Why I Have a Quote from Buddha:

The eye, O priests, is on fire; impressions received by the eye are on fire; and whatever sensation, pleasant, unpleasant, or indifferent, originates in dependence on impressions received by the eye, that also is on fire. ~Buddha

Well, first off. This speech by the Buddha has great rhythm. The rhythm sets me on fire. Which he would disapprove of.
Secondly, I like the picture that it creates: a world scorching with beauty, music, flavors and colors. Mr. Buddha implies that all this profligate glory is a very bad thing. He forbids getting fired up about anything
Think of all the other pictures associated with fire: a face burning with any number of emotions: anger, joy, passion, love; burning eyes, blazing eyes. "Fiery" is often a complementary adjective . . . . except when applied to "pit," of course. Dorothy Sayers said: "If I had found a man to my measure, I would have set a torch to the world." Not to be confused with watching the world burn.
You can't make fine gold without fire. You can't make bread without fire. You can't have good coffee without fire, for pete's sake!

One of my favorite pictures comes from Longfellow's "Excelsior":
Then a voice fell, like a falling star,
Excelsior!

I'm going to quit now. And I'm going to remove the quote from the "About me." But anyway, I like fire in words.

"The Buddha" is such a pretentious name.

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