Purity in Buddhism

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Quotes

Wisdom is purified by morality, and morality is purified by wisdom: where one is, the other is, the moral man has wisdom and the wise man has morality, and the combination of morality and wisdom is called the highest thing in the world.
- Gautama Buddha, Digha Nikaya, M. Walshe, trans. (1987), Sutta 4 (Sonadanda Sutta), verse 22, p. 131

Ratnākara, because the bodhisattva has an upright mind, he is impelled to action. Because he is impelled to action, he gains a deeply searching mind. Because he has a deeply searching mind, his will is well controlled. Because his will is well controlled, he acts in accord with the teachings. Because he acts in accord with the teachings, he can transfer merit to others. Because he transfers merit to others, he knows how to employ expedient means. Because he knows how to employ expedient means, he can lead others to enlightenment. Because he leads others to enlightenment, his Buddha land is pure. Because his Buddha land is pure, his preaching of the Law is pure. Because his preaching of the Law is pure, his wisdom is pure. Because his wisdom is pure, his mind is pure. And because his mind is pure, all the blessings he enjoys will be pure.
Therefore, Ratnākara, if the bodhisattva wishes to acquire a pure land, he must purify his mind. When the mind is pure, the Buddha land will be pure.
- Gautama Buddha to Ratnākara, on the practices carried out by bodhisattvas in purifying the lands. Vimalakirti Sutra, Chapter I, as translated by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 2000, ISBN: 0231106572.

The Buddhas point out the path, and it is left for us to follow that path to obtain our purification.
- Narada Maha Thera, Buddhism in a Nutshell (1933)- Ch. 1: The Buddha.

What is nobler than a life of service and purity?
- Narada Maha Thera, Buddhism in a Nutshell (1933)- Ch. 1: The Buddha.

It is not within the power of a Buddha to wash away the impurities of others. One could neither purify nor defile another.
The Buddha, as Teacher, instructs us, but we ourselves are directly responsible for our purification.
- Narada Maha Thera, Buddhism in a Nutshell (1933)- Ch. 3: Is It A Religion?.

Morality is only the preliminary stage on the Path of Purity.
- Narada Maha Thera, Buddhism in a Nutshell (1933)- Ch. 4: Is Buddhism an Ethical System?.