If You Find You Have Dug Yourself Into A Hole, Stop Quotes

If you find you have dug yourself into a hole,
stop digging..

As a fletcher makes straight his arrow,
a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought,
which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back.

Repeat until it becomes your habit
then you don't have to repeat any further..

Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom &
it cannot be equated..

A famous soldier came to the master Hakuin and asked:
"Master, tell me: is there really a heaven and a hell?"

"Who are you?" asked Hakuin.

"I am a soldier of the great Emperor's personal guard."

"Nonsense!" said Hakuin.
"What kind of emperor would have you around him?
To me you look like a beggar!"
At this, the soldier started to rattle his big sword in anger.
"Oho!" said Hakuin.
"So you have a sword!
I'll wager it's much too dull to cut my head off!"

At this the soldier could not hold himself back.
He drew his sword and threatened the master, who said:
"Now you know half the answer! You are opening the gates of hell!"

The soldier drew back, sheathed his sword, and bowed.
"Now you know the other half," said the master.
"You have opened the gates of heaven ."

To stop without knowing how it stops
- this is Dao (Tao).

If you are in the wrong boat then
stop cursing and start pedalling..