Gautama Buddha: why is this man smiling?

Who shall overcome this earth, and the world of Yama (the lord of the departed), and the world of the gods? Who shall find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower? The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of Yama, and the world of the gods. The disciple will find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flower. He who knows that this body is like froth, and has learnt that it is as unsubstantial as a mirage, will break the flower-pointed arrow of Mara, and never see the king of death. Death carries off a man who is gathering flowers and whose mind is distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village. Death subdues a man who is gathering flowers, and whose mind is distracted, before he is satiated in his pleasures. As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its color or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village. Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of. Like a beautiful flower, full of color, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.

– Gautama Buddha, from The Dhammapada.

Gautama Buddha (c.480-400 B.C.) was one of the world’s most renowned religious leaders. An ascetic and sage, his teachings led to the founding of Buddhism. He is believed to have lived in the eastern part of ancient India between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. The Buddha’s main doctrine was the Middle Way, which instructs humans to navigate between sensual indulgence and severe asceticism. The Dhammapada is a collection of his teachings, written in verse form, which often elucidate this Middle Way.