The Life Span of the Tathagata

At that time the World-Honored One, seeing that the bodhisattvas repeated their request three times and more, spoke to them, saying: "You must listen carefully and hear of the Thus Come One's secret and his transcendental powers. In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of practice not far from the city of Gaya and there attained annuttara-samyak-sambodhi. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood.

"Suppose a person were to take five hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million nayuta asamkhya thousand-million-fold worlds and grind them to dust. Then, moving eastward, each time he passes five hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million nayuta asamkhya worlds he drops a particle of dust. He continues eastward in this way until he has finished dropping all the particles. Good men, what is your opinion? Can the total number of all these worlds be imagined or calculated?"

The bodhisattva Maitreya and the others said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, these worlds are immeasurable, boundless--one cannot calculate their number, nor does the mind have the power to encompass them. Even all the voice-hearers and pratyekabuddhas with their wisdom free of outflows could not imagine or understand how many there are. Although we abide in the stage of avivartika, we cannot comprehend such a matter. World-Honored One, these worlds are immeasurable and boundless."

At that time the Buddha said to the multitude of great bodhisattvas: "Good men, now I will state this to you clearly. Suppose all these worlds, whether they received a particle of dust or not, are once more reduced to dust. Let one particle represent one kalpa. The time that has passed since I attained Buddhahood surpasses this by a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million nayuta asamkhya kalpas.”

- The Life Span of the Tathagata Chapter, Lotus Sutra

Black Philip Speaks

"Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?"

- Black Philip, The Witch

Limitations

"A man's got to know his limitations."

- Dirty Harry

For a Few Dollars More

Col. Mortimer:  "Any trouble, boy?

Manco:  "No, old man.  Thought I was having trouble with my addin'.  It's alright now."


-For a Few Dollars More

Motivation

"Oh, and remember: next Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.  So, you know, if you want to, go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans."

- Bill Lumbergh, Office Space

Ad Astra

"I am focused only on the essential, to the exclusion of all else.  I will make only pragmatic decisions.  I will not allow myself to be distracted.  I will not allow my mind to linger on that which is unimportant."

- Ad Astra

American Psycho

"Look at that subtle off-white coloring; the tasteful thickness of it...Oh my god, it even has a watermark.

- American Psycho

Redbelt

"A man distracted is a man defeated."

- Redbelt

Legends of the Fall

"Tristan died in the moon of the popping trees.  He was last seen in the north country, hunting.  His grave is unmarked, but it does not matter.  He had always lived in the borderland, anyway - somewhere between this world and the other.  It was a good death."


- One Stab, Legends of the Fall

The Terminator

"Listen.  Understand.  That Terminator is out there.  It can't be reasoned with.  It can't be bargained with.  It doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop...ever...until you are dead."

- Kyle Reese, Terminator

Meet Joe Black

"Just think of millenniums multiplied by eons compounded by time without end.  I've been around that long."


- Joe Black, Meet Joe Black

The Can-do Attitude

"If it bleeds, we can kill it."


- Predator

A Serious Man

"I've tried to be a serious man, you know?"

- Larry Gopnik, A Serious Man

A Legacy of Spies

“I’m a European, Peter. If I had a mission – if I was ever aware of one beyond our business with the enemy, it was to Europe. If I was heartless, I was heartless for Europe. If I had an unattainable ideal, it was of leading Europe out of her darkness towards a new age of reason. I have it still.”

-George Smiley, A Legacy of Spies

Uncle Buck

Thanks for everything, Uncle Buck (1950-1994)

Curb Your Enthusiasm

“Pretty...pretty...pretty good.”

- Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

100 Years after the Great War

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of November 11, 1918 and the brief peace that followed.

My very dear Sarah:

July the 14th, 1861

Washington D.C.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure—and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows—when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children—is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the brightest day and in the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

----

Major Ballou was killed in action two weeks later at the First Battle of Bull Run.  He was 32 years old.

The Great Bundy

Four touchdowns in a single game (Polk High, All-City Championships, 1966)

The SkyMall Dream

A replica World War I biplane propeller for your study.  A 5-ft. bronze statue of a yeti for your garden.  Inflatable pool toys with attached umbrellas and drink holders.  A travelers wallet with anti-RFID steel fibers.  That's the SkyMall Dream.