What is in the past is already destroyed. What is in the future has not yet arrived. What is in the present does not abide. Although we contemplate in this manner the production, destruction, scattering, and demolition of mental phenomena and phenomena arising in the mind, we nonetheless remain constant in the accumulation of the roots of virtue and wisdom leading to enlightenment. This is what is meant by skillful means in contemplating the three periods of time.
— Vasubandhu
Whatever feeling has an essential characteristic that is agreeable in nature can never also take on one that is disagreeable in nature. It is through some other aspect that the Āryas discredit those [pleasant feelings], so that they will take on a disagreeable quality. For example, they will regard them as the abode of heedlessness, as requiring great exertion to acquire, as undergoing change, and as impermanent.
— Vasubandhu
Some sutras are not recognized by sectarian Buddhists as authoritative because they are not included in their own scriptural collections. But are only their own sutras authoritative? Or should what the Buddha taught be the authority? If they only accept their own scriptural canons, then the Buddha is not their Teacher and they are not His disciples.
It is unreasonable to claim that our teachings are not the words of the Buddha simply because they are not included in their own collection of sutras, since they are found in other canons and do not contradict other discourses or the truth of the Dharma.
It is overly bold of them to claim that our scriptures are not what the Buddha taught simply because they chose not to include them in their own canon of scripture.
— Vasubandhu, in Refutation of the Theory of a Self
Buddhist Quote for the day 