Seven qualities of a spiritual friend: He…… a) Gives what is hard to give b) Does what is hard to do c) Bears what is hard to bear d) Reveals his own secret e) Keeps others' secrets f) Does not leave a friend who is in distress g) Does not despise a friend who is ruined

Honesty

Speak the truth, not the untruth. Say the pleasant, not the unpleasant. Speak what is true, not false. Speak only words that do not bring remorse nor hurt others. That is good speech indeed. One should not accept anything with mere faith, but one should use one's common sense and intelligence before accepting anything. Better than a thousand words, is a single useful sentence, hearing which one pacified. One should speak when it's TRUTHFUL, BENEFICIAL and with SKILLFUL means. Listen with MINDFULNESS and COMPASSION. The power of TRUTH protects the follower of TRUTH.

Integrity

A person is not called wise because he talks much. But, he who is patient, thoughtful, free from hatred and fear, he is called wise. Not because a person has much to say, is he a support of the Dhamma. He who may have heard a little of the Dhamma, but observes it well in deeds, is the support of the Dhamma. Like a beautiful flower, full of colour but without scent, as the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly

Generosity

The gift of Truth excels all gifts. He who serves the sick serves the Buddha Just before bestowing the gift, one should be happy, while giving it, he should make his heart rejoice, after gift, he becomes joyful. That is the attainment of merit. Generosity, courtesy, loving-kindness and unselfishness. These are to the world what the linchpin is to the chariot. Just as a mother would protect her only child, even at the risk of her own life, even so let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings

Talented leadership

Let a man apply himself to what is proper before he preaches others. It cannot be that one who is sunk in a mud can pull out another who is sunk in mud. Thought one should conquer a million men in battlefield, yet indeed, one who conquers himself is the greatest conqueror. Do not neglect your own spiritual development and mental purity while serving others.

Self-discipline

Only through SADDHA (Confidence) and VIRIYA (positive thinking, determination and right effort) can one overcome unsatisfactoriness in life. A useful single day's life of intense effort, is better than a hundred years of idleness and inactivity. We are the results of what we were, and we will be the results of what we are. Do not depend on others for your salvation. Develop your confidence to gain it. We ourselves must walk the path. The Buddha merely show the way.