Thoughts Of Buddha
Dhammapadaya
The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures. The original version of the Dhammapada is in the Khuddaka Nikaya, a division of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.
The first part of Dhammapadaya ( yamaka vagga )
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Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.
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Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.
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“He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me.” Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.
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“He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me.” Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.
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Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
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There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels.
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Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the man who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in eating, indolent, and dissipated.
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Just as a storm cannot prevail against a rocky mountain, so Mara can never overpower the man who lives meditating on the impurities, who is controlled in his senses, moderate in eating, and filled with faith and earnest effort.
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Whoever being depraved, devoid of self-control and truthfulness, should don the monk’s yellow robe, he surely is not worthy of the robe.
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But whoever is purged of depravity, well-established in virtues and filled with self-control and truthfulness, he indeed is worthy of the yellow robe.
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Those who mistake the unessential to be essential and the essential to be unessential, dwelling in wrong thoughts, never arrive at the essential.
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Those who know the essential to be essential and the unessential to be unessential, dwelling in right thoughts, do arrive at the essential.
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Just as rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, so passion penetrates an undeveloped mind.
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Just as rain does not break through a well-thatched house, so passion never penetrates a well-developed mind.
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The evil-doer grieves here and hereafter; he grieves in both the worlds. He laments and is afflicted, recollecting his own impure deeds.
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The doer of good rejoices here and hereafter; he rejoices in both the worlds. He rejoices and exults, recollecting his own pure deeds.
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The evil-doer suffers here and hereafter; he suffers in both the worlds. The thought, “Evil have I done,” torments him, and he suffers even more when gone to realms of woe.
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The doer of good delights here and hereafter; he delights in both the worlds. The thought, “Good have I done,” delights him, and he delights even more when gone to realms of bliss.
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Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others — he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life.
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Little though he recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing of this or any other world he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life
Maha Mangala Sutta
Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika’s monastery. Now when the night was far advanced, a certain deity, whose surpassing radiance illuminated the whole of Jetavana, approached the Blessed One, respectfully saluted him, and stood beside him. Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse:
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“Many deities and men longing for happiness have pondered on (the question of) blessings. Pray tell me what the highest blessings are”
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“Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise, and to honor those worthy of honor — this is the highest blessing”
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“To reside in a suitable locality, to have performed meritorious actions in the past, and to set oneself in the right direction — this is the highest blessing”
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“Vast learning, skill in handicrafts, well grounded in discipline, and pleasant speech — this is the highest blessing”
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“To support one’s father and mother; to cherish one’s wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupations — this is the highest blessing”
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“Liberality, righteous conduct, rendering assistance to relatives, and performance of blameless deeds — this is the highest blessing”
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“To cease and abstain from evil, to abstain from intoxicating drinks, and diligent in performing righteous acts — this is the highest blessing”
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“Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude, and the timely hearing of the Dhamma, the teaching of the Buddha, — this is the highest blessing”
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“Patience, obedience, meeting the Samanas (holy men), and timely discussions on the Dhamma — this is the highest blessing.”
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“Self-control, chastity, comprehension of the Noble Truths, and the realization of Nibbána — this is the highest blessing”
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“The mind that is not touched by the vicissitudes of life, [1] the mind that is free from sorrow, stainless, and secure — this is the highest blessing.”
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“Those who have fulfilled the conditions (for such blessings) are victorious everywhere, and attain happiness everywhere — To them these are the highest blessings.”